Stanton makes light work of Nishnabotna in softball

 STANTON — It was never very close. The Viqueens scored 20 first run innings to defeat the Nishnabotna Blue Devils 22-1 in three innings last Monday at Anderson Park.

Stanton scored more than a dozen runs in the first before Nishnabotna could even record the first out.

Lauren Stephens got the ball rolling early when she hit a two-RBI single that scored Logan Wagg and Heidi Vanderholm.

From there, runs continued to be scored as Nishnabotna’s pitcher struggled to find the strike zone. 

The Viqueens scored often on walks and passed balls. Stanton was walked 12 times in the game. 

Devin Druivenga and Chelsea Weis both had RBI hits later in the inning to add to the total.

Stanton slowed down dramatically in the second inning, substituting several players at-bat. 

However, they did score two more runs, including one on an RBI-hit by Stephens.

Stephens and Druivenga were responsible for half of Stanton’s hits as they both went 2-for-3 with three runs scored.

Weis, Vanderholm, Mallorie Wookie and Savanna Moffett had the other hits for Stanton. The baseball game featured not as many runs, however, it ended with Nishnabotna winning 7-4 over the Vikings.

Stanton (1-3) entered the seventh with a close 4-3 lead thanks to a two-out two-RBI double by Brady Johnson, scoring Chris Jones and Drake Johnson. The Blue Devils scored four runs in the top of the seventh to reclaim the lead for good. 

Johnson’s hit was big as it gave Stanton its first lead of the game. Johnson was the leading hitter for Stanton, going 2-for-4.

Nishnabotna took a 2-0 lead in the third inning. The Vikings put runners on in scoring position during that time, but weren’t able to capitalize.

They did in the bottom of the fifth when Johnson reached base, which led to Drake Johnson scoring. Stanton soon loaded the bases and the tying run crossed home plate when a pitch hit Dustin Isaacson.

Reece Anderson and David Sorensen had the other hits in the game. Sorensen hit a triple early in the game, giving the Vikings a chance at the lead. However, Sorensen was left stranded.

Both teams were scheduled to face Orient-Macksburg last Wednesday. However, the game was canceled because of inclement weather. Last Thursday’s game for Stanton baseball against Clarinda Academy was postponed. No make-up date has been announced.

The Sidney doubleheader was also postponed as they’ll be made up on different dates. The baseball game will be made up June 16 as part of a JV/varsity doubleheader. Meanwhile, the softball doubleheader will now take place July 3.

The Vikings were scheduled to play Monday night at Lenox. However, it was postponed Monday morning and will be re-scheduled for Wednesday at 6 p.m.

Stanton is back on the road Thursday and Friday night for varsity doubleheaders against Bedford and East Mills.