DES MOINES — ALBIA — Albia softball coach Mitch Chance reached a career milestone Monday night in Monroe County.

Chance picked up his 100th career victory as a head softball coach as he steered the Lady Dees to a 6-1 victory over South Central Conference foe Davis County.

“It was a nice win,” said the modest coach, who as spent all of his four-year career with Albia.

Leah Kipfer captured her 13th victory of the season on her home field Monday night. Kipfer pitched all seven innings and gave up just one run to the Mustangs. The run came in the top of the first inning, when opposing pitcher Jenifer Fenton drove in Leah Rushman.

Kipfer went on to allow just two more hits through the rest of the game.

Offensively, Albia was led by Alexis Folkerts, who recorded three hits — including a double — and two RBI.

The victory lifts Albia to 18-17 overall and eneded their SCC record at 5-5.  The Lady Dees will be back in action Tuesday when they host Fairfield in a doubleheader. Albia opens postseason play Thursday at home against Eddyville-Blakesburg.

Davis County is scheduled to host Pekin in a varsity doubleheader tonight.

Albia 6, Davis County 1

D.C.    100    000    0    —    1    3    3         

Alb.     100    032    0    —    6    11    0

Davis County battery —  Jenifer Fenton (L) (7IP, 11H, 6R, 3K, 1BB), Rheanna Day catching.

Hits —  Leah Rushman 2-for-3, Jen Fenton 1-for-3.

RBI — Jen Fenton. Runs — Rushman.

Albia battery —  Leah Kipfer (W, 13-9) (7IP, 3H, 1R, 1ER, 8K, 1BB), Alexis Folkerts catching.

2B — Folkerts.

3B — Kaylee Hutt.

Hits —  Tara Selvy 2-for-3, Folkerts 3-for-4, Kelly Baker 1-for-4, Katie Curran 2-for-4, Hutt 1-for-3, Ally Bettis 2-for-3.

RBI — Folkerts 2, Baker, Curran, Bettis. Runs — Selvy 2, Folkerts, Hutt, Bettis 2.



Panthers sweep the SEISC North

Courier sports staff

WAYLAND — The Pekin Panthers softball squad decided they not only wanted to win the Southeast Iowa Super Conference North divison this season, but they wanted to sweep it.

On Monday, they did just that.

The Panthers (26-6, 18-0) hit the road Monday evening where they earned a 9-1 win over WACO to advance to 18-0 in the SEISC North.

“It was one of the goals we set, and we accomplished it,” said Pekin coach Bryan Marlay.

Dominique Tolle played a major role in the Panthers’ victory. As a matter of fact, it was such a dominant performance Marlay dubbed it “one of the best” performances he’d witnessed as a coach.

Tolle cranked two home runs along with an RBI double on perfect 3-for-3 hitting.

“Tolle was seeing the ball real well tonight,” commented Marlay.

Tolle’s bombs helped her record six RBI. She hit a 3-run shot in the Panthers’ four-run first inning before firing a 2-run shot in the third.

The offensive efficiency of Tolle helped Mackenzie Laux improve to 19-2 on the season.

Laux, the Panthers ace, didn’t exactly need Pekin to light up the scoreboard to earn the win as she threw seven innings, allowing two hits, one run, and striking out 12 batters.

The Panthers will now take their offense to Davis County tonight to play a non-conference varsity doubleheader.

Pekin 9, WACO 1

Pekin  402    300    0    —    9    6    0         

WACO      000    000    1    —    1    2   3

Pekin battery — Mackenzie Laux (W-L, 19-2) (7IP, 2H, 1R, 1ER, 12K, 1BB), Caylee Johnson catching.

2B — Tolle, Jessi Martin.

HR — Dominique Tolle 2 first 3-run and third two-run. RBI Double fourth.

Hits — Tolle 3-for-3, Martin 1-for-2, Shelby Blakely 1-for-2, Ashley Morales 1-for-3.

RBI — Tolle 6, Martin, Morales. Runs — Tolle 3, Blakely 2, Kaitlin Spilman 2, Mycaela Crouse, Martin.



Comets finish second in SEISC

Courier sports staff

FARMINGTON — The Cardinal Comets softball team secured second place in the Southeast Iowa Super Conference South standings Monday night with two wins at Harmony.

The Comets played hosting Harmony in the first game, and pitcher Laci Moore allowed just one hit as the Comets cruised to a 12-0 win.

The Comets then played Central Lee, who met the Comets on the neutral field in order to make up an important conference game before the season ends. The Comets earned a decisive 5-1 win.

The two wins place the Comets (18-15, 11-3) in second place behind only West Burlington to end the SEISC South schedule.

The lone hit Moore gave up against Harmony came against the lead-off hitter. Moore mowed down five batters while walking zero to move to 10-7 on the season.

Moore also drove in two RBI in the game. Senior leader Chelsea Greiner recorded one hit and two RBI as well.

Felisha Durflinger matched her teammate’s pitching performance against Central Lee.

Durflinger allowed just one hit and one run while striking down six batters in seven innings. Durflinger didn’t allow a runner to cross the plate until late in the seventh inning.

Moore once again drove in two RBI and Cory Campbell added two more.

Cardinal will now prepare for the postseason play as they host Davis County in Class 2A regional action on Thursday.

Cardinal 12, Harmony 0

HARM    000    000    0    —    0    1    0         

CARD     019    200    0    —    12    10    0

Cardinal battery —  Laci Moore (W 10-7) (4IP, 1H, 0R, 0ER, 5K, 0BB), Lindsay Moore catching.

Hits —  La. Moore 2-for-3, Felisha Durflinger 2-for-2, Nichols 2-for-3, Sarah Greiner 2-for-3, Cory Campbell 1-for-2, Chelsea Greiner 1-for-1.

RBI — C. Greiner 2, La. Moore 2, Campbell,  Nichols, Chelsea Aschenbrenner 2, S. Greiner 3 Runs — C. Greiner 2, La. Moore, Campbell 2, Durflinger 3, Nichols, Aschenbrenner, S. Greiner

Cardinal 5, Central Lee 1

CARD    103    001    0    —    5    5    0         

CENT     000    000    1    —    1    1    1

Cardinal battery —  Durflinger (W, 8-7) (7IP, 1H, 1R, 1ER, 6K, 2BB), Li. Moore catching.

2B — Campbell.

Hits —  C. Greiner 1-for-2, Campbell 2-for-3, Durflinger 1-for-3, S. Greiner 1-for-3, -for-, -for-, -for-, -for-, -for-, -for-.

RBI — La. Moore 2, Campbell 2, S. Greiner Runs — C. Greiner 2, La. Moore, Campbell, Carlie Bennett