The Linn-Mar softball team got off to a slow start on Tuesday as they lost both games of their doubleheader to Waterloo East, 8-3 and 4-2, at Linn-Mar.

The Trojans (11-4, 7-3) were led by their pitchers, Alyson Netty and Kesley Rash, who combined to hold the Lions (4-11, 2-6) to just nine hits.

“They went right at our hitters,” Linn-Mar Coach Jon Harms said. “They were constantly ahead in the count. I thought we were really defensive hitters all night. They did a nice job of getting ahead in the counts and making us hit their pitch and that’s what we did. They got the outs and they really controlled the game and the tempo.”

The Trojans never trailed against the Lions. They jumped out to a five-run lead in the first inning of game one and a two-run lead in the third inning of game two.

“They came a lot more ready to play,” Harms said. “They hit better, they fielded better, they had a lot more energy and they certainly deserved to win because they came ready to play and I thought it took us a game and a half before we even acted like we were ready to play tonight.”

Harms said he thought that the Lions' slow start was reflective of the problems that the team has been having so far this season.

“This seems to be a pattern for us,” Harms said “It is something we are addressing and we are trying to work on, but we aren't there yet, we have not mentally been able to make that shift to come to the ballpark ready to play.”

In order for the Lions to start getting off to better starts, Harms said he feels they need to find some leadership.

“We need some girls to step up and to start holding teammates accountable with practice habits and attitudes and efforts,” he said. “If we can get some girls to do that I think others will start to follow suit. We have so many girls on the team right now looking for someone to make a play instead of taking it upon themselves to get it done offensively or defensively.”

Linn-Mar next plays Thursday in a doubleheader at No. 8 Jefferson.

Game 1

WATERLOO EAST (8)
Henry, lf, 4 1 1 0, Kinnetz, ss, 3 2 3 1, Netty, p, 4 1 1 2, Rash, 1b, 3 1 2 3, Nichols, cf, 4 0 2 0, Kubik, c, 4 0 0 0, Wroe, 3b, 3 1 2 0, Schmidt, 2b, 4 1 1 0, Kriener, rf, 2 1 0 2, Thompson, PH, 1 0 0 0.

LINN-MAR (3)
L. Harms, ss, 4 0 0 0, Duggan, 2b, 2 0 0 0, E. Rizor, 3b/C, 3 0 1 1, M. Rizor, 1b, 4 0 1 0, Ollinger, lf, 3 0 0 0, Jensen, p, 2 0 1 0, Ryan, p, 2 0 0 0, Martins 2 0 1 0, Kolf, PH, 0 1 0 0, Yearling, C/DP, 3 1 1 0, J. Harms, 2 1 0 2, Swanson, 3b 0 0 0 0.

Waterloo East 140 200 1 - 8 12 1
Linn-Mar         000 030 0 - 3 4 2

Netty and Kubik. Jensen, Ryan (3) and E. Rizor. W - Netty. L - Jensen. 2b Kinnetz, Nichols, Schmidt. HR Netty, Rash.

Game 2

WATERLOO EAST (4)
Henry, lf, 4 2 3 0, Kinnetz, ss, 4 0 1 0, Netty, 1b, 4 1 3 1, Rash, p, 4 0 0 0, Nichols, cf, 4 1 1 0, Kubik, c, 3 0 1 1, Wroe, 3b, 3 0 1 2, Schmidt, 2b, 3 0 1 0, Thompson, dp, 3 0 0 0, Frank, rf, 0 0 0 0.

LINN-MAR (2)
E. Rizor, c, 3 2 1 0, L. Harms, ss, 3 0 0 0, Duggan, 2b, 3 0 0 1, M. Rizor, 1b, 3 0 1 0, Ollinger, lf, 3 0 1 1, Jensen, p, 3 0 1 0, Yearling, rf, 2 0 0 0, J. Harms, cf, 2 0 0 0, Martins, cf, 1 0 1 0, Swanson, 3b, 2 0 0 0, Kolf, PH, 1 0 0 0.

Waterloo East 103 000 0 - 4 11 2
Linn-Mar         101 000 0 - 2 5 1

Rash and Kubik. Jensen and E. Rizor. W - Rash. L - Jensen.