Jefferson Softball

Two will do; J-Hawks split 2-run games

The night ended the way it started Thursday, with Jefferson holding a 1.5 game lead over Dubuque Hempstead in the MVC Valley Division softball standings.

Yet the J-Hawks inched closer to claiming that title.

Two was the winning number on the warm summer evening at the J-Hawk softball field. Both games were decided by two runs in 2-0 shutouts.

Jefferson took a 2-0 victory in the opener behind the left arm of junior ace Hannah Petersen and some timely hitting from sophomore Maddie Koolbeck and junior Carson Burgart.

Jefferson dropped the nightcap 2-0 after allowing two runs in poorly played first inning.

Jefferson (26-6, 19-2) holds the 1.5 game lead over second-place Hempstead (27-4, 18-4) with four games to play. The J-Hawks close their season with conference doubleheaders at Dubuque Wahlert and at Waterloo East next week. Hempstead has a doubleheader at Mississippi Division winner Waterloo West and another at home against Linn-Mar.

The nightcap started after a short ceremony to celebrate the three J-hawk seniors. The J-Hawks failed to realize that the celebration was over and it was time to play again as they struggled through the first inning.

The game started with an error by Burgart at shortstop and two straight walks issued by senior Katie Naber that load the bases.

Senior Hannah Koerperich capitalized right away for the Mustangs with an RBI sacrifice fly to get Hempstead on the board. The ‘Stangs added another run on an RBI single from senior Taylor Reidl.

“We were more interested in talking to the crowd in the second game then we were on playing,” Jefferson Coach Larry Niemeyer said. “One bad inning is all it takes.”

The first inning was all it took. Jefferson's bats were mostly silent during the game. The J-Hawks managed only four hits off sophomore Hailey Koerperich.

Naber scattered six Mustang hits.

In the opener, Jefferson’s Petersen gave up just three hits, walked none and struck out 10.

“Pete pitched very, very well,” Niemeyer said.

The J-Hawk bats were by no means hot as they managed just five hits, but they were able to put a few hits to together in the fourth to score two runs.

With one out in the fourth inning junior Kenna Fry singled and eighth grader Maddie Hanson reached on an error to put the J-Hawks in business. Koolbeck came through with an RBI single on a no-ball, two-strike pitch that scored pinch runner Hannah Towns. Burgart followed with an RBI single.

“I have gotten anxious (with runners in scoring position) in the past, I made sure I was calm and looked for a pitch I could drive,” Koolbeck said. “I got an inside pitch and tried to take it to the left side. I picked it up a little late, but managed to drop it into left center.”

“We got a break or two and took advantage of it,” Niemeyer said. “That is what you have to do against a good team.”

Petersen was 3-for-6 in the doubleheader.

“We don’t make the pitcher work enough,” Petersen said. “We need to wait for our pitch and not try to hit hers.”

Jefferson plays two games in Ottumwa on Friday.

GAME 1

DUBUQUE HEMPSTEAD (0)
Amanda Hovind, RF, 3 0 1 0, Krista Grutz, 2B, 3 0 0 0, Hailey Koerperich, CF, 3 0 2 0, Hannah Koerperich, P, 3 0 0 0, Audrey Gronen, SS, 3 0 0 0, Taylor Reidl, 3B, 2 0 0 0, Hope Koerperich, C, 2 0 0 0, Lauren Kelleher, LF, 2 0 0 0, Jordan Albrecht, DP, 2 0 0 0, Alli Thein, 1B, 0 0 0 0. Totals 23 0 3 0.

JEFFERSON (2)
Rachel Sedlacek, LF, 3 0 1 0, Kailey Drake, CF, 3 0 0 0, Hannah Petersen, P, 3 0 1 0, Kenna Fry, 1B, 3 0 1 0, Hannah Towns, pr, 0 1 0 0, Maddie Hanson, DP, 3 0 0 0, Katie Naber, pr, 0 1 0 0, Maddie Koolbeck, RF, 3 0 1 1, Ashley Madsen, pr, 0 0 0 0, Carson Burgart, SS, 2 0 1 1, Kaitlyn Davidson, 2B, 2 0 0 0, Maddy Blietz, 3B, 2 0 0 0, Nicole Marquart, C, 0 0 0 0. Totals 24 2 5 2.

Hempstead 000 000 0 -  0 3 1
Jefferson    000 200 x -  2 5 0

Hannah Koerperich and Hope Koerperich. Petersen and Marquart. W – Petersen. L – Hannah Koerperich.

