Tigers split doubleheader with St. Albert
RED OAK — The Red Oak softball team scored its third win of the season when they split a varsity doubleheader with the St. Albert Saintes Friday night.
Red Oak (3-13) won the second game 4-2. The win came after the Tigers lost game one 4-0.
“I was very pleased. We came out and competed, especially after a tough hard loss in that first game,” Red Oak softball coach Tristin Johnson said. “It definitely was nice to see us re-focus and get the win.”
The Tigers struck first in the bottom of the first inning thanks to a two-RBI single by catcher Shelbie Perez. Jasmine Forward, who got on base with a bunt single, as well as Sarah Behrens, who hit a double, both scored in the inning. Red Oak took a 2-0 lead after one inning.
“Any time you can score early, you can put pressure on their defense to make the plays,” Johnson said. “It definitely helps when you can score early.”
The Saintes responded in the top of the second when Nicole Bolgar hit a two-RBI single to tie the game 2-2.
St. Albert had a chance to take the lead in the top of the fourth when they had runners in scoring position. However, starter Zoey Welter got out of the jam with a couple of strikeouts.
The difference was the fifth inning as Sydney Streicher got on base with a lead-off single. Streicher quickly moved to second on a stolen base and then to third on a sacrifice bunt by Alexis Wingfield.
“The bunts, we’re still baseball guys as coaches. We’re still learning this whole bunting process in softball,” Johnson said. “The bunting, getting runners on early is a huge help. We just got to learn to bunt a little more sometimes, be a little more aggressive with that.”
Forward bunted in Streicher for a hit, giving the Tigers a 3-2 lead. Forward worked her way around the base path and then scored the next run on a Behrens sacrifice fly.
Red Oak entered the final innings with a 4-2 lead, which would be enough for Welter as the eighth grader allowed just one baserunner in the final two innings to get the complete game victory. It’s the third win for Welter this season.
“I’m very happy with the way she’s done. As an eighth grader, it sucks coming in and pitching varsity level and she comes in at one of the elite conferences in the state of Iowa and has definitely shown some talent,” Johnson said. “I’m very happy with her.”
Welter pitched solid in both games for the Tigers. In 14 innings of work, she gave up a combined six runs (four earned) on 13 hits, striking out 11 and walking two.
“She’s used to being able to overpower everyone but now that she’s at the high school level, she’s got to learn to be a little patient, throw a couple more balls here and there, but we’re getting there,” Johnson said. “It’s definitely nice to have her.”
The leading hitters in the second game were Perez and Forward, who both went 1-for-3.
In the first game, Red Oak struggled as they were held hitless by St. Albert pitcher Bailey Clark.
“I think they were a little intimidated by [Clark]. She is definitely very good,” Johnson said. “We’ve got to not worry about who we’re facing. We just got to go out and hit it, just hit the pitchers.”
Red Oak had a couple base runners in the game, but they weren’t able to move them over.
Neither team scored in the first game until the fourth inning when Grace Cox hit an RBI double to give the Saintes a 1-0 lead. St. Albert scored two more in the sixth and one in the seventh inning to get the win.
Creston Tournament
Red Oak also competed in the Stephens Classic Saturday in Creston.
The Tigers, playing less than 24 hours after their doubleheader against St. Albert the previous night, lost 12-4 to Griswold and 12-2 to Mount Ayr.
In the Griswold loss, Fada was 1-for-3 with two RBIs.
Streicher had the highlight by going 1-for-1 with a stolen base and a run scored.
Clarinda 9, Red Oak 3
The Tigers kept close early with the Cardinals at home last Monday, but Clarinda pulled away to get the win.
Red Oak scored two runs in the bottom of the second to cut the Clarinda lead to 3-2. However, Clarinda responded by scoring three more in the third and one each in the fourth and fifth to take an 8-2 lead, which made the difference in the game.
Designated hitter Emily Peterson had the big game for Red Oak by going 2-for-3 with two RBIs. Kamryn Buntrock meanwhile went 1-for-2 with a run scored and two walks. Alexis Wingfield was 0-for-1 with three walks and a run scored. Courtesy runner Morgan Akers scored the other run for the Tigers.
Fada was the only other Red Oak player with a hit as she went 1-for-2 with a walk.
Red Oak will be on the road Tuesday night when they take on Shenandoah. The JV/varsity doubleheader starts at 5:30 p.m.