Cadets to host Gaels in Friday night action on the diamond
The Iowa Falls-Alden Softball and Baseball teams will host St. Edmond Friday night for a North Central Conference matchup.
IFA Softball is off to a 1-3 start, which most recently featured Wednesday’s 11-7 loss to Clear Lake. Through the four games, the Cadets have posted a .196 batting average as a team. IFA will look to challenge a St. Edmond Gaels squad that is 4-1 and has an NCC-best 3-0 record in conference play. Iowa Falls-Alden Head Softball Coach Emily Banken says that the NCC is a solid conference.
“Our conference is improving a lot. Some new coaches have come in and have changed the way that they're doing things and so it’ll be interesting to see how it goes this year. We know that they can put the bat on the ball and they’re gonna put it in play. We just need to be ready defensively…”
Leading the Cadets offensively, senior Hailey Bridgewater has recorded four runs, six hits, five RBI’s, and a .500 batting average, all of which are team-high’s. Coach Banken says that Bridgewater is a great leader.
“It’s pretty clear looking at the stats that she’s a great ball player, but what the stats don’t tell you is how great of a leader and teammate she also is. She worked really hard in the offseason and has encouraged her teammates to do so as well, and so I’m just really happy that it’s been paying off for her and she’s seeing the success her senior year and I can’t wait to see what else she does this season.”
Sophomore pitcher Cidni Phipps has been a force on the mound for the Cadets, throwing every pitch so far in 2023. Through 26 innings of play, Phipps has stuck out 30 batters.
“She was the main pitcher last year. So [she’s] continued to be our go-to pitcher this year, and she’s done a great job and has had quite a few strikeouts already, which takes a lot of pressure off when we’re looking at the scoreboard…”
IFA Baseball is 2-2 to start the year, having played Wednesday in a 13-3 loss to Clear Lake most recently. The Cadets started the year with a team batting average of .398 in the first three games of the year, and will look to test their bats again against the 1-3 Gaels.
The games both start at 7:30 p.m.
