PEKIN — It may not have always been pretty, but the Pekin softball found a way on Tuesday to secure its first come-from-behind win of the season.
Four errors by Hillcrest Academy, including two in the bottom of the sixth, helped the Panthers rally from four-run deficit in a Southeast Iowa Superconference north division battle that came down to the very last swing. Four straight hits to open the sixth inning sparked a five-run rally, lifting Pekin to an 8-7 win over the Ravens holding on in the top of the seventh when Addison Smith snared a line drive to left field off the bat of Annika Schrock with the tying run at second base.
“This is 100-percent the girls. I told them after the game this is why we don’t give up when we’re down. You just keep your nose down and keep digging away,” Pekin head softball coach Aaron Ledger said. “It’s not going to happen with one shot. We just had to chip away. It took one hit, then the next girl up. Our bats have been good all season, so that gives them confidence to step up to the plate and feel like they have a chance.”
Payten Coleman doubled and scored three runs for Pekin in the win. Ezra Parsons added two hits, including an RBI single during Pekin’s four-run rally in the sixth before scoring along with Coleman on a fielding error by the Ravens that put the Panthers on top for good.
Pekin (5-8, 5-2 SEISC north) is scheduled to host Fairfield, weather permitting, on Wednesday.
Cardinal 4, Fort Madison 3
ELDON — Alexis Bissell delivered a tiebreaking RBI single in the second inning after beginning a three-run rally for the Comets with a lead-off hit in the first, rallying Cardinal from an early 3-0 deficit.
Sophia Brown matched Bissell with a team-leading three hits for the Comets, including a game-tying two-run double in her first trip to the plate. Maclain Hickenbottom earned the win in relief, pitching the final 6 2/3 innings allowing no runs on three hits while striking out eight batters.
Cardinal (9-4) heads to Knoxville on Wednesday, weather permitting, for a South Central Conference contest.
Moravia 13, Seymour 3
MORAVIA — Coley Housh connected on a two-run single in the opening inning, giving the Mohawks the lead for good on the way to a Bluegrass Conference win.
Breegan Ellison led Moravia with four hits, including a game-clinching RBI single to left in the bottom of the fourth. Natalie Main added a pair of hits, driving in a team-leading three runs in the contest.
Moravia (8-11, 6-2 Bluegrass) heads to Twin Cedars on Thursday.
Sigourney 10, HLV/Tri-County 5
THORNBURG — Ella Bruns connected on four hits, driving in a run while scoring twice as the Savages rallied from a three-run deficit to earn a South Iowa Cedar League road victory.
Abyl McCulley doubled and scored twice to aid the comeback for Sigourney. Nevaeh Beinhart also connected on a double, scored two runs and earned the win in the pitching circle allowing three hits and three walks over 3 1/3 scoreless innings of relief.
Sigourney (3-9, 3-6 SICL) hosts English Valleys, weather permitting, in league play on Wednesday.
Van Buren County 9, West Burlington-Notre Dame 8
KEOSAUQUA — Teagan Sickels connected on her second game-winning hit in five days, delivering a walk-off RBI triple to center in the bottom of the seventh to bring home Aida Troutman ending a Southeast Iowa Superconference south division thriller at the Ferguson Complex.
Troutman sparked Van Buren County’s comeback with a two-run homer in the bottom of the third, cutting a four-run Falcon lead down to 7-5. Lexie Wiley tied the game in the bottom of the sixth with an RBI single to center, bringing Grace Richards home from second base.
Van Buren County (9-8, 3-3 SEI south) hosts New London in conference play on Wednesday, weather permitting.
Burlington 4-4, EBF 3-1
BURLINGTON — Ava Fawcett walked and scored the winning run in the bottom of the seventh of the opening game of a varsity doubleheader against the Rockets.
Addilyn Brandenburg doubled, scored two runs and scored once while pitching a complete game in the nightcap for Burlington. Lillie Carlson connected on three hits in game one for EBF, driving in Kendra Krause with the game-tying run in the top of the sixth, while Lanie Batterson homered in the fourth inning of game two after pitching a complete game in the opening game for the Rockets.
EBF (8-10) returns to South Central Conference action on Wednesday, weather permitting, at home against third-ranked (3A) Albia.
PREP BASEBALL
Davis County 8, Mount Pleasant 1
BLOOMFIELD — Grant Husted went the distance on the mound, scattering seven hits over seven innings while striking out four batters as the Mustangs secured a non-conference win.
Hayden Bankson connected on a pair of hits for Davis County, driving in two runs. Max Taylor went 2-4 at the plate, driving in Hudson Humphrey in the bottom of the sixth after coming home to score on an RBI single by Husted in third.
Davis County (10-8) returns to South Central Conference play on Wednesday, weather permitting, at home against Centerville.
No. 6 (1A) Sigourney 27, HLV/Tri-County 1
THORNBURG — Hunter Sellers drove in five runs at the plate while striking five batters over two innings on the mound as the Savages bounced back from a 5-2 loss at Lynnville-Sully, scoring eight runs in each of the first three innings to secure a South Iowa Cedar League road win.
Carson Davis connected on a pair of hits, including a double, while driving in four runs and scoring three times. Lincoln Power went 3-4 for Sigourney at the plate, driving in three runs while scoring three more in the contest.
Sigourney (12-2, 7-1 SICL) hosts English Valleys, weather permitting, in league play on Wednesday.
Moravia 15-19, Seymour 0-1
MORAVIA — The Mohawks dominated a pair of Bluegrass Conference contests against the Warriors, scoring 25 runs in a four-inning stretch of the doubleheader.
Chase Hanes connected on two hits, driving in four runs while scoring twice in the opening two innings of the second game. Asher Hudson doubled, driving in two runs while scoring once in the opener for Moravia. Zander Martin singled and scored three runs for the Mohawks while allowing just one hit in 1 2/3 innings on the mound in the opening game.
Moravia (10-4, 7-1 Bluegrass) heads to Twin Cedars on Thursday.
West Burlington 13, Van Buren County 3
KEOSAUQUA — Prior Bowen connected on four hits, including three doubles, while driving in four runs and scoring four more times for the Falcons in a Southeast Iowa Superconference south division win over the Warriors at Manning Field.
Eli McKinney drew a bases-loaded walk in the bottom of the fifth while Cree Kite was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to extend the game. Jackson Meek singled and scored twice for Van Buren County, scoring after stealing third base in the bottom of the sixth, forcing the Falcons into the seventh and final inning.
Van Buren County (5-8, 1-5 SEI south) hosts New London in conference play on Wednesday, weather permitting.
