The Newton softball team had a big day offensively in a 15-4 victory in four innings over Pella Christian Friday night, in a game heard live on the KRLS3 stream. 

The Eagles struck for the game’s first run in the top of the first inning, when Faith Kacmarynski blasted a solo home run over the left field fence. From there it was all Cardinals, as they used 12 hits, six walks, and three errors to score 15 runs across the first, second, and third innings. Pella Christian continued to battle despite the deficit, adding three runs in the top of the fourth inning, before Newton closed the door on the rally to secure the run-rule victory. Paige Benson and Chloe Swank led the strong offensive showing for the Cardinals, with Benson going 2-3 at the plate with a three-run homer and two runs scored, and Swank also going 2-3 with three RBIs and two runs scored. Faith Kacmarynski and Chloe Snyder were the lone Eagles to record two hits in the loss, while Rachel Kacmarynski and Amaia Agre each had an RBI. Newton head coach Kory Leiker said it was a good team win. 

“We really needed something like that at this time of the season. It’s a good confidence booster to win the week.”

Eagles head coach Mindi Kacmarynski says those last three runs mean something.

“Super proud of our girls that they didn’t give up. We hit the ball hard at times and they just kept battling. We are going to keep getting better.” 

The Cardinals went 3-2 this week to begin the season while the Eagles fell to 0-4 overall and 0-3 in the league. Pella Christian returns to Eagle Lane to host Norwalk for a doubleheader on Monday, and Newton is also back in action at home on Monday to host a doubleheader against Class 4A #13 Pella.