Despite struggles, Cards can celebrate personal gains

It was another tough week for the Cardinals, as they dropped four more contests, putting their record at 1-15.

B-K 14, G-H/V 4

Belmond-Klemme rolled over the Garner-Hayfield/Ventura softball team, 14-4, on Monday, June 10.

The game began slow, with neither team scoring in the first inning.  The Broncos picked it up in the second, getting four runs across the plate.  The third inning was exciting for both teams, with the Cardinals scoring four runs and B-K five.  That was the only inning G-H/V was able to score and the game ended with the Broncos on top, 14-4.

Earning the runs for the Cardinals were Autumn Weaver, Maddie Tusha, Grace Tusha and Payton Bamrick.

Bamrick led G-H/V’s offense with two hits and one RBI.  Maddie Tusha made her one hit count, connecting for a triple. Grace Tusha, Mallory Van Oort, Taylor Reising and Mackenzie Van Gerpen all had one hit.  Grace Tusha, Van Oort and Bamrick also had one RBI apiece.

Sydney Childress was the losing pitcher for the Cardinals.  She gave up one hit and three runs.  She walked three batters and struck out one.  Also pitching was Taylor Reising and Brooklyn Ossman.  Reisling gave up seven hits and 10 runs.  She walked six and struck out four batters.  Ossman gave up one hit, one run and walked one.

Algona 6, G-H/V 3

A strong second inning gave the Algona Bulldogs the advantage, as they topped Garner-Hayfield/Ventura, 6-3, in a softball contest held Tuesday, June 11, at Algona.

Both teams were scoreless at the end of the first inning, but Algona really rolled in the second, scoring four of their six runs.  The Bulldogs went on to score in the third and fourth inning, while the Cards scored one run in each of the third, fourth and sixth innings.

Brooklyn Ossman and Sydney Childress shared pitching duties for the Cardinals.  Ossman gave up seven hits and six runs.  She walked two batters and struck out four.  Childress gave up two hits.

Payton Bamrick and Mackenzie Van Gerpen had two hits apiece for G-H/V.  Maddie Tusha connected for a double on her one hit of the game.  Also collecting a hit for the Cards was Tiara Van Gerpen, Grace Tusha, Madee Hejna and Autumn Weaver.

Bamrick, Weaver and Brooklyn Laird scored the Cardinal’s runs.  Mackenzie Van Gerpen and Weaver each had an RBI.

North Iowa 15, G-H/V 8

Despite a strong start, the G-H/V girls couldn’t hang on for a victory on Wednesday, June 12, when they hosted North Iowa.  

The Cardinals managed a 6-4 lead after the first two innings, but the Bison took over from there, scoring four runs in the fourth inning, five in the sixth and two more in the seventh inning for the final 15-8 victory.

A highlight of the game was Mackenzie Van Gerpen smacking a homerun for the Cardinals.  She had a total of two hits in the game and drove in three runs.  She also scored two runs.

Tiara Van Gerpen and Grace Tusha also had good nights at the plate, each getting two hits.  Tiara Van Gerpen also scored twice and Grace Tusha had an RBI.

Maddie Tusha, Mallory Van Oort, Brooklyn Ossman, Taylor Reising and Autumn Weaver had one hit apiece.  

Brooklyn Laird, Weaver, Ossman, and Maddie Tusha all scored one run for the Cards.

Ossman was the losing pitcher.  She gave up 10 hits, nine runs, walked four and struck out three.  Taylor Reising and Sydney Childress also saw time on the mound.  Reising gave up three hits and four runs.  She walked three and struck out three batters.  Childress walked three and struck out two.  She gave up two hits and two runs.

West Hancock 8, G-H/V 2

G-H/V traveled to West Hancock on Friday, June 14, where the Eagles handed the Cardinals an 8-2 loss.

Brooklyn Ossman was the losing pitcher, giving up seven hits and four runs.  She walked four and struck out one.  Providing relief pitching were Sydney Childress and Taylor Reising.  Childress gave up four hits, four runs and she walked three batters.

Only three Cardinals were able to get a hit off West Hancock’s Mallory Becker.  Maddie Tusha and Mallory Van Oort had two hits apiece, while Sadhna Ades got one hit.  

Van Oort’s hits allowed Maddie Tusha and Miranda Jackson to score G-H/V’s runs.