Wins elude Clear Lake girls against top North Iowa softball teams

[caption id="attachment_11148" align="alignleft" width="243"] Clear Lake third baseman Katie Hewett goes all out to get her glove on an infield hit.-Reporter photo by Chris Barragy.[/caption]

A win continued to elude the Clear Lake softball team.  The Lions (0-13) took the field against three teams this week and while there were scoring opportunities, errors were costly.

Inclement weather forced the cancellation of games with Forest City and Osage in the Mason City tournament.  Monday’s game with Iowa Falls-Alden was postponed until July 6.

H-D  10, CL 0

Hampton-Dumont rushed out to an 8-0 lead after two innings and went on to post a 10-2 North Central Conference victory.  The Lions settled down after the rough start and scored single runs in the third and fifth innings, while holding the Bulldogs to two runs through seven innings.

Reagan Brackey had the start on the mound and took the loss.  She gave up seven runs on six hits.  She struck out three and walked two.  Kiersten Ballson gave up six hits and walked two in four innings.

The Lions had eight hits in the game, led by Erin O’Tool with three.  Michaela Nile had two hits, while Brackey, Ballson, and Michala Ouverson each had singles.

“We began to get contact with the ball and get some good hits.  We left a lot of runners on base and are continuing to work on capitalizing on all opportunities,” said Coach Megan Young.

St. Ed’s 10, CL 0

Amanda Lansman fired a no-hitter and helped top rated St. Edmond (2A) defeat the Lions, 10-0, in six innings Wednesday, June 17.  

“We came out strong in the first few innings, but it all came down to the sixth inning,” said Coach Young.  “Fielding is improving, but we need to continue to shake off the errors.”

The Gaels scored 10 runs, five of them earned, with 11 hits off Brackey.

Mason City 13, CL 2

Mason City (8-11) plated nine runs in the bottom of the first on their way to beating Clear Lake 13-2 in five innings Thursday night at the Mohawk Softball Complex. 

“The first inning was a big one.  We ended up having too many miscues in that inning,” said Coach Young.  The Lions had five errors in the contest.

Niles had two of the Lions’ three hits in the game, as well as a stolen base.  Lexi Jones had the other Clear Lake hit.

“The girls continue to fight to improve,” said Young.