15th-ranked Lady Hawks down Wapello

WAPELLO – The 15th-ranked Central Lee girls put up seven runs in the top of the sixth inning to help them to a 17-13 win over Wapello Wednesday night on the road.
The Lady Hawks broke into the top 15 in Class 3A, supplanting the West Burlington/Notre Dame Falcons who fell out of this week’s rankings
The high scoring affair broke out early with six runs in the first inning, 10 in the second, and four more in the third as the teams combined for 20 runs in the 1st three innings.
Freshman Elaina Barlow went the distance for the Hawks getting the win as Central Lee’s bats stayed hot throughout the game.
The Hawks trailed 4-2 after the first inning, but then put up six in the top of the second. With one out and two on, Jaci Hawk doubled scoring two runs. Carlee Pezley then singled scoring Hawk. Shanna Buford dropped an RBI double to left scoring Pezley and then Kenna Sandoval hit a two-run homer.
Wapello would get the next two hitters out to end the inning and the Arrows would add four runs in the bottom half. Barlow worked a fly out to start the inning, but then gave up three singles in a row and then a grand slam to senior Ada Boysen. Barlow would get a strikeout and ground out to end the inning tied at 8-8.
The Hawks would get one run in the third, but surrender three to Wapello in the bottom half before both pitchers settled in for a couple scoreless innings through five.
Central Lee then got back on the board in the top of the sixth with seven runs. Aubree Bunnell hit a bases-loaded single with no outs to drive in a run. After Hawk popped out to the pitcher, Barlow hit an RBI single, Layla Gonterman doubled to score two, and Sara Young connected on an RBI single to make it 14-11. Jayln Hawk popped out for the second out and then Pezley doubled scoring Gonterman for a 16-11 lead.
Wapello would score two more in the bottom of the sixth. Central Lee would add an insurance run in the top of the seventh and Barlow would go unscathed in the bottom half to shore up the win.
The Hawks are now 13-4 on the year and stand at 4-1 in SEI Superconference play. Their Thursday night game with Holy Trinity was cancelled due to rain and rescheduled as a doubleheader June 20 at Central Lee. The Hawks have won 8 of their last nine including three in a row.
The Hawks knocked off Mediapolis 8-2 on Tuesday night behind a two-hit, two-run performance from Jayln Hawk. Bunnell went four for four with an RBI and two runs scored to lead the Hawks at the plate. Buford was 2-5 with an RBI.
Buford leads the Hawks with 28 and is hitting .562 with 11 doubles and five home runs. Jaci Hawk leads Central Lee in hitting at .577 with 26 base hits and 10 RBIs. Barlow is 4-2 on the year with a 4.85 ERA. Jayln Hawk is 6-2 with a 2.10 ERA on the season.