Lady Hounds take two from Keokuk

BY CHUCK VANDENBERG

PCC EDITOR

FORT MADISON - The Fort Madison softball team helped end a streak at FMHS that had lasted almost 11 years.

The FMHS softball and baseball teams both swept home doubleheaders on the same night.

The Lady Hounds downed Keokuk 8-2 in the opener and 4-1 in the night cap to snap a seven-game losing skid Monday night.

The boys across the yard were also sweeping Keokuk 5-0 and 4-3 making it the first time both teams have won doubleheaders at home on the same night since July of 2007, also against Keokuk.

Junior Cassie Powers got the win for FMHS in game one giving up just three hits and fanning three through the first five innings.

Keokuk got on the board in the top of the sixth when Jakala Hall reached on an error in right and scored on a one-out double by Jalynn Wood to left. Wood advanced to third on a ground out to second and then scored on a Powers wild pitch.

Powers then walked Keleigh Hall, but got Hallo Arrowood to fan to end the inning. She gave up a walk to Micheala Davis after a ground out to start the seventh, but retired the next two hitters for the win.

The Hounds started the scoring when Kylie Cashman scored after reaching on a passed ball-third strike. Cashman made matters worse when she swiped second and was driven in by Sadie Smithburg who singled to center. Smithburg was erased by an Olivia Williams fielder's choice at second and then Williams was erased when Bailey grounded to short forcing Williams at second.

FMHS started with two hits in the bottom of the fourth but couldn't get any runs across as Dalyn Wondra fanned, Teryn Parsons hit into fielder's choice and Vanessa Golowach grounded out to short.

But the floodgates opened in the bottom half of the fifth when Cashman and Smithburg both walked to start the inning and Williams hit an RBI single scoring Cashman. Smithburg then scored on a wild pitch and Williams stole second before Bailey drew a walk. Powers struck out and Maycee Featheringill singled to load the bases.

Wondra hit into a fielder's choice throw to the plate that was late to score Williams. Logan Johnson then drew a bases loaded walk to score Bailey. Golowach followed with another base on balls to score Featheringill.

Cashman grounded out to the pitcher, but knocked in Wondra, and Smithburg grounded out to end the inning setting the final score at 8-1.

Eight grader Kaitlyn Dennis went the distance in the nightcap going the distance giving up just one unearned run on three hits and fanning seven. The lone run came in the sixth when the Chief's Grace Koeber reached on an error at short and came around to score on a single by Aryn Kindig. Dennis gave up another hit to Wood in the inning, but got Hall on strikes to end the inning. The Chiefs would do no damage in the 7th as Hall grounded out to third to end the game.

The Bloodhounds scored early after Williams singled in the first inning and moved to second on wild pitch. Bailey doubled but Williams got held up at third before Powers drove her in with a single in the next at-bat.

FMHS put up three more in the bottom of the fifth. Williams walked to start the inning and moved to third when Kamryn Bailey, who went 3 for 3 in the game, singled. Williams then scored on a wild pitch and Bailey was driven in by Featheringill. Featheringill swiped second and advanced to third on an error at home. Lauren Bailey drove her in with a groundout to first.

Allison Helmick doubled, but Ivy Geerdes grounded back to the pitcher for the final out of the sixth with the Hounds up 4 to 0.

The Hounds move to 6-13 on the season and travel to Davenport North on Wednesday.