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Six Tigers knock in runs in win over Plainsmen
Lydia Kriegel totals 5 RBIs to lead Tigers, adds six strikeouts from the mound
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MARENGO — Six different Iowa Valley softball players knocked in at least a run in a 12-2 win over Belle Plaine Thursday.
“To have all those girls contributing tonight feels really good,” Iowa Valley coach Monica Miller said. “It was a solid team effort and feels good to put that one in the win column.”
Coming off two straight one-run losses, it felt extra good for the Tigers to get back on track.
“We fought back after last night,” said Miller. “We did not put the bat on the ball well, but we did that tonight.”
The Tigers totaled 11 hits in the game, and all 12 of their runs came off contract from the plate (via hit or error).
The Tigers scored one in the first off an RBI-single from Izzy Kriegel, added three in the second and four runs in the third and fourth.
Only five upperclassmen are on the roster this season for the Tigers, and two eighth graders batted two-three in the lineup Thursday, Olyvia Grant and Maggie Kriegel.
“I’ve been coaching junior high the past few years, so I know what Maddie and Olyvia are capable of,” Miller said. “They’re doing a really nice job of being patient and seeing the ball.”
“They’re definitely a good spark for the team.”
Grant had two hits Thursday, coming in the second and third innings and bringing in a run each time.
Other Tigers to knock in runs were Lydia Kriegel, Izzy Kriegel, Skyler Hoyt, Clara Fry and Maeci Marshall.
Lydia Kriegel hit a three- RBI double to finish the game after four innings.
The Plainsmen struck first in this one off an RBI from Alli Hoover. Belle Plaine also has some young players in its lineup.
Freshman Taylor Johnson, a returning first-team South Iowa Cedar League selection, had two hits in the game.
“We trust her to get the job done. That’s why she leads off,” Belle Plaine coach Morgan Goslin said.
Eighth grader Claire Neuhaus bats third for the Plainsmen and plays catcher.
“Claire, from the very beginning we knew, was a very strong softball player,” said Goslin. “She is getting better and better mentally with the game and situations and how to lead a field.”
Neuhaus displayed her strong arm, throwing out a runner leading off third base in the fourth inning.
The Plainsmen totaled eight hits in the loss, and added another run in the fourth.
