Fairfield softball wins, baseball loses

FAIRFIELD — The 2024 regular season came to an end for both the Fairfield softball and baseball teams this week, as the Trojan summer sports squads barrel toward postseason play.

The Fairfield softball team finished strong with a 13-5 win against Knoxville on Tuesday night. One night earlier, the Trojan baseball team fell 6-3 against No. 9 (3A) Pella.

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The Trojan offense was on fire on the softball fields on Tuesday night. Fairfield scored seven of its 13 runs in the first two innings, building a 7-3 lead after two frames. Knoxville scored once in the third, but the Trojans put up the next six, including a five-run fifth inning.

Olivia Hollander had a big night at the plate, going 3-for-5 with a double and three RBIs to lead the Trojans. Leah Helmick wen 1-for-3 with two RBIs. Faith Jones was 3-for-3 with an RBI and three runs scored. Savannah Hollander had a hit and three runs scored. Laney Norris knocked in one run, and Lilly Bergren collected a pair of hits.

Norris threw all seven innings in the circle. She gave up five runs (four earned) on 11 hits and one walk, while striking out four batters.

After going down 3-0 early, the Trojan baseball team cut the lead to 3-2 with a two-run third inning. Pella scored the next three before Fairfield plated one in the fifth to bring it back to a three-run deficit.

Tallon Bates was 2-for-4 with a double and two RBIs to pace the Trojans. Caden Allison went 1-for-2 with an RBI, and Cason Miller collected one hit and scored two runs.

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The Trojans used five pitchers against the Dutch. Voss Richardson took the loss, giving up three earned runs over two innings. Miller, Bates, Aiden Westercamp and Sam Weaton all saw time on the bump.

The Trojan softball team (10-25) will travel to face Albia (18-11) on Thursday for the Class 3A Region 3 opener. The baseball team (21-11) will look to take down Keokuk (7-16) on Friday night at home in the Class 3A Substate 5 opener.