Wildcats are off to busy start

Softball

     It has been an active start to the season for the Maquoketa Valley softball team, which played nine games in 11 days.                 

     The Wildcats (3-6) started the season by splitting a doubleheader June 15 at Springville, losing 6-2 and winning 12-7.

     Springville scored three runs in the third inning and two in the fourth to take a 6-2 lead in the opener. The Wildcats had four hits, including a two-run homer by Taya Tucker. Libby Moore pitched and took the loss.

     In the second game, the teams played to a 5-5 tie through seven innings, but the Wildcats scored five runs in the top of the eight on the way to the win. Abbie Sheehy pitched all eight innings to get the win, allowing just two earned runs on six hits. Tucker batted 3-for-4 with a double. Brooke Elgin was 2-for-3, and Carissa Sabers went 2-for-4.

     On June 18, the Wildcats played host to Alburnett, and lost by scores of 8-2 and 7-4. The Pirates took a 7-2 lead through three innings in the first game. Erin Knipper was 3-for-3 at the plate, and Elgin was 3-for-4. Payton Beaman pitched and took the loss.

     MV led 4-0 through three innings in the second game, but the Pirates scored two in the fourth and five in the fifth. Tucker went 2-for-4 with a double. Sabers drove in two runs. Sheehy pitched and took the loss.

     The Wildcats got back in the win column June 19 with a 10-3 win at Dyersville Beckman, thanks largely to a six-run fourth inning that opened a 9-0 lead. Sheehy pitched all seven innings to get the win, allowing three earned runs on seven hits and striking out two. Beaman went 3-for-4 with a double, Sabers was 3-for-5 with a double and two RBIs. Tucker was 2-for-4 with two doubles and two RBIs. Knipper also knocked in two runs.

     On June 23, MV played a doubleheader at Calamus-Wheatland, winning 3-1 and losing 4-1. In the first game, Sheehy pitched all seven innings to get the win, recording seven hits and striking out five. Knipper batted 3-for-4 with a double and three RBIs. Krista Ries was 2-for-3.

     In the second game, MV had seven hits but could only bring one run across. Leah Ries was 2-for-3. Macy Thompson pitched and took the loss.

     The Wildcats then played host to Bellevue Marquette in a June 25 doubleheader, losing 8-2 and 7-1. Marquette scored seven runs over the first two innings in the opener. MV was held to three hits, including an RBI double by Knipper.

     Krista Ries was 3-for-3 in the second game. Emma Richter hit a double.

Baseball

     Maquoketa Valley opened its baseball season with a pair of games at Springville, losing by scores of 6-5 and 17-8.

     In the first game, Springville erased a 4-2 Wildcat lead with two runs in the fifth inning and two in the sixth. For MV, Toby Grimm went 2-for-2 at the plate, Aspen Kraus was 2-for-3 with a double, and Tate Monk was 2-for-4. Starting pitcher Alex Koppes took the loss.

     In the second game, Springville jumped to an 8-0 lead after two innings. The Wildcats were held to four hits, including a double and RBI by Tony Offerman. Michael Schaul was the starting pitcher and took the loss.

     At home against Alburnett June 18, the Wildcats (0-6) were swept in a doubleheader, by scors of 10-0 in five innings and 19-5. Preston Roling, Schaul and Offerman had singles for MV in the first game.

     Alburnett broke the second game open with eight runs in the top of the seventh inning. Wildcat leaders were Schaul, 3-for-4 with a home run, a double and two RBIs; Lance McShane, with a double and two RBIs; and Offerman, with a double.

     On June 24, the Wildcats played a single game at Calamus-Wheatland, and lost 6-0. MV was held to four hits, and the Warriors scored twice in the fourth inning and four times in the fifth.

     MV then played host to Bellevue Marquette June 25 in a single game, and lost 13-3. Harmon batted 2-for-2 including a solo home run. Starting pitcher Tony Offerman worked 4 2/3 innings and took the loss; Michael Schaul pitched 2 1/3 innings.