Panthers score 32 runs in sweep

Creston’s barrage of 32 runs on 23 hits overwhelmed visiting Red Oak Thursday night in a Hawkeye Ten Conference softball doubleheader at Panther Field.

The 18-1, 14-2 sweep concluded a 5-0 week for the Panthers in league play going into the weekend John Stephens Classic. Creston improved to 11-0 in conference play and 14-4 overall. Clarinda is the only other team unbeaten in conference play.

Red Oak, falling to 0-7 and 2-11, managed just one hit for the night, as both games ended by the mercy rule after 3 1/2 innings. Sophomore Kennedy Strider pitched a no-hitter in the nightcap with eight strikeouts and four walks. She allowed no earned runs.

Creston senior Taryn Fredrickson had five strikeouts, increasing her season total to 116, in pitching the first two innings and freshman Jensan Tussey pitched the last two innings in her varsity debut, gaining two strikeouts with no walks.

“Tussey coming in and throwing strikes like that was tremendous,” Creston coach Dave Hartman said. “I thought Kennedy was good. We didn’t want to use Taryn much today, but she wanted to work a little.”

Hartman used his bench liberally in both games, with many starters replaced after two or three innings.

Third baseman Evy Marlin hit two of Creston’s four home runs in the opening game, driving in four runs. Jersey Foote hit her fourth home run of the season and freshman outfielder Cora Smith hit her second home run in Creston’s eight-run third inning.

Jaycee Hanson hit two of Creston’s five doubles in the opener. In the second game, Mila Kuhns hit two of the team’s four doubles.

“There were a couple of things we wanted to do tonight, and one was that we knew they were going to play deep and not throw, so we wanted to get to second base on every base hit,” Hartman said. “We did a good job of that. We worked in the cage on hitting the slower velocity, starting our action later. Just imagine hunting the changeup all the time.”

In the John Stephens Classic, Creston lost to Ankeny Friday night, 5-2; and shut out Knoxville, 7-0, and topped Lenox 11-6 on Saturday. See more details in Tuesday’s News Advertiser.

Creston 18, Red Oak 1

Red Oak pitching: Mhylee Joint 0K 6BB. Creston pitching: Taryn Fredrickson 5K 1BB, Jensan Tussey (3) 2K 0BB. W — Fredrickson. L— Joint. HR — Cr: Jersey Foote, Evy Marlin (2), Cora Smith. 2B — Cr: Peyton Veitz, Ava Adamson, Jaycee Hanson (2), Sasha Wurster. RBI — Cr: Marlin 4, Hanson 2, Smith 2, Foote 2, Strider 1, Veitz 1, Avery Staver 1, Sidney McDonald 1. Multiple hitters — Cr: Marlin 2, Hanson 2.

Creston 14, Red Oak 2

Red Oak pitching: Mhylee Joint 0K 4BB. Creston pitching: Kennedy Strider 8K 4BB. W — Strider. L— Joint. 2B — Cr: Mila Kuhns (2), Avery Staver, Jensan Tussey. RBI — Cr: A. Staver 2, Taryn Fredrickson 2, Kuhns 2, Hanson 1, Strider 1, Tussey 1. Multiple hitters — Cr: A. Staver 2, Fredrickson 2, Kuhns 2, Hanson 2, Strider 2.