SOLON — The varsity girls improved to 20-11 last week in a nine-game campaign featuring doubleheaders with WaMaC West teams Benton Community and CPU, Senior Night, and hosting their annual home tournament. This is the final week of the regular season with a trip to West Delaware, a visit from Clear Creek Amana, and an appearance in the Ottumwa Classic all on tap ahead of postseason play.
Lady Spartans split
with the Bobcats
Solon visited Benton Community Monday, June 19 and split a doubleheader, winning game on 8-5 but falling 6-5 in the nightcap.
Solon put up two runs in the top of the second inning in the opener and followed with one in the third, two in the fifth, one in the sixth, and two in the seventh while the Bobcats plated one runner in the second, third, fifth, sixth, and seventh innings. Kassidy Lietz led at the plate with three hits including a homerun and drove in five runs. Addie Miller produced two hits with a double and a homer and drove in two runs. Mia Stahle and Kendall Jensen had one hit each. Maddyn Gates went the distance in the circle giving up seven hits and five earned runs, walked four, and struck out four.
The Bobcats scored twice in the first inning of game two, then Solon answered with two in the second, two in the third, and one in the fifth before a four-run effort by Benton in the bottom of the fifth. Hilary Wilson produced three hits including a pair of doubles. Stahle, McKenna Rogers, Jensen, Izzy Frees, and Lietz had one hit each with a double for Stahle and Frees. Jensen took the loss giving up seven hits and six runs (four earned), walking one, and striking out three.
Taming the Wildcats
Tuesday, June 20 Solon headed east to face a different breed of cat – the Wildcats of Durant, in a non-conference JV/Varsity twin bill with a 9-2 win.
Four runs in the top of the first inning gave the Lady Spartans a nice lead early, followed by two in the second and fourth, and one in the seventh. The ‘Cats’ two runs came in the bottom of the sixth. Ten hits came from the Lady Spartans’ bats led by Izzy Frees with three and three runs batted in. Mia Stahle and Hilary Wilson produced two hits apiece with one double each from Addie Miller and Maddyn Gates, and a single from Bailey Woolley. Miller, Kendall Jensen, and Gates drove in two runs each. Frees took the win giving up five hits and two earned runs, walking three, and striking out three.
Solon and CPU split
on Senior Night
The ladies returned home for Senior Night (honoring Hilary Wilson and Claire LaDage) Wednesday, June 21 and a varsity doubleheader with WaMaC West’s Center Point-Urbana (CPU), dropping game one 6-4 but came back for a 5-2 nightcap win.
One Solon run scored in the bottom of the second inning in game one, but the Pointers put up three in the third, two in the fourth, and one in the fifth. Solon answered with one in the sixth and plated two in the seventh. Mia Stahle led with two hits, Hilary Wilson (a double), Addie Miller, Izzy Frees, and Maddyn Gates had one hit apiece. Kendall Jensen took the loss after pitching the full game and giving up ten hits and six runs (two earned), walking two, and striking out four.
The Pointers bit with one run in the top of the first in game two, but Solon answered with three runs in the second, one in the third, and one in the fifth. CPU’s final run came in the sixth. Gates led at the plate with three hits including a double, Wilson and Miller had two hits each with a double for Wilson, while Stahle, Frees, and LaDage had one hit each. Stahle drove in two runs with one RBI for Bailey Woolley and LaDage. Gates took the win with six innings in the circle giving up four hits and two runs (one earned), walking three, and striking out six. Frees pitched one inning giving up two hits.
Lady Spartans go 3-1
in home tournament
Regina Catholic, Carlisle, Fairfield, and Keokuk converged on the Lady Spartans’ diamond Friday and Saturday, June 23 and 24 for Solon’s tournament.
Regina pulled off their second win over Solon this season with a 6-2 showing including a five-run effort in the fifth inning. Hilary Wilson led at the dish with two hits including a homerun. Mia Stahle, Addie Miller, and Clair LaDage produced one hit each. Maddyn Gates pitched the full game giving up ten hits and six earned runs, walking one, and striking out five.
Carlisle’s Wildcats fell 5-1 with their only run coming in the top of the first inning. Solon plated two in the first, one in the third, and two more in the fifth. LaDage had the hot bat with three hits and three RBIs while Izzy Frees and Miller had two hits apiece with a double for Frees. Stahle, Wilson, Kassidy Lietz, McKenna Rogers, and Bailey Woolley had one hit each. Kendall Jensen went the distance giving up four hits and one earned run, walking four, and striking out four.
The Lady Spartans shutout the Fairfield Trojans 8-0 with one run in the first, second, and third innings followed by two in the fourth and three in the sixth. Stahle, LaDage, Gates, and Rogers had two hits each with a double and triple for Stahle and a homer for Gates. Frees, Wilson, and Miller had one hit each with homer for Wilson and Miller. Frees pitched the full game giving up only one hit, walking three, and striking out four.
Keokuk’s Chief fell 4-0 as Solon put up one run in the first, third, fourth, and seventh. Frees and Lietz led with three hits each including a pair of doubles apiece, Miller had two hits and two RBIs, Stahle, Wilson, and Rogers produced one hit apiece. Kendall Jensen pitched giving up five hits and striking out five.
Upcoming schedule
Friday, June 30 – Ottumwa Classic. 12:30 p.m. vs. Albia, 4:00 p.m. vs. Ankeny
Saturday, July 1 – Ottumwa Classic. 10:00 a.m. vs. Davis County, 1:30 p.m. vs. Ottumwa
Postseason: The road to Fort Dodge starts in Solon
The Lady Spartans (No. 9 in Class 3A in the June 22 IGHSAU rankings) will play West Delaware in a Region 7 Quarterfinals game Thursday, July 6 at home starting at 7:00 p.m. Elsewhere, No. 6 Wahlert Catholic plays North Fayette Valley while Waukon takes on Crestwood and Monticello takes on Anamosa.
Winners play in the Semifinals Saturday, July 8 at 7:00 p.m. with Solon again hosting. The Regional Final, with a spot in the 2023 Girls State Tournament, is set for Tuesday, July 11 at 7:00 p.m. at the highest remaining ranked team’s site (from the IGHSAU’s final rankings).
The 2023 Iowa Girls State Softball Tournament will be held Monday, July 17 – Friday, July 21 in Fort Dodge.
Class 3A State Tournament schedule
Monday, July 17 – First Round. 7:00 and 7:15 p.m.
Tuesday, July 18 – First Round. 11:00 and 11:30 a.m.
Tuesday, July 18 – Consolation. 3:00 p.m.
Wednesday, July 19 – Consolation. 11:00 a.m.
Wednesday, July 19 – Semifinals. 3:00 and 3:30 p.m.
Friday, July 21 – Third Place game. 1:00 p.m.
Friday, July 21 – Championship. 3:30 p.m.
WaMaC East standings
Conf. Overall
Mount Vernon 12-4 21-7
Solon 11-5 20-11
Marion 7-9 12-17
Independence 5-9 12-19
West Delaware 0-4 13-17

Gallery • 10 Photos

Becky Holub • Contributed Photo

Izzy Frees leans back as a pitch flies by just a bit too close for comfort Monday, June 19 at Benton Community.