March 28, 2024

Creston takes two from Clarinda

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It was a good day at the park for Creston softball Monday, taking two from Clarinda by 12-0 and 9-2 finals.

The Panthers played two due to postponing a previously scheduled game against Clarinda May 28 in Clarinda. Due to making up the game, play opened in game one with the Cardinals acting as the home team as previously scheduled in the season.

Playing as visitors on its home field gave Creston the first opportunity to put runs on the board and Creston did just that, scoring two in the first inning off a Saige Rice hit that drove in both Gracie Hagle and Sara Keeler.

The Panthers and Rice threatened to add more in the run column in the fifth, but with the bases loaded and one out the clean up hitter was unable to break the game open.

Creston instead broke the game open in the sixth inning, scoring four in its top half to push the score to 6-0.

A bloop single and defensive miscues loaded the bases for Creston as Brielle Baker stepped to the plate with the bases loaded again for the Panthers in the sixth. Baker drew a walk to bring in Rice to give the Panthers a run, keeping the bases juiced as the lineup turned over for the top of the order in Keeler.

A passed ball scored Neveah Randall from third and Keeler turned on a pitch to score two with a double in the gap, giving Creston the 6-0 lead.

Creston had another opportunity to extend the lead in the top of the seventh – doing so on a two-RBI single from Randall and an RBI hit from Morgan Driskell.

The Panthers scored six times in the seventh, batting around the order to push the score to 12-0, the game one final.

In game two the Panthers had similar success at the plate, getting nine runs on 10 hits en route to the victory.

After allowing two runs in the top of the second to give the Panthers their first deficit of the day, Creston scored three in the bottom of the second to take the lead and not look back.

A passed ball that scored Rice and a base hit for Baker scored two, creating the recipe to pull Creston back to take the lead.

Creston added one more in the fourth inning and five in the sixth to wrap up its scoring for the day.

Keeler, Driskell and Baker all had two hits in game two. Baker and Keeler also drove in two runs.

“Morgan (Driskell) continues to do a good job for us, both defensively and offensively. She got a couple of innings started for us tonight,” said head coach Mike McCabe on his freshman outfielder.

Driskell went 4-for-7 with two RBIs and scored three runs against Clarinda.

Despite a day that looks good on paper, McCabe believes the team struggled early on as it adjusted to Clarinda’s pitching that was slower than what Creston had seen this past weekend.

“Really struggled early with the pitching and the velocity,” said McCabe. “We saw the opposite on Saturday. ... We were less than impressive there. We pieced enough together to put up big innings in that first game. It felt 2-0 forever, much the same in the second game.”

McCabe noted his eighth grade pitchers were instrumental in taking two from a scrappy and gritty Clarinda team that refused to roll over on Creston and quit.

“I can’t not mention those two eighth grade pitchers (Keely Coen and Haylee Gillam),” said McCabe. “No walks and pitched a pretty good game. That team has been finding its way to score runs. ... They were both really good, Keely and Haylee. No walks, limited number of hits and moved the ball really well.”

The duo of Coen and Gillam combined for five strikeouts over Monday’s doubleheader. Coen allowed two hits in game one and Gillam allowed five hits in game two.

With two big conference wins early in the week, McCabe hopes the high energy and confidence will carry on through the week as the Panthers have two more doubleheaders against Hawkeye 10 opponents on the horizon.

“It was two important conference wins for us to start the week,” said McCabe. “... It was a good way to get the week started.”

With two wins Monday, Creston snapped a three-game losing streak.

UP NEXT – Creston (11-10) gears up for a doubleheader against Shenandoah (13-7) today (Tuesday) in Shenandoah. First pitch of game one will come at 5:30 p.m.

Creston 12, Clarinda 0

R  H  E

Cr  200  004  6  —  12  10  3

Cl  000  000  0  —  0  2  6

Creston: Keely Coen 3K and Peyton Rice. Clarinda: Aziah Smalley 3K, Hailee Knight (7) and Kylie Shackelford. W — Coen (3-1). L – Smalley (3-10). HR — none. 3B — none. 2B — Crest: Sara Keeler. RBI —Crest: Neveah Randall (2), Saige Rice (2), Keeler (2).

Creston 9, Clarinda 2

R  H  E

Cl  020  004  6  —  2  5  3

Cr  030  105  X  —  9  10  3

Creston: Haylee Gillam 2K and Peyton Rice. Clarinda: Aziah Smalley 2BB and Kylie Shackelford. W — Gillam (2-1). L – Smalley (3-11). HR — none. 3B — none. 2B — Crest: Sara Keeler, Saige Rice. Clar: Bryn Morgenstern. RBI —Crest: Brielle Baker (2), Keeler (2), Neveah Randall. Clar: Kennedy Reed.