GAME 2

DUBUQUE HEMPSTEAD (2)
Amanda Hovind, CF, 4 1 1 0, Krista Grutz, 2B, 3 0 0 0, Hailey Koerperich, P, 3 1 2 0, Hannah Koerperich, RF, 3 0 2 1, Audrey Gronen, SS, 3 0 0 0, Taylor Reidl, 3B, 2 0 1 1, Hope Koerperich, C, 3 0 0 0, Lauren Kelleher, LF, 3 0 0 0, Jordan Albrecht, DP, 2 0 0 0, Alli Thein, 1B, 0 0 0 0. Totals 26 2 6 2.

JEFFERSON (0)
Rachel Sedlacek, LF, 3 0 0 0, Kailey Drake, RF, 3 0 0 0, Hannah Petersen, RF, 3 0 2 0, Kenna Fry, 1B, 3 0 0 0, Amber Grimm, DP, 2 0 0 0, Maddie Hanson, ph, 1 0 0 0, Carson Burgart, SS, 2 0 0 0, Kaitlyn Davidson, 2B, 3 0 1 0, Katie Naber, P, 3 0 1 0, Maddy Blietz, 3B, 1 0 0 0, Nicole Marquart, C, 0 0 0 0. Totals 24 0 4 0.

Hempstead  200 000 0 -  2 6 1
Jefferson     000 000 0 -  0 4 1

Hailey Koerperich and Hope Koerperich. Naber and Marquart. W – Hailey Koerperich. L – Naber.

By a lot or a little, J-Hawks know how to win

IOWA CITY - Jefferson softball coach Larry Niemeyer could afford to joke a little bit after the No. 4 J-Hawks swept Iowa City High Tuesday night.

“We had it all the way,” Niemeyer joked after the J-Hawks won the nightcap of the MVC doubleheader, 2-1. Jefferson (25-5, 18-1) took the opener, 13-3.

The truth is the J-Hawks did not have it all the way. In fact, they did not have a lead until the seventh inning when junior Hannah Petersen doubled home what turned out to be the winning run.

“I knew my team needed me and I needed to be a clutch hitter,” Petersen said. “I was just begging for a good pitch to hit and I got it.”

The J-Hawk offense struggled to figure out sophomore pitcher Erin Weno. Jefferson managed to get just three hits off Weno, but used some walks and aggressive base running to pull out the victory.

Jefferson was shut out through five innings and managed only one hit, senior Katie Naber's two-out single in the second inning.

Naber, who pitched the nightcap for the J-Hawks, worked her way out of many difficult situations, leaving seven Little Hawk runners in scoring position, including at least one in each of three innings.

“I’m back,” said Naber, who has not pitched in a close game since coming back from suspension in mid-June.

Naber looked like her old self, but gave up a run in the fourth inning that put the J-Hawks in a 1-0 hole. Sam Blowers' two-out RBI single scored Whitney Duthie, who had  doubled.

Jefferson tied the game in the sixth. Pinch hitter Maddie Hanson, an eighth grader, singled with one out. After a pair of passed balls, senior pinch runner Ashley Madsen scored on a sacrifice fly from sophomore Kaitlyn Davidson.

The stage was set for drama and neither team disappointed.

Sophomore pinch hitter Maddie Koolbeck drew a walk to lead off the Jefferson seventh and was bunted over to second. After Weno got a strikeout for the second out, Petersen went opposite field, depositing a 2-ball, 2-strike pitch into the left-center gap to score what turned out to be the winning run.

The Little Hawks (12-17, 10-10) put up a fight in the bottom half of the inning. With one out sophomore Brie Hightshoe reached on an error by J-Hawk shortstop Carson Burgart. After Hightshoe got bunted over Niemeyer opted to walk Weno, the Little Hawks' best hitter, to put runners on first and second. Naber walked another unintentionally to load the bases, putting the potential winning run in scoring position at second base.

Naber got sophomore Shelby Yoder to ground to Burgart at shortstop. Runner's interference was called for the third out and Jefferson escaped with a 2-1 win.

“I’m used to that, I’m use to the pressure I pitch better (with pressure),” Naber said. “My junk allows us to get lead runners out with ground balls.”

The J-Hawks pounded out 17 hits in the opener.Junior Kenna Fry was 5-for-5 with five RBIs and junior Rachel Sedlacek was 3-for-5.

“I knew that we needed to score early and often,” Fry said. “I am very confident at the plate with runners in scoring position. It makes me want to get a hit even more.”

Jefferson scored single runs in the first and second innings, then added three more in the fourth for a 5-0 lead. The J-Hawks tacked on four more runs in the sixth inning, highlighted by Burgart's two RBI double. Fry's two-run single sparked the J-Hawks' four-run seventh.

