Wolverines slash T’Wolves

GREENFIELD — Nodaway Valley benefited from several close calls at the plate before breaking the game wide open in a 13-3, five-inning win over visiting Southwest Valley Tuesday.

Nodaway Valley went from falling in 14 straight contests to winning eight of its last 13 games.

A young, unstable team that had girls coming and going on trips, whether it be out of state or FFA trips, has come together and has hit its stride.

“We had to go up, we couldn’t go down any more,” NV coach Carol Baudler said. “They’re just playing with more confidence and they seem like they know what to do.”

The Timberwolves took an early 2-0 lead in the first.

NV responded with a Maddax DeVault single that scored a run and an Alyssa Davis infield groundout that DeVault scored on from second base despite being knocked down by Southwest Valley catcher Jordan Figgins, who had the ball. DeVault was ruled safe as the home plate umpire ruled she was tagged by Figgins’ elbow.

Nodaway Valley squeaked ahead in the second when DeVault hit a shallow sacrifice fly to left field as Corinne Bond slid into home. The throw from left fielder Isabelle Inman beat her home, but she was ruled under the tag at the plate.

The Wolverines added another run, then seven more in the third to break the game open.

DeVault’s solo home run to left field in the fifth, her first career blast over the fence, ended the game early. It was part of a 2-for-3 day with three runs and three RBIs at the plate for DeVault, who is now hitting .385 this season.

Seeing more of the Pride of Iowa’s best pitchers has helped DeVault to feel more at ease when staring down opponents in the circle.

“Just more at-bats and just seeing the ball in and driving it,” DeVault said.

Lexi Shike, Bond and Jodi Baudler all had run-scoring singles in the third and two more runs scored when DeVault’s fly ball was dropped in center.

DeVault was joined in the home run department as Davis blasted her fourth home run of the season.

The eight-grader shortstop has seen her defense come a long way this season something that took more repetition and less thinking to correct.

“I was just thinking about it too much at the beginning of the season. I just had to slow down and have more confidence,” DeVault said.

Natalie Yonker pitched all five innings in earning her sixth win of the season. She allowed five hits, struck out one and walked one.

“Natalie is definitely doing a great job on the mound mixing it up and hitting inside and outside locations,” Baudler said.

UP NEXT — Nodaway Valley (9-19 overall, 3-10 in the POI) hosts Mount Ayr today (Thursday) in a tune-up that will be replicated in the regional opener at Mount Ayr on July 2.

Nodaway Valley 13, Southwest Valley 3 (5)

R H E

SWV 200 01— 3 4 4

NV 227 11— 3 9 3

SWV: Kayley Myers 1K 4BB and Jordyn Figgins. NV: Natalie Yonker 1K 1BB and Lexi Shike. W — Yonker (6-9). L — Myers (5-14). HR — NV: Alyssa Davis 1, Maddax DeVault 1. 3B —none. 2B — none. RBI —SWV: Figgins 2, Lexie Haer 1. NV: DeVault 3, Davis 2, Bond 2, Baudler 1, Shike 1. Multiple hitters — NV: DeVault 2, Bond 2.