Union eighth grader Austin Kirby winds up a pitch after stepping in for ace Emily Anton (not pictured) at the start of the fourth inning against Dunkerton on June 5 in La Porte City. Kirby earned the win for the Knights, striking out five, walking two, and giving up two runs on four hits. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

LA PORTE CITY – Following an eruptive fifth inning in which the Knights both capitalized on defensive mistakes and got the bats moving, the Union softball team notched their first win of the season on Thursday, June 5, over the winless Dunkerton Raiders.

Playing in front of a hometown crowd, the Knights – a majority eighth-grade team this season – defeated the Raiders 10-7 in seven innings. Starting pitcher, rising senior Emily Anton threw for three innings, striking out two, walking two, and giving up five runs on five hits before relief pitcher, eighth grader Austin Kirby took over hill duties in the top of the fourth. Kirby struck out five, walked two, and gave up two runs on four hits to mark the inaugural win.

The Raiders got off to a quick start, knocking in four runs in the first to which Union answered with two of its own. Following a scoreless second inning, Dunkerton added a run in the top of the third to which the Knights responded with another three, tying up the game 5-5.

In the top of the fourth, Kirby entered in relief. After striking out the first batter, freshman Haylee Hegdahl at second base caught a pop-up for the second out; Kirby then retired the side with another strikeout.

The game remained tied until Union blew the gates open in the bottom of the fifth, putting multiple players on base while capitalizing on a sundry of dropped balls by the Raiders to steal numerous bases including home. By the time the inning ended, Union was up 10-5 and Dunkerton was living up to its winless record, which as of press time on Monday stood at 0-10.

Union eighth grader Paige Pipho (14) watches a fellow teammate (off frame) steal home after she herself stole second on a single in the fifth inning against Dunkerton June 5 in La Porte City. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

After a quick scoreless sixth, Dunkerton tacked on two more runs but ultimately fell short, allowing Union to capture its first win this season.

Anton helped lead the offense with a pair of runs scored plus an RBI. Eighth-graders Avery Weber, Kenley Hoover, Jewel Paine, Maddie Schmitz, Paige Phipho, and Kirby all had one run apiece; Knights first base and cleanup batter Mallory Wrage – a member of the Gladbrook-Reinbeck Class of 2025 – also scored a run. Union managed 10 hits including nine singles plus a double by Hoover. The Knights also went 10-for-10 on stolen bases.

Heading into the week, Union was 1-6 on the season and faced a busy week at home including a doubleheader with Class 1A No. 13 Wapsie Valley (10-1) on Monday followed by Hudson (6-3) on Tuesday, Grundy Center (6-3) on Wednesday, and Aplington-Parkersburg (1-6) on Thursday before traveling to Jesup on Monday, June 16, for a doubleheader with the Class 2A No. 13 J-Hawks.

After traveling to Denver on June 17, the Knights will be back home again on Thursday, June 19 to host Oelwein.

*Telegraph Note: This story has been updated to reflect the game against Dunkerton took place on Thursday, June 5, not June 4. The Telegraph regrets the error.

Mallory Wrage, a Gladbrook-Reinbeck senior who plays for Union, crushes a single late in the fifth inning against the Dunkerton Raiders on June 5. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER