RD Keep/North Mahaska Communications
North Mahaska’s Olivia Ridgeway dives back as Pleasantville’s Faith Nelson tries to apply the tag. Ridgeway would eventually come in to score.
Senior night was going well for the North Mahaska Warhawks Wednesday as they faced Pleasantville in a nonconference softball game. They led 4-0 after five innings but gave up five runs in the final two innings and lost to the Trojans, 5-4.
North Mahaska scored two runs in the bottom of the first inning and two in the fifth. Olivia Ridgeway hit a single in the first inning and scored on Maddie Doonan’s triple. Doonan came in on Kaylia Shipman’s groundout. In the fifth Ridgeway tripled and Doonan singled and Regan Grewe drove in Doonan.
North Mahaska (19-5) collected 9 hits to Pleasantville’s seven. Harper McGraw singled to lead off the Pleasantville sixth and went to second on a pass ball. With two outs, Clara Metcalf was hit by a pitch and Laney Kennedy singled to score a run. Metcalf scored on a wild pitch.
In the top of the seventh, Ella Clark walked with one out. McGraw doubled to bring in Clark. Taylor Perkins was intentionally walked then Lily Mason and Metcalf rapped back-to-back singles to take the lead. Doonan singled and Grewe was walked but the Warhawks could not bring them in to score.
Shipman kept the Warhawks in the game with four tough catches including one that was trailing away from her in centerfield. The latter was by Perkins.
“She nearly hit a homerun, so we intentionally walked her,” said NM coach Mark Schroeder. “They stepped up and got the hits. Kalia played good defense out there.”
Doonan collected three hits in four at bats in the loss. Ridgeway had a single and triple. Addie Falb. Lydia Howell, Kayla Readshaw and Grewe each added singles.
Kennedy earned the win for Pleasantville. She allowed nine hits and four runs over seven innings, striking out three and walking two. Grewe took the loss surrendering five runs on nine hits and three walks.
McGraw, Kennedy, Mason, and Metcalf each drove in one run for Pleasantville.
North Mahaska welcome the Cardinal Comets on Wednesday for the first round of the Class 2A regional tournament. Game time is 7 p.m.