SOLON — The Solon Lady Spartans finished the regular season with a 2-1 loss to Class 5A Cedar Rapids Jefferson in Solon Monday, July 7. The teams combined for eight total hits as Solon pitchers held the J-Hawks scoreless for the first six innings. Emerson Miller started in the circle for Solon and tossed three scoreless innings before giving way to Beckitt Kabela who stifled the Jefferson offense for three more. Unfortunately for Solon fans, J-Hawk senior pitcher Morgan Hewitt was equally up to the task and held the Spartans scoreless over the first six innings as well.

Laeni Hinkle left the outfield to pitch the seventh for Solon and retired the first two Jefferson batters before allowing a two-out single. The hit proved to be a huge one as catcher Kayleigh Faulkner followed with the J-Hawks fourth hit of the game, a two-run homer to break the scoreless tie.

The Lady Spartans would not go down without a fight however. Addie Miller led off the seventh inning with her second hit of the game, a double, and sister Emerson rapped a single to put the tying run on base. Liv Nelson would knock in a run on a ground out, but another ground out and a strikeout would dash Solon’s hopes. Izzy Frees was the only other Lady Spartan to tally a hit in the game.

Solon finished the regular season with a 16-19 record and the fifth-toughest schedule in Class 3A, losing ten times to Class 4A and 5A teams.