Deb Rebal
Harlow Meade (6) prepares to meet her doom at home plate as Marion’s catcher receives the ball with which to tag her.
Lady Spartans sweep the Wolves
MARION — Liv Nelson and Laeni Hinkle starred as Solon travelled to Marion sweeping the Wolves in a WaMaC softball doubleheader Monday, June 9, by scores of 6-4 and 12-1. Nelson, a freshman reached base six times in the doubleheader rapping five hits and driving in a pair of runs. Hinkle had a pair of hits and tossed a complete game in the 12-1 win that lasted only four innings.
The Wolves gave Solon all they could handle in game one with a pair of homers to score four runs but they couldn’t shake up pitcher Emerson Miller who earned her third win of the season. The sophomore singled home the go ahead run in Solon’s four-run 5th inning, before freshman Beckitt Kabela finished the scoring with an RBI sacrifice fly. Frees pitched the 7th inning and got a big save in the back and forth battle.
Sophomore Addie Walter pushed a 2-0 Lady Spartan lead to 6-0 in game two with a grand slam, her second homer in the past week. Sophomore Keegan Kleppe capped the rally with an RBI single as Solon led 7-0 a half inning into game two. Kleppe finished with four hits on the day as did seniors Addie Miller and Izzy Frees.
The Lady Spartans pushed their WaMaC record to 4-2 and over record to 8-4.
Solon tops Regals 2-0
SOLON — The Solon Lady Spartans stepped out of conference play Tuesday, June 10, in Solon beating Iowa City Regina 2-0 behind a strong pitching performance from Emerson Miller. The sophomore kept the Regals at bay allowing five hits and a walk while striking out four and running her record to 4-2 on the season.
Solon scored the only run they would need in the third inning when sophomore Keegan Kleppe walked, sophomore Laeni Hinkle singled and senior Izzy Frees rapped an RBI double. The Lady Spartans add some insurance an inning later when freshman Beckitt Kabela singled and sophomore Addie Walter doubled in pinch runner Layla Knazze making the score 2-0.
Kabela and Frees each had two hits for the Spartans and pushed their respective batting averages to .435 and .395 on the season.
Kleppe leads the team at a sizzling .537 mark.
Miller’s motivation was simple.
“I was really nervous about the game,” said the Solon ace, “because I didn’t want to have a hard practice Thursday,” Miller laughed. “(Solon coach) Brad (Holub) really wanted to win this one, so we had to go get it for him,” she said with a grin.
Lady Spartans sweep Trojans
SOLON — The Solon softball team capped a perfect 5-0 week with two routs of conference foe South Tama County Wednesday, June 11, in Solon. The Lady Spartans pushed their record to 11-4 but will search for some signature wins over the powerhouse teams at the top of WaMaC in the very near future.
Freshman pitcher Beckitt Kabela picked up the complete game win 10-0 in game one which lasted four innings. Kabela (4-2) scattered a pair of hits and a walk while striking out six Trojans in the easy win. Senior Izzy Frees led the hit barrage with three. Kabela, Miller sisters Addie and Emerson, along with freshman Rya Farlinger each knocked a pair of hits for Solon.
Game two saw sophomore pitcher Zoey Melloy notch her first varsity win in a 13-1 contest. Melloy gave up a pair of hits and a walk in going the distance in the four inning affair. Kabela ripped a pair of doubles and knocked in a pair of runs in the nightcap. Frees added two hits and two RBI as did freshman Beckett Kruse. Addie Miller also added a pair of RBIs but nobody could top sophomore Addie Walter.
Kabela and Walter have emerged as new potent hitters for the team that made a run to state last year. Walter continued her two week tear with a homer and double knocking in five runs. She has all three of the team’s home runs this season, two doubles and 13 RBI in only 13 at bats.
Head coach Brad Holub said the team is just taking care of business and beating the teams that they should beat.
“The second game at Marion we won with the bats, but the next night we beat Regina with pitching and defense. The competition really steps up next week though with undefeated Grinnell and (3A) number one Williamsburg. It will be a great week to see where we’re at,” he added.