ACKLEY — The Grundy Center softball team swept AGWSR by scores of 7-0 and 8-0 on Monday night to notch the NICL West Division title.

The Spartans (14-6, 8-1) scored in five of seven at-bats in the first game to back eighth-grade pitcher Macey Kiewiet’s two-hit shutout. Kiewiet struck out nine while allowing two hits, two walks and a hit batter.

Maddy Hendershot was 2-for-3 with an RBI and three runs scored, while Evelyn Geerdes was 2-for-4 with a double and a run to lead the Spartan offense.

In the second game, Grundy Center put the Cougars (7-16, 3-4) away with a four-run third inning to take the lead for good.

Ava Heeren was 3-for-4 with a home run and Camdyn Aronson was 3-for-4 with an RBI and a run to lead the Spartan offense, which totaled 17 hits. Allison Koch was 2-for-3 with two doubles, a run and two RBIs, Kiewiet was 2-for-4 with a double a run and an RBI, and Trinity Jirovsky was 2-for-3 with a run and an RBI. Kyndra Dieken also had two hits.

Hendershot limited AGWSR to just five hits while walking four in the complete-game victory, striking out four.

Grundy Center baseball locks up NICL West Division

ACKLEY — The Grundy Center baseball team locked up its fifth NICL West Division title in school history by sweeping aside AGWSR by scores of 14-0 and 7-3 on Monday night.

The Spartans (16-2, 10-0) used steady pressure to take the lead on AGWSR (5-14, 0-7) in the opening game before blowing it open late. Grundy Center led 6-0 before scoring eight times in the top of the seventh inning, and kept the momentum rolling by racking up five runs in the first inning of Game 2.

Twelve of Grundy’s 13 hits in the first game went for singles. Ryder Slifer was 3-for-4 with two RBIs and two runs scored, and Ethan Meester was 3-for-4 with two RBIs. Pete Lebo and Hayden Geerdes had two hits apiece, including a double for Lebo, who drove in three runs.

Judd Jirovsky, Britt Meyer and Brody Zinkula combined to pitch a six-hit shutout, striking out four while walking none.

In the nightcap, the Spartans needed just five hits to score seven times, boosted by four walks and three hit batsmen. Geerdes went 2-for-3 with a run and two RBIs, while Slifer was 1-for-2 with two walks, two runs and an RBI. Brayden Davie and Mason Thede both added singles.

Ryker Thoren pitched three innings for the win, allowing two runs — one earned — on three hits and one walk while striking out four.

Redhawk baseball rallies to beat Baxter

TRAER — The North Tama baseball team scored the go-ahead run in the bottom of the fifth inning to beat Baxter 3-2 on Monday night.

The Redhawks (10-7, 8-5) 2-0 before the visiting Bolts (11-5, 8-5) scored twice in the top of the fifth to tie the score. North Tama regained the lead and held on for the win as rain moved in to wipe out the final two frames.

Kayler Morris was 2-for-3 with a run scored to lead North Tama, which had six hits. Kolt Knaack and Gavin Rausch both singled and drove in a run, while Clayton Williams and Tyrus Luker singled and scored.

Josh Dostal pitched 5 1/3 innings for the win, allowing two unearned runs on five hits and five total walks while striking out two.

Comets clobber Colo-NESCO softball

MC CALLSBURG — The BCLUW softball team used a seven-run eruption in the second inning to clamp down on Colo-NESCO in an eventual 13-1, four-inning triumph over the Royals on Friday night.

BCLUW (14-3, 10-2) hammered out 14 hits, including a home run for senior pitcher Klayre Gallentine. Gallentine finished 3-for-4 with four RBIs to help lead the Comet bats, and she allowed just two hits and one unearned run for the win, striking out nine.

Cassie Nason went 4-for-4 with two RBIs and three runs scored, while Eden Ladehoff was 2-for-3 with a double, a run and an RBI. Marissa Schnathorst was 2-for-3 with two runs scored, and Allison Ward doubled in a run and scored.

Elmore’s homers help GMG dispatch North Tama

GREEN MOUNTAIN — Eighth-grader Addison Elmore hit two home runs and the GMG softball team outlasted North Tama 10-5 in Friday’s Iowa Star Conference South Division matchup.

Elmore was 2-for-4 with two homers, a walk and four RBIs. Natalie Upah was 3-for-5 with three runs scored, while Madison Bryant was 2-for-4 with two doubles and a run scored. Rhianna Murty had two hits and scored twice, while Riah Boege had two hits and two RBIs.

Boege allowed seven hits in the circle for GMG (8-7, 6-6), surrendering three earned runs on two walks while striking out 11.

No statistics were available as of press time for North Tama (3-10, 2-10).

BCLUW baseball batters Royals, 20-0

ZEARING — The BCLUW baseball team pounded out a 20-0, four-inning victory over Colo-NESCO in Friday’s Iowa Star Conference South Division showdown.

The Comets (8-4, 8-3) put nine runs on the scoreboard in the top of the second to take a 12-0 lead, and they added seven more runs in the fourth to finish off the Royals (6-9, 4-8).

Ryan Busch had three of the Comets’ 12 hits, going 3-for-4 with a double, two runs scored and five RBIs. Kevin Hill and Maverick Grafke had two hits apiece, with Hill driving in three runs and Grafke scoring three times.

Owen Meyers was 1-for-3 with a double and three runs scored, and the Comets (8-4, 8-3) also benefited from a total of 14 walks issued by Colo-NESCO pitching.

Daniel Zoske tossed a four-hitter for the win, walking one and striking out four.

Teske helps Wolverines stun Redhawks, 7-6

GREEN MOUNTAIN — The GMG baseball team scored twice in the bottom of the seventh inning to beat North Tama 7-6 in Friday’s Iowa Star Conference South Division clash.

The host Wolverines (5-10) only had three hits — all from the same player — but still managed to scratch together enough runs for the victory. Colin Teske was 3-for-4 with two doubles, a hit-by-pitch, an RBI and three runs scored, and he pitched a complete game to drive GMG to the win. Teske finished with five strikeouts, a walk and a hit batsman, allowing six singles.

Kayler Morris, Kolt Knaack and Josh Dostal each singled and drove in a run for the Redhawks (9-7).

Bryce Dostal took the loss on the mound for North Tama, allowing two runs on a walk and a hit batsman in relief of Morris. Morris went 6 2/3 innings, allowing five runs — two earned — on four hits, two walks and six strikeouts in a no-decision.

Mustangs turn away Vinton-Shellsburg, 6-4

GILMAN — The East Marshall baseball team used one big inning to beat back Vinton-Shellsburg, 6-4, in Friday’s non-conference clash.

The Mustangs (8-10) trailed 4-0 before scoring six times in the bottom of the fifth to take the lead for good, securing the team’s fourth-straight win.

Landen Dougherty was 2-for-3 with a double, a run and an RBI, while Austin Crandon was 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI. Jake Farrington singled, scored and drove in two runs, while Eli Burns, Jaxson Boswell, Jackson Bidwell and Joryn Shively each added singles.

Jackson Busch pitched 6 2/3 innings for the win, allowing four runs on six hits, one walk and three hit batsmen while striking out nine. Parker Nissen struck out the only batter he faced for the save.