Lady Hawks and Lady Hounds wrap up seasons with losses

ELDRIDGE – A big third inning proved to be too much for Fort Madison as they held their own against the No. 5 North Scott Lancers early on Saturday at North Scott.
Lucia Darnell and the Lady Hounds gave up three runs in the bottom of the first inning and then held the Lancers in check in the second before a big fifth inning put Fort Madison in a big hole.
Fort Madison got the first hitter out in the bottom of the third, but an error on flyball and a passed ball opened the door to some heavy damage that started with a single run. Darnell would get the second out on a fielder’s choice and looked to get out of the inning, but the next four hitters got one with two singles and a walk and dropped infield fly with two outs that scored two more runs for an 8-0 advantage before a pop out to catcher Kylie Lumino ended the inning.
North Scott would add an insurance run in the fifth inning.
The Hounds plated a couple runs in the top of the fourth courtesy of a couple infield errors by the Lancers. Nilie Menke scored the first run when Ava Fuget's grounder to short wasn’t fielded cleanly and then Fuget would score on a Lumino fielder’s choice.
Darnell went all six innings giving up 12 hits and 9 runs only three earned, while striking out two and walking one Lancer.
Jordyn Marshall led the Lady Hounds at the plate going 2-for-3, the only hits for Fort Madison.  Lumino had the lone RBI. The girls wrapped up the campaign at 12-20. They finished 6-9 in Southeast Conference play.

Central Lee girls end season with tough draw
WEST LIBERTY – The Central Lee Lady Hawks drew No. 10 West Liberty to open Class 3A girls softball regional action Thursday and were shutout 8-0.
The Comets scored early with two runs in the first and three in the second for 5-0 lead after three innings. They tacked on a three more in the bottom of the fourth to secure the mercy rule when the Hawks were shut out in the top of the 5th.
Macy Butler suffered the loss going three innings and giving up six runs, just three earned while walking one and fanning one. Rayleigh Burden pitched an inning in relief.
Central Lee managed just two hits both from Mckenna Fransk one in the top of the second with one out, and the other in the top of the fourth with two outs and nobody on.
The Hawks finished the year 15-21 and 7-4 in the Southeast Iowa Super Conference, good enough for 3rd place.