March 29, 2024

Raiderettes rally late

Larsen scores on Stewart’s single in eighth

Image 1 of 3

MOUNT AYR — In stark contrast to their previous meeting this season, Mount Ayr edged Lenox 2-1 in a crisply-played softball game Tuesday night.

After Macy Larsen scored on Caroline McAlexander’s groundout to pull Mount Ayr into a 1-1 tie in the sixth inning, she raced home again in the eighth on a single up the middle by Sam Stewart.

McAlexander picked up the pitching win in a good duel with Lenox eighth-grader TJ Stoaks. Both hurlers gave up five hits and just one walk.

“We were hoping to get this one,” said Mount Ayr coach Bret Ruggles. “We lost 12-9 over there. We had six errors and they had five. Tonight, both teams played a very clean game. This felt like a softball game.”

Lenox took a 1-0 lead in the top of the fourth and that held up until Mount Ayr tied it in the sixth. Morgan Parrish had a triple and RBI for Lenox and Emily Powell finished with a pair of doubles.

Stewart finished with a double, single and game-winning RBI for the Raiderettes. In the sixth, Larsen singled, moved to second on a wild pitch and got to third on a sacrifice bunt by Stewart. That allowed Larsen to score on McAlexander’s groundout to shortstop.

Larsen started Mount Ayr’s eighth inning with another single, and advanced to scoring position on a pickoff throwing error by Lenox. Larsen scored on Stewart’s single up the middle.

Stewart was also instrumental in a stellar Raiderette defensive play that kept it a 1-0 game in the sixth inning. Megan Warin fielded Powell’s hit in center field and threw to Stewart in the cutoff position. Stewart then completed the relay on a strike to catcher Abbigail Barnes.

“That play was huge for us,” Ruggles said, “and they threw out a runner we tried to advance to third. Both defenses were sharp tonight.”

“This was two evenly-matched teams playing a much better game than that crazy game at our place,” Lenox coach Mandy Stoaks said. “This was a well-played game and both pitchers did a great job.”

Both teams came into the game with 9-4 records in the Pride of Iowa Conference and both resume play today in the Mount Ayr Classic. Lenox, 14-12 overall, takes on Murray at 6 p.m. Mount Ayr (13-10) plays Essex early in the day and concludes the Wednesday schedule against West Central Valley.

Mount Ayr 2, Lenox 1

R H E

Len 000 100 00 — 1 5 3

MA 000 001 01 — 2 5 2

L: TJ Stoaks 7K 1BB and Shantelle Brown. MA: Caroline McAlexander 3K 1BB and Abbigail Barnes. W — McAlexander (3-6). L— Stoaks (14-12). HR — none. 3B — none. 2B — L: Emily Powell 2, Jessica Anderson. MA: Sam Stewart. RBI — L: Morgan Parrish 1. MA: Stewart 1, McAlexander 1. Multiple hitters — L: Powell 2. MA: Macy Larsen 2, Stewart 2.