Washington Evening Journal
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Panther softball struggles at the plate
Andy Krutsinger
May. 27, 2021 3:38 pm
DONNELLSON ‒ A young Mt. Pleasant softball team could not find its bats in a nonconference road game at Central Lee on Wednesday night. The Panthers were held to just two hits in a 6-0 defeat, their second shutout loss of the season.
“I think the biggest thing we need to work on is just being positive and self-confident,” said Mt. Pleasant coach Mike Beason. “We have a good leadership on the team, and they're doing a good job of battling.”
The first of two hits came early. Savana Walls blasted a two-out double to the gap in the first inning, but she was stranded on base.
The second hit came off the bat of Emma Starr in the late innings, a screaming ground ball up the middle.
The rest of the night belonged to Central Lee pitching. Junior Meghan Hopp kept the Panthers off-balance all night, shutting them out one night after a 10-0 loss against Class 3A defending champion Albia.
“I think it was just a tough matchup from last night to this one tonight,” Beason said. “I just think it's a confidence thing, and we needed to simplify our hitting.”
Walls reached base three times on the day. Along with her one hit, she also walked and reached on a wild pitch strikeout.
Madison Helling started in the circle for Mt. Pleasant. She was tagged for the loss, giving up four earned runs on three hits and three walks in one inning of work. Starr gave up two runs (one earned) over three innings, and Ella McNamee threw two shutout innings.
Beason said he was happy with the way his defense played behind the pitchers. The Panthers made a few big plays in the outfield. Grace Kelley threw out a runner trying to advance from second to third on a ball off the fence, and Eva Rounceville made a pair of running catches in center field.
Mt. Pleasant’s Eva Rounceville retreats to make a catch in center field during the Panthers’ 6-0 loss at Central Lee on Wednesday night. (Andy Krutsinger/The Union)
Mt. Pleasant’s Emma Starr winds up to throw a pitch at Central Lee High School on Wednesday night. (Andy Krutsinger/The Union)
Mt. Pleasant’s Lydia Ebeling tags out a runner at third after receiving an outfield assist from Grace Kelley in left. (Andy Krutsinger/The Union)