IOWA CITY — The Solon Lady Spartans participated in the Iowa City West tournament Friday, June 6, at the University of Iowa fields. Solon stepped out of WaMaC and Class 3A action to face a couple of powerful Class 5A foes, Pleasant Valley (8-0, #1 ranked) and Linn Mar (7-0).
Pleasant Valley handed the young Lady Spartans a 19-1 loss as they pounded out 17 hits and three homers in the game. Sophomore Laeni Hinkle had the lone Solon hit and sophomore Zoey Melloy drove in Solon’s only run. Freshman Beckitt Kabela took the loss bringing her record to 3-2.
Game two was a pitcher’s duel early. Sophomore Emerson Miller held the Lions through the first two innings before surrendering single runs in the third, fourth and fifth innings. The Spartans responded with a run in the fifth when Junior Dillon Ostrander led off with a single and later scored on a dropped third strike for Solon’s only run. Sophomores Keegan Kleppe, Laeni Hinkle and Miller also had hits for Solon. Miller took the loss bringing her record to 2-2 on the season. Senior Izzy Frees returned to the circle for the first time since 2023 and tossed a scoreless inning of relief that included two strikeouts.