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OSKALOOSA – Creston softball head coach Mike McCabe wasn’t under any illusions about the competition Creston was going to face at the Oskaloosa Indian Classic Saturday.
Even with two losses on the day to Class 4A No. 13 Oskaloosa and Iowa City Liberty, McCabe knew seeing the level of play against two Class 4A schools was only going to benefit the Panthers.
“The experience was just like it was intended 12 years ago when we started going over there,” said McCabe. “We want to play teams that are challenging us. ... We’ve never hidden or tried to go places to pad our record. ... I thought we competed pretty well.”
Creston saw two top-tier pitchers in Iowa City Liberty’s Kara Meiers and Oskaloosa’s Hayle Hacker. Both pitchers struck out eight Panther batters over the course of their wins.
“She’s (Meiers) as hard a thrower as we’ve seen this year,” said McCabe. “Maybe the hardest thrower in the last two or three years.”
Iowa City Liberty got the best of Creston 10-2 in six innings while Oskaloosa won 12-2 in five innings.
Against Iowa City Liberty, Creston fell behind right out of the gates as the Lightning posted seven runs in the first two innings.
Creston responded with a run in the third and another run in the fifth innings, but the Panthers offense couldn’t keep pace with the Lightning.
Gracie Hagle had a double and drove in a run for Creston while Peyton Rice went 2-for-3 and Sara Keeler recorded a base hit.
“We were much better the second and third time through (the lineup),” McCabe said. “Our timing was better and we were on time.”
Creston’s offense put together four hits against Oskaloosa as well, but the offense came to life a bit sooner and gave the Panthers an early lead.
Saige Rice drew a leadoff walk and took second on a passed ball before Emma Hanson lined a single into right-center field to plate Rice in the second inning.
Creston gave the run back in the bottom of the second, but a two-out triple from Peyton Rice and an RBI hit from Hagle powered the Panthers back in front 2-1.
Oskaloosa used two big innings to put the contest out of reach, scoring four runs in the third and seven more in the fourth to take an eventual 12-2 win.
“They’re one of the better hitting teams around. ... They’re only a couple years removed from winning a state championship (2016),” said McCabe. “I was pleased. ... Our young kids were just working their tails off.”
UP NEXT – Creston now sits at .500 (9-9) this season, following the weekend and will get back into action today (Monday) at home against Clarinda (4-12).
Iowa City Liberty 10, Creston 2 (6)
R H E
Cr 001 010 — 2 4 1
ICL 430 30x — 10 12 0
Crest: Keely Coen 1K 1BB, Macy Adamson (5) 0K 0BB and Peyton Rice. ICL: Kara Maiers 8K 3BB, Blythe Geiman (4) 3K 2BB and Claire Geiman. W — Maiers (6-2). L – Coen (2-2). HR — None. 3B – None. 2B — Crest: Gracie Hagle. ICL: Miranda Jones (2), Raquel Trolliett, Ashlyn Geasland, Courtney Olson. RBI — Crest: Hagle. ICL: Miranda Jones (3), Trolliett (2), Olson (2), Tiffany Jones, Geasland.
Oskaloosa 12, Creston 2
R H E
Cr 011 00 — 2 4 2
Os 014 7x — 12 17 0
Crest: Haylee Gillam 0K 2BB and Peyton Rice. Oksa: Hayle Hacker 8K 1BB and Meghan Moorman. W — Hacker (8-5). L – Gillam (1-2). HR — Oska: Faith Deronde. 3B – Crest: Peyton Rice. Oksa: Taylor Willis. 2B — Oska: Ashley Kindley, Ava VandeWall, Maddie Haines, Willis. RBI — Crest: Gracie Hagle, Emma Hanson. Oska: Abby Braundmeier (2), Kindley, VandeWall, Sophia Dykstra, DeRonde, Haines, Willis.