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No. 3 Warriors ground Cardinals softball, 12-0

SWEA CITY — The Class 2A, No. 3-ranked North Union Warriors made short work of the Garner-Hayfield/Ventura Cardinals on Friday night in Iowa softball action, winning 12-0 in three innings.

The Warriors (13-0) batted around in the first inning, bringing in nine runs on only three hits and five Cardinals errors.

Anna Ingalls led off the inning with a single, then promptly stole second base. Kyarsten Mullen was hit by a pitch to put two runners on for Kate Anderson.

Kate Anderson hit a fly ball that should have been routine, however, thanks to the 20 mph wind blowing out to left field, it kept on floating and fell on the far side of the 180-foot sign in the left field corner for a three-run home run.

Bre Anderson followed with a walk and was moved to second by a Maddie Rolling single. Both runners advanced on a passed ball.

Kate Anderson’s home run helped set the tone early for the Warriors, which was important, Warriors’ head coach Art Ingalls said.

“Anytime you can get up 3-0 early in the game, it takes a lot of pressure off the pitcher,” Art Ingalls said. “It takes a lot of pressure off the defense. The other players can just relax (in their at-bats) and just swing away.”

Four straight errors by the Cardinals allowed the Warriors to score four unearned runs against Cardinal starting pitcher Ashley Markla as Bre Anderson, Rolling, pinch runner Kaylee Tirevold and Shawna Person all crossed the plate. A sacrifice fly by Anna Ingalls brought home another unearned run in the form of Hope Steinberger to push the score to 8-0.

A routine infield pop fly was miscommunicated by the Cardinals, and shortstop Jayden Hughes failed to make the grab with two outs, as Katelyn Thackery crossed the plate to add another unearned run in the inning.

The Warriors added two more runs in the bottom of the second to get the required lead for the three-inning run rule.

After getting a quick first out, Person was hit by a pitch. After a Steinberger single, Person was cut down by an unassisted fielder’s choice on a Thackery ground ball.

Anna Ingalls stepped into the left-handed batter’s box for the third time and laced a double to the left-center field fence. Steinberger scored on the play, but Thackery was held up at third.

On the next pitch, Bre Anderson punched a single into left field. Thackery scored, but North Union’s momentum was stopped short when Mullen ran through coach Art Ingalls’ stop sign at third base and was thrown out at the plate.

Mullen made up for her mistake by pitching a hitless bottom of the third. Cardinal leadoff batter Hughes was walked, but was thrown out by catcher Rory McClellan when she tried to steal second.

Mullen recorded a strikeout before issuing another walk, but ended the game on a hot-shot back to the mound that she fielded cleanly and tossed to third to record the final out.

The Warriors won’t have any rest as they head to the Spirit Lake tournament today. The Warriors will play three games; one at 10 a.m., 3 p.m. and 5 p.m.

Art Ingalls was pleased by the quick victory Friday evening.

“It’s good to help your pitchers out a little bit,” Art Ingalls said. “Our starting pitchers have to throw three games (today), so having somebody else being able to relieve helps us out because tomorrow is supposed to be really warm.”

Anna Ingalls led the team on both sides of the field. In her two innings of work, she gave up no runs on one hit, one walk and two strikeouts.

At the plate, she was 2-for-2 with a double, two RBIs, two runs scored, a sacrifice fly and a stolen base. After the game, Art Ingalls talked about how his daughter has been a leader for the team so far this season.

“She has always been a good leader for us on the mound, fielding-wise and being able to run the at-bats,” Art Ingalls said. “She’s not super loud, but she lets her play speak volumes.”

Kate Anderson ended the day going 2-for-3 with a home run, four RBIs and a run scored.

GHV 000 — 0 1 5

NU 93x — 12 7 0

Ashley Markla (LP) and Megan Oetken. Anna Ingalls (WP), Kyarsten Mullen (3) and Rory McClellan.

LOB–Garner-Hayfield/Ventura 4, North Union 4. 2B–Anna Ingalls (NU). HR–Kate Anderson (NU). SF–Anna Ingalls (NU).

Iowa Prep Baseball

Garner-Hayfield/Ventura 10, North Union 7 — The Cardinals erupted for seven runs in the top of the seventh inning to squeeze by the Warriors during Top of Iowa Conference baseball action Friday night in Bancroft, Iowa.

Colton Schroeder and Connor Burke each generated game-bests of three RBIs via one hit and one run scored to help pace GHV’s late comeback victory.

Nick Joynt, Dane Whipple, Anthony Sherwood and Ryley Kozisek each produced two hits for the Cardinals, with Whipple and Kozisek each collecting a double.

Blake Crawmer went 2-for-3 with a double, two runs scored and one RBI to pace the Warriors, while teammate Jared Larson singled home a pair of runs.

Trent Pedersen doubled in one run for North Union, while teammate Tanner Doocy singled in a run.

Kozisek allowed two runs — one earned — on one hit, struck out four and walked two in three innings of relief to net the victory for the Cardinals.

Ryan Myers started for GHV, giving up five runs — three earned — on four hits, fanned five and walked three in four frames to receive no decision.

Larson gave up seven runs — five earned — on five hits and struck out one in 1 2/3 innings of relief to take the loss.

Doocy allowed three earned runs on eight hits, struck out six and issued two walks in 5 1/3 innings to receive no decision.

North Union (6-6) plays St. Edmond on Monday night in Fort Dodge, Iowa, in a non-league game.

GH 020 100 7 — 10 13 4

NU 101 040 1 — 7 5 4

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