By JIM GRIES
Herald sports editor
OSKALOOSA
July 02, 2008 11:07 am
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Oskaloosa has not used the long ball to win most of its games this season, but the No. 12 Indians did just that to remain in a tie for first place in the Little Hawkeye Conference.
The Indians (25-8, 11-3) used two-run homers from Renee Lenox and Sarah Sterner to down rival Pella 6-3 Tuesday night.
The victory keeps the Indians in a first-place tie with Pella Christian, which upended Boone 3-2 Tuesday night.
The Lady Dutch (3-23) took a 1-0 lead in the first inning as Whitney Williams reached on an error and Whitney Pavlat’s single two outs later brought home Williams.
But Oskaloosa came back with some pop in its half of the inning. Trisha Van Dusseldorp reached on an infield single and Lenox drilled her second home run of the season to left to put the Indians on top at 2-1.
Pella responded the next inning on a singles by Mackenzie Anthony and Megan Simonsen to tie the game at 2.
Again, the Indians countered with a pair of runs in the third, thanks to Sterner. Lenox walked to begin the inning and Sterner lined a Mandy DeMeulenaere offering over the left field fence for her second home run of the year and a 4-2 lead which Oskaloosa never gave up.
Oskaloosa coach Jay Harms had a smile on his face after his team was able to get some runs back in quick fashion.
“It’s nice to be able to get runs back that quickly with the long ball,” he said. “They were two shots and thank goodness for them, up to that point, we were kind of dead. We knew it might be a struggle because of what happened last night (a 2-1 loss in 11 innings to Norwalk). It’s another win and that’s what we need at this stage of the season.”
Pella has had a tough season from the get-go and was coming off a loss to Newton which it had seven errors.
Still, the Lady Dutch gave the Indians all they could handle.
“I’m very happy how we played,” Pella coach Charlie Estabrook said. “We made some errors and gave them some runs, I’m very happy with them. They’re young and not a lot of experience, but they showed a lot of heart tonight and I’m proud of them for that.
“Two swings won the ball game for them. They scored a run when our catcher dropped a pop fly that was a sure out and that took the wind out of our sails. To hang with Osky, I’m very proud of the girls.”
The Lady Dutch cut the deficit to 4-3 as DeMeulenaere had an one-out single to right and was replaced by courtesy runner Angel Corbin. She went to second on a wild pitch and took third on a groundout by Lisa Houser. Williams walked and advanced to second on a wild pitch as Corbin scored on the play.
The Indians added some insurance runs in the fifth, without the benefit of a home run.
Gott, who had three singles in the game, started the inning with a single and Amanda Christenson singled to left one out later. After Sarah Hynick popped out, Dana Van Renterghem singled in pinch runner Audrianna Glassford, who was running for Gott. Emily Street popped up to Pavlat, who dropped the ball and that allowed Christenson to score the game’s final run.
Street was not expected to see action in the pitcher’s circle after facing 49 batters and throwing nearly 170 pitches against Norwalk. She did throw the final three innings, giving up two hits and held Pella scoreless.
Oskaloosa gets right back in action tonight with a home game against South Tama on Senior Night. The team will honor Sterner and Van Dusseldorp as the lone seniors on the squad.
Oskaloosa 6, Pella 3
Pella 110 100 0 — 3 6 1
Oskaloosa 202 020 x — 6 10 2
Pella battery — Mandy DeMeulenaere (L, 6 IP, 6 R, 10 H, 2 BB, 2 K) and Whitney Pavlat.
Hits — Whitney Williams 1-for-2, Megan Simonsen 1-for-3, Rachel Greving 1-for-4, Pavlat 1-for-4, Taylor Veenstra 1-for-3, Mackenzie Anthony 1-for-3, DeMeulenaere 1-for-3. Runs — Williams, Anthony, Angel Corbin. RBI — Simonsen, Pavlat.
Oskaloosa battery — Brittany Redlich (W, 9-3, 4 IP, 5 R, 4 H, 3 BB, 1 K), Emily Street (3 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 0 BB, 1 K) and Dana Van Renterghem.
HR — Renee Lenox, Sarah Sterner.
Hits — Megan Gott 3-for-4, Trisha Van Dusseldorp 2-for-4, Lenox 1-for-3, Sterner 1-for-4, Van Renterghem 1-for-3, Amanda Christenson 1-for-2, Sarah Hynick 1-for-2. Runs — Lenox 2, Christenson ,Van Dusseldorp, Sterner, Audrianna Glassford. RBI — Lenox 2, Sterner 2, Van Renterghem.
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