March 29, 2024

DMACC sweeps Southwestern softball

Former Creston all-stater returns with Bears

CRESTON — Fifth-ranked Des Moines Area Community College picked up a doubleheader sweep at the Southwestern softball field Wednesday, but it didn’t come without a challenge from the Spartans in the opener.

Behind three shutout innings from starting pitcher Thayda Houser of Seymour, the Spartans held a 4-0 lead in the first game before the Bears (27-10, 17-3 in ICCAC) rallied to take a 9-5 victory.

Southwestern (17-24-1, 10-16 ICCAC) never got its offense going in the nightcap as DMACC pitcher Ellie Jacobson scattered five hits in a 10-0 shutout victory in five innings.

“Thayda was making good pitches and keeping us in it in the first game,” Southwestern coach Nick Weinmeister said. “Our offense came out aggressive and swinging it well. It was good to chase that first pitcher, but then (Abby) Flanagan came in and did a good job of mixing it up. She had us off balance a little bit.

“Jacobson was tough in the second game,” Weinmeister added. “She did a good job of utilizing her changeup and keeping us guessing.”

Spartan homer

Houser had five strikeouts and three walks before being relieved by Jenna Parfeniuk in the sixth. Just before her relief stint in the circle, Parfeniuk pinch hit for the Spartans in the bottom of the fifth and stroked a solo home run to left field to cut the DMACC lead to 7-5. Kaitlyn Schad of Martensdale-St. Marys had a two-run single for the Spartans in that game.

Southwestern shortstop Paige Shwaluk of Manitoba, Canada stayed hot at the plate for the Spartans after earning Iowa Community College Athletic Conference Athlete of the Week for Division I softball. During a six-game stretch she batted .520 (13-25) while clubbing two home runs, four doubles and two triples for 14 RBIs in six games.

Against DMACC’s corps of freshman all-state pitchers on Wednesday, Shwaluk finished with a double and two singles for the day, as well as an array of sharp plays in the infield.

Ali Enright of Seymour went the distance as the pitcher for Southwestern in the second game with six strikeouts and two walks in five innings. She also had one of her team’s five hits at the plate.

Keeler’s role

The game was a homecoming for DMACC freshman Sara Keeler, an all-state first baseman for the Creston Panthers last summer when she was a teammate of SWCC freshman outfielder Heylee Shields. With a back ailment requiring surgery, Shields is a medical redshirt this spring for the Spartans.

Keeler appeared twice for DMACC in pinch-hitting situations on Wednesday. In her first at-bat she went down on strikes after stroke two hard foul shots down the left field line. In the second game she hit a chopper toward second base and was thrown out by less than a step by Schad.

“Normally I pinch hit with runners on and like one or two outs,” Keeler said. “I’ve played first base a few times.”

Keeler came into the doubleheader with a .444 batting average (8 of 18) with seven RBIs and two runs scored. Last year for the Panthers she batted .609 with 18 RBIs including two home runs, three triples and 11 doubles.

DMACC coach Bob Ligouri, who has coached Creston graduates Katlin Briley, Natalie Mostek and Taylor Briley in his eight-year stint coaching the Bears, said Keeler’s ability to put the ball in play and high on-base percentage suits her situational role as a freshman.

“Sara has a really high batting average with runners in scoring position, so we normally look for a spot where she can hit with people on,” Ligouri said.

Both teams face Marshalltown Community College in their next action. DMACC has a doubleheader at Marshalltown today (Thursday), while the Spartans are idle until hosting the Tigers in doubleheaders at 1 p.m. Saturday and noon Sunday.

DMACC 9, Southwestern 5

DMACC: Alexis Lander (3 IP, 2K, 2BB); Abby Flanagan (4 IP, 2K, 0BB winning pitcher). HR — Sophie Maras, Zoey Wright. 2B — Delaney Kelley. Multiple hits — Kelley 2, Haley Forret 2, Wright 2.

SWCC: Thayda Houser (5 IP, 5K 3BB losing pitcher), Jenna Parfeniuk (2 IP, 0K 1BB). HR — Parfeniuk. Multiple hits — Parfeniuk 2. RBI — Kaitlyn Schad 2, Parfeniuk 1, Sydnee McKinney 1.

DMACC 10, Southwestern 0 (5)

DMACC: Ellie Jacobson (5 IP, 3K 0BB, winning pitcher). 3B — Zoey Wright. 2B — Delaney Kelley, Abby Husak. Multiple hits — Sophie Maras 3, Husak 3, Kelley 3.

SWCC: Ali Enright (5 IP, 6K, 2BB, 1 HBP, losing pitcher). 2B — Paige Shwaluk 2. Multiple hits — Shwaluk 2.

Larry Peterson

LARRY PETERSON

Former senior feature writer at Creston News Advertiser and columnist. Previous positions include sports editor for many years and assistant editor. Also a middle school basketball coach in Creston.