Petersen, Jefferson's ace lefty, gave up just two hits and struck out seven in five innings of shutout work.

Jefferson hosts No.15 Dubuque Hempstead (26-3, 17-3) in a key MVC doubleheader Thursday night. The J-Hawks hold a 1.5-game lead over the Mustangs in the Valley Division.

GAME 1
JEFFERSON (13)
Rachel Sedlacek, LF, 5 2 3 1, Kailey Drake, CF, 4 3 2 1, Hannah Petersen, P, 4 0 1 1, Hannah Towns, cr, 0 2 0 0, Alissa Good, P, 0 0 0 0, Kenna Fry, 1B, 5 2 5 5, Maddie Hanson, DP, 5 0 1 0, Maddie Koolbeck, RF, 2 1 1 0, Ashley Madsen, CF, 1 1 1 1, Carson Burgart, SS, 3 0 1 2, Maddy Blietz, 3B, 4 1 1 0, Kaitlyn Davidson, 2B, 3 1 1 1, Nicole Marquart, C, 0 0 0 0. Totals 37 13 17 12.
CITY HIGH (3)
Brie Hightshoe, SS, 4 1 0 0, Kira Dailey, CF, 4 1 2 2, Erin Weno, DP, 4 1 2 0, Nikki Burian, C, 1 0 0 0, Sam Blowers, 3B, 2 0 0 0, Peyton Koenig, C, 2 0 0 0, Sara Blowers, cr, 0 0 0 0, Shelby Yoder, LF, 3 0 0 0, Ashley Duthie, 2B, 3 0 0 0, Whitney Duthie, 1B, 3 0 1 0, Ruth Grace, pr, 0 0 0 0, Kaylee Harney, RF, 3 0 0 0, Jena Heise, P, 0 0 0 0. Totals 29 3 5 2.
Jefferson 1 1 0 3 0 4 4   13  17  5
City High 0 0 0 0 0 3 0   3  5  3
Petersen, Good (6) and Marquart. Heise and Burian, Koenig (2). W – Petersen L – Heise 2B – Sedlacek, Petersen, Koolbeck HR – Dailey SB – Sedlacek, Sara Blowers

GAME 2
JEFFERSON (2)
Rachel Sedlacek, LF, 3 0 0 0, Kailey Drake, CF, 3 0 0 0, Hannah Petersen, RF, 2 0 1 1, Kenna Fry, 1B, 4 0 0 0, Hannah McInerney, DP, 1 0 0 0, Maddie Hanson, ph, 1 0 1 0, Ashley Madsen, pr, 0 1 0 0, Carson Burgart, SS, 1 0 0 0, Kaitlyn Davidson, 2B, 2 0 0 1, Katie Naber, P, 3 0 1 0, Nicole Marquart, C, 1 0 0 0, Hannah Towns, cr, 0 1 0 0, Maddie Koolbeck, ph, 0 0 0 0, Maddy Blietz, 3B, 0 0 0 0. Totals 21 2 3 1.
CITY HIGH (1)
Brie Hightshoe, SS, 3 0 0 0, Kira Dailey, CF, 3 0 2 0, Erin Weno, P, 3 0 0 0, Mikayla Heath, cr, 0 0 0 0, Peyton Koenig, C, 3 0 0 0, Shelby Yoder, LF, 4 0 2 0, Ashley Duthie, 2B, 3 0 0 0, Whitney Duthie, 1B, 3 1 2 0, Ruth Grace, RF, 2 0 0 0, Emily Koepnik, ph, 0 0 0 0, Sam Blowers, 3B, 3 0 1 1. Totals 28 1 9 1.
Jefferson 0 0 0 0 0 1 1   2  3  1
City High 0 0 0 1 0 0 0   1  9  0
Naber and Marquart. Weno and Koenig. W – Naber L – Weno 2B – Petersen, Dailey, W. Duthie SB - Drake

Petersen strong, but errors cost J-Hawks

Jefferson junior southpaw ace Hannah Petersen once again did her thing in the pitching circle, allowing only three hits and no earned runs Saturday against Creston.

But her thing wasn't enough for the J-Hawks to avoid a 2-1 softball loss.

Class 4A No.4 Jefferson (23-5) had two untimely errors that allowed the Class 3A No.13 Panthers (21-4) to score both of their runs. That was all the run support needed for Creston pitcher Madison Frain, who matched Petersen's three-hitter.

The J-Hawks scored their only run on a double steal of second and home.

“We need to be more selective at the plate, we chase a lot (of pitches),” said Petersen, who had one of the J-Hawk hits. “We don’t get timely hits or walks, we just need to execute.”

