Lady Red Hawks Win Their First Game of the Year

This week, the Hiawatha softball team hosted the Holton Wildcats on Thursday and travelled to Seneca on Monday, playing two doubleheaders. The team’s record for the week was 1-3, with their first victory of the year coming against Holton in the second game.

The Red Hawks had a strong offensive performance in the first game on Thursday, scoring several runs in three innings, but they were forced to chase the Wildcats after Holton had a 12-run second inning. The Cats kept up their scoring throughout the contest, holding off the Red Hawks to win 18–11. Hiawatha had some outstanding performances from its hitters despite the setback. Quinn Boye hit his first home run of the season while Kenzie Nelson hit his second throughout the game. Boye went two for four at the plate, dropping three RBIs and scoring one run, while Nelson went two for four, scoring one run and driving in four. An RBI and a run scored supported Claire Twombly’s two-for-four day at the plate, and Mya Mendez’s two-for-four hitting also included a run batted in. Adison Williams and Kylie Nelson both went three for five with two runs scored, while Maddy Simmons hammered two doubles on three hits and scored three times. For the Red Hawks, Simmons also pitched the complete game.

The Hawks’ ability to shut down Holton’s big inning in the second game proved crucial as it gave Hiawatha’s Kenzie Nelson the chance to smash a game-winning double that drove in Sage Stover for the winning run. The Red Hawks triumphed 11–10 in dramatic fashion on their home pitch. The Hawks led 5-1 after scoring five goals in the first quarter. After that, the two teams battled back and forth, with Holton closing in to tie the score in the fifth and seventh quarters before Nelson’s game-winning shot.Kenzie batted three for five in the game’s conclusion, scoring one run and driving in two. Mya Mendez also smacked two doubles, knocking in three runs, scoring once, and going two for four at the plate, while Simmons flourished at the plate, smashing two more doubles on a four for three effort. Boye drove in two runs and Twombly contributed one RBI in the game, while Stover ended with a hit, a run, and an RBI. Williams was in charge of the pitching and had enough left in the tank to secure the victory.

The Hawks were plagued by a huge inning once more, as Nemaha scored eight runs in the fourth. The Lady Red Hawks were shut down by the Thunder’s pitching and defence throughout the game, and Stover was the only baserunner the team could muster and concluded the game with Hiawatha’s lone hit. Williams gave Hiawatha a pitch.

Throughout the game, Kyle Nelson went two for two with a double and a run scored. With a run scored, a double, a walk, and three RBIs, Kenzie ended two for three. The squad also received RBIs from Simmons and Boye, while Simmons pitched the full six innings.

The Lady Hawks, who are currently 1-13 on the year, will return to action on Monday night when they play Perry Lecompton.