The Oskaloosa softball team, ranked #2 in Class 4A, came into Eddyville with a two game losing streak to the Rockets of Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont, and Head Coach Jay Harms wanted to change things up. He did so by deciding to pitch Kylee Silliman, who hasn’t faced EBF the last two years. Coach Harms liked that she threw curvy junk up to the plate, and thought it would be tougher for the #2 Rockets to handle. For six innings, he was right.

Silliman cruised through most of the game, allowing only two hits in the first six innings, and taking a 1-0 lead into the 7^th after Oskaloosa scored on a bases-loaded hit by pitch taken by Josie Bunnell in the second inning. In the bottom of the 7^th, Sadie Baugher used her outstanding speed to get on base with an infield single. Two batters later, McKinley Moore hit a bloop single that fell down the left field line. Oskaloosa made a mistake throwing the ball into the infield, allowing both runners to advance into scoring position with just one out. 8^th grader Reina Taylor was up next for EBF, and with a 1-2 count, Taylor was the beneficiary of a couple of borderline calls. First, it appeared Taylor was unable to check her swing, but after an appeal, the base umpire ruled it was not a swing. On the 2-2 delivery, Silliman appeared to paint the outside corner, but the Osky contingent let out a groan as it was called ball three. The next pitch was pivotal, as the full count offering was well inside and squirted away from Osky catcher Alexis Vroegh, which allowed the tying run to score. Silliman did a great job to work out of the jam to force extras.

Oskaloosa went fairly quiet in their half of the 8^th, but that wasn’t the case for the Rockets, who got a hard hit double to lead off the frame by Paige Shafer, and she would score two batters later on a wild pitch to end the game, 2-1.

Despite the loss, it was an outstanding outing in the circle from Kylee Silliman, who struck out ten and only allowed six hits and no RBIs. Freshman Randie Richmond got the win for the Rockets in the circle, settling down to only allow five hits in eight innings of work, striking out three.

Oskaloosa is now 22-3 on the year, and have lost to their rivals to the south for the last three seasons. EBF is now 28-5 on the season, and are wrapping up their regular season this week as they prepare for regional play, where they will be favored to make it back to the state tournament.

The Oskaloosa baseball team was also in action, and took care of business against Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont and got the win 11-3. Nate VanVeldhuizen and Peyton Crouse led the offense with three hits each. VanVeldhuizen also scored four runs in the game. Joe Sterner and Tucker Nunnikhoven combined on a three-hitter on the mound in the non-conference affair. The baseball team is in action against Norwalk on the road as well this evening. The first pitch of that single varsity game is at 7:30 PM.