The Panthers struck first in the third inning, when J-Hawk third baseman Hannah McInerney fielded a sacrifice bunt and threw it into right field. The error allowed Haley LeMasters, who had walked to lead off the inning, to score from first.

Jefferson tied the game in the fourth inning on a steal of home by junior Kailey Drake, who had singled to lead off the inning. She advanced to third when junior Kenna Fry and eighth grader Maddie Hanson were both hit by pitches.

The game was tied heading into the seventh inning, which started with Petersen striking out Maddie Haines. But Haines reached first when senior catcher Nicole Marquart dropped the third strike. The error keep the inning alive for the Panthers, who eventually scored the winning run when Sam McDonald's RBI single scored Haines.

The J-Hawks stranded a runner on third base in the bottom of the seventh inning and Creston took the victory.

Petersen struck out 15 in the losing effort. Frain fanned 14 J-Hawks.

“My back door curve was really working,” Petersen said. “I was hitting my spots and was staying ahead in the count.”

Jefferson was scheduled to play Mount Vernon later in the day Saturday, but the game was cancelled by rain.

The J-Hawks play a doubleheader at Iowa City High on Tuesday. They host Valley Division rival Dubuque Hempstead in a doubleheader Thursday on senior night.

CRESTON (2)
Kaitlyn Beiley, SS, 4 0 1 0, Carla Smith, C, 3 0 0 0, Madison Frain, P, 3 0 0 0, Shelbie Kramer, 1B, 3 0 0 0, Maddie Haines, 2B, 3 1 0 0, Bree Matlen, RF, 3 0 0 0, Haley LeMasters, LF, 2 1 1 0, Malorie Griffith, 3B, 2 0 0 0, Natalie Mostaic, pr, 0 0 0 0, Sam McDonald, CF, 3 0 1 1. Totals 26 2 3 1.

JEFFERSON (1)
Rachel Sedlacek, LF, 4 0 0 0, Kailey Drake, 3 1 1 0, Hannah Petersen, P, 2 0 1 0, Hannah Towns, cr, 0 0 0 0, Kenna Fry, 1B, 2 0 0 0, Maddie Hanson, DP, 1 0 0 0, Hannah McInerney, 3B, 2 0 0 0, Maddy Blietz, 3B, 1 0 0 0, Amber Grimm, RF, 2 0 0 0, Ashley Madsen, CF, 0 0 0 0, Maddie Koolbeck, ph, 0 0 0 0, Carson Burgart, SS, 2 0 0 0, Kaitlyn Davidson, 2B, 3 0 1 0, Nicole Marquart, C, 0 0 0 0. Totals 22 1 3 0.

Creston    001 000 1 -  2  3  0
Jefferson  000 100 0 -  1  3  2
Frain and Smith. Petersen and Marquart. W – Frain. L – Petersen. SB – Madsen.

Scores

Dubuque Hempstead 10, English Valleys 5
Creston 2, Jefferson 1
Creston 4, English Valleys 0 (4), susp., rain

Bombs away; J-Hawks blast Cougars twice

The ball was flying off the bats of Jefferson hitters Thursday night in a Mississippi Valley Conference doubleheader at Kennedy. The No. 6 J-Hawks had 17 hits in each game and a combined four home runs to power their way to a pair of wins.

“They fly out of here,” Jefferson Coach Larry Niemeyer said. “It is a short field.”

The J-Hawks (23-4, 16-1) took the opener 17-0 in five innings and followed that up with a 12-1 win in five in the nightcap. The doubleheader was the fourth in as many nights for the J-Hawks, who won seven of the eight games, and have won 10 of their last 11. Kennedy (4-21, 2-16) has lost 14 straight games.

In the opener the J-Hawks exploded for 11 runs in the fifth inning to take complete control of the Cougars. Jefferson junior ace Hannah Petersen (12-3) also tossed a three-hit shutout with nine strikeouts.

“I got confidence (pitching),” Petersen said. “I have a good defense behind me which makes it easy to relax.”

Run support also helps.

The J-Hawks got on the board in the first inning when junior Kenna Fry singled in courtesy runner Ashley Madsen, who was running for Petersen after she had singled.

Jefferson added one run in the second on a RBI single by sophomore Kaitlyn Davidson and four more in the third, which was highlighted by two-run blast from sophomore Amber Grimm.

The J-Hawks hammered out 11 runs on 10 hits in the fifth inning to put the game away. Jefferson sent 16 batters to the plate in the inning, and eight collected at least one hit. Junior Rachel Sedlacek and Petersen had two hits apiece in the frame and both had two-run doubles.

