SWIPING SECOND — North Union courtesy runner Libby Stevens beats the throw to West Hancock second baseman Carlee Bruns for a stolen base during Game 1 of an Iowa prep softball doubleheader on Monday night in Swea City. (Photo by Greg Abel)
SWEA CITY — The most difficult job at the Swea City softball diamond on Monday night belonged to North Union varsity courtesy runner/scoreboard operator Aliyah Jones.
The Iowa Class 2A No. 4-ranked Warriors, who entered the Top of Iowa Conference doubleheader averaging an incredible 11.5 runs per outing, exploded for 40 runs and 34 hits to sweep the West Hancock Eagles in a pair of three-inning run-rule games, 15-0 and 25-2, respectively.
Aliyah Jones, an eighth-grader, even pinch-ran during Game 2 and crossed the plate once during the Warriors’ seven-run third inning.
“At one point during the doubleheader, I just felt speechless. We strung together so many hits during the second inning of Game 1 (nine) and then, during the first inning of Game 2 (nine), that I didn’t have any advice for them (the hitters),” North Union head coach Kim Price said with a smile.
Ahead 2-0 in the opener, Shelby Fraker’s leadoff bunt hit proved the catalyst behind the Warriors’ 13-run offensive explosion in which the home team batted around twice during the bottom of the second inning.
Cassie Beadle, who went 5-for-6 with five runs scored during the two-game span, produced the first of her five RBIs by slashing an RBI single during North Union’s second at-bat.
Olivia Von Bank, who went 4-for-6 with two home runs and a twinbill-best seven RBIs, displayed her bat speed by hammering a three-run HR over the center-field fence for an 8-0 lead for the home team. Sam Nielsen, who went an incredible 7-for-7 with two RBIs on the doubleheader, scored the second of her seven runs on the night via Von Bank’s round-tripper. Beadle also crossed the plate on the towering swat.
Ironically, Nielsen, Beadle and Olivia Von Bank were not finished hitting in the second inning as all three produced RBI singles during their next appearances in the batter’s box before Emily Meyer duplicated their feats.
Emily Meyer recorded five strikeouts during her three-inning shutout performance inside the chalked circle to earn the victory. Meyer allowed two infield hits, and did not issue a walk.
With starting pitcher Emily Meyer striking out the side in one shutout inning before Kaylee Meyer closed out the final two innings inside the chalked circle, North Union’s offense sent 14 to the batter’s box during a 10-run first at-bat, 13 more to fuel an eight-run second-inning outburst and 11 more in a seven-run third at-bat in Game 2.
Nielsen and Beadle reached early and often from the leadoff and No. 2 spots in the batting order, respectively. Nielsen went 5-for-5 with four runs scored, while Beadle went 3-for-4 with four runs scored to complement three RBIs.
Olivia Von Bank, Emily Meyer, Naomi Jones and Ella Ulrich supplied the electricity behind the Warriors’ extra-base power surge during the nightcap.
Meyer drilled a two-run double into the left-field corner, Ulrich cleared the bases with a three-run triple to right field and Meyer added a sacrifice fly during her second at-bat in the first inning.
Olivia Von Bank later crushed an offering to deep left field for a three-run HR in the second before Meyer just missed matching her slugging teammate when she rocketed a pitch off the letter ‘H’ in the word ‘North’ displayed on the center-field fence for another double.
Olivia Von Bank and Maggie Engelby later contributed RBI singles to widen the lead to 18-0 heading into the bottom of the second in Game 2. The Warriors served as the visitors on the scoreboard in the nightcap.
Naomi Jones then recharged the hometown crowd when she stepped to the batter’s box during the top of the third. After Engelby belted a two-run single, Jones drove a pitch into deep center. The fleet-footed track star from the spring season circled the bases for an inside-the-park HR — her first of the summer.
Olivia Von Bank, Vanessa Von Bank, Emily Meyer, Fraker, Engelby, Naomi Jones and Ulrich each contributed two of the Warriors’ 24 hits in Game 2, while Kaylee Meyer delivered an RBI single.
Kaylee Meyer allowed two unearned runs in two hitless innings of relief to net the win in the nightcap. The left-hander struck out three and walked three.
“We’ve got three big games this week, starting tomorrow when we host Newman Catholic,” said Price. “We play (Class 2A No. 6-ranked) Central Springs there (in Manly, Iowa) on Thursday and then open the St. Edmond tournament Saturday against a good St. Ed’s team in our first game at 9:30 a.m. in Fort Dodge.”
North Union (21-1) plays host to Iowa Class 1A No. 9-ranked Newman Catholic at 6 p.m. tonight in Swea City.
(Game 1)
WH 0( 0)0 — 0 2 1
NU 2(13)x — 15 10 0
Eden Nielsen (LP) and Dru Hagen. Emily Meyer (WP) and Shelby Fraker.
LOB–North Union 2, West Hancock 1. HR–Olivia Von Bank (NU, #6). SAC–Cassie Beadle (NU).
(Game 2)
NU (10)87 — 25 24 1
WH ( 0)02 — 2 1 6
Emily Meyer, Kaylee Meyer (2, WP) and Shelby Fraker, Beth Streuber (2). Belle Rosin (LP) and Dru Hagen.
LOB–North Union 4, West Hancock 3. 2B–Emily Meyer (NU) 2. 3B–Ella Ulrich (NU). HR–Olivia Von Bank (NU, #7), Naomi Jones (NU, #1). SF–Emily Meyer (NU).
