LE GRAND — Morgan Neuroth connected for her first home run of the season, Peyton Grabenbauer hit her fourth, and the Class 2A No. 12 East Marshall softball team smacked Union Community 12-0 in four innings here Monday night.

Neuroth led off the bottom of the first inning with a solo homer as the Mustangs (19-3) scored five times in the opening frame. Grabenbauer started a three-run third with her solo shot, and East Marshall finished it off with four runs in the fourth.

Neuroth plunked Blake Mathern with the first pitch of the game but allowed only two more baserunners the rest of the game. Dena Robb’s leadoff single in the second was the only hit for the Knights (2-15). Neuroth struck out eight consecutively and didn’t walk a batter.

Ava Bringmann, Bailey Grant and Cora Talbert had two hits apiece to lead East Marshall. Makayla Kerber added a two-run double.

Top-ranked Trojans take two from Lynnville-Sully

STATE CENTER — The West Marshall baseball team replaced its Rose Festival Tournament with a doubleheader against another highly ranked team, and the Trojans didn’t disappoint their hometown fans.

The Class 2A No. 1 Trojans toppled 1A No. 2 Lynnville-Sully twice on Saturday, handling the Hawks 14-4 and 14-11 at Schilling Field.

West Marshall (23-1) broke open a close game in the opener with nine runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to end it early. Beckham DeSotel hit a three-run home run and Grayson Shaver connected for a grand slam in the sixth to power the Trojans to the victory.

AJ Dee was 3-for-3 with a double, a two-run homer and three RBIs to lead the Trojans. Shaver and DeSotel both had two of the team’s 11 hits.

Shaver allowed two earned runs on five hits and one walk over six innings, striking out three.

In the nightcap, West Marshall led 12-5 through five innings before Lynnville-Sully (18-3) rallied to make the final score closer.

The Trojans totaled eight hits but benefitted from 10 walks and four hit batsmen to finish off the non-conference sweep.

Evan Siegert was 3-for-3 with two doubles and three runs scored to lead West Marshall offensively. Dee walked a total of five times and scored three runs, while DeSotel hit a double, drive in a run and scored three times.

DeSotel, Vincent Clawson and Hunter Polley divvied up the pitching duties, with Clawson earning the win for his three innings of work.

Comets close out softball sweep of Bolts

BAXTER — The BCLUW softball team earned the season sweep of Baxter (0-13, 0-9), beating the Bolts 7-1 on Friday night.

The Comets led 3-1 after five innings but continued to tack on runs, scoring once in the sixth and three times in the seventh.

Cassie Nason was 2-for-4 with a triple, and Marissa Grant was 2-for-2 with a run scored to lead the BCLUW bats. Callie Swanson and Klayre Gallentine both had run-scoring singles for the Comets (10-7, 7-3).

Gallentine pitched all seven innings, allowing just two hits and one walk while striking out nine.

Redhawks outrun Royals in Iowa Star baseball

TRAER — The North Tama baseball team jumped out to an early lead and put away Colo-NESCO for a 6-1 win in Friday’s Iowa Star Conference South Division game.

The Redhawks (12-8, 9-4) scored four times in the bottom of the first inning and twice more in the third to get all the offense they’d need. Henry Hansen pitched a one-hitter, allowing one run on six walks while striking out 10 for the complete-game win.

Gavin Rausch and Kayvin Morris had two hits apiece to lead North Tama, both driving in a run. Hansen hit a double and Tyler Popelka singled and drove in two.

Hunter Purvis struck out three and walked two in the complete-game loss for Colo-NESCO (5-9, 4-7).

Baxter baseball tops Comets in divisional play

BAXTER — The Baxter baseball team scored seven times in its first at-bat en route to an 8-2 triumph over BCLUW in Friday’s Iowa Star Conference South Division matchup.

Starting pitcher Carson Wayman couldn’t escape the first inning for BCLUW (4-10, 4-8) and took the loss, allowing seven runs — six earned — on four hits, two walks and one hit batsman. Daniel Zoske pitched the remaining 5 1/3 innings for the Comets, allowing one run on three hits and four total walks while striking out two. Cael Keller had two of BCLUW’s seven singles in the loss. Ryan Busch drove in a run.

Colton Moffit struck out seven and walked one in the complete-game win for Baxter (9-7, 7-4).

Vikings hold East Marshall bats to two hits in defeat

VINTON — Vinton-Shellsburg baseball used a four-run eruption in the third inning to take command in an eventual 7-1 win over East Marshall on Friday night.

The Mustangs (7-12) were held to just two hits. Carter Lavender singled and scored on Connor Kriegel’s hit in the top of the sixth. Xavier Slifer pitched four innings for the loss, allowing six runs — four earned — on three hits, three walks and two hit batsmen. He struck out one.

Owen Mullinex was 2-for-3 with a triple and three runs scored for Vinton-Shellsburg (5-13). The Vikings played error-free defense behind pitchers Colt Koeppen, who didn’t allow a hit in four innings, and Jakob Becker.

Spartan rally stopped short against South Hardin

GRUNDY CENTER — The Grundy Center softball team came up with a huge rally that fell just short, falling 9-7 to South Hardin in Thursday’s NICL West Division clash.

The Spartans (7-11, 1-6) scored all seven runs in the bottom of the seventh inning but couldn’t complete the comeback.

Lauren Zajac had an RBI single, Maddy Hendershot hit a two-run single, and Lucy Leby added a two-run double to highlight Grundy Center’s big inning.

Zajac, Allison Koch and Ava Heeren had two hits apiece to lead the Spartans. Ava Mundt pitched six innings in the loss, allowing nine runs — five earned — on six hits, seven walks and two hit batters. She struck out four. Maddy Hendershot got the final three outs.

Charlee Rosonke was 2-for-5 with two runs scored and two RBIs for South Hardin (11-9, 6-2).

East Marshall takes down Rebels in extra innings

REINBECK — East Marshall scored twice in the top of the ninth and withstood Gladbrook-Reinbeck’s retort in a 6-5 Mustang victory in Thursday’s NICL West Division baseball game.

The score was tied at 3-all after seven innings. Both teams scored once in the eighth before East Marshall (7-12, 4-4) tallied two runs in the ninth.

Carter Lavender had two hits, including a double, and drove in three runs for the Mustangs. Jacob Farrington was 2-for-4 with a run scored, while Blake Neuroth and Connor Kriegel added singles. Gladbrook-Reinbeck pitching issued 11 walks and hit two batters.

Jackson Busch earned the win in relief for the East Marshall pitching staff, allowing one run in 1 2/3 innings. He gave up one hit and hit two batters while striking out three.

Hudson Clark had three hits to lead G-R (2-13, 1-4). Michael Boyd and Brandon Mathern both added two hits and all three players scored a run.

Drew Eilers was hit by the pitch four times and had the team’s only RBI. He allowed one unearned run over five innings as G-R’s starting pitcher, allowing three hits and four walks while striking out seven. Isaac Clark took the loss for the Rebels, allowing five runs — four earned — on two hits, seven walks and two hit batters. He struck out nine in 3 1/3 innings.