Creston softball falls in slugfest

Creston softball poured it on Shenandoah Tuesday night, but Shenandoah pushed back and came out on top, rallying back for a 10-8 win.

An RBI double from Shenandoah’s Courtnee Griffin and a fielders choice scored her to break an 8-8 tie in the top of the seventh, giving Creston a two-run hole entering the final at-bats.

Early in the contest, it was a pitchers duel as Creston starter Keely Coen and Shenandoah starter Delanie Voshell battled through into the third inning at a 0-0 deadlock.

Creston drew first blood, with two singles and a walk loading the bases for Nevaeh Randall. Randall singled to score Sara Keeler, and a fielder’s choice in the next at-bat by Emma Hanson scored another.

Randall then scored from second on a single by Morgan Driskell, and a Halle Evans single scored Hanson from first to give Creston a 4-0 lead.

The cushion was short lived as Shenandoah found its swing, taking on three of its own in the top of the fifth. The inning was the start of what ended up being a persistent scoring attack by the Fillies in the back half of the game.

Despite Creston blowing the game back open on a Hanson double off the wall to score two, an 8-3 lead was not enough and all Creston could score against the Fillies.

A Nichole Gilbert single, a Griffin double and a Macee Blank single drove in runs to make the score 8-7, the time in the game where Shenandoah battled back to a one-run deficit.

Voshell’s aggressive base running in the top of the seventh led to her tying up the game in the sixth, flipping the game on its head.

A one-two-three inning to end the sixth put a hot Fillies lineup back in a position to strike, and with a runner on-base Griffin delivered with an RBI double.

Griffin scored an insurance run on a fielders choice to make it 10-8, and with the tying run on first base in the bottom of the seventh Rice was unable to make anything happen to close the game.

Creston head coach Mike McCabe felt several aspects of the game contributed to the loss, including well placed hits from Shenandoah.

“It was a combination of things. It was a tough deal,” said McCabe. “We just happened to throw a good hitting speed and our location was not very good tonight. We need to be on our point with that kind of stuff. We were behind in the count ... and they’re hitting balls. Hard hit, nubbers that fall in the triangle, it’s just one of those things. Not an easy feeling (losing), no doubt about it.”

Keeler was the only Panther with multiple hits, going 2-for-3 with two runs scored. Rice and Randall also scored two runs each. The leadoff batter through the seventh spot in the order ended their day with at least one hit, with four through seven tallying an RBI.

Hanson drove in three runs with Randall driving in two.

After the game, McCabe had a long talk with his staff – Keely Coen, Haylee Gillam and Macy Adamson – on sharpening up mentally, preparing against teams, and going out perform themselves from the prior inning.

“That’s something we were talking about – preparation, battling and pride and being ready,” said McCabe. “Understanding what your teammates are doing out there offensively and wanting to go out there and be better, even if the previous inning you hadn’t been your best. ... I think that comes with some maturity, ... we’ve got to start to grow up and be able to do those things.”

In the circle, it was Coen who started the game, but she was relieved by Haylee Gillam in the fourth inning with two outs. Coen returned for the sixth and seventh inning for a combined line score of 5 2/3 innings with one strikeout and a walk.

Gillam’s line score was 1 1/3 innings with one strikeout.

UP NEXT – Creston gets Wednesday off, and will get back in action Thursday at home against St. Albert (2-3) for the second game of a six-game home stand. First pitch against the Saintes comes at 7:30 p.m.

Junior Varsity

Creston JV remained perfect this season, beating Shenandoah JV 9-4.

Macy Adamson pitched her way to two strikeouts and two walks with Gllam striking out three and walking one.

Heylee Shields went 3-for-4 with a double and an RBI. Katie Adair went 3-for-4 and Karly Calvin hit a double, finishing 1-for-2.

“Took advantage of their errors and got some timely hits. Have to continue to improve and get better and take advantage of learning opportunities,” said coach Terri Keeler.

Monday night, Creston JV blanked Clarinda 12-0.

Gillam struck out five and walked one with Coen recording one strikeout.

Coen went 1-for-2 with one RBI and a triple while Calvin and Jalyn Kejch each had hits. At the plate, Gillam went 2-for-4 with three RBIs.

Shenandoah 10, Creston 8

R  H  E

SH  000  341  2 —  10 15 5

CR  004  400  0 —  8  7   2

CR: Keely Coen 5 2/3IP 1K 1BB, Haylee Gillam 1 1/3IP 1K and Peyton Rice. SH: Delanie Voshell 7IP 5K 6BB and Macee Blank. W - Voshell. L - Coen. HR — None. 3B — None. 2B —SH: Courtnee Griffin (2), Nichole Gilbert. CR: None. RBI — SH: Sara Morales (3), Macee Blank (3), Griffin (2), Nichole Gilbert (1). CR: Emma Hanson (3), Nevaeh Randall (2), Morgan Driskell (1), Halle Evans (2). Multiple hits — SH: Nichole Gilbert (3), Morales (3), Griffin (3), Blank (2). CR: Keeler (2).