L-S softball flips script against Colfax-Mingo

SULLY — The Colfax-Mingo softball team had its way with Lynnville-Sully back in the season opener on May 22.

But the Tigerhawks faced a completely different squad when they met the Hawks on their turf on Friday.

Lynnville-Sully flipped the script and earned a season split following a 7-4 victory in South Iowa Cedar League play.

“We’re a better team than we were back then. The girls are putting things together and know what they have to do,” L-S head softball coach Ben Conover said. “We are getting timely hits and cutting down on our errors. If you play with confidence, good things happen.”

The Hawks only had one more hit against Colfax-Mingo on Friday than they did back in the first meeting. But they committed seven fewer errors and pitchers Alexy Conover and Jolan Fogle limited the Tigerhawks to just three hits.

“We were just flat. I don’t think there was much focus tonight,” Colfax-Mingo head softball coach Shawn Stackhouse said. “We didn’t do anything differently from the first game. We were just flat and didn’t show up to play.”

L-S out-hit Colfax-Mingo 6-3 in the latest meeting. The Tigerhawks had 12 hits the first time around. The Hawks were plagued by 11 errors in the first meeting but had just four on their home field.

It was Colfax-Mingo’s miscues that hurt more on Friday. The Tigerhawks trailed 3-1 through four innings but tied the game with two runs in the fifth and went in front 4-3 in the top of the sixth.

L-S though rallied with a four-run sixth and all four runs were unearned.

The Hawks loaded the bases with one out following singles by Makayla Tice and Jakiera Hay and a fielder’s choice that resulted in an error off the bat of Alaina Roberts.

With two outs, Greenlee Smock reached base on a Tigerhawk error and Peyton Sharp’s two-run double put the home team in front 7-4.

“We have to make the routine plays,” Stackhouse said. “The pitcher made the pitch to get us out of the inning, but we had to pitch to a few more hitters because of an error.”

The Hawks did more damage with two outs in the first inning. Conover, Abby Squires and Kate Harthoorn all walked in front of a two-run single by Tice.

Tice finished with two hits and two RBIs in the win.

“We have improved a lot as a team and are working together more as a team,” Tice said. “Everyone knew what they had to do for us to come back. We all did our own personal jobs and kept our intensity for all seven innings.”

Colfax-Mingo (10-8 overall, 7-5 in the SICL) was retired in order in the first but cut its deficit to 2-1 in the second. Caylee Cunningham was hit by a pitch to lead off the frame. She then stole second, went to third on a groundout and scored on a wild pitch.

Cunningham led the Tigerhawks with one hit, one run and one stolen base and she was hit by one pitch.

The Hawks (5-13, 5-6) went back in front by two runs in the bottom of the second. A walk by Roberts chased C-M starting pitcher Abby Rawlins, but Ava Brummel greeted Brooklyn Yanske with an RBI double to make it 3-1.

Colfax-Mingo tied the game with two runs in the fifth. Trinity Smith reached on a dropped third strike and then came all the way around to score when Carley Underwood singled and L-S committed a throwing error. Underwood scored on a wild pitch.

In the top of the sixth, the Tigerhawks went in front briefly. Holland Robinette’s single chased L-S starting pitcher Alexy Conover and then she went to second on a Hawk error.

Smith’s RBI ground out to Smock at shortstop put the Tigerhawks up 4-3.

Fogle retired three straight C-M batters after Robinette’s single and then sat down the Tigerhawks’ 1-2-3 hitters in order in the top of the seventh.

Fogle earned the pitching win after registering a clean sheet in the final two frames.

“I’m awfully proud of the girls. It’s good for them to know they can do it,” Coach Conover said of the Hawks’ comeback. “We don’t do that during the first part of the season. They’ve learned from their past situations and mistakes. They showed some tenacity and some grit.”

Alexy Conover spun the first five innings for the Hawks but took the no-decision. She allowed four runs — none earned — on three hits, three walks and two hit batters. She struck out two.

Sharp led the L-S offense with one double and two RBIs and Brummel added one double and one RBI. Hay and Smock each tallied one hit and one run and Roberts walked once, scored one run and stole one base.

Harthoorn, Squires and Alexy Conover all walked once, Addison Collum scored two runs and Squires and Brilynn Tice each scored once.

Underwood, Cunningham and Robinette had the Tigerhawks’ three hits. Robinette walked twice and scored one run and Underwood added one run and one RBI.

Smith scored one run and added one RBI, Kaylee Collins walked once and Donahue was hit by a pitch.

Rawlins started and pitched one inning in the circle. She allowed three earned runs on one hit and four walks.

Yanske tossed five innings and took the loss after surrendering no earned runs on four hits.

Notes: Colfax-Mingo defeated Lynnville-Sully 17-5 in the first meeting. The Tigerhawks had 12 hits and one error in that game. They were limited to three hits and committed three errors in the second meeting. “That was a long time ago,” Stackhouse said about the early-season win over L-S. “We have to make some minor adjustments at the plate. We have to come with a different mental attitude.” ... Colfax-Mingo was missing starter Olivia Rausch. She is batting .420 this season.