OTTUMWA, IA – No. 9-rated Indian Hills brought out the big bats Saturday in what ended up being an impromptu softball classic at R.L. Hellyer Field as the Warriors won their two contests with ample offense, winning a 20-14 marathon over Johnson County, before drilling Ellsworth 14-2 in five innings under the lights.

Game one against Johnson County had more ups and downs than an amusement park ride as the Warriors erased a five-run and a seven-run deficit within a span of just three innings to eventually win by six, keeping scorekeepers at Hellyer Field busy throughout the afternoon.

IHCC played some shoddy defense in the second inning which allowed Johnson County to get out to a 5-0 advantage, sparking a stern message from Head Coach Lindsay Diehl when the Warriors returned to the dugout.

“I don’t usually have to get angry like that,” Diehl admitted.  “I try to stay calm, but in that spot, the girls needed a reminder of what we expect at Indian Hills, what field they were on, and what that represents.”

The message seemed to get through because before anyone could bat an eye, Indian Hills had regained the lead in the bottom of the frame before the Cavaliers could even record a single out.

The Warriors tagged five consecutive singles off of Johnson County starter Kyla Etter to plate two, and then leadoff hitter Gretta Hartz rocked a liner on rope to right field that would leave the yard sending the IHCC players out of the dugout to congratulate her on a grand slam and their sudden 6-5 lead.  The Warriors would tack on another on a Nicole Bellis groundout and the advantage was 7-5 in favor of the hosts after two innings. 

The lead would be short lived for the Warriors as well, because the Cavs would respond with six more in the third and three more in the fourth to deck the home team, who now trailed 14-7. 

Undaunted, Diehl’s ladies would respond in dizzying fashion by putting up eleven runs in the fourth to regain command, 18-14.  Sophomore Chloe Olson had the big blow in the inning, a three-run dinger to right.

“Our energy was a rollercoaster and so was the way we played.” Diehl said.  “I’m proud of how we responded to giving up runs, but I hope we can figure out how to be ready from the first pitch to the last pitch.”

Starter Malarie Huseman was taken down after being battered for four innings by the same Cavs lineup she had beaten the day before.  Huseman (4-1) surrendered 14 runs, 11 earned in her four innings of work on 15 hits.  The Warriors’ offensive outburst would hand her the win, nevertheless, and Alexis Watson would hold down the Johnson County bats over the final three innings in relief to earn the save.

“We’re learning from our mistakes, very literally,” Diehl said.  “This is a great group of kids that want to play Indian Hills softball.  We have to keep working through the adversity both mentally and physically.  We definitely need more reps outside defensively, because we aren’t sharp, yet.  I’m confident we’ll get better in that area.”

Hartz was the catalyst of the offense going 3-for-5 with the homer and five RBI.  Olson’s had a double to go with her homerun and four RBI. Kennedy Preston was 2-for-3 at the dish with three RBI while Hannah Portinga, Peyton Moffet and Maddy Findley each had a pair of hits and an RBI.

The Warriors had a couple more defensive gaffes in the nightcap against Ellsworth, but their bats remained red hot as IHCC rapped out 15 hits against the Panthers which equaled their total from the opener. 

There wouldn’t be nearly as much resistance from ECC, however, as Huseman (5-1) returned the circle in to go the distance in game two and only surrendered two hits and allowed two runs, both coming in the third inning. 

“I was pleased with what the bats did in game two to put runs on the board early and then extend the lead to be able to finish it,” Diehl said.  “Malarie came back and threw really well, but we need to clean things up on defense.  We need to go make a play and trust ourselves to do it.  Growth needs to happen on the bases as well, so we make better decisions in the right moment.”

Hartz continued spark the Warrior offense from the top of the order with two more extra base hits against the Panthers with another round-tripper and a two-bagger and four more knocked in.  All toll, the former Southeast Polk prep went 5-for-8 in the two games with two homers, a double, nine RBI, five runs scored and a walk for good measure.

Bryanna Mehaffy had another nice performance at the plate went 3-for-4 while Breanna Newton joined her with three hits as well, including a double and three RBI.  Gracie Jevyak and Alex Beard both had a pair of hits with a double, with Jevyak knocking in one while Beard plating two.  Bellis added a double and two RBI and both Eryn Ackerman and Anna Voigt chipped in with a single.

“Today was just a good offensive day for us,” Diehl admitted.  “We’re moving in the right direction heading into conference play.”

The Warriors’ ICCAC slate begins on Wednesday as IHCC (8-2) hosts Southwestern (5-6-1) for a pair beginning at 2 p.m.

GAME ONE

INDIAN HILLS 20, JOHNSON COUNTY 14

Johnson County    056      300    0 – 14  16  3

Indian Hills             070   (11)02  x – 20  15  2

WP – Malarie Huseman (4-1), LP – Kyla Etter, SV – Alexis Watson (1).

(2B – Moffet, Olson;  HR – Hartz, Olson;  RBI – Bellis 2, Findley, Hartz 5, Mehaffy, Newton, Olson 4, Poortinga, Preston 3;  HBP – Newton, Voigt;  SB – Hartz, Mehaffy 3; CS- Hart)

GAME TWO

INDIAN HILLS 14, ELLSWORTH 2

Ellsworth              002  00 –  2   2  1

Indian Hills        604   4x – 14 15 2

WP – Malarie Huseman (5-1), LP – Ally Sparks.

(2B – Beard, Bellis, Hartz, Jevyak, Newton; HR – Hartz; RBI – Beard 2, Bellis 2, Hartz 4, Jevyak, Moffet, Newton 3; HBP –Jevyak;  SB – Hartz 2, Olson, Voigt)