GHV girls put in a busy week

[caption id="attachment_11253" align="alignleft" width="270"] GHV’s Payton Bamrick connects for a solid hit. -Reporter photo by Chris Barragy[/caption]

The Garner-Hayfield/Ventura softball team didn’t know if they were coming or going last week.  The girls had their hands full, playing eight games, with four in a 25 hour period.

Newman 4, GHV 3

GHV 9, Newman 8

It couldn’t have gotten much closer on Monday night, June 22, when GHV and Newman Catholic split a pair of one-run North Iowa Conference games.

The Knights won the first contest, 4-3.  Newman’s Taylor Hauser pitched seven innings for the win.  She struck out seven and gave up four hits.  Brooklyn Ossman took the loss for the Cardinals.  She struck out three batters, walked two and gave up seven hits.

A highlight of the game was Payton Bamrick’s homer that brought in all three of GHV’s runs.  The hit also scored Mackenzie Van Gerpen and Jayden Hughes.

Newman led early in the second game, 4-0.  GHV kept fighting, however, and came back and then answered every one of Newman’s runs in the second half.  The difference came in the ninth inning, when GHV held the Knights scoreless and scored the final run for the 9-8 victory.

Ossman pitched five innings and captured the win on the mound, with two strike-outs and one walk.  She gave up five hits and five runs.  Also seeing time on the mound was Jillian Heitland and Bailee Pitzenberger.  Pitzenberger struck out one batter, but allowed four hits and three runs.

Tiara Van Gerpen led the offense with three hits, one RBI and she scored two runs.  She also had two stolen bases.  Bamrick also did well at the plate, recording two hits, one being a double, and she had one RBI and scored one run.  Miranda Jackson and Ossman also recorded doubles.

GHV 10, West Hancock 0

The Cardinals were not only able to capture a North Iowa Conference win on Tuesday, June 23, but also a run rule shutout against West Hancock.

GHV’s bats were on fire, as they collected 11 hits against the Eagle’s pitcher Mallory Becker.  To her credit, Becker also had 12 strike-outs in the game.

Ossman pitched a solid game for the Cardinals, striking out five and allowing only four hits.

Brooklyn Laird had the hot bat for GHV with three hits.  She also scored two runs and led the team in stolen bases with two.  Tiara Van Gerpen had two hits, two RBIs and scored two runs.  Bamrick also had two hits and scored one run.  Also collecting a hit was Mallory Van Oort, Mackenzie Van Gerpen, Ossman and Pitzenberger.

North Union 12, GHV 0

The Cardinals met their match on Wednesday, June 24, when they traveled to North Union.

“The North Union team can just flat out swing the bat,” said Coach Christina Weiser.  “To our kids’ credit, we had some great at-bats ourselves, but unfortunately out best hits were right at people most of the time.”

North Union connected on 14 hits, including two doubles and one homerun, to win the contest, 12-0.

GHV connected on five hits.  Mackenzie Van Gerpen stroked a double, while Tiara Van Gerpen, Mallory Van Oort, Bamrick and Ossman all had singles.

Ossman took the loss on the mound in 3.33 innings.

Algona 6, GHV 1

The Cardinals hosted Bishop Garrigan on Friday, June 26.  A solid performance at the plate gave the Golden Bears a 6-1 victory.

Bishop Garrigan connected on 10 hits in the seven inning match-up, including three doubles and one homerun.

Where the Cardinals really capitalize is on their ability to move around the bases quickly on stolen bases. Tiara Van Gerpen, GHV’s leader in stolen bases, stole two bases, while Sydney Childress, Mackenzie Van Gerpen and Jacki Van Oort also recorded stolen bases.

Tiara Van Gerpen also led the team in hits with two.  Bamrick, Ossman, and Grace Tusha singles.

Ossman handled pitching duties for the Cardinals, striking out one and walking one.

GHV 4, West Fork 3

Emmetsburg 7, GHV 6

GHV wrapped up their busy week hosting a tournament on Saturday, June 27.  The Cardinals picked up a quality win against West Fork, 4-3, but lost a close one to Emmetsburg, 7-6.

This time it was the Cardinals who had the hot bats, as they connected on 10 hits against West Fork.  Mackenzie Van Gerpen knocked a double and brought in an RBI.  Barrack recorded three hits and scored a run.  Ossman also had two hits and brought in a runner.

Hayes and Bamrick both recorded two stolen bases to lead the team.

Mallory Van Oort, Bamrick, Hughes and Jacki Van Oort scored GHV’s runs.

Ossman was the winning pitcher, pitching all seven innings.  She struck out one batter and walked two.  She allowed four hits.

“Our loss to Emmetsburg was disappointing,” said Weiser.  “Especially in the bottom of the seventh innings, but I feel like this week we took some huge steps in figuring out what we need to do as a team to be successful.”

Pitzenberger pitched 5.67 innings, while Ossman played clean-up.  Pitzenberger struck out two, walked two, gave up seven hits and four runs.  Ossman allowed four hits and three runs.

Collecting two hits apiece were Jackson, Ossman and Laird.  Tiara Van Gerpen and Mackenzie Van Gerpen each had a single.

Mackenzie Van Gerpen led the team in RBIs with two.  Laird led the team in runs with two.