By: Nathan Bloechl — [email protected]
Humboldt, Iowa — For the third time in as many years, the Humboldt Wildcat softball team can call themselves “co-North Central Conference Champions.”
But as many know, things aren’t shared well on the softball field for Doug Van Pelt.
However, milestone number one was checked off last night as the Wildcats clinched at least a share of the North Central Conference championship, dispatching Algona 5-0.
If Humboldt can win any one of their two remaining conference games — either at Clear Lake or at Iowa Falls-Alden — they’ll be outright champions again.
The Wildcats peppered Algona pitching for ten hits, but only mustered two scoring innings on a muggy night in Humboldt.
A four-run, eight-batter 3rd inning was the tipping point as Ashlyn Clark and Carlie Thompson had extra-base hits in the frame.
Clark finished the night 3-for-3 with a run scored and a stolen base.
Ellie Jacobson dazzled in the circle once again for Doug Van Pelt’s ball club, earning yet another complete game shutout, scattering four hits and two walks, while striking out seven.
The All-Stater from last year is now 23-2 on the year, with a microscopic 0.75 ERA, all while working about 90% of her team’s innings.
Humboldt is now 25-3 on the season and will play Clear Lake this afternoon in Clear Lake at 3:30 p.m. as a part of a make-up date from last week.