Shortstop Morgan Vsetecka scoops up a grounder and prepares for a throw to first base in the Trojans’ recent game at South Winn. (Driftless Multimedia photo by Becky Walz)
In the final week of competition, the Turkey Valley softball team (12-19, 11-5 UIC) swept Clayton Ridge in a conference doubleheader Wednesday and dropped its final game of the regular season to Sumner-Fredericksburg Thursday.
Friday, the Trojans hosted Central Elkader in the first round of Class 1A playoff action. The winner will face North Linn Wednesday, July 5, at 7 p.m., in Troy Mills. The regional semifinal is Friday, July 7, at 7 p.m., at North Linn, with the regional finale Monday, July 10, at 7 p.m., at the highest remaining seed.
Clean sweep
The Trojans took on the Clayton Ridge Eagles (8-21, 5-12 UIC) for the last two conference games of the season Thursday on the road. The Trojans took both contests, scoring a combined 30 runs.
In the game one, the Trojans got out to an early four-run lead at the top of the first inning. At the bottom of the second inning, the Eagles crossed the plate twice, making the score 4-2. The Trojans scored next, extending their lead by a single run. At the bottom of the fourth inning, the Eagles brought the lead down to just two runs. However, the Trojans responded by scoring three runs at the top of the fifth inning. The Trojans also scored two more runs over the course of the next two innings, while the Eagles were only able to score once, making the final score 10-4 in favor of the Trojans.
Senior pitcher Sierra Morris earned the victory after pitching a complete game, giving up just one earned run. On offense, the Trojans were led by senior first baseman Aubrey Hoffert, who had two hits.
The Trojans went on a tear to start game two, scoring seven runs at the top of the first inning. However, by the time the fifth inning rolled around, the game was tied, 7-7. While the Eagles did not have a big inning like the Trojans did, they were consistent, scoring two, two, two, and one over the course of the first four innings. At the top of the fifth inning, the Trojans once again took the lead, making the score 11-7. The Trojans also scored another run at the top of the sixth inning, extending their lead to five runs. However, just like earlier in the game, the Eagles came back, tying the game at 12 runs each. Unfortunately for Clayton Ridge, Turkey Valley had another massive inning, crossing the plate eight times at the top of the seventh inning, highlighted by a two-out grand slam by Clare Courtney.
The Eagles were only able to score twice at the bottom of the inning, giving the Trojans a 20-14 victory.
Junior pitcher Halle Weber was awarded the victory after pitching five innings. On offense, the Trojans were led by senior designated hitter Clare Courtney, who had four hits, including a home run and six runs batted in.
TV 4 0 1 0 3 1 1 10 8
CR 0 2 0 1 0 1 0 4 11
Sierra Morris (WP) – 7IP, 4R, 11H, 2BB, 4K
1B – Aubrey Hoffert 2; Olivia Snyder 1; Jacqlyn Schmitt 1; Maici Weber 1; Morgan Vsetecka 1; Alison Leibold 1; Brianna Busta 1; RBI – Leibold 2; Busta 2; Hoffert 2; Snyder 1; Clare Courtney 1; SB – J. Schmitt 1; Kinsey Reicks 2; Busta 1; Halle Weber 1
TV 7 0 0 0 4 1 8 20 17
CR 2 2 2 1 0 5 2 14 14
H. Weber (WP) – 5IP, 9R, 10H, 5BB, 3K; Morris (SP) – 2IP, 5R, 4H
HR – Courtney 1; 2B – Courtney 2; 1B – M. Weber 4; Abigail Schmitt 3; Reicks 2; Leibold 2; Snyder 1; Courtney 1; Hoffert 1; RBI – Courtney 6; A. Schmitt 3; J. Schmitt 2; Hoffert 2; Snyder 1; H. Weber 1; Morris 1; SB – Layni Schuchhardt 1; Reicks 1
Finale
It was a shorter game in the regular season finale Thursday as the Trojans played the Sumner-Fredericksburg Cougars (25-6) at home. The Cougars ended the game after the fifth inning, taking a 12-1 victory.
The game started with Sumner-Fredericksburg taking a three-run lead at the top of the first inning. At the top of the third inning, the Cougars doubled their lead, making the score 6-0. At the bottom of the third inning, the Trojans scored their only run of the game after senior first baseman Aubrey Hoffert drove sophomore Kinsey Reicks, who was put into the game as a courtesy runner, across the plate. The Cougars scored another run at the top of the fourth inning and crossed the plate another five times at the top of the fifth inning. Since Turkey Valley was unable to bring Sumner-Fredericksburg back within nine runs, the game ended after the fifth inning with a 12-1 scoreline in favor of the Cougars.
Senior pitcher Sierra Morris of Turkey Valley was credited with the loss, while junior centerfielder Mariah Throndson led the Trojans on offense with two hits.
S-F 3 0 3 1 5 x x 12 13
TV 0 0 1 0 0 x x 1 5
Morris (LP) – 2-1/2IP, 6R, 6H, 4BB, 2K; H. Weber (RP) – 2-2/3IP, 6R, 7H, 2BB
1B – Mariah Throndson 2; M. Weber 1; J. Schmitt 1; Hoffert 1; RBI – Hoffert 1
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