PANORA — The Panorama and Van Meter softball teams combined to score 46 runs on 41 hits –15 of which went for extra bases — in a WCAC double header Thursday.
Van Meter (7-2, 5-0), playing as the visitor, survived a late charge from Panorama (1-3, 1-3) to win the opener, 10-6, then, erupted for 18 runs in innings 4-5-6 to win game two, 20-10.
Van Meter scored five times and Panorama once in the first frame of the opener, with the Bulldogs holding a 9-2 lead after six innings. A Bulldog tally in the top of the seventh moved the score to 10-2, but the Panthers refused to submit, scoring four times in their final at-bat to close to within 10-6 before running out of outs.
Grace Richey tossed 6-1/3 innings for Panorama, allowing 5 runs (three earned) on 10 hits and six walks while striking out one. Olivia Richey threw 2/3 of a frame, surrendering five runs on two hits and four walks.
Lydia Knapp was 3-for-4 with a home run, four RBIs and a run scored for the Panthers, with Kennedy Andersen 3-for-4 with a homer, two RBIs and a run while Kellie Prince had a single and a double while scoring three times. Brix Gymer scored for the hosts, with Olivia Richey and Shey Storesund each adding base hits.
Haley Forret earned the win for Van Meter. She allowed six runs on nine hits and four walks, with Molly Blomgren yielding one hit while retiring three batters. Each had one strikeout.
Forret aided her own cause with a home run and three RBIs, with Meagan Blomgren driving in three runs and smacking a triple. Molly Blomgren hit a double, with Lilly Thompson 3-for-5 for the Bulldogs.
Panorama batted first in the nightcap and held a 4-2 lead until Van Meter scored four times in the bottom of the fourth for a 6-4 lead. The Panthers answered with a five-run fifth to flip the score to 9-6 in their favor, but eight Bulldogs touched the dish in their half of the fifth to change the score to Van Meter 14, Panorama 9. A single Panther run in the sixth was offset by six tallies in the bottom of the frame to end the game at 20-10.
Molly Blomgren went 5-2/3 for Van Meter, allowing five runs on seven hits and two walks with a strikeout while Shea Rhodes surrendered five runs on two hits and five walks while recording a strikeout.
Olivia Prouty was 3-for-4, Abby Archer 2-for-3, and Megan Blomgren hit two doubles to fuel the Bulldog onslaught.
Olivia Richey threw 4-1/3 for the Panthers, allowing 10 runs (only three earned) on seven hits while walking six and striking out two. Prince tossed 2/3 of an inning, allowing a run on two hits, with Knapp yielding nine runs (eight earned) on seven walks and a hit.
Knapp had a home run, drove in two runs and scored three times, with Hannah Woodworth smacking two doubles, recording two RBIs and scoring twice. Prince, Andersen, and Vallerie Storesund each hit doubles. Vallerie Storesund scored twice, with Claire Woodworth driving home two runs.
Knapp has been on a rampage, swatting two home runs and driving in seven in just 10 at-bats this season. She was a combined 5-for-7 with two dingers, six RBIs, four runs scored and one base stolen Thursday.
Panorama plays in the Atlantic Classic today, facing Harlan at 9 a.m. and Creston at 11 a.m. with a 1 p.m. contest against Red Oak also on tap. Panorama returns home Monday to host AC/GC.
