Knights Beat Tigers 5-2

LOWDEN — The North Cedar softball team snapped a three-game losing streak on Thursday, June 20 with a 5-2 victory over RVC South foe Tipton. The Tigers and Knights have played competitive games in recent years and this was no different. There, North Cedar beat the Tigers 5-2 to win their sixth game of the season.

North Cedar scored the games first runs with two runs in the bottom of the first. The Knights extended their lead to 3-0 after three innings with a single run. The Knights took control of the game with two runs in the fifth to take a 5-0 lead.

Tipton made things interesting in the late innings. The Tigers scored single runs in the top of the sixth and seventh innings to get within 5-2 but could get no closer.

Kendall Smith started and was the winning pitcher. Smith struck out five Tipton batters and walked one. She gave up five hits and two runs. North Cedar had seven hits in the game. Two Knights had multi-hit games. Alyssa Barnhart and Kassidie Galloway each were 2-for-3 in the game. Barnhart had a game, collecting a double, scoring three runs, stealing two bases and reaching base via a walk. Galloway had 3 RBI’s and scored twice. Smith had a triple and RBI and scored a run and Carly Meier and Katelyn Jackson each had hits in the game.

Tipton lost there third game in a row and fell to 4-19 with the loss. The Tigers saw their record against RVC North foes fall to 2-4 with the loss. Tipton had five hits in the game with one player having a multi-hit game. Senior Laken Hermiston was 2-for-3 with a RBI to lead Tipton batters. Britney Ford, Bryanna Simmermaker and Kaylea Claussen each had hits and Ford and Claussen each scored runs. Claussen also had a RBI.

Morgan Wendel took the loss after working six innings. She struck out five, walked two and gave up five hits.

Knights give ranked Indians a game, fall twice to red hot Camanche
LOWDEN — North Cedar started a busy week hosting on of the best stories in Eastern Iowa this summer in the Camanche softball team. The Indians have taken Class 3A by storm and the state for that matter. The Indians are the state leader in any class in home runs and have vaulted to No. 10 in the latest Class 3A IGHSAU rankings. Last Monday, June 17, the Knights hosted the Indians for an RVC doubleheader. In the first game, North Cedar fell 3-1. It was just the second 2-run or less game that Camanche has played to date against an RVC foe. That includes 2A ranked Wilton who lost at home earlier this month to the Indians 11-2.

In game one, Camanche won 3-1 in a very close game. The Indians scored first with a run in the top of the second inning for a 1-0 lead. That lead held until the top of the fifth when the Indians pushed a run across the plate in the top of the fifth to extend their lead to 2-0. North Cedar scored their only run in the bottom of the fifth inning.

Kendall Smith took the loss after working seven innings. She struck out six, walked one batter and gave up three runs, one earned, on seven hits. Abby Stock was the winning pitcher for Camanche. Stock went seven innings, struck out six, walked one and gave up one run. Hanna Nissen was 2-for-2 with a stolen base and two runs scored to lead Camanche. North Cedar held the mighty Indian offense down, limiting their top-2 hitters - Tara Wehde and Madi Parson - to a combined 1-for-6 with a double in the game.

The Knights had five hits in the game with two players collecting multi-hit games. Alyssa Barnhart and Katelyn Jackson each were 2-for-3 in the game with a double. Jackson scored the only Knight run in the fifth. Kassidie Galloway had the other North Cedar hit in the game.

In game two, Camanche won 10-0 in six innings behind a Tara Wehde pitching gem. The Indians had 15 hits in the game led by Madi Parson who was 3-for-4 with a double, 2 RBI’s and two runs. Tarah Wehde, Abby Stock, Lauren Snyder, and Abby Beal each had two hits. Wehde had 2 RBI’s and Snyder had 1 RBI. Wehde was the winning pitcher with 10 strikeouts and 1-walk in six innings. Wedhe pitched a 1-hitter in the game and gave up only a Kassidie Galloway single, and two walks, one each to Sam Koth and another to Kendall Smith.

Two Knights pitched in the game. Smith started and took the loss after working four innings. She gave up seven runs, four earned, on eight hits. She did not strike out a batter and walked one. Jenna Syring pitched the final two innings in relief. She gave up three runs on five hits and struck out two batters.

Knights end the week with Marion loss, 8-1
MARION — The Knights ended their four-game week with an 8-1 loss at Marion Friday night. The Knights end the week 1-3 in four games and now sit with an overall record of 6-12.

North Cedar grabbed a 1-0 lead in the game, scoring in the top of the first inning. The Knights held that lead until Marion tied the game in the bottom of the fourth with a run of their own. Marion took a 4-1 lead with a three-run fifth and took control of the game with a four-run sixth.

Kendall Smith took the loss after working six innings. She struck out four, walked four and gave up eight hits. Smith also had a hit in the game. Sophomore Megan Kessens was the winning pitcher. She struck out 13 Knights and gave up one earned run.

North Cedar had seven hits in the game with two players collecting multi-hit games. Alyssa Barnhart was 2-for-3 with a run and two stolen bases. Sam Koth also was 2-for-3 with a double and a stolen base. Emma Boleyn and Kayla Syring had the other North Cedar hits.

Marion snapped a two-game losing streak and improved to 14-14. Cloee Kraft led Marion in the game at the plate, going 2-for-3 with a home run, double, 2 RBI’s, and two runs scored.