By: Nathan Bloechl — sports@kilj.com
Prep Softball: Mount Pleasant Loses in Heartbreaker, Danville Eliminated:
Keokuk 6, Mount Pleasant 5
Mount Pleasant jumped out to a 4-0 lead but could not hold on as the Keokuk Chiefs rallied for six of the game’s next seven runs earning a walkoff 6-5 win last night at Joyce Park.
The win advanced them to Saturday’s second round, where they will take on Fairfield.
Grace Kelley had the big hit in a four run 2nd inning for the Panthers, a two run double.
Savana Walls, Ella McNamee and Emma Starr each had multi-hit nights, while Bethany Drury doubled.
Madison Helling was the losing pitcher for the Panthers, working 6.2 innings allowing six runs only three earned.
She walked five and struck out two.
Abby Thompson earned the win for Keokuk.
Mount Pleasant ends their season 1-37.
Keokuk improved to 8-25.
Van Buren County 12, Danville 2
Isabel Manning had three hits and two runs batted in as Van Buren County raced out to a 12-2 win over Danville last night in a Class 2A Regional Quarterfinal.
The Warriors belted out 15 hits as a team with five other girls also registering multi-hit nights.
Chelsey Huff led the way with four runs batted in, Ivy Davidson drove in three.
Huff was also dynamite in the circle, allowing just two hits and an unearned run over four innings.
Ally Campbell pitched the final two innings striking out two allowing one unearned run.
The win moved Van Buren County into tonight’s semifinal round, where they’ll take on upstart Cardinal who upset Wapello on Wednesday night.
The top half of the bracket will see Louisa-Muscatine hook up with Iowa City Regina.
Prep Softball: Highland, W-MU Ready for Dazzling Matchup:
It will be a dazzling matchup tonight when No. 15 (1A) Winfield-Mount Union hosts Highland in the semifinal round of the Class 1A Regional Playoffs.
The Lady Wolves looked strong in their opener, pushing past New London 10-0.
Highland blanked Lone Tree 5-0.
This will be the third meeting between the two programs this season with each team grabbing a game.
Highland enters play tonight 21-6.
Grace Batcheller has been the Huskies’ workhorse, starting 17 games, striking out 101 over 105.2 innings.
She struck out six in the team’s win over Lone Tree.
Meanwhile, the list of superlatives to use to describe the performance of Maddie Anderson is dwindling.
The superstar ace of the Lady Wolves was incredible again on Wednesday and will need her ‘A’ stuff again tonight.
Anderson allowed just one hit and a walk while striking out 15 against New London.
She eclipsed the career 1,000 strikeout mark earlier this season.
Tonight’s game can be heard on FM 105.5 and kilj.com.
Weather permitting, first pitch is set for 7:00 p.m.
Prep Baseball: Mount Pleasant Splits with Knoxville:
Knoxville 4, Mount Pleasant 2
Mount Pleasant 12, Knoxville 10
The Mount Pleasant baseball team split a nonconference doubleheader against Knoxville last night at Mapleleaf Athletic Complex.
In game one, Knoxville won 4-2.
Will Edeker suffered the loss, working 4.1 innings allowing four runs, two earned while walking six and striking out two.
Chase Williamson, Jack Johnson, Carter Amos and Zerek Venghaus each had hits.
Edeker drove in one.
In game two, Mount Pleasant brought out the thunder sticks, cratering Knoxville for 12 runs in a 12-10 win.
Chase Williamson and Zerek Venghaus each had two hits, with Williamson driving in three.
Jack Johnson earned the win out of the bullpen, throwing 2.2 scoreless innings, walking four and striking out two.
The split moved Mount Pleasant to 7-22.
Other area finals last night:
Van Buren County 11, Keokuk 5
Hillcrest Academy 10, Danville 5
College Football: Cyclones Tabbed for Second Place Finish in Big 12:
The Iowa State Cyclone football team was picked to finish second in the Big 12 Media Preseason Poll, the league announced Thursday.
Iowa State finished with four first-place votes, while Oklahoma was tabbed as the preseason favorite with 35 first-place votes.
Texas, Oklahoma State and TCU rounded out the top-five.
