GHV steps up to challenge and defeats Lions

[caption id="attachment_11258" align="alignleft" width="270"] Clear Lake’s Lexi Jones slides into base, causing GHV’s Tiara Van Gerpen to drop the ball. The Cardinals won the game 10-3 on Tuesday, June 23. -Reporter photo by Chris Barragy[/caption]

Clear Lake and Garner-Hayfield/Ventura teams played a close game through five innings, but GHV closed out the game with four runs on their way to a 10-3 victory Tuesday, June 23.

“Coming into out game against Clear Lake we knew that they had struggled some during the season, but in looking at their recent games, we knew they would be scrappy, and that’s exactly who they were,” said GHV Coach Christi Weiser.  “Clear Lake made it feel closer than the score, but our kids stepped up to each challenge.”

The Cards made big plays and came up with clutch hits to support the pitching effort of both Bailee Pitzenberger and Brooklyn Ossman.  Pitzenberger got the win, giving up six hits, striking out three and walking four.  Ossman threw the final inning and allowed one hit.

Clear Lake Coach Megan Young was proud of her team.

“We are connecting and getting some solid hits, but we still need to strive to win.  We kept it a close game and kept our errors low, but we need to keep working through them,” she said.

The Cards knocked out 15 hits against Clear Lake’s Kiersten Baalson and Reagan Brackey.  Baalson took the loss, allowing 13 hits in five innings.  She walked four and struck out two.

Mackenzie VanGerpen and Payton Bamrick each had four hits, including a double, for the Cardinals and Mallory Van Oort had three hits.  The Cards were fast on the basepaths, recording six steals.  Jayden Hughes had three of them.

The Lions had seven hits scattered among six players.  Michaela Niles reached base twice on hits.