The Aplington-Parkersburg summer sports teams won three of the four games at home against Waterloo Columbus Tuesday. The softball team swept the Sailors 10-5 and 3-2. The baseball team fell 5-2 in Game 1 and bounced back for a 3-2 win in Game 2.
In the first softball game, the teams each scored twice in the first inning. In the bottom of the third, a solo home run by Jordan Trueblood sparked a five-run frame to put the Falcons in front 7-2. AP scored twice in the fourth and once in the fifth to cap off the win. Aubrey Williamson pitched six innings.
In Game 2, Ada Switzer got the Falcons on the board with a solo home run, and it was 2-2 after three innings. In the bottom of the seventh, a double by Kendall Riherd drove the winning run home, and the Falcons earned the walk-off win. Switzer pitched the complete game.
Through the first three games, the Falcons have experienced notable offensive improvement. Head Coach Emily Williamson on the team’s lineup at the plate.
“Eva Walker came on really strong as a freshman last year,” Williamson says. “So as a sophomore this year, we’re gonna lean on her catching mostly varsity, but we’ll also see her pitching some. So she’s gonna be huge. Her bat is strong for us. Kendall Riherd, coming in as a senior, she’s ready to see success. So we’re excited to have her. Some of the other girls that we’re really counting on for having a strong bat, Jordan Trueblood, Avery Freund, Ada Switzer, they’ve all been working really hard and really showing a lot of promise in the off season offensively.”
Williamson says the team is ready for an improved season. They’re one win shy of matching last year’s win total.
“We’re ready to see a lot more success this year. Like I said, we’ve got a core group coming back that’s been working really hard. Just talking some about the mind game, just the mental side of it. We’re going to make mistakes and it’s what we do with those mistakes that’s going to make the difference for us. So just coming in strong, taking care of the little things are really going to be huge for us. Not being afraid to get up there and offensively go after the ball and put it in play and make the other team have to make plays on us.”
At 2-1 and 2-0 in the NICL-Central, the Falcons will host #8 (3A) Sumner-Fredericksburg for a single varsity game Wednesday. The Cougars boast a powerful offense and have batted .402 on the season. The game will start at 7:00 p.m.
In the first baseball game, the Sailors built up a 4-0 lead after five innings. AP scored two in the sixth, but were unable to mount a comeback in the seventh. Preston Janssen pitched the first six innings and Cooper Hoff finished in the seventh.
The Falcons entered the bottom of the seventh in Game 2 trailing 2-1. After the Sailors walked in the tying run, Tate Neymeyer hit a blooper over the first baseman to drive in the winning run with two outs and the bases loaded. Devin Davis pitched the complete game and recorded 10 strikeouts.
At 2-1 and 1-1 in conference play, the Falcons will host Sumner-Fredericksburg for an NICL crossover Wednesday. The Cougars are 3-1 and coming off an 11-1, five inning win over Waukon Friday. The game will start at 7:00 p.m.
