July 14, 2025
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Successful weekend

CNA photo by LARRY PETERSON Jill Johnson of Creston puts down a sacrifice bunt in the third inning of the Panthers’ 2-1 victory over Pleasantville Saturday.

URBANDALE — The Creston Panther softball team won both games in the Barney Dennis Softball Classic Saturday, defeating Oskaloosa in the morning, 4-3, and followed with a 2-1 victory in the afternoon session over Pleasantville.

Creston scored two runs in the first, as lead-off hitter Katlin Briley scored on a passed ball and Carla Smith was drove in on a single by Dana Howe. Creston tacked on another run in the second. Morgan Evans singled, was sacrificed to second by Dana Miller and Briley, who was 3-for-4 on the game, drove a double to the gap, giving Creston a 3-0 lead. Creston's fourth run came in the fifth, as Briley was drove in by Shelby Kramer on a ball hit to the right side.

Oskaloosa threatened in the sixth, scoring three runs. And at one point, the tying run was on third base, but Creston escaped the sixth and held them scoreless in the seventh.

"We aided them a little bit, and got in a tough spot," Creston coach Mike McCabe said. "They had things set up pretty well for them but we stranded the tying run at third. We were able to get out of that and hold them in the seventh."

Madison Frain struck out six and walked two for the Panthers. Emily Street of Oskaloosa struck out eight and walked one in the loss. Multiple hitters for Creston were Briley, who went 3-for-4, Howe went 2-for-3 with and RBI and Carla Smith was 2-for-4.

Game two

The Panthers scored a run in the third and the sixth to defeat Pleasantville Saturday. Evans lined a single to start the third, was moved to second by Jill Johnson on a sacrifice and Briley drove in Evans for the first run.

Pleasantville tied the game in the fourth but Creston used a successful squeeze play by Aubrey Pendegraft in the sixth. Pendegraft squeezed in Briley who previously singled for a 2-1 advantage.

"It was one of the those games, they were doing a good job on the mound and we needed to get a run somehow," McCabe said. "It was a good weekend from all standpoints. We had a chance to step out of the conference and see some other people."

Frain struck out seven and walked three in the win. Briley was Creston's only multiple hitter in the second game, going 2-for-4, finishing 5-for-8 on the weekend.

Creston moves to 20-3 overall and 9-2 inside the Hawkeye 10. The Panthers will travel to Lenox tonight, with varsity start time at approximately 7:15 p.m.

"It's a nonconference game; they will be ready to play and our kids no what I expect as we head into the last month of the season," McCabe said.