March 29, 2024

Panthers wallop Saintes

Creston hits double digits twice, stretch win streak to four

COUNCIL BLUFFS — Heading into the current calendar week, the Creston softball team had won just four games and was trying to come rectify the issues that came with a 14-game losing streak.

Thursday in Council Bluffs, the Panthers took out more frustrations with an emphatic doubleheader sweep in wins of 14-1 and 18-0 over St. Albert.

St. Albert had only one win coming into Thursday, so Creston coach Mike McCabe was hesitant to draw any broad stroke conclusions from the sweep, but the feeling of seeing the Panthers hit the ball so consistently was certainly a welcome one.

“It was good to get the bats going a little bit and same way in the first game. We took advantage of some walks and miscues,” McCabe said.

Hagle and LaMasters inflicted a great deal of damage against the Saintes in the first game. Both contributed four RBIs apiece as Hagle blasted a double and triple and LaMasters poke a hit that scored three in a five-run second inning for Creston, which led 6-1 after two innings.

The Panthers went on to score two in the third inning and six in the fourth to close out the first win.

Mattie Wheeler hit a triple that scored two runs in the fourth, and came all the way around to score on the play when the Saintes’ right fielder mishandled the throw.

“She’s popped a couple balls lately that have been hard hits lately,” McCabe said of Wheeler’s hitting over the last several games. “She’s done a good job and it’s always nice to see a senior that has out in some time like that and improve and get a chance to improve.”

LaMasters allowed just four hits in working her way threw the outing. She earned her third victory of the season in the circle.

In the second game, Cali Foglesong returned from nagging hip issues to toss six innings of shutout ball while the Panther offense kept roaring.

Foglesong struck out eight and maintained control of her pitches despite enduring fatigue late in the game. She did not issue a walk.

Saige Rice ripped a two-run homer in the fifth inning, part of her 3-for-4, four RBI performance in game two, to put Creston up 7-0.

The Panther offense was far from finished, as Creston added 11 runs in the sixth and final win to secure its fourth straight game in double digits.

LaMasters plastered four hits, two doubles and two RBIs, Sara Keeler added three hits and an RBI for Creston in the second game, while Cayla Maitlen and Brielle Baker both had a hit and an RBI each.

Emma Hanson added two RBIs, while Braelyn Baker and Samantha Dunphy added late runs driven in as well.

“About everybody got a chance to get in late in the game,” McCabe said. “Near every one got a chance to swing the bat.”

A grand total of 18 hits was the damage for Creston at the end of the second contest.

Creston has now scored 58 runs in its last four games, all conference victories.

McCabe has been happy to see his team turn this week into a positive rather than dwell on the losses that built over a several week span.

“They’ve heard me enough, some of them the last five years. You’ve got to stay with it. You’ve got to trust the process,” McCabe said.

UP NEXT — Creston (8-18 overall, 6-10 in Hawkeye 10 play) travels to Cedar Rapids Jefferson for an annual tournament that the team participates in.

Creston will play Jefferson and Davenport West this weekend. Jefferson leads the state in team home runs with 45, 15 more than any other team in the state.

Creston 14, St. Albert 1

R H E

Crest 152 60 — 14 9 2

St. A 100 10— 1 3 4

Cr: Kylee LaMasters 3K 0BB and Chloe Hagle. St. A: Emma Barnes 2K 6BB and Clare Noethe. W — LaMasters (3-8). L— Barnes. HR — None. 3B — Cr: Hagle 1, Mattie Wheeler 1. 2B — Cr: Hagle 1. RBI — Cr: LaMasters 4, Hagle 4, Wheeler 2, Saige Rice 1, Brielle Baker 1. St. A: Addie Bardon 1. Multiple hitters — Cr: Hagle 4, Kiersten Latham 2.

Creston 18, St. Albert 0

Crest 201 1311 — 14 9 1

St. A 000 000— 0 5 7

Cr: Cali Foglesong 8K 0BB and Chloe Hagle. St. A: Emma Barnes 0K 9BB and Clare Noethe. W — Foglesong (5-6). L— Barnes. HR — Saige Rice 1. 3B — Cr: Hagle 1. 2B — Cr: LaMasters 2, Braelyn Baker 1. St. A: Nicole Hilderbrand 1. RBI — Cr: Rice 4, LaMasters 2, Emma Hanson 2, Cayla Maitlen 1, Brielle Baker 1, Sara Keeler 1, Samantha Dunphy 1. Multiple hitters — Cr: LaMasters 4, Rice 3, Keeler 3, Maitlen 2, Brielle Baker 2. St. A: Emily Casson 2.