By John Hirl

The Oskaloosa Softball Team put on an impressive showing at the Osky Classic Softball Tournament, going 3-0 on Saturday.

Inclement weather delayed and threatened to cancel the tourney, but the Lacey Recreation Complex grounds crew was able to restore the fields in time to keep the tourney on. That was good for the Indians, who move to 9-1 on the year after going unbeaten on the day.

Game one saw Oskaloosa taking on the Lynville-Sully Hawks. Osky took the lead early in the first inning after Josie Bunnell leadoff the first inning with a hit, and later came around to score via Maddie Haines double.

The Indians would end up with five runs as they added one run in the second, two in the third and one in the fifth.

They wouldn’t need all that insurance however, because Haylee Hacker (7 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 2 K) shut down the Hawk offense all day, giving Oskaloosa the 5-0 win.

Game two saw Oskaloosa trying a new starting pitcher to take the strain off Hacker. Faith DeRonde, an 8^th grader, got the start for the Indians vs the Lightning for Iowa City Liberty High School.

The Indians jumped ahead early, scoring 3 runs in the bottom of the first courtesy of Ava Vande Wall and Taylor Wills RBIs. The Indians would add to their lead, scoring one run in the 3^rd and 4^th innings.

It was 5-0 when the Lightning started to figure out the young DeRonde in the top of the 5^th. They scored three runs, but the young Indian was able to battle out of the jam to keep her team ahead.

Time limitations would cut the game short, and the Indians would get the win 5-3.

By John Hirl

The Oskaloosa Indians baseball team used dominant pitching a timely hitting to defeat the Mustangs of Dallas-Center Grimes 7-2 and 2-0 in a Little Hawkeye Conference double-header Friday night in Oskaloosa.

The first game saw more runs cross home plate as Oskaloosa scored all seven of their runs in an explosive third inning; three of them on a bases clearing double by Noah VanVeldhuizen. That coupled with a solid pitching performance by Nick Harrington (5 IP, 5 H, 3 BB, 5 K, 2 R), and the Indians cruise to victory 7-2.

Harrington got the Win, Cole Kraber got the save, and DCG’s Justin Bieger was credited for the loss in game 1.

The bats would slow down, but the pitching would remain dominant for the Indians in game two of the double-header that saw Oskaloosa win 2-0.

Tyler Miller and Noah VanVeldhuzien teamed up on the mound to hold the Mustangs scoreless. Miller (4 IP, 1 H, 1 BB, 6 K, 0 R) comes away with the win, and VanVeldhuizen (3 IP, 0 H, 2 BB, 6 K, 0 R) gets the save.

The two runs of the game came courtesy of RBIs from Seniors Blake VanVeldhuizen and Alex Dejong.

Head Coach Clint Gingerich said after the games that his team is focused on improving their ability to provide solid pitching performances each time out.

With the two wins Oskaloosa moves to 6-3 on the season, while DCG falls to 1-5.

Oskaloosa’s next game on the No Coast Network will be June 6 when they travel to Norwalk to take on the Warriors in Little Hawkeye Conference action. That game, and all Oskaloosa Indian games, can be heard on 99.5 FM and 740 AM KMZN.