SOLON — The Lady Spartans moved into a three-way tie in the WaMaC East standings with a 3-1 record (conference and overall) matching Center Point-Urbana and Mount Vernon after a pair of doubleheaders against Mount Vernon and Independence. Marion led the conference at 4-0.
Solon 3 Mt. Vernon 2, Mt. Vernon 7 Solon 4
The season opened Monday, May 20 on Mt. Vernon’s diamond with a split against the rival Mustangs. Solon put across two runners in the top of the fourth and the Mustangs plated one in the bottom of the fifth, and one in the seventh to tie. A Solon run in the eighth secured the 3-2 win.
Freshman Maddyn Gates produced a pair of doubles and drove in one run in game one with a single apiece from junior Izzy Frees and senior Kayla Meseck. Bailey Woolley (senior) and Avery Babbitt (freshman) drove in one run each. Gates went the distance in the circle giving up six hits and two runs (one earned), walking two, and striking out seven.
The Mustangs plated three runs in the second inning of game two and held the 3-0 lead until Solon answered with three in the fifth. However, four Mustangs galloped home in the sixth. Solon could only muster one run in the seventh for the 7-4 loss.
Short-handed Solon sweeps Indee 7-2, 6-3
The Girls State Golf Tournament and a pair of disciplinary issues left the Lady Spartans short a few players, but Solon persevered and kept the Independence (Indee) Mustangs winless Wednesday, May 22 in the home opener with an early start due to the absence of lights (new lights were installed the next day replacing the aging poles). Avery Babbit drove in two runs in the bottom of the third in game one while eighth grader Livya Nelson had a sacrifice for a 3-0 lead in game one Freshman Keegan Kleppe loaded the bases in the fourth with no outs before a run scored on a passed ball. Junior Addie Miller was hit by a pitch and loaded up the bases again ahead of a two-RBI double by Maddyn Gates for a 6-0 lead. Another Solon run was scored in the fifth with Indee’s two runs coming in the sixth.
Kleppe led at the plate with three hits, Kayla Meseck, Babbit, and sophomore Dillon Ostrander produced two hits each with two RBIs for Babbitt. Addie Miller, Gates, and freshman Laeni Hinkle had one hit each with three RBIs for Gates. Gates took the win with five innings in the circle giving up two hits, walking five, and striking out nine. Hinkle pitched two innings giving up one hit and two runs (one earned) and striking out three.
The Mustangs plated one run in the second, third, and fifth innings and looked poised for the win until the bottom of the sixth when the Lady Spartans evened up the score, and more. Miller, Gates, and Hinkle singled to load the bases up with one out. Nelson walked bringing in Miller while freshman Emerson Miller walked in Gates and Hinkle came home on a passed ball to tie the game 3-3. Ostrander drove in a run and Kleppe hammered a two-RBI double for the 6-3 lead.
Kleppe led at the plate with two hits. Addie Miller, Gates, Hinkle, Emerson Miller, and Ostrander produced one hit apiece. Gates pitched six innings giving up four hits and three runs (two earned), walking four and striking out nine. Hinkle pitched one inning for the win giving up no hits and no runs.
Upcoming schedule
Friday, May 31 – Iowa City West Softball Classic at U of I Softball Complex
Solon vs. Muscatine – 1:00 p.m., Pearl Field
Solon vs. Bettendorf – 2:45 p.m., Field 3
Saturday, June 1 – Iowa City West Softball Classic at U of I Softball Complex
Solon vs. Jesup – 2:15 p.m., Field 3
Monday, June 3 – Home doubleheader vs. Marion. 5:30 p.m.
Wednesday, June 5 – Doubleheader at South Tama. 5:30 p.m.
Thursday, June 6 – At Regina Catholic (Iowa City). 7:00 p.m. (Level 2 plays at 5:00 p.m.)
WaMaC East standings (5-25-24)
Conf. Overall
Marion 4-0 4-0
CPU 3-1 3-1
Mt. Vernon 3-1 3-1
Solon 3-1 3-1
W. Delaware 1-1 1-3
Independence 0-4 0-5
Maddyn Gates (28) takes her signal before delivering a pitch in game one of a home doubleheader against Independence Wednesday, May 22. The Lady Spartans swept the Indee Mustangs 7-2 and 6-3.