AREA SOFTBALL ACTION: Pekin claims share of crown; Crouse pitches no-hitter

WINFIELD — Mycaela Crouse pitched a five-inning no-hitter to earn her 20th win of the season as the Pekin Panthers took a 12-0 Southeast Iowa SuperConference win over Winfield-Mount Union Thursday to conclude a busy week of action.

Jamie Sterling had a double and four RBI for Pekin, as the win ensured the Panthers of at least a share of the SEISC North title. Pekin (27-5, 14-3) will host WACO on Monday, and with a win the Panthers can claim the crown outright. Sterling brought home runs in three different ways — on a bunt single, a two-run double and a fielder’s choice.

Crouse fanned five batters and did not allow a walk and was one Panther error away from a perfect game.

“She did a nice job of keeping the ball down and moving it in and out,” said Pekin coach Bryan Marlay. “She throws the ball at about three different speeds, which makes it really tough on people to hit her.”

Kristen Bradshaw and Brenda Fritchen each had doubles for Pekin, while Alexi Holes and Jessica Deutsch had two RBI each.

Pekin 12, Winfield Mount Union 0

Pek 004 35 — 12 10 1

WMU 000 00 — 0 0 2

Pekin battery — Mycaela Crouse (W, 20-4) (5IP, 0H, 0R, 0ER, 5K, 0BB), Kira Swanson catching.

2B — Kristen Bradshaw, Brenda Fritchen, Jamie Sterling.

Hits — Sterling 2-for-3, Jessie Martin 1-for-1, Leslie Stone 1-for-1, Caylee Johnson 1-for-1, Fritchen 1-for-3, Dominque Tolle 1-for-3, Alexi Holmes 1-for-3, Crouse 1-for-3, Jessica Deutsch 1-for-3.

RBI — Sterling 4, Holmes 2, Deutsch 2, Crouse, Johnson, Stone, Fritchen. Runs — Kristen Bradshaw 2, Fritchen 2, Sterling 2, Martin 3, Tolle, Crouse, Deutsch.

Eagles fall to Lamoni

MOULTON — It was a long day for the Moulton-Udell softball squad.

Head coach Jason Ogden and his squad dropped a 4-3, nine-inning effort in Bluegrass Conference play on Thursday to Lamoni in the morning.

The Eagles then turned around to play Diagonal at night on the same day and topped the Bluegrass squad 8-1.

“It’s hard on the kids to play two games in a day. I’m proud of the kids — we’re battlin’,” said Ogden.

Madison Probasco earned the win versus Diagonal. She fanned 10 and allowed zero earned.

Kaylee Stansberry tripled and homered for the Eagles.

M-U is now 1-6 in one-run games this season.

Mackenzie Clark pitched all nine innings for M-U and struck out five. Clark was 2-4 at the plate and Kadarenna Sales also had two hits.

M-U (12-15, 9-5) plays at Mormon Trail tonight.

Moulton-Udell 8, Diagonal 1

DIA 000 100 0 — 1 2 4

MU 500 201 x — 8 11 1

Moulton-Udell battery — Madison Probasco (W, 4-4) (7IP, 2H, 1R, 0ER, 10K, 2BB), Jessica Scott catching.

2B — Whitney Hill.

3B — Kaylee Stansberry, Scott.

HR — Stansberry.

Hits — Kadarenna Sales 1-4, Stansberry 3-4, Probasco 2-4, Chelsey Harris 2-4, Scott 1-3, Hill 2-4.

RBI — Stansberry 3, Scott 3. Runs — Sales, Stansberry 3, Alexis Kauzlarich, Kassi Guinn, Hill, Josie Oden.

Lamoni 4, Moulton-Udell 3

LAM 100 101 001 — 4 9 2

MU 001 000 200 — 3 7 0

Moulton-Udell battery — Mackenzie Clark (L, 6-6) (9IP, 9H, 4R, 4ER, 5K, 2BB).

Hits — Kadarenna Sales 2-4, Clark 2-4, Madison Probasco 1-4, Chelsey Harris 1-4, Whitney Hill 1-1.

RBI — Sales, Clark, Hill. Runs — Sales, Probasco, Harris.