Jefferson senior Katie Naber (8-1) matched Petersen's three-hitter with one of her own in the nightcap.

Jefferson again scored early and often to end the game in five innings by the 10-run rule.

After singles from Sedlacek and junior Kailey Drake, Fry hit a three-run home run to right center to put the J-Hawks ahead in the first inning.

The J-Hawks added four more runs and two home runs in the second inning to push their lead to 7-0. Sedlacek hit a two-run home run, her ninth round-tripper, and Drake followed with a solo shot of her own.

The J-Hawks continued to pound the ball in the third inning, adding three more runs on four hits.

Jefferson added another pair of runs in the fifth inning for good measure before the Cougars got their only run of the night on a solo blast from senior Kassi Nunnikhoven.

Sedlacek was 5-for-8 with four RBIs in the twinbill. Petersen also was 5-for-8.

Jefferson will play Creston and Mount Vernon on Saturday at a classic they will host.

Kennedy plays Friday and Saturday at the Clear Creek Amana tournament.

GAME 1

JEFFERSON (17)
Rachel Sedlacek, LF, 4 2 2 2, Kailey Drake, CF, 5 1 1 1, Hannah Petersen. P, 5 0 3 2, Ashley Madsen, cr, 0 3 0 0, Alissa Good, P, 0 0 0 0, Kenna Fry, 1B, 5 1 2 2, Dani Stromert, 1B, 0 0 0 0, Hannah McInerney, 3B, 4 1 2 1, Amber Grimm, RF, 4 2 1 2, Maddie Koolbeck, DP, 2 4 2 0, Carson Burgart, SS, 4 2 2 2, Katelyn Holub, SS, 0 0 0 0, Kaitlyn Davidson, 2B, 2 1 2 3, Hannah Towns, 2B, 0 0 0 0, Nicole Marquart, C, 0 0 0 0. Totals 35 17 17 15.

KENNEDY (0)
Lauren Kubovec, C, 2 0 1 0, Madeline Flesner, 2B, 2 0 1 0, Erin Coker, 1B, 2 0 0 0, Heather Mckinnon, LF, 2 0 0 0, Amanda Gaffey, 3B, 2 0 0 0, Tanner Rathjens, RF, 2 0 1 0, Kassi Nunnikhoven, P, 2 0 0 0, Alycia McQuiston, CF, 2 0 0 0, Taylor Wagner, SS, 2 0 0 0. Totals 18 0 3 0.

Jefferson  114 0(11) -  17  17  0
Kennedy   000 00    -    0    3  5
Petersen, Good and Marquart. Nunnikhoven and Kubovec. W – Petersen. L – Nunnikhoven. 2B – Sedlacek, Petersen, Burgart, Davidson. HR – Grimm.

GAME 2

JEFFERSON (12)
Rachel Sedlacek, LF, 4 3 3 2, Kailey Drake, CF, 3 2 2 1, Amber Grimm, RF, 1 1 1 0, Hannah Petersen, RF, 3 1 2 1, Ashley Madsen, CF, 1 2 1 0, Kenna Fry, 1B, 3 1 2 4, Dani Stromert, 1B, 0 0 0 1, Maddie Hanson, DP, 4 0 2 2, Carson Burgart, SS, 3 0 1 0, Katelyn Holub, SS, 1 2 0 0, Kaitlyn Davidson, 2B, 3 0 2 0, Maddy Blietz, 3B, 3 0 0 0, Nicole Marquart, C, 3 0 2 0, Katie Naber, P, 0 0 0 0. Totals 31 12 17 11.

KENNEDY (1)
Lauren Kubovec, C, 1 0 0 0, Madeline Flesner, SS, 2 0 0 0, Erin Coker, 1B, 2 0 1 0, Heather Mckinnon, LF, 2 0 1 0, Amanda Gaffey, 3B, 2 0 0 0, Taylor Steffans, DP, 2 0 0 0, Kassi Nunnikhoven, CF, 2 1 1 1, Tanner Rathjens, RF, 2 0 0 0, Taylor Wagner, 2B, 0 0 0 0, Callie Sauer, 2B, 1 0 0 0, Ashley Geels, PH, 1 0 0 0, Taylor Sohn, P, 0 0 0 0. Totals 17 1 3 1.

Jefferson  343 02  -  12  17  0
Kennedy   000 01 -   1     3  1
Naber and Marquart. Sohn and Kubovec. W – Naber. L – Sohn. 2B – Petersen, Fry, Hanson. HR – Sedlacek, Fry, Drake. SB - Sedlacek.