LE GRAND — Morgan Neuroth tossed a one-hit shutout and the Class 2A No. 11 East Marshall softball team remained unbeaten in NICL West Division play with a 5-0 victory over South Hardin on Thursday night.

Neuroth struck out 10 and allowed only a leadoff single to Alyssa Kix in the top of the fourth inning. Alli Sheldahl reached via error in the fifth but was caught stealing as South Hardin (12-11, 6-3) failed to reach second base in the game.

The Mustangs’ first four batters of the game reached base, leading to a 3-0 lead right out of the gate. Ashtyn Wheater’s RBI double capped the early advantage.

Peyton Grabenbauer was 2-for-2 with two RBIs and a run scored to lead East Marshall (21-3, 7-0). Neuroth and Wheater both doubled, while Vaeda Bryan, Rayne McIlrath and Ava Bringmann all added singles.

Hailey Rosonke surrendered three unearned runs in the first inning and took the loss for the Tigers.

Siegert shuts out Crusaders

COON RAPIDS — Owen Siegert pitched a one-hit shutout and the Class 2A No. 1 West Marshall baseball team toppled Coon Rapids-Bayard on Thursday night, 13-0 in five innings.

The Trojans (25-1) supported Siegert with nine runs in the top of the first inning, before he even took the mound. He delivered with five efficient innings, facing only one batter more than the minimum while striking out 12 of the 16 he faced.

Caden Pfantz was 3-for-3 with a double, two RBIs and two runs, and Siegert was 3-for-3 with three RBIs and two runs scored to lead the West Marshall offense. AJ Dee was 2-for-3 with two RBIs and a run, and Grayson Shaver was 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run.

Eighth-grader Drake Whitaker singled for his first varsity hit as well as the Trojans tallied 12 hits while capitalizing on seven walks and five hit-by-pitches against the Crusaders (12-9).

Mustangs spoil South Hardin’s shot at clinching

GILMAN — The East Marshall baseball team foiled South Hardin’s shot at clinching at least a share of the NICL West Division title with a 4-1 win over the Tigers on Thursday night.

Joryn Shively and Carter Lavender combined on a three-hitter for the Mustangs (9-13, 5-4). Shively allowed one run on two hits and four walks over five innings for the win, striking out one, and Lavender gave up one hit in two frames of near-perfect relief.

Blake Neuroth went 3-for-4 with a double, a run and three RBIs to lead the East Marshall offense. Connor Kriegel had East Marshall’s only other hit. Courtesy runner Jaxson Boswell scored two runs and Eli Burns another.

Peyton Welch struck out nine but walked six in 5 1/3 innings to take the loss for South Hardin (12-7, 8-3).

Comets catch up to Redhawks in ISC softball

CONRAD — North Tama nabbed an early lead but the BCLUW softball team overcame it for a 4-1 victory over the Redhawks in Thursday’s Iowa Star Conference South Division clash.

North Tama (6-7, 6-7) scored in the top of the first inning, but BCLUW (11-9, 8-4) eventually scored more.

Klayre Gallentine scattered eight hits and two walks for the pitching win for the Comets, striking out eight. Morgan Bergmann and Allison Ward had two hits apiece to lead BCLUW, including a double and an RBI for Bergmann. Ward scored a run. Sarah Garber had an RBI double and scored a run.

Adelyn Sienknecht allowed three earned runs on seven hits and three walks while striking out three in the loss for North Tama. Addison Hochstetler was 3-for-4 and scored the Redhawks’ lone run.