Softball: Raiders Spoil Spartans' Season Opener

The Central Community College softball team defeated Southwestern (Iowa) Community College in a twin bill on Sunday at Raider Field. The visiting Spartans were playing their first games of the 2024 season.

In the opening contest, scoring was silent until the bottom of the third inning when CCC scored a single run. In the top of the fourth, SWCC took the lead on a pair of runs to make the score 2-1. In the bottom of the fourth, the Raiders answered back with three runs to take a 4-2 lead, which turned out to be the final score.

CCC hurler Addison Kudron went all seven innings in the circle and delivered six strikeouts en route to the win. SWCC pitcher Erika Kruse took the loss.

In the second game, the Raiders built a 4-0 lead over the second and third innings and had to hold on for a 4-3 win. Ava Steinke belted a homerun and logged a pair of RBI while Jaidyn Walford also recorded two RBI. Winning pitcher Andrea Palma pitched all seven innings for CCC and struck out seven SWCC batters.

"It was nice to see us clean up our defense after the outing we had Friday against Cloud County Community College," said CCC head coach Caitlin Simon. "We are still trying to find consistency in our batting, but I am glad we have people both on the top and bottom that can put some runs on the board."

The two wins give the Raiders an 8-3 season record.