The Cadets refused to allow Lynx freshman lead-off hitter Kelly Stoakes to beat them, but several of Stoakes’ teammates happily obliged in a 9-3 North Central Conference victory for WCHS.

The Lynx (9-4, 5-0 NCC) stayed unbeaten in the league and in a virtual tie for the lead with second-ranked (Class 3A) Humboldt. IF-A (2-10, 1-4 NCC) lost for the 10th time in 12 outings.

It was a 2-1 game in the top of the fifth when WCHS had one runner aboard and two outs with Stoakes at the plate. Not wanting to fall behind by multiple runs, IF-A opted to intentionally walk Stoakes, a solid plan considering she entered the game hitting nearly .700.

But it proved to be costly.

Tatum Goings puts down a bunt against Iowa Falls-Alden on Monday. DFJ photo/Tracy Runneberg

Zoey Woodle followed with a bunt single to load the bases and Taylor McKinney cleared them with a shot to right field that turned into a three-RBI triple and 5-1 WCHS lead.

“Both Zoey and Taylor stepped up to the plate when they walked Stoakes,” WCHS head coach Jess Howard said. “Taylor’s (triple) really turned the momentum to us for good.”

IF-A intentionally walked Stoakes again in the sixth and this time it was Woodle’s turn to make the Cadets pay with a RBI single. WCHS extended the lead in the seventh inning on a RBI double by Tatum Goings.

Stoakes didn’t have a hit in the game, but seven other Lynx players did, a sign that pitching around one of the state’s hottest hitters might not be a winning strategy.

“The girls really played well and were able to apply pressure in every inning,” Howard said.

DFJ photo/Tracy Runneberg

WCHS never trailed. A Leah Kasch single opened a two-run second inning that also included a Jenna Miller base knock and Goings RBI sacrifice bunt.

The Lynx put up five runs in the fifth to put the game out of reach. Following McKinney’s gap shot, she scored on a ground ball off the bat of Kasch.

WCHS roughed up Cadet pitchers Elise Osman and Mikayla Fjeld for nine hits. Woodle and Miller both went 2 for 4 at the dish. Goings finished with two RBIs. Atlanta Hopp cranked a double, while Alayna Finucan had a single.

IF-A had just three hits off Miller, who retired the first 10 batters she faced and struck out seven en route to the win. Only one of the Cadets’ three runs was earned and it came on a Lorren Steinfeldt solo home run in the fifth inning.

WCHS will return to the road for another league contest this evening against Clarion-Goldfield-Dows.

The Lynx scheduled game last night against Boone was rained out.

Webster City 9, IF-Alden 3

Monday at Iowa Falls

Web City 020 051 1 — 9 9 3

IF-Alden 000 111 0 — 3 3 2

Jenna Miller and Kaitlynn Seeley. Elise Osman, Mikayla Fjeld (7) and Noelle Katschke. W — Miller. L — Osman. Multiple hits — WC: Miller, Zoey Woodle. 2B — WC: Tatum Goings, Atlanta Hopp. 3B — WC: Taylor McKinney. HR — IF-A: Lorren Steinfeldt. RBI — WC: McKinney (3), Goings (2), Woodle, Hopp, Leah Kasch; IF-A: Steinfeldt.