The varsity Lady Spartans moved to .500 on the season with a 4-4 record after splitting a road doubleheader against Vinton-Shellsburg and dropping two games in Iowa City West High’s Softball Classic.
Solon splits with Vikettes 9-0 and 8-9
The week opened with a trip to Vinton and the Vikettes of Vinton-Shellsburg. The Lady Spartans took the opener 9-0 with five runs in the top of the first inning, one in the fifth, and three in the sixth.
Izzy Frees and Bailey Woolley produced two hits each. Addie Miller, Maddyn Gates, and Laeni Hinkle had one hit apiece with two RBIs for Gates and one each by Keegan Kleppe, Miller, and Hinkle. Gates took the win with 5-1/3 innings in the circle giving up three hits, no runs, walking two, and striking out seven. Zoey Grimm pitched 1-2/3 innings giving up one hit and striking out one.
Solon opened the nightcap with three runs, answered by Vikettes with one in the bottom of the first inning. Two more Solon runs went up in the second but again the Vikettes answered in the bottom half, this time with a pair of runs. Both teams plated a pair of runners in the fourth for a 7-5 Solon lead, but Vinton scored four runs in the fifth to take the lead and Solon mustered only one run in the seventh.
Miller cranked out three hits including a home run and drove in two runners while Frees, Kleppe, and Gates had two hits each with a double and a homer and three RBIs for Gates and a triple for Frees. Grimm and Livya Nelson had one hit apiece. Hinkle took the loss with three innings in the circle giving up five hits and six unearned runs, walking one and striking out one. Grimm pitched three innings giving up five hits and three runs (one earned), walking two and striking out four.
The win was the second for Vinton-Shellsburg this season.
Muskies and Bulldogs take two from Lady Spartans
Friday (May 31) found the Lady Spartans in action at Iowa City West High’s Softball Classic on the University of Iowa’s diamonds. West High, Solon, Washington, North Scott, Muscatine, Davenport West, Center Point-Urbana, Prairie, Liberty High, and Linn-Mar constituted the field of contenders in what was to be a two-day affair, however rain cancelled Saturday’s games.
Muscatine 13 Solon 1
Maddyn Gates drove in Addie Miller in the bottom of the fourth inning for Solon’s only run of the game. The Muskies plated five runners in the top of the first, three in the third, and five in the fourth.
Miller produced two of Solon’s four hits with one from Gates (a double) and Woolley. Grimm had a tough outing in the circle giving up ten hits and 13 runs (six earned) with two walks and one strike out in the 3-2/3 inning contest.
Bettendorf 8 Solon 7
The Bulldogs scored two runs in the top of the first and added four in the fourth and two in the fifth while Solon plated one in the third, two in the fourth, one in the sixth, and rallied for three runs in the bottom of the seventh.
Layla Knazze, a freshman, led at the plate with three hits and a pair of RBIs. Kayla Meseck had two hits (including a double) and three RBIs. Frees, Kleppe, Miller (a double), Gates (a double), Woolley, Olivia Trachta, and Dillon Ostrander produced one hit apiece with an RBI for Miller and Woolley. Hinkle pitched all six innings giving up 11 hits and eight earned runs walking two and striking out two.
IGHSAU rankings
Solon moved from No. 11 to No. 7 in Class 3A in the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union’s (IGHSAU) second weekly rankings issued Wednesday, May 29.
Upcoming schedule
Thursday, June 6 – Varsity game at Regina Catholic (Iowa City). 7:00 p.m. (Level 2 plays at 5:00 p.m.)
Monday, June 8 – Home varsity doubleheader vs. Williamsburg. 5:30 p.m.
Wednesday, June 12 – Home varsity doubleheader vs. Grinnell. 5:30 p.m.
Friday, June 14 – Roland-Story Kiwanis Tournament, Roland.
Saturday, June 15 – Roland-Story Kiwanis Tournament, Roland
WaMaC East standings
Conf. Overall
Marion 6-0 8-1
Mt. Vernon 4-1 11-1
Solon 4-1 4-4
CPU 4-2 4-3
W. Delaware 1-3 1-5
Independence 0-4 3-7
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Gallery • 6 Photos

Becky Holub/Special to the Solon Economist

Livya Nelson (5) prepares to throw to first Friday, May 31 against Muscatine on the U of I’s diamond during Iowa City West High’s tourney.