Mount Ayr lights up the scoreboard, takes two on Wednesday

MOUNT AYR — Coming off a 12-0, three-inning win over Orient-Macksburg and a couple hours of rest, Mount Ayr hit the ball even better in a 20-9 victory over West Central Valley Wednesday at the Mount Ayr Softball Classic.

The scoring was highlighted by a two-run home run blast by Caroline McAlexander in the second inning and a grand slam from Tessa Shields to left-center.

The Raiderettes blasted 19 hits over six innings of play, and scored in each inning except the third.

A nine-run explosion — courtesy of 11 hits over 15 batters — had Mount Ayr poised to route the Wildcats. Nine hits came consecutively in a machine-like display of hitting, with most of the base knocks going right back up the middle.

“When we came in that second inning after the first inning, right away Macy Larsen and a couple of the early girls said ‘she’s going to locate it right here that first pitch be ready.’ And we hadn’t noticed that that second-pitch changeup was hurting us,” Mount Ayr coach Bret Ruggles said. “She threw a lot of second maybe third pitch changeups there that was bothering us a little bit so we decided to jump on that first pitch and see if we could get after it a bit right away.”

The Wildcats responded with a five-run inning of its own in the bottom of the second — West Central Valley won a coin flip to be the home team — to breathe some life back into the team, and in turn, the game.

“I’m not sure if it was just the way they were hitting it or the spots they were putting it in but we just seemed to not get the outs that we normally do,” Ruggles said. “And that’s got me a little nervous I’ll admit tonight.”

The two squads scratched and clawed, and with a two-run effort in the fourth, West Central Valley was within four runs at 12-8. The Raiderettes answered back with two scores in the top of the fifth and six in the sixth.

Alyssa Johnson went 3-for-4 with a triple and a double. Megan Warin went 2-for-5 with two doubles. Shields had a 3-for-5 game. Sam McGill hit three singles and went 3-for-5. Maddie Mobley had a 2-for-5 night.

“We feel like we’re playing really hot softball right now, but we’ve got to keep it going,” Ruggles said.”

The Raiderettes play at Nodaway Valley tonight. Play at the Mount Ayr Softball Classic ends on Saturday, where the Raiderettes have two games. Mount Ayr has its eyes on a numerical prize this coming weekend as well.

“To see 17 wins now, we have chance for 18, 19, and possibly 20 over the weekend. We’ve got a really good chance at 20 wins, that’s our goal,” Ruggles said.

Mount Ayr 20, West Central Valley 9

R H E

MA 190 226 x— 20 19 3

WCV 150 211 x— 9 10 5