Cadets get early lead, hang on against Bulldogs

HAMPTON – The first inning set the tone for the rest of this North Central Conference softball game at Hampton on Monday, June 29.

While the Bulldogs labored defensively in the opening stanza, Iowa Falls-Alden pitcher Elise Osman needed only four pitches to complete the bottom half in an eventual 5-3 loss.

“Their first inning, we don’t make a play, which leads to three runs right off the bat,” Bulldog head coach Kelsey Enslin said. “It’s not very fun when you go to bat down 3-0. You have your lead-off go bam-bam-bam, it’s a little bit disheartening, though Avery’s was a great hit, it is still an out.”

And, the Cadet defense was on point from the start, including an outstanding catch in left centerfield by IF-A’s Hailey Bridgewater that robbed Kylie Whipple of extra bases to lead-off the second inning. Whipple finished the game 2-for-3 at the plate, including a double and an RBI.

“It just didn’t seem like anything went our way,” Enslin said. “They make a bad throw and it happens to be close in to the stomach as she catches the ball, you know? Or, the girl makes a full swing and it ends up being a bunt. Frustrating, and nothing against them, they made awesome plays. Kylie’s (hit) was a great catch, they did all the little things we needed to do.”

The Bulldogs had a three-run rally in the sixth inning with three straight singles by Courtney Miller, Hanson and Whipple, and Tara Krull was left in scoring position as IF-A maintained its lead having scoring a run in the top half of the inning. Four times the Bulldogs were left in scoring position, twice left on third base.

Avery Hanson seemed to only get better as the game went on. She had just two strikeouts in the first two innings, but finished with nine, including three in a row to end the fourth and start the fifth innings.

Enslin said she has already broached the subject of warming up longer with Hanson.

“We started her warming up even earlier,” Enslin said, “because last year, she was spending 30 to 40 minutes before the game warming up. That was one of the things we just talked about. She does a very good job of clearing herself throughout the game. Some pitchers get tired throughout the game, Avery doesn’t.

“She tends to throw harder (as the game goes along) I think.”

Iowa Falls-Alden 5, Hampton-Dumont 3

IF-A              300   001   1     -    5     6     0

H-D               000   003   0     -    3     7     2

Winning battery– Elise Osman and Elliot Wood. Losing battery – Avery Hanson and Aspen Harlan. Two or more hits– IF-A (Hailey Bridgewater, Marlee Lancaster; H-D (Kylie Whipple). 2B– IF-A (Lancaster); H-D (Whipple). 3B– H-D (Addy Showalter). SAC– IF-A (Rilee McKibben). SB– None. HBP– IF-A (Makenna Meyer, Lorren Steinfeldt). RBI– IF-A (Lancaster 3); H-D (Whipple, Showalter).