It’s been a busy start to the Southeast Iowa Super Conference summer sports season with Lone Tree and Winfield-Mt. Union meeting on opening night and Columbus softball also getting into the mix. 

With the graduation of five year pitcher and all stater Madie Anderson, the Wolves’ softball team started the new era on the right foot with a 6-5 win over the Lions. WMU picked up three runs in the fourth and sixth innings to manage the win with Makiah Lower doing most of the damage going 2-for-3 with a home run and three RBI. The sophomore tossed seven innings in the circle giving up three earned tallies on four hits and striking out seven. Lone Tree had 10 knocks with Arlie Lorack going 3-for-4 and two RBI. The senior struck out 10 in the circle in six innings of work while surrendering three runs and nine knocks. The Wolves turned around and narrowly lost to Louisa-Muscatine the next night by a 10-8 count. Eight different batters brought in runs with Melina Oepping finishing 2-for-4 and crossing the plate once. Only three of the runs were earned with Lower going the distance while allowing nine hits and striking out five. WMU is 1-1 on the young campaign. Lone Tree then fell to Columbus on Tuesday by a 14-4 score. The Wildcats utilized a seven run second frame to take control and they finished with 13 hits led by Lily Coil going 3-for-4 with five RBI. The freshman picked up the victory tossing five innings giving up seven hits and four runs. Lone Tree was led by Alex Dautremont going 2-for-3 with two RBI and a run scored. The Wildcats are 2-0 and the Lions are 0-2. 

On the boys’ side, when Lone Tree and WMU met up it was a fast Lion start that led to a 10-4 win. The Lion bats were patient with just five hits, but they had 10 walks. The offense was led by Will Kleckner going 2-for-4 and Cade Shield brought in four tallies. Gavin Pourroy got the win in two innings on the hill surrendering one earned run on one hit. WMU also had 10 guys reach on free passes, but they only had one hit from Cael Phillips. Andrew Brown gave up seven runs on four hits in four innings on the mound. WMU did not have enough gas the next night falling to Louisa-Muscatine 14-9. Nick Crow and Cole Milks each went 2-for-3 with three RBI. The Lions are 1-0 and the Wolves drop to 0-2.