The Iowa Lakes Community College Softball team earned two wins to open up their season. They first took down Northland Community and Technical College 13-2 in five innings. They then continued with a 14-0 five inning win over Anoka Ramsey Community College. The Lakers are 2-0 to begin the season.
GAME 1: 13 (ILCC), 2 (NCTC) 5 innings
The Lakers delivered an offensive showcase in a dominant win over Northland Softball, erupting early and never looking back in a commanding 13-2 victory.
The Lakers wasted no time setting the tone in the top of the first inning. Kaitlyn DuChateau reached second on a Pioneers error. Addison Wheeler ignited the offense with a run-scoring double to put the Lakers on the board. Macy Pickett and Karlee Akers continued the extra-base barrage with back-to-back doubles, while Marrissa Miller capped the inning with another RBI double. By the end of the opening frame, the Lakers had built a 4-0 advantage behind a relentless string of gap shots.
The power surge continued in the second inning. After Charli Abernathy laced a double to center, DuChateau launched a two-run home run to left field, extending the lead to 6-0.
In the third, Katie Kvigne led off with a double. She then stole third before Kenzie Enter drew a walk. Northland then attempted to make a play on Enter stealing second, which allowed Kvigne to scamper home. DuChateau then struck again—this time blasting a two-run homer to center to make it 9-0.
Meanwhile, Pickett was sharp in the circle early, striking out five through the first three innings and limiting Northland's opportunities. Northland's best early chance came in the first inning with a single, who was then caught stealing by catcher Akers.
Iowa Lakes broke the game open in the fourth inning. Gracie Knobloch singled and Pickett doubled to put runners at second and third. Akers was then hit by a pitch to load up the bases. Miller then hit a sacrifice fly to center, scoring Knobloch and advancing the other two runners. Enter followed with an infield single to give the Lakers an 11-0 lead going into the bottom of the fourth.
Northland responded in the bottom half of the fourth when they connected on a two-run home run to center, trimming the deficit to 11-2. However, the momentum was short-lived. Morgan Fine shut the door, recording a strikeout and keeping Northland from mounting any further comeback.
In the fifth, the Lakers added insurance runs. Kassidy Elkins ripped a two-run single to right field, scoring Wheeler (walk) and Taylor Bergman (single). Britney Hageman also contributed a single as the Lakers extended the lead to 13-2.
Macy Pickett picked up the win, allowing no runs on one hit and one walk, while striking out five in three innings. Morgan Fine threw the final two innings, allowing two runs on one hit and two walks, while striking out two. Kaitlyn DuChateau led the offense, going 2-3 with three runs scored and four runs batted in. Gracie Knobloch and Macy Pickett each had a multi-hit game, while Kassidy Elkins produced two runs batted in.
GAME 2: 14 (ILCC), 0 (ARCC) 5 innings
The Lakers delivered another dominant performance, overpowering Anoka-Ramsey Community College 14–0 behind explosive offense and lights-out pitching.
The Lakers wasted no time in the top of the first inning. After DuChateau reached on a walk and advanced on a passed ball, Wheeler ripped a triple down the right-field line to plate the game's first run. Knobloch followed with a run-scoring double to left. Pickett then walked and stole second before Akers and Kvigne each delivered RBI singles. By the end of the inning, the Lakers had surged to a 4–0 lead.
In the circle, Kvigne was sharp from the start. She struck out the side in the first inning, setting the tone for a dominant outing. Through three innings, she racked up five strikeouts and limited Anoka-Ramsey to minimal contact, backed by clean defensive plays from Wheeler and Pickett on the infield.
The offense started in the second with another Pickett walk. She then showcased her speed, advancing to third on two passed balls. Akers then drove in another run with a single to center.
In the third, Morgan Kolodzienski led off with a walk. Kenzie Enter then executed a sacrifice bunt to advance Kolodzienski to second. Abernathy and DuChateau laced back-to-back doubles to spark a Laker rally. Wheeler added an RBI groundout, and Knobloch capped the inning with a run-scoring single to extend the lead to 8–0.
The fourth inning broke the game wide open. Abernathy blasted a two-run triple to left field, scoring Kvigne (single) and Enter (walk). Wheeler followed with a two-run double to center, pushing the advantage to 12–0. The Lakers' aggressive approach at the plate forced defensive miscues and kept runners moving.
Defensively, the Lakers were flawless. In the bottom of the fourth, they turned a smooth double play — DuChateau to Enter to Pickett — to erase a baserunner and maintain momentum.
The fifth inning added the finishing touches. Maren Davis led off a single, before a defensive miscue off the bat of Elkins put runners and first and second. Kolodzienski singled and a second Golden Ram error allowed both baserunners to score.
Knobloch entered in relief and was dominant, striking out three consecutive batters — including a dropped third strike putout at first — to seal the shutout.
Katie Kvigne picked up her first win of her career, throwing four innings. She allowed no runs on one hit and striking out six. Gracie Knobloch threw one inning, striking out all three batters she faced. Charli Abernathy led the Lakers, going 2-2 with two runs scored and two runs batted in. Addison Wheeler, Gracie Knobloch, Karlee Akers, and Katie Kvigne each added two hits in the game.
The Lakers will travel to Southeast Community College in Beatrice, Nebraska on Friday, February 27th. Game times will be 2:00 and 4:00 PM.
Photo ID: Picture of Kaitlyn DuChateau hitting attached.
MEDIA: For more information, please contact Head Softball Coach, Katie King at (712) 362-8367 or the Iowa Lakes sports information office at (712) 362-7928.