Spirit Lake hosted its annual KUOO Softball Invitational on Saturday consisting of twelve teams playing three games each. Central Springs, who is ranked No. 2 in Class 2A, was the lone team to go undefeated on the day, securing wins over Estherville-Lincoln Central, Western Christian, and Spirit Lake. The Indians finished the day 2-1, beating Lawton-Bronson 12-0 in five innings, and then Graettinger-Terril 5-3 before falling to Central Springs 11-4. For the day, Alli Gerking had four hits including a home run, scored five runs and drove in four. Amanda Bueltel registerd six hits, three runs scored and two batted in. Cara Vale went 1-1 in the pitchers circle with and hit one home run. Paige Krause picked up the other win.
The Okoboji Pioneers also finished 2-1, defeating Western Christian 6-5 in come-from-behind fashion, Lawton-Bronson 11-1 in six innings, and falling to Kingsley-Pierson 5-1. Abby Taylor enjoyed a very successful day at the plate, but her biggest hit came in the dramatic game one win over the Wolfpack, in which the freshman smashed a two-run homer to left for the walkoff win in the seventh.
ELC finished with a 2-1 record, taking down Remsen St. Mary’s 9-8 in eight innings and Lawton-Bronson 12-0, along with the 5-0 setback against Central Springs. Sibley-Ocheyedan secured a 1-2 mark, suffering losses to Remsen St. Mary’s, 12-2, and West Bend-Mallard, 13-7, before defeating Graettinger-Terril 14-4. The Knights were one of two winless teams, with their third loss coming 7-4 against Central Lyon/George-Little Rock.
Rest of the scores:
West Bend-Mallard 3, Kinsgley-Pierson 0
Western Christian 5, West Bend-Mallard 4
Kingsley-Pierson 10, Central Lyon/George-Little Rock 8
Central Springs 6, Western Christian 0
Central Lyon/George-Little Rock 7, Remsen St. Mary’s 6
Also on Saturday, Alta/Aurelia, the third-ranked Class 2A team shut out Emmetsburg, the No. 11 team in Class 1A, by a 2-0 final. The E-Hawks now have two losses on the season.
