Van Buren County sets school softball record

KEOSAUQUA — The Van Buren County Warriors celebrated their seniors on Friday as the softball team won twice.

The two home victories — over New London, 12-0, and over Central Lee, 2-1, in a game rescheduled from Wednesday — clinched second place in the Southeast Iowa Super Conference South Division.

West Burlington/Notre Dame (29-4) was unbeaten at 12-0 and Van Buren County went 9-3. Central Lee (16-10) was third at 8-4 and Cardinal (14-13) fourth at 7-5.

Elly Manning had New London’s only hit and pitched all three innings with four of the 12 runs earned.

The two wins gave the Warriors an overall record of 21-5. The 21 wins ties the previous best win total when the Warriors were 21-8.

All three Warrior seniors have made large contributions during their careers and did so again Friday. In the two games, Isabel Manning went a combined 4-for-6 with a run scored, and Chelsey Huff had a double, a sacrifice, batted in a run and scored three times. Brooklynn Cormier had a hit in one game and an RBI in the other.

Sophomore Ally Campbell’s contribution in the 2-1 win was a home run and three innings in the circle with one hit allowed, no walks and an unearned run. Huff threw four innings with two hits allowed, no walks and four strikeouts.

Huff allowed a hit, recorded three strikeouts and no walks in the 12-0 win.

Campbell and Huff are two of 10 pitchers in 2A that have not hit a batter. Huff’s walks plus hits in innings pitched is third in Class 2A at 0.76 and her earned run average is 1.09, which is third. Her strikeout total of 154 is tied for sixth. Opponents batting average is 10th at .159. She has issued 16 walks, 20th behind teammate Campbell’s 12, which is eighth.

Huff’s batting average of .513 is 15th in the class with her slugging percentage at .908 for seventh. Her 15 doubles are second.