SOLON — The varsity Lady Spartans went 3-2 in the first week of the softball season and were ranked ninth in Class 3A by the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union (IGHSAU). Solon opened with a home split against archrival Mount Vernon, dominated Independence (Indee) on the road, and fell to No. 7-ranked (in Class 4A) Xavier Catholic in Cedar Rapids.
Solon splits with Mt. Vernon 8-0, 4-5
Kendall Jensen hammered a grand slam homerun in the first inning of game one Monday, May 22 at home, helping to build a 6-0 lead. Two more runs scored in the third for the win.
Jensen belted out three hits in the contest and drove in four runs to lead at the plate. Claire LaDage produced two hits including a double while McKenna Rogers, Hilary Wilson, Maddyn Gates, Addie Miller, Kassidy Lietz, and Izzy Frees had one hit apiece. Jensen went the distance in the circle giving up two hits, walking one, and striking out seven.
The Lady Spartans plated two runners in the bottom of the first inning in game two, the Mustangs answered with one in the top of the third and fifth to tie. Solon recaptured the lead with a run in the bottom of the fifth, but a three-run effort by Mount Vernon in the seventh made it 5-3. One Lady Spartan scored in the bottom of the inning.
Wilson cranked out three hits with a pair of doubles, Lietz produced two hits and drove in one run while Kayla Meseck, Rogers, Gates, Miller, and Frees had one hit apiece with a double each from Meseck and Gates. Miller drove in two runs in the contest as well.
Frees went the distance giving up nine hits and five runs (three earned), walked three, and struck out five.
Solon slams Indee 11-4, 10-5
Four runs in the top of the first inning issued a challenge to the Independence Mustangs Wednesday, May 24 in the Mustangs’ corral. The Mustangs answered with two runs in the bottom of the inning, but Solon plated two runs in the third and fourth to go up 8-2. Independence scored two runs in the fifth, but three more Solon runs in the sixth sealed the win.
Kayla Meseck, Hilary Wilson, Maddyn Gates, and Claire LaDage produced two hits each with a double for Wilson and LaDage. McKenna Rogers, Addie Miller, and Kendall Jensen had one hit each with a homer and three RBIs for Jensen. Wilson and Gates drove in two runs each.
Jensen pitched the full game giving up six hits and four runs (two earned), walking two, and issuing eight strikeouts.
One Solon run in the top of the first in game two led to four in the second, two in the fourth, and two in the sixth for a 9-0 lead before the Mustangs rallied in the bottom of the sixth with four runs to cut their deficit. Both teams scored one run in the seventh.
Izzy Frees and Mia Stahle smacked out two hits each with one apiece from Avery Babbitt, Rogers, Wilson (a double), Olivia Trachta, Miller, and Bailey Woolley. Wilson drove in three runs while Rogers brought in two.
Gates, an eighth grader, pitched the full game giving up seven hits and five runs (one earned), walking two, and dispensing five strikeouts.
Xavier Catholic 7 Solon 6
Solon traveled to Xavier Catholic in NE Cedar Rapids Friday, May 26 for a non-conference game with the Saints.
Stats were unavailable as of deadline.
Upcoming schedule
Friday, June 2 – Tournament at U of I Hawkeye Softball Complex. 1:00 p.m.
Monday, June 5 – Varsity doubleheader at Marion High School. 5:00 p.m.
Wednesday, June 7 – Home varsity doubleheader vs. South Tama. 5:30 p.m.
Friday, June 9 – At Wilton High School. 5:00 p.m.
WaMaC East standings
Conf. Overall
Marion 2-0 2-3
Solon 3-1 3-2
Mount Vernon 1-1 1-1
Beckman Catholic 0-0 0-2
West Delaware 0-2 0-5

Gallery • 11 Photos

Becky Holub • Contributed Photo

Mia Stahle races the ball to home plate Thursday, May 25 at Independence. The Lady Spartans shelled the Mustangs 11-4 and 10-5 in a WaMaC East vs. West contest.