Warriors’ late rally short vs. Newman
MASON CITY, Iowa — The Class 2A, No. 14-ranked North Union Warrior softball lineup’s gallant late-inning comeback on Monday night finished just 60 feet short of tying the score with the Class 1A, No. 10-ranked Newman Catholic Knights.
After allowing three North Union runs in the top of the sixth inning, Leah Martinez pitched a scoreless seventh to preserve her six-hitter in helping the Knights squeeze by the Warriors, 4-3, during Top of Iowa Conference diamond action in Mason City, Iowa.
Trailing 4-0, Olivia Von Bank delivered the momentum-turning swing of the bat during the top of the sixth inning for North Union. Cassie Beadle legged out a bunt hit before circling the bases when Olivia Von Bank hammered a two-run home run to slice Newman’s lead in half.
Vanessa Von Bank then reached on an error, advanced to third base on a wild pitch and scored on Kaylee Tirevold’s RBI single to inch the Warriors within 4-3 in the sixth.
Down by one, North Union’s Hope Steinberger collected her second hit — a double — of the contest with one out during the top of the seventh. Steinberger reached third on a wild pitch, but Martinez recorded back-to-back outs on line-drives to exit the ballpark with the win for the Knights.
Steinberger went 2-for-4 to top the Warriors’ six-hit effort, while ace right-hander Emily Meyer contributed a hit to the green-and-white’s offensive performance.
Meyer turned in another stellar effort inside the chalked circle, allowing four runs — only one earned — on seven hits in six innings of work. Meyer recorded two strikeouts and issued two walks on the game.
Unfortunately for North Union, it committed three errors on the outing.
Martinez recorded six strikeouts and issued three walks in seven innings of work to earn the complete-game victory for Newman.
Lily Castle went 2-for-4, including a double, to top the Knights’ offense, while teammate Jayce Weiner went 2-for-3 on the game.
North Union (9-3) plays host to Graettinger-Terril/Ruthven-Ayrshire tonight in a 7:30 p.m. varsity start in Swea City.
Newman Catholic (13-2) travels to Clear Lake, Iowa, on Wednesday night.