Albia Lady Dees Stay Perfect at 23-0, Dominate Centerville
Iowa's high school athletes continue to show the kind of hard work and dedication that makes our local communities strong. Third-ranked Albia softball improved to a program-best 23-0 on Tuesday, rolling past Centerville in a key South Central Conference matchup. Across the state, student-athletes delivered standout performances on the diamond, highlighting the talent and grit cultivated in our local schools.
How Did Albia Softball Improve to 23-0?
Grace Pence does not need much run support, entering Tuesday with the lowest ERA of any Iowa high school softball pitcher this season. Addie Pearson made sure she had plenty of it anyway. Pearson pounded the first of her two home runs in the opening inning, driving in the first two of her seven RBIs. Albia rolled to an 11-0 win in four innings against No. 13 Centerville at the Lakeview Sports Complex.
Pearson put the game out of reach in the fourth inning with a grand slam, closing out a three-hit night. Aliyah Hood added two hits, including a double, while driving in one run and scoring twice for the Lady Dees.
Pence, an Albia senior, allowed just two hits over four innings. She struck out nine of the 15 batters she faced, bringing her state-leading total to 243 strikeouts this season. Pence lowered her state-best ERA to 0.12 and improved to 19-0 in the pitching circle.
Third-ranked Albia, now 23-0 overall with an 11-0 SCC record, hosts Clarke for Senior Night at Lizzie Alexander Memorial Field on Thursday. Centerville (13-5, 8-3 SCC) steps out of conference on Wednesday to host Melcher-Dallas.
Tuesday's Key Iowa Softball Results
- No. 15 (2A) Cardinal 2, Fairfield 1: Maclain Hickenbottom edged Leah Helmick in a thrilling pitcher's duel. Hickenbottom worked six scoreless innings, allowing four hits while striking out 10. Summer LaRue's two-out RBI single in the fifth snapped a scoreless tie, and a fielding error on a groundball by Autumn Sertterh brought in the decisive run in the sixth.
- Pella 12, Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont 7: Despite three hits from Lanie Batterson, the Rockets could not hold off the defending Class 4A state champions. Lucy Carlson hit a game-tying three-run homer in the third, and Stella Rhamy added a tiebreaking RBI single in the fourth for the Little Dutch. EBF (10-15) hosts No. 15 Cardinal on Thursday.
- Oskaloosa 5, Davis County 3: Araceli Pilcher delivered a two-out, tiebreaking, bases-loaded single in the fourth that brought in three runs, giving the Indians the lead for good. Cylee Smith retired the final three hitters in the seventh to clinch the win. Davis County (7-9) heads to Moulton-Udell on Wednesday.
- Mediapolis 9, Pekin 1: Payton Harris and Delaney Griffith each hit home runs, combining for seven RBIs. Griffith's grand slam in the fourth inning gave Mediapolis a comfortable lead. Pekin (7-12) travels to No. 13 Highland on Wednesday.
- Holy Trinity 7, Van Buren County 3: Claire Crabtree's bases-clearing, two-out double snapped a 3-3 tie, completing a seventh-inning comeback for the Crusaders. Van Buren County (11-11, 4-4 SEI south) heads to Danville on Thursday.
- Iowa Valley 11, Moravia 8: Coley Housh drove in five runs with three hits, including a three-run homer, but seven errors allowed five unearned runs for the Tigers. Moravia (8-16) hosts Diagonal on Wednesday.
- Melcher-Dallas 12, Moulton-Udell 2: Ashlyn Metz connected on three hits for the Saints, while Kelsey Reed added two hits and three RBIs. Moulton-Udell (0-13, 0-11 Bluegrass) hosts Davis County on Wednesday.
Which Iowa Baseball Teams Picked Up Big Wins?
- Davis County 2, Fort Madison 1: Noah Sizemore delivered a two-out walk-off RBI single in the bottom of the seventh, bringing home Hudson Humphrey. Grant Husted picked up the win, allowing just one unearned run on three hits. Davis County (13-10) travels to face SCC leaders Knoxville on Thursday.
- No. 6 (1A) Sigourney 15, English Valleys 0: Lincoln Power homered and drove in five runs as part of a three-hit night for the Savages. Hunter Sellers and Ryker Van Den Heuvel also homered for Sigourney. Carver Russell pitched a four-inning shutout, allowing three hits while striking out seven. Sigourney (16-2, 11-1 SICL) heads to Montezuma on Wednesday.
- Centerville Split: The Big Reds won the first game 15-5 over Keokuk, with Abram Decena homering and driving in four runs. Centerville fell in the nightcap 14-4 to Carlisle, though Decena hit his team-leading sixth home run of the season. Centerville (14-9) travels to Albia on Wednesday.
- Moravia 11, Iowa Valley 1: Carson Seals doubled twice, including an RBI hit during a four-run first inning, as the Mohawks extended their winning streak to 12 games. Kale Moore allowed just two hits on the mound, striking out nine over five innings. Moravia (17-4) hosts Lamoni on Thursday.
- Melcher-Dallas 6, Moulton-Udell 2: Leo Schrader connected on two hits, scored twice, and struck out six batters over six innings for the Saints. Moulton-Udell (2-13, 2-11 Bluegrass) hosts Moravia on Friday.
- Mediapolis 11, Pekin 10: Mediapolis scored seven runs in the seventh inning to erase Pekin's late 10-4 lead, aided by four walks, three hits, and a key fielding error. Henry Adam led the Panthers with three hits and five RBIs. Pekin (12-3) hits the road to face Highland on Wednesday.
Who has the lowest ERA in Iowa high school softball?
Albia senior Grace Pence holds the state's lowest ERA at 0.12 following Tuesday's win over Centerville. She has allowed remarkably few runs all season, anchoring the Lady Dees' undefeated record.
How many strikeouts does Grace Pence have this season?
Grace Pence has recorded 243 strikeouts this season for the Albia Lady Dees, leading all Iowa high school softball pitchers.
What is the Albia Lady Dees softball record this season?
The third-ranked Albia Lady Dees are a program-best 23-0 overall and 11-0 in the South Central Conference.