ALGONA—Bishop Garrigan started fast with an early lead and cruised to a 13-3, five-inning Top of Iowa Conference softball victory over the West Hancock Eagles on Thursday, June 23.

SWEA CITY—A battle of the top two ranked softball squads in Class 2A proved not to be what it was billed up to be as top-ranked Central Springs drubbed No. 2 rated North Union 10-0 in five innings in a non-conference contest that took place on Thursday, June 23.

The Panthers tallied two runs in the top of the first inning before exploding for six tallies in the top of fourth frame and ended the contest early with a pair of runs in the top of the fifth stanza.

ALGONA—Humboldt used four straight errors by the Algona Bulldogs to score six unearned runs in top of the fifth inning to rally from a 4-1 deficit and went onto an 8-4 North Central Conference softball victory on Wednesday, June 22.

SWEA CITY—Second-ranked North Union shutout Belmond-Klemme 10-0 in five innings in a Top of Iowa Conference softball contest played on Wednesday, June 22.

The green-black-and-silver scored twice in the opening frame before tallying a single run in the third stanza and ended the contest early with seven runs in the bottom of the fourth inning.

BRITT—Bishop Garrigan earned a 7-1 Top of Iowa Conference road softball victory on Tuesday, June 21 over the West Hancock Eagles. The black-and-gold had eight hits in the win as both Abbie Capesius and Darius Goche had a pair of singles to lead the way.

The Golden Bears scored a single run in the top of the second stanza along with three runs in both the third and seventh frames while the home team scored their lone tally in the bottom of the sixth stanza.

ALGONA—Algona pounded out 11 hits in a 13-3, five-inning North Central Conference baseball victory on Monday, June 27 over the Iowa Falls-Alden Cadets.

After a scoreless first inning, the red-and-black plated five runs in the bottom of the second frame and exploded for seven more in the third stanza for a 12-0 advantage.

BANCROFT—North Union earned a 6-1 Top of Iowa Conference baseball victory on Monday, June 27 over the Lake Mills Bulldogs.

The green-black-and-silver plated two runs in the bottom of the first, third and fourth innings while the purple-and-gold scored their only tally in the top of the seventh inning.

RUTHVEN—West Bend-Mallard earned their first victory of the 2022 season on Monday, June 27 with an exciting 6-4 triumph over the Graettinger-Terril/Ruthven-Ayrshire Titans.

The Wolverines held a 4-3 advantage after the first four innings of play before adding a pair of big insurance runs to earn their first win of the year.

ALGONA—Right-hander Nathan Merron scattered five hits to help lead the Bishop Garrigan Golden Bears baseball team to an 11-1, five-inning Top of Iowa Conference contest win that was played on Thursday, June 23 against the West Hancock Eagles.

Trailing 1-0, the black-and-gold erupted for seven runs in the bottom of the fourth inning and ended the game early with four more tallies in the bottom of the fifth frame for their fifth straight victory.

ALGONA—Iowa Falls-Alden used a strong pitching performance to hand the Algona Bulldogs a narrow 2-1 North Central Conference softball loss on Monday, June 27.

The Cadets’ Cidni Phipps out-dueled Ryan Haynes in a classic pitcher’s duel. Phipps allowed just one hit while fanning 10 and hit a pair of batters.

Haynes was just as sharp for the red-and-black as she gave up two runs, one earned, on five hits while striking out eight batters and walked one.

SWEA CITY—North Union remained undefeated in Top of Iowa Conference softball play on Monday, June 27 with a 10-1 victory over the Lake Mills Bulldogs.

The green-black-and-silver broke a scoreless dead-lock in the third inning with six runs. The home team added three more tallies in the bottom of the fourth frame before both teams scored a single run in the sixth stanza.

COLLINS—The Bishop Garrigan Golden Bears softball squad split a pair of non-conference contests on Saturday, June 25 at the Collins-Maxwell tournament.

The black-and-gold dropped their opener to Pella 14-1 in six innings but rebounded to defeat Central Decatur 4-2 later in the day in their second game.

In the opener, the Golden Bears scored first with a run in the first inning before the green-and-white responded with the next 14 runs.

STANHOPE—Algona dropped a pair of non-conference softball contests on Saturday, June 25 in the South Hamilton tournament. The red-and-black fell to West Marshall by the score of 7-3 and then lost a tight 2-1 decision to Greene County.

Brooklyn Helmers and Ryan Haynes each had a pair of hits in the opener as Haynes knocked in a pair of RBI. Helmers touched the plate twice in the contest as Lillian Etherington scored once.

By Greg Grabianowski

Sports Editor

DES MOINES—Post-season softball pairings for the three area squads were released on Friday by the Iowa Girls Athletic Union as the teams now know who stands in their way of a possible state tournament appearance.

Bishop Garrigan (12-11) will be the first area squad to play as they will begin Class 1A Region No. 2 action on Friday, July 1 by hosting the North Iowa Lady Bison (3-16).

ALGONA—The Kossuth County Racing Hall of Fame, located in Algona, will induct six individuals in its 2022 class of inductees. 

Drivers Jeff Nielsen, Rob Rose and Russ Trulson will join promoters Joe, Robin and Marian Ringsdorf as inductees. 

The induction ceremony will take place during the Kossuth County Fair races on Thursday, August 4.

Jeff Nielsen, then racing out of Pocahontas, amassed 17 wins at the Algona track.