Panthers produce promising split

The Panthers split their Hawkeye 10 doubleheader against a struggling Denison-Schleswig (now 11-7) team that had just fallen out of the IGHSAU Class 4A rankings after losing its fives games prior to Thursday night.

Game one was about as perfect of execution as head coach Mike McCabe could have asked for as Creston won 7-1. A few defensive miscues and timely hitting from the Monarchs in game two led to an 11-7 D-S victory.

The first pitch to start game one from Keely Coen hit D-S’s leadoff batter, who eventually came around the score, but after that the eighth grader was locked in in the circle.

The Monarchs threatened plenty in the following innings, but it was all bark and no bite as Coen induced dribblers or struck out batters to escape every threat.

Coen finished the game with four strikeouts and received praise from her head coach.

“I thought her location was really good. ... She’s going to need to rely on location and she got in on the hands,” said McCabe.

On top of escaping every jam, Coen got plenty of run support from a Panther lineup taking advantage of a scuffling Monarch pitching staff that had allowed at least six runs in each of its last five games.

McCabe has noted previously his defense was going to have to help out the Panther pitching staff and that’s exactly what it did in the opener.

Gracie Hagle started the scoring with a solo home run to left field to quickly answer the Monarchs’ only run in the first inning. Hagle then belted a sacrifice fly in the third inning to plate Morgan Driskell.

As her bat heated up so did her play at short as Hagle made a lunging stab to save a hit and end an inning.

It was the fifth inning where the Panthers broke open game one as Saige Rice lined a double over third base and knocked in two RBIs in the process.

After moving to third base, Rice crossed the plate when Sam Dunphy lined a ball through the left side of the infield for an RBI single.

In the sixth it was Rice again who smacked an RBI single through the right side of the infield, showing her poise after the Monarchs elected to intentionally walk Hagle to get to Rice.

“I thought we had some nice timely hits, ... to break it open,” said McCabe.

Emma Hanson followed with a bases loaded walk to give the Panthers a 7-1 edge and the eventual winning score.

Putting up seven runs on a two-time first team all-conference pitcher in Sarah Heilensen gave Creston quite a bit of confidence following the first win.

“We got to their No. 1 (pitcher) and we had a nice night offensively,” said McCabe. “It was a good all around ballgame for us.”

Panthers take early lead, but falter in game two

The second contest looked like it was going to be a similar result for the Panthers as they used a six-run second inning to move in front 6-1 over the Monarchs.

A leadoff walk and multiple errors for the Monarchs set up Sara Keeler to start the damage for Creston.

An RBI single from Keeler brought up Peyton Rice, who tripled to left-center field, scoring two runs and setting up Gracie Hagle for an RBI single.

However, the lead didn’t last long as Denison-Schleswig manufactured some runs of its own, responding with a six-run inning in the top of the third.

Popups found space, an occasional ball was dropped and before Creston knew it the Monarchs had regained a 7-6 lead.

In the fourth inning Creston was able to tie the ballgame up as Keeler came around to score on a passed ball.

Starting pitcher Haylee Gillam re-entered the contest in the fifth inning and Denison-Schleswig batter Hannah Slater timed her up with a two-run homer over the left field fence to put the Monarchs in front 9-7.

D-S scored two more runs in the fifth to jump out in front 11-7 and both offenses stagnated after that, resulting in the final score.

“I don’t think we let up, but sometimes you subconsciously kind of can. Certainly, don’t want to ever be content with getting a split, especially when you get that kind of opportunity,” said McCabe.

UP NEXT – Creston (9-8, 4-5 in H10 play) will head to Oskaloosa Saturday where the Panthers will take on Iowa City Liberty (7-9) and Class 4A No. 13 Oskaloosa (9-5).

Creston 7, Denison-Schleswig 1

R  H  E

DS  100  000  0  —  1  5  5

Cr  101  032  x  —  7  7  2

D-S: Sarah Heilesen 6K 4BB, Hailey Meseck (5) 1K 2BB 1HBP and Alex Mohr. Crest: Keely Coen 4K 1BB 1HBP and Peyton Rice. W — Coen (3-1). L – Heilesen (8-6). HR — Crest: Gracie Hagle. 3B — None. 2B — D-S: Kailey Pick, Kambrie Dau. Crest: Hagle, Saige Rice. RBI — Crest: Rice (3), Hagle (2), Emma Hanson, Sam Dunphy

Denison-Schleswig 11, Creston 7

R  H  E

DS  106  040  0  —  11  14  6

Cr  060  100  0  —  7  9  4

D-S: Hailey Meseck 0K 1BB, Sarah Heilesen (4) 6K 2BB and Alex Mohr. Crest: Haylee Gillam 2K 1BB, Macy Adamson (3) 0K 2BB 2HBP and Peyton Rice. W — Heilesen (9-6). L – Gillam (1-2). HR — D-S: Hannah Slater. 3B — Crest: Peyton Rice. 2B — None. RBI — D-S: Slater (2), Heilesen (2), Ashlynn Carlson (2), Paige Armijo, Kayla Rauch, Kailey Pick. Crest: Peyton Rice (2), Sara Keeler, Gracie Hagle.