Rams stop Cards at Treynor Classic
Brianna VanNess earned her first varsity win for the Glenwood girls softball team in a 5-1 victory over Treynor at the Treynor Classic Softball Tournament on Saturday.
VanNess, a freshman, threw a complete game for the Rams (13-5 overall, 5-3 in the Hawkeye 10 Conference) in the game-two victory.
In the tournament opener, the Rams lost a heartbreaker to Council Bluffs Abraham 11-9. It was Glenwood's second loss to the Lynx in five days.
Trailing 11-4 heading into what would be their last at-bats, Glenwood scored five runs in the inning, highlighted by Jordan Ruhr's bases clearing double that scored three.
The game ended with Ram runners at second and third.
“We just ran out of time,” said Stanton.
Ruhr started in the circle in game one, allowing 10 hits and striking out three.
“They hit the ball really well. We knew coming in they could hit it, it didn't have much to do with who we pitched the way they've been hitting the ball,” said Glenwood coach Tim Stanton.
Glenwood had five hits in the game, led by Ana VanScoy's two hits and runs scored.
VanNess was sharp throughout against the state ranked Cardinals. The right-hander struck out seven, allowed four hits and just one earned run in her second career start.
“She threw well and was in control,” said Stanton.
The Rams did most of their damage in the first inning with the first seven Rams reaching base leading to four runs.
Rachelle Martin was 2-for-4 in game two.
L.C. double-header
suspended in the 10th
After dropping a 5-3 decision to Council Bluffs Lewis Central the Glenwood girls softball team had its second game of a Hawkeye 10 Conference double-header suspended in the 10th inning with the score tied at 3-3 last Thursday due to lightening.
In game one, the Rams led 2-0 after Molly Bryan blasted a two-run home run to take the early 2-0 lead. Glenwood added another run in the third before the Titans' bats came alive with three runs to knot the score in the fourth. Lewis Central added two more runs in the sixth to complete the scoring.
Rams’ ace pitcher Molly Bryan returned against Lewis Central after suffering a shoulder strain on Monday. The sophomore fanned 11 and allowed just four hits in her first game back.
“She was focused and she threw two great games,” said Glenwood coach Tim Stanton. “Her shoulder was strained but resting her helped. We were happy to have her back. She really threw a great game.”
In game two, the Rams entered the seventh inning trailing 3-1 when singles by Grace Newman and Brittany Rodgers, sandwiched around a Cassie Ruhr walk, left the bases loaded. After Ana VanScoy popped out Emily Robinson stroked a single to right field to score two runs and send the game into extra innings.
“It was a great moment for Emily,” said Stanton. “She’s a senior, starting for three years, and she gets a chance to put the game on her shoulders and she steps up and gets it done.”
A game-two change in hitting philosophy seemed to help his team, said Stanton.
“We really committed ourselves to not striking out in that second game and making them play defense,” said Stanton. “We wanted to put the ball in play. So we made good contact and it was a lot better game plan for us.”
The game continued for two more innings at a 3-3 tie before game officials suspended the game in the 10th with lightening strikes in the area. Stanton felt suspending the game at that time favored his team.
“Molly had thrown about 15 straight innings at that point so to have it suspended and give her the opportunity to finish the game when she’s fresh, I really think gives us the advantage,” said Stanton.
Stanton did not know when the game would be finished.
“Their coach said he didn’t care if we finished it or not and I said ‘Coach, you’re 10-0, the conference could come down to this game,’” said Stanton. “Besides that, we want to finish it. One way or another, even if its on a Sunday, we’re going to finish this, win or lose. This isn’t World Cup soccer, we’re going to finish this.”
Glenwood 2,
Shenandoah 1
The Glenwood softball team snapped a four-year losing streak at Shenandoah last Tuesday with a 2-1 Ram victory.
“We’ve just had a curse down there,” said Glenwood coach Tim Stanton. “But we got over that.”
Jordan Ruhr recorded her first win of the season in place of regular starter Molly Bryan who sat our nursing a sore shoulder. Struck out four and scattered seven hits in the complete-game win.
“Jordan did a great job. She kept the ball down and let our defense do its job,” said Stanton. “I have confidence in her both Jordan and Brianna (VanNess) but its a different ball game when they’re in. With Molly you know she’s going to get 10 strikeout and battle. With Jordan and Brianna they don’t have that stuff but they compete very hard and we just have to play defense.”
The Rams played error-free ball while getting eight hits of their own on offense. Rachelle Martin was 3-for-3 and McKenna Henze was 2-for-3 filling in for Bryan in the three-hole in the order.
C.B. Abraham Lincoln 4,
Glenwood 3, 10 innings
Council Bluffs Abraham Lincoln scored in the bottom of the tenth inning complete a come-from-behind 4-3 victory over Glenwood last Monday at City Park in Council Bluffs.
The Rams led 3-1 heading into the bottom of the seventh when the Lynx plated two runs to the tie the game. In that same inning, Glenwood hurler Molly Bryan strained her shoulder causing the sophomore to give way to freshman Brianna VanNess for the next three innings.
“I could tell Molly wasn’t feeling great. I want to win all our games but non-conference games aren’t as important as our conference games. We had Shenandoah the next night so we decided to go ahead and pull her out,” said Glenwood coach Tim Stanton. “They ended up getting a run in the bottom of the 10th. It’s not like we didn’t play well, we played very well. We just had to make a decision and Brianna pitched well. They just got us there.”
The Rams finished with seven hits. Ana VanScoy was 2-for-5 with a run and two stolen bases and Bryan was 1-for-4 with two runs driven in.