Softball remains undefeated in H10

ATLANTIC — Tuesday the Panthers (12-4, 9-0) took to the road to face off with the Atlantic Trojans (10-5, 7-2).

The Trojans sit at third in the conference, their only two losses this season coming at the hands of the Panthers. Atlantic fell 9-2 in Creston on June 4 and this week the Panthers shut them out 4-0.

The only other undefeated Hawkeye 10 team is Clarinda (12-2, 4-0). They won’t face the Panthers until June 26 and July 3, games that could decide the conference title.

The Trojans couldn’t keep up Creston senior Taryn Fredrickson in the circle, the pitcher throwing 12 strikeouts on 24 batters faced. Fredrickson is now at 111 strikeouts on the season, leading class 4A and fourth among all classes. Her 10 wins also leads Class 4A and is tied for second in all classes.

Senior Ava Adamson led off the game at the plate, connecting for a double. Fredrickson batted her in on a double of her own. Adamson is tied for second in Class 4A with 25 runs, a mark that ties for third in all classes.

On the Trojans’ side of the ball, only three batters made it on base — one on a single and two were walked. Only one advanced to second. Atlantic averaged 3.4 batters per inning.

Though there’s no doubt, the Trojan offense was floundering, their defense held the Panthers in check for the next four innings, allowing only two hits as fly balls plagued Creston’s batters.

The sixth looked to start the same way with fly outs by Fredrickson and Jersey Foote. Evy Marlin being hit by the pitch set up a string of Panther offense with two outs on the board.

Senior Mila Kuhns’ single saw Marlin make it around to second base. Marlin showed off her speed, stealing home on Sidney Staver’s at bat. Staver would connect for a single and Jaycee Hanson was walked to load the bases. An unfortunate fly out by Sasha Wurster saw the three stranded.

The seventh inning saw the top of the lineup, Adamson and Avery Staver landing hits to get on base before another double by Fredrickson batted them both in to take a 4-0 lead.

Though the Trojans looked to make a comeback with their first hit of the game leading off the bottom of the seventh, the Panther defense shut down the next three batters with two fly outs and a strike out ending the matchup.

Thursday the Panthers hosted Red Oak in a Hawkeye 10 doubleheader. Today starts the John Stephens Classic. Creston will play at 6:45 tonight at the high school softball field against Ankeny. Saturday at the high school, Creston plays Knoxville at 1:15 and Lenox at 6:30.