By Tom Anderson, Head Coach

The Iola-Scandinavia Varsity Softball Team beat St Mary’s Catholic 3-2 in the first game of a non-conference doubleheader before dropping the second game 10-2 at home on Saturday, April 13. The Thunderbirds are 3-0 in conference and 4-2 overall.

Game 1

After the Thunderbirds spotted SMC a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning, the T-Birds scored one run in the first, third, and sixth innings and held on to a 3-2 victory.

Iola-Scandinavia edged SMC in the hit column, 8-7.  Myah Heschke and Brylee Jueds each had two hits.  Heschke had a run-scoring single in the first inning and drove in another run with a double in the third inning. In the sixth inning, Maci Heschke doubled and pinch-runner Emma Printz scored on an error on a ball hit by Abby Isermann to score what proved to be the winning run.

Julia Munoz pitched all seven innings to earn the win. Munoz had no walks and struck out seven batters. The T-Bird defense had two errors in the game.

Game 2

Iola-Scandinavia had a 2-1 lead, but SMC scored six runs in the fifth inning and added three more runs in the sixth inning to beat the T-Birds 10-2.

The Zephyrs outhit the Thunderbirds 13-7. SMC pitcher Nevaeh Saringer consistently threw slower pitches, which the T-Bird hitters struggled to hit. Maci Heschke and Abby Isermann each had two hits. Isermann drove in a run in the second inning and Heschke had a double in the fourth inning.

Sophomore pitcher Rayanne Clendenning made her first start for the varsity team. She allowed 10 hits, two walks with no strikeouts. Freshman pitcher Charlotte Isermann made her first appearance pitching on the varsity team by pitching the final inning. Isermann allowed three hits, one walk and had three strikeouts.

The varsity team will play Weyauwega-Fremont at home on Monday, April 15 starting at 4:30 p.m. As always, call the high school softball hotline (715-445-2411, Ext 5000) before all games to check the status of the game.