Albia Softball Stays Perfect at 23-0, Davis County Walks Off in Iowa Prep Action

Third-ranked Albia improved to a program-best 23-0 on the season with an 11-0 run-rule victory over Centerville on Tuesday, while Davis County picked up its second walk-off win in as many days in high school sports action across southern Iowa. Grace Pence continued her dominant season in the circle for the Lady Dees, and Addie Pearson drove in seven runs to pace the offense.

How did Albia softball dominate Centerville?

Albia made its toughest South Central Conference road test look easy. Addie Pearson pounded a two-run homer in the first inning, giving Grace Pence all the run support she would need. Pence entered the game with the lowest ERA of any Iowa high school softball pitcher and only improved on that mark, allowing just two hits over four innings while striking out nine of the 15 batters she faced.

Pearson put the game completely out of reach in the fourth inning, delivering a grand slam to cap a three-hit night. Aliyah Hood added two hits, including a double, driving in one run and scoring twice for the Lady Dees.

Pence improved to 19-0 in the pitching circle, bringing her state-leading total to 243 strikeouts this season while lowering her state-best ERA to 0.12. Third-ranked Albia, now 23-0 overall and 11-0 in the SCC, hosts Clarke for Senior Night at Lizzie Alexander Memorial Field on Thursday. Centerville fell to 13-5 overall and 8-3 in conference play.

Davis County baseball delivers another walk-off thriller

Noah Sizemore delivered the latest dramatic moment for Davis County, bringing home Hudson Humphrey with a two-out walk-off RBI single to left in the bottom of the seventh. The win came just 24 hours after the Mustangs went 10 innings to pick up a come-from-behind conference road win at Albia.

Victor Milder got the scoring started with a two-out RBI single in the opening inning, bringing home Hayden Bankson. Grant Husted picked up the win on the mound, allowing just one unearned run on three hits and two walks while striking out a pair.

Davis County improved to 13-10 and heads to Knoxville on Thursday for a key South Central Conference contest against the league leaders.

No. 6 Sigourney baseball rolls past English Valleys

Sixth-ranked Sigourney showed why it belongs in the Class 1A conversation, dominating English Valleys 15-0 in South Iowa Cedar League play. 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, who went a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate, also connected on home runs for Sigourney. Landon Conrado doubled, drove in two runs and scored twice in support of Carver Russell, who pitched a four-inning shutout allowing three hits while striking out seven.

Sigourney improved to 16-2 overall and 11-1 in SICL play, heading to Montezuma for league action on Wednesday.

Moravia baseball extends winning streak to 12 games

Moravia extended its winning streak to a dozen straight games with an 11-1 victory over Iowa Valley. Carson Seals doubled twice, including an RBI two-base hit during a four-run opening inning. Zander Martin added two hits, including a double, while driving in three runs for the Mohawks.

Kale Moore connected on a pair of hits, doubling and driving in two runs while scoring once. Moore also allowed just two hits on the mound, striking out nine batters over five innings. Moravia improved to 17-4 and returns to Bluegrass Conference play Thursday hosting Lamoni on Senior Night.

Cardinal softball edges Fairfield in pitcher's duel

Fifteenth-ranked Cardinal held off Fairfield 2-1 in a tightly contested matchup in Eldon. Maclain Hickenbottom outdueled Leah Helmick, working six scoreless innings while allowing just four hits and striking out 10 batters.

Summer LaRue's two-out RBI single in the bottom of the fifth snapped a scoreless tie, and a fielding error on a groundball hit by Autumn Sertterh brought in Kyra LaRue with the decisive run in the sixth. Ireland Cranston drove in Vanessa Kessel with a two-out RBI single for Fairfield in the seventh, breaking up Hickenbottom's shutout bid before the Comets closed the door.

Cardinal improved to 11-6 and hosts Mount Pleasant in a non-conference doubleheader on Wednesday. Fairfield fell to 12-10.

Oskaloosa softball holds off Davis County

Araceli Pilcher delivered a two-out tiebreaking bases-loaded single to left in the bottom of the fourth, bringing in three runs to give Oskaloosa the lead for good at Jay Harms Field. Davis County took an early 2-0 lead on three straight hits by Ally Batterson, Lydia Barker and Ashlyn Ollinger in the first inning.

Hallie Husted and Lydia Dekraai opened the seventh with back-to-back hits to bring the tying run to the plate, but Cylee Smith retired the next three Mustang hitters to secure the 5-3 win. Davis County fell to 7-9 and heads to Moulton-Udell on Wednesday.

Mediapolis softball powers past Pekin

Payton Harris and Delaney Griffith each connected on home runs for Mediapolis, combining to drive in seven runs on three hits in a 9-1 road victory over Pekin. Kendra Schultz drove in Pekin's only run with a two-out RBI double to center in the third, but Griffith answered with a one-out grand slam in the fourth to put the game away. Pekin fell to 7-12.

What other scores stood out in Tuesday's Iowa prep action?

Pella 12, Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont 7: Defending Class 4A state champion Pella outslugged the Rockets despite three hits from Lanie Batterson, including an opening-inning two-run double. Lucy Carlson connected on a pair of extra-base hits, including a game-tying three-run homer, for the Little Dutch. EBF fell to 10-15.

Holy Trinity 7, Van Buren County 3: Claire Crabtree's bases-clearing two-out double snapped a 3-3 tie in the seventh inning, completing a comeback win for the Crusaders. Teagan Sickels hit a solo home run for Van Buren County in the sixth. The Warriors fell to 11-11 overall and 4-4 in SEI south division play.

Melcher-Dallas softball 12, Moulton-Udell 2: Ashlyn Metz connected on a team-leading three hits for the Saints, while Kelsey Reed added two hits and three RBIs. Moulton-Udell remained winless at 0-13.

Iowa Valley 11, Moravia softball 8: Coley Housh drove in five runs with three hits, including a three-run homer, but seven Moravia errors allowed five unearned runs for the Tigers. Moravia fell to 8-16.

Centerville baseball splits Senior Night doubleheader: Abram Decena homered in both games, driving in eight total runs on the night. Centerville took the opener 15-5 over Keokuk before falling 14-4 to Carlisle in the nightcap. Decena now leads the Big Reds with six home runs on the season.

Melcher-Dallas baseball 6, Moulton-Udell 2: Leo Schrader connected on a pair of hits, scored twice and struck out six over six innings for the Saints. Moulton-Udell fell to 2-13.

Mediapolis baseball 11, Pekin 10: Mediapolis scored seven runs in the seventh inning, aided by four walks, three hits and a key fielding error, to erase Pekin's 10-4 lead. Henry Adam led the Panthers with two doubles among his three hits and five RBIs. Pekin fell to 12-3.

Which Iowa high school softball team has the best record?

Third-ranked Albia holds the best record in Iowa high school softball at 23-0, marking the best start in program history. The Lady Dees are led by Grace Pence, who owns a state-best 0.12 ERA and 243 strikeouts, and slugger Addie Pearson, who drove in seven runs in Tuesday's win over Centerville.

How many strikeouts does Grace Pence have this season?

Albia senior pitcher Grace Pence has recorded 243 strikeouts this season, the most of any Iowa high school softball pitcher. Pence is 19-0 in the pitching circle with a state-leading 0.12 ERA.