Lakers go 1-2 at THE Spring Games

The Iowa Lakes Softball team dropped two games, while winning one game in Florida on Thursday. The Lakers are now 6-9 overall.

Game One: CCC 13, ILCC 3 (5 innings)

The Lakers started the morning by dropping game one to Cuyahoga Community College 13-3 in five innings. Naomi Tolmachoff took the loss for the Lakers. She pitched 2.2 innings, giving up nine runs, four earned. She did this on nine hits, one walk, and two strikeouts. Bibiana Rosales pitched the final 2.1 innings, giving up four runs, all four earned, on four hits, one walk, and striking out one.

Cuyahoga started the game quickly, scoring two runs in the top of the first inning. In their half of the inning, the Lakers scored one run. Julia Sullwold reached on a Cuyahoga error and then stole second base. Leilani San Pedro drove Sullwold home on a double off the center field fence.

Cuyahoga blew the doors open in the third inning, scoring seven runs. They did this on six hits and one walk. They scored another four runs in the top of the fourth inning.

The Lakers scored again in the bottom of the fourth. Montanna Popp singled to right field and advanced to second on a Cuyahoga error. Laurie Custard walked and both advanced on a Rosales single. Emily Owen hit a sacrifice fly to score Popp and give the Lakers their second run of the game. Custard was then forced out at third base on a Sullwold fielder's choice, which advanced Rosales to second. Lopez then singled to left to score Rosales and give the Lakers their final run of the game.

At the plate, Kacie Salazar and Kaitlin Walsh were each 2-3.

Game Two: IVCC 8, ILCC 4

The Lakers could never really get things going in game two against Illinois Valley Community College, as they fell 8-4.

Iowa Lakes struck first in the bottom of the first. With two outs, San Pedro was hit by a pitch. Then in some heads up baserunning, she came all the way around to score on a Illinois Valley error on a Salazar hit. Illinois Valley quickly put pressure on the Lakers as the first two batters reached base and would eventually come around to score to give them the 2-1 lead.

The Lakers got a solo shot off the bat of Kenlee Frank to tie the game back up at 2-2. Illinois Valley would take the lead back in the bottom of the third when they scored one run on one hit and three free bases.

San Pedro put the Lakers back in the lead in the top of the fourth with a two run homerun. The score would remain 4-3 until the bottom of the fifth when Illinois Valley scored three more runs. They would score another two runs in the sixth to complete the 8-4 victory.

Bibiana Rosales took the loss for the Lakers. She allowed six runs, three earned, on six hits, five walks, and five strikeouts. Yasmine Nix also pitched for the Lakers. She allowed two earned runs on four hits.

Desiree Lopez was the only multiple hit Laker. San Pedro and Frank each had a homerun in the game.

Game Three: ILCC 9, MCC 6

The Lakers compiled eight runs on fourteen hits to propel themselves to a 9-6 win over Madison Community College. Leilani San Pedro was the leader at the plate for the Lakers. She was 3-3 with a grand slam, four runs batted in, four runs scored, and a stolen base. Julia Sullwold and Desiree Lopez each had two hits in the game.

Things started off a little bit shaky for the Lakers, as they found themselves behind 4-0 after the top of the first. They did not let that defeat them though, as they scored two of their own in the bottom half of the inning. Sullwold led off the game and then stole second base. San Pedro singled, which advanced Sullwold, Kaitlin Walsh was hit by a pitch, before Sullwold crossed the plate on a Madison passed ball. Montanna Popp and Laurie Custard both walked, which brought San Pedro home.

Emily Owen got things going for the Lakers in the bottom of the second with a leadoff single. Sullwold and Lopez followed with singles of their own to load the bases. San Pedro  then sent the first pitch she saw over the centerfield fence to put the Lakers up 6-4. With two outs, Popp singled and stole second base before scoring on a Custard single to right field.

The score remained 7-4 in favor of the Lakers until the bottom of fourth when they scored another run. San Pedro singled and advanced to third on a Salazar double down the line. Popp came up clutch with a single to score San Pedro.

Madison gave the Lakers a run for their money in the top of the sixth, when they scored two runs to bring the score to 8-6. They Lakers were not done, as they scored their final run of the game in the bottom of the sixth. San Pedro walked and advanced to second on a two out walk from Popp. Both runners advanced on a wild pitch and San Pedro scooted across the plate on another wild pitch.

Madison got two runners on in the seventh, but the Lakers buckled down on defense and completed the 9-6 win.

Yasmine Nix got the seven inning complete game win. She allowed six earned runs on ten hits, three walks, and two strikeouts.

Iowa Lakes will play their final day in Florida on Friday, March 16th. They will take on Cuyahoga Community College at 9:00 AM EST and Niagara County Community College at 11:00 AM EST.

Photography by Cecil Ramsey