DONNELLSON — Super Conference South Division members Central Lee and Holy Trinity Catholic high schools were scheduled to play a softball game May 24 at Central Lee but rainy cold weather forced a postponement.
The schedule had the Hawks going to South Park in West Point June 13 but that Iowa weather brought rain again.
The two teams met Thursday and played both previously canceled games with a doubleheader in near 100 degree heat. Central Lee was the home team in an 11-1 five-inning win and the visitors on the scorebook in a 13-1 win in four innings.
Central Lee had a great start in both games.
Shanna Buford roped a shot deep to right side of the outfield and sprinted to all four of the bases for an inside-the-park home run in the bottom of the first inning. She hit a double in each of her next two at bats and finished with three RBIs and three runs scored in the opener.
Six other Hawks had one hit each. Kenna Sandoval had a double during a seven-run second inning.
“They all put in extra time and the girls want to learn and want to get better,” Hawks coach Jason Hawk said. “You just can’t ask for much more than that.”
Sydney Jarvis hit a double for HTC in the first inning. Emily Ross got the Crusaders on the board in the fourth inning when she scored on a wild pitch after stroking a double. Brooklyn Todd and Morgan Krogmeier followed with singles but couldn’t score.
Jaci Hawk started the Hawks’ fourth inning with a triple and Aubree Bunnell’s two-out double, her second hit of the game, scored the third run of the inning for an 11-1 lead.
HTC got a single from Elizabeth Griffin in the fifth but the game ended when Hawks starting pitcher Jayln Hawk induced a groundout. Hawk gave up five hits, no walks and struck out four.
In Game 2, Sandoval sent a high arching shot though the trees on the other side of the center field fence for a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning.
HTC loaded the bases in the first two innings but only got a run in the first when Isabella Behne scored on a Todd ground out after Jarvis and Ross both singled.
“We left a lot of girls on base,” Crusaders coach Loren Menke said. “If we could’ve got a big hit and got momentum it may have turned out differently.
“Our girls stayed confident, believed in themselves and just kept going. Central Lee has a really good team that got the big hits when they needed them.”
Carlee Pezley, who was 3-for-3, knocked in the Hawks third run of the top of the second inning to give the Hawks a 5-1 lead.
Layla Gonterman’s double, and singles from Jali Hawk and Bunnell made it a 7-1 Central lead in the top of the third.
The highlight of the Hawks’ six-run fourth inning was when Buford connected on a pitch that ended with an odd metallic clank.
“I hit the scoreboard apparently,” she said of the structure in right center field.
Buford has concentrated on going to the opposite field this season. “Basically what I do is, it depends on where the pitch is at. That one was a little outside so I just went that way. I try not to worry about trying to hit it this way or that way, I just want to react to it.“
Then she hammers it.
Griffin came through for HTC again with a hit in the bottom of the fourth and final inning trying to keep the game going but Hawks starting pitcher Elaina Barlow got a ground out for the win. She walked three, fanned five and allowed five hits.
HTC is 5-8 overall and 3-5 in the division.The Crusaders played at Van Buren County Friday and host Hillcrest Academy Monday.
“I thought we were able to make some good defensive plays in the field especially Brooklyn at third base,” Menke said. “We have a lot of girls with not a lot of experience but they’ve all got great attitudes. We’re excited for the future. The kids are a lot of fun to coach. I’m excited to go to the ball park every day.”
Central Lee is 18-5 overall and 7-1 in the South.
The Hawks played at Danville Friday and host Pekin Monday.
