In a game you heard on the Mahaska Zone Network, the Oskaloosa softball team put their 20-0 record on the line against the #6 ranked team in Class 2A in PC. The night got off to an inauspicious start, with rain soaking the field and making it appear as though the game would not be played. After a long discussion, the Pella Christian staff and some volunteers started to work on the field, and miraculously got it ready for a start time right around the scheduled 7:30 first pitch. Shortly thereafter, more rains came, and delayed the top of the first, where Oskaloosa was threatening. After an 11 minute delay, the Indians found themselves with the bases loaded in the top of the first, but were unable to score. They wouldn’t have many more opportunities.

The teams exchanged goose-eggs until the bottom of the fifth, when sloppy defensive play cost Oskaloosa. The Indians committed three errors in the inning, coupled with two PC hits. The result was four unearned runs charged to Osky starter Alexis Groet. In the top of the sixth, Peyton Zickefoose finally got Oskaloosa’s first hit, but her pinchrunner Ashley Kindley was thrown out at the plate on a single by Groet to end the inning. PC starter Emma Schnell walked three and hit two batters and only struck out one, but still found a way to hold Osky to those two hits and no sustained threats in the game. The game would end with a 4-0 final score in favor of the Eagles, giving Oskaloosa their first loss of the season.

Oskaloosa is now 20-1, and are the final team to get a loss in all five classes in the state. Norwalk is now the top team in the Little Hawkeye Conference with no losses on the year in conference play, but they still have two games against Oskaloosa to play this season. The busy week continues for the Indians, as they look to bounce back against Newton tonight on the road in a single varsity game. The first pitch of that contest is scheduled for 7:30 PM.

Photo Provided By Sherry Vavra of MCRF