Intro

Entering the night both Jackson Heights and Oskaloosa are hungry to compete in a competitive NEKL. The Cobras slither their way into the night 2-0 in league and 5-1 overall. The Oskaloosa Bears crawl into this matchup 1-3 in league play and 6-4 overall. Both teams have young talent entering tonight: Jackson Heights starting their returning young sophmore Layla Cochren at pitcher, and Oskaloosa starting their freshman Lily Pullen.

Game One - Jackson Heights Vs Oskaloosa (3-11)

Despite what the final score might say, this game was a pitching battle between two young dominant pitchers all the way until the sixth inning. Both teams only gave up one unearned run to each other through the first five innings. Oskaloosa’s first run came off the first batter in the batter’s rotation with Lydia Turner, who scored off a fielding error and got all the way home. The Cobras first run was from junior Jennifer Buck who got to first off an error, stole second, pass balled to third, and passed balled as well to home. The matchup heated up in the top of the sixth where the Bears recorded three hits and three runs in the inning with Oskaloosa player Kyra King driving in a two RBI double. Kyra King finished the night with a dominant final inning with five total RBIs on the night and two doubles. Jackson Heights was outscored in runs 10-2 in the final two innings of play. Left-handed freshman pitcher Lily Pullen had fourteen strikeouts in her first game pitched against Jackson Heights. 

Game Two - Jackson Heights Vs Oskaloosa (1-12)

Coming into game two, Jackson Heights made a couple of changes amongst the defensive fielders and the pitching with Natalie Keo stepping up to the mound. Oski decided to keep their exact same defensive field, batting order, and pitcher in the second game. Lily Pullen continued her impressive pitching performance into the second game and completed an entire doubleheader, pitching fourteen innings altogether, and having twenty-six total strikeouts on the nights (twelve in game two). The Cobras only run in the second match was in the bottom of the first where junior Taylor Bosley scored off a wild pitch. Oskaloosa continued to hit and pitch their way through the second game until eventually winning after the final strikeout with the game ending 12-1. 

Summary 

Oskaloosa came out hot from the mound and when they took the plate. The bears totaled for nine hits in their first game and kept it going in their second one. Jackson Heights took two tough losses, but were able to gain a lot of new experience facing their first left-handed pitcher on the year, who had over a hundred strikeouts coming into the nights game. This will prepare Jackson Heights for the future point of their season when they have to face the hot hand of McLouth from the mound. Oskaloosa sweeps the series and becomes 3-3 in the NEKL and 8-4 overall. Jackson Heights falls to 2-2 in the league and 5-3 overall. 

Cobra Channel

If you want to rewatch these games for all the best moments, head over to the Cobra Channel where we had both audio and video!