THS collects 11-1 opening win

 LOWDEN — The Tipton softball team started the 2020 season with a bang Monday night at North Cedar. The Tigers were 5-27 last season and though they won’t play anywhere near 32 games this summer due to the effects from the worldwide pandemic had caused, Monday’s win was a big one for the THS program. The Tigers beat the Knights 11-1 in a game that saw the Tigers score runs in five of the seven innings including two in the top of the seventh. The Tigers
collected nine hits to score those runs and had only one error defensively. The win was the first for new coach Brooke Williams.
 Tipton has five seniors on this year’s squad and they led the way Monday. Senior ace Morgan Wendel tossed a four-hit gem and struck out eleven Knight batters. She walked one batter and gave up one earned run. The Tigers lone returning
all-conference player from 2019, Britney Ford, led the hit parade going 3-for-5 with three runs scored and swiped two stolen bases. Two Tigers were not out last year in Kamryn Chapman and Ashlyn Curry. Chapman was 2-for-3 at the plate with a triple and 3 RBI’s and scored twice. Curry scored two runs as a courtesy runner in the game. Grace Nichols and Wendel also had hits and RBI in the game. Madison Burmeister had two hits, a RBI and scored twice and Avary Calonder had a walk, run scored and RBI in the game.
 Tipton scored first in the top of the second for a 1-0 lead. The Tigers took control of the game in the top of the third, scoring four runs to extend their lead to 5-0. Tipton put the game away in the top of the fourth inning with three runs to take an 8-0 lead after four innings.
 Kassidie Galloway had two of the Knights four hits in the game and scored the only North Cedar run in the bottom of the sixth inning. Kayla Syring and Hilary Frey each had hits. Tipton roughed up Alyssa Hefflefinger in the game with eleven runs on nine hits. Hefflefinger struck out eight batters and walked four.
 North Cedar will play twice more this week, hosting Wilton Thursday and Mid-Prairie on Friday. Tipton will continue a road stretch to start the year Tuesday at Davenport Central before playing road games on Thursday and Friday.
 

Wildcats Blow Out Regals At Home, 7-1
 DURANT — The first varsity game for Durant alum Aubrey Bland since starting for the Wildcats in the mid 2010’s, was a success as the Wildcats sidelined perennial River Valley
 Conference power Iowa City Regina Monday night at home, 7-1.
The Wildcats scored first with two runs in the bottom of the first and doubled their lead to 4-0 with two more runs in the bottom of the third. Regina scored their only run in the top of the fifth inning to set the score at 4-1. Durant took hopes of a Regal comeback away in the bottom of the sixth with three runs.
 Kylie Schult was the winning pitcher after scattering six hits and an unearned run over seven innings. She struck out five and walked two. Schult was 2-for-3 at the plate with a RBI. Durant had nine hits in the game. Kira Schult and Savanna Meinert each had a hit and 2 RBI’s. Abbey Rhoades and Allie Postton each had two hits in the game and Ally Happ also had a hit.