Linn-Mar earns split with No. 3 Jefferson

MARION - Christina Lincoln is a sophomore. She bore the frustration of her elders.

The former frustration, that is.

'Our seniors, they'd never beaten (Cedar Rapids) Jefferson,” she said. 'This is kind of a big deal for us.”

Maddy Ryan doubled home the go-ahead run in the bottom of the sixth inning as Linn-Mar tripped Class 5A No. 3 Jefferson, 3-2, in the first game of a Mississippi Valley Conference softball double-header Tuesday night at Oak Ridge Middle School.

The J-Hawks salvaged a split, 14-4, in the nightcap behind 16 hits, including a 4-for-5, four-RBI performance by Hannah Towns.

Both teams are 9-4 overall, 6-2 in the MVC.

Lincoln drove in Linn-Mar's first two runs - one in the first inning, one in the fourth - then Jefferson tied it in the top of the sixth on RBI hits by Towns and Liv Erickson.

Ryan drove home Elison Ollinger for the eventual game-winner. Ollinger led off the sixth with a double and advanced to third on an errant throw, then Ryan followed with a double.

'It's a big achievement for our program,” said Lions Coach John Begley. 'The first game, we proved that with Maddy on the mound, we can play with anybody.”

Begley is in his second year at the Linn-Mar helm.

'Since he came, our intensity level has gone up,” Lincoln said. 'And our team chemistry is definitely there this year.”

The second game featured a little of everything, including 26 hits (16 by the J-Hawks) and a bizarre 8-9-1-5 double play made possible when a Linn-Mar baserunner was ruled to have tagged up too early on a fly ball.

Maddie Hansen was 1-for-1 in the twinbill with a double and seven walks (all intentional). In the nightcap, Towns and Kennedy Dighton picked up the slack.

Dighton hit a three-run double to trigger a five-run first inning. And Towns had a pair of doubles and two singles to account for the four RBIs.

'We talk about adjustments every day,” said J-Hawks Coach Brian Erbe. 'We didn't solve Ryan enough. But we did make some adjustments in the second game.”

Towns scored three times in the second game. So did Kaylee Donner, who served as Hansen's courtesy runner.

LINN-MAR 3-4, CEDAR RAPIDS JEFFERSON 2-14

At Oak Ridge Middle School

Game 1

C.R. Jefferson 000 002 0 - 2 5 2

Linn-Mar 100 101 x - 3 6 1

Alyssa Olson and Maddie Hansen. Maddy Ryan and Christina Lincoln. W - Ryan (8-3). L - Olson (4-2).

Game 2

C.R. Jefferson 532 002 2 - 14 16 4

Linn-Mar 111 001 0 - 4 10 1

Morgan Braughton, Katie Andersen (1), Maddy Ryan (3) and Christina Lincoln. Alissa Good and Maddie Hansen. W - Good (5-1). L - Braughton (1-1).

l Comments: (319) 368-8857; jeff.linder@thegazette.com