The #1 (1A) Clarksville softball team continued a stellar undefeated start to the summer with a 7-2 win over county rival North Butler on Thursday. This was only the second game this season that the Indians played a complete seven-inning game. The last was on May 31 against Beckman Catholic.
Clarksville to open scoring plated three runs, including a sacrifice fly by Sydney Lovrien in the first inning. North Butler responded with two outs in the second inning on an RBI groundout by Grace Pittenger to cut their deficit to 3-1. The Indians found home twice in the third on a Bearcat throwing error and an RBI ground out by Catelynn Lodge to extend their lead to 5-1. Lovrien had an RBI groundout in the fourth to give the Indians their largest lead at 6-1. The Bearcats returned to the scoreboard in the fifth on an Indians throwing error to get within 6-2. Clarksville concluded scoring with an RBI single by Eve Jordan in the sixth to go up 7-2.
Lovrien, in the circle for Clarksville, had five strikeouts, one walk and did not allow an earned run in the complete game win.
“It was definitely a test to see how I was feeling in the full seven innings, but I think it was good. It feels like a relief that I’m doing something on both ends, I’m happy that I get the chance to do that too,” says Lovrien. “It’s still early on, so to keep a mindset of not to worry about the rankings, to keep going and doing the best that we can. I think that is a really important mindset to have.”
North Butler Head Coach Austin Guerrero on the bounce back performance against a top team.
“We were really happy with our bounce back effort from a night ago at our place. We hosted a tough West Fork team. We had some things that were kind of out of our control with some sickness, some people having to move positions and let the game get away from us,” says Guerrero. “We just talked as a team, came back together and said we need a mental reset with facing a really good opponent in Clarksville. We talked about, what our mental approach needs to be and how we as a team can be as a solid ball club. We knew that. We came in here and we played really well. They got a few more hits that went their way, that’s kind of the difference in the score.”
North Butler’s Kamri Groen had three strikeouts, no walks and allowed four earned runs in the loss.
Clarksville (11-0) will host GMG in Iowa Star Conference action on Friday. North Butler (7-7) will be off until Monday, when they will host Northwood-Kensett for a doubleheader.
