POCAHONTAS, IA – The Lady Eagles made the trip to the Pocahontas Area Athletic Complex on Thursday Evening to square up against the Pocahontas Area Indians, on the Indians' home turf.
The game began with an explosive start for the Eagle Grove Eagles. The Eagles wasted no time in making their mark in the first inning. Addy Jeske, Braxton Steil, and Tarissa Middleton each singled consecutively, loading the bases with no outs. The pressure was on for the Pocahontas Area Indians, but they couldn't escape unscathed. Nadia Kaiser drove in a run on an error by the Indians' second baseman, allowing the first run to cross the plate.
The rally continued as Celeste Figueroa stepped up to the plate and smacked a solid single, bringing in two more runs for the Eagles. The Indians' defense struggled to contain the Eagle Grove hitters, and the first inning ended with the home team reeling from a 3-0 deficit.
Still, the Indians defense played well in the second inning, and kept the aggressive Eagle Grove offense off the home plate until the third inning, when Nadia Kaiser capitalized on another error by the Indians and scored on her sister Maddison's powerful double, extending the Eagles' lead. Jeske, displaying her skill, singled and later scored on a ground ball by Middleton, adding another run to the Eagles' tally.
The fifth inning witnessed another double from Maddison Kaiser, who crossed the plate thanks to Lily Locke's well-placed ground ball. Middleton showcased her hitting skills once again in the sixth inning, recording her third single of the game and scoring on another timely hit by Figueroa.
Although the Pocahontas Area Indians managed to put two runs on the board in the sixth inning, it was not enough to turn the tide.
As the game entered its final inning, the Eagle Grove Eagles were determined to widen the gap even further. In the seventh inning, Locke took one for the team, getting hit by a pitch. Crystal Flores followed with a solid single, setting the stage for an intentional walk to Jeske, loading the bases. Steil stepped up and came through with a clutch hit, driving in a run. With the bases still loaded, Middleton received the same treatment with another intentional walk, bringing Nadia Kaiser to the plate. Kaiser didn't disappoint, delivering a powerful hit that resulted in two more runs for the Eagles.
When the dust settled, the Eagle Grove Eagles emerged victorious with a final score of 10-2. Their relentless offensive attack, backed by stellar pitching from Osborn, proved to be the winning formula. The Eagles exhibited their best form, pounding out 14 hits and scoring in every inning except one.
The Eagles' pitcher, Brooklyn Osborn, was in top form, allowing only three hits throughout the game. Her outstanding performance, including striking out eight batters and not issuing a single walk, made her the clear choice for MVP. "I couldn’t be more proud of how well she pitched, and how well the entire team played," Coach Jim McLaughlin said of Osborne's performance leading the defense from the mound. Madisson Kaiser and Celeste Figueroa were the leading hitters, with Kaiser racking up three hits, one run, one RBI, and a double, while Figueroa chalked up two hits, and an RBI.
