The Iowa Falls-Alden softball and baseball teams will host Hampton-Dumont-CAL in a rivalry rematch as part of Strikeout Cancer night on Friday. The IFA student council will be raising money from the event for the American Cancer Society.
IFA softball (4-10, 3-5 NCC) looks to battle back into the win column entering off a 10-6 loss to Southeast Valley on Thursday. Isabelle Janssen drove in two runs to lead at the plate. Cidni Phipps worked the complete game in the circle allowing eight runs with eight strikeouts against the Jaguars.
Cadet Softball Coach Emily Banken says this game brings extra excitement and the team needs to make sure not to overlook the fundamentals.
“HD-CAL is going to put up a fight and our girls are feeding into the rivalry, they really wanna beat the neighbors to the north,” says Banken. “There’s always just a little bit more excitement before that game. The same thing holds, we need to play good defense and hit the ball, which is pretty basic, but you gotta do the basic things right.”
HD-CAL softball (7-11, 5-5 NCC) has won three of their last five and enters off a tough 10-1 loss at St.Ansgar on Thursday. Aspen Harlan in the circle for the Bulldogs has the third lowest ERA in the conference at 2.60 and also leads the team in RBI’s.
The game will air on 104.9 KLMJ with pregame coverage at 5:20 p.m. followed by the first pitch at 5:30 p.m.
HD-CAL baseball (6-15, 2-9 NCC) in its last outing was swept in a conference doubleheader by Algona on Wednesday. Cael Burmester has been locked in at bats with a pair of top four conference ranks with 21 RBI (3rd) and a .431 avg.(4th).
HD-CAL Baseball Coach Matt Lokenvitz says it’s a chance support a bigger cause and will be another great fight between two young teams
“They got us the first time for their first win of the year, so they’re gonna be chomping at the bit to go and try to get a second one from us,” says Lokenvitz. “We’re gonna be prepared. They’re gonna have a great crowd there with the strikeout cancer night. Hopefully our fans are able to come and show support for that as well. It’s gonna be a good game, it’s gonna be a good fight. Once again, two young teams, Iowa Falls is young just like we are. We will go out and compete and see what happens.”
IFA baseball (4-10, 3-5 NCC) won 6-4 over Southeast Valley on Thursday. Raine Pitre on the hill allowed three runs with nine strikeouts in five innings and added three hits in a no-decision outing for the Cadets. The Cadets worked eight walks and scored all six runs without recording an RBI. Kyler Patton closed out the win over the Jaguars working the final two innings with two strikeouts.
First pitch is at 5:30 p.m. in Iowa Falls.
