DELAINEY BARGFREDE delivers a pitch for Webster City against Humboldt on Monday. (DFJ photo by Jodie Casey)

Following a split showing at the Paul and Mary Ann Graves Softball Classic, held last weekend in Perry, the Webster City softball team has found a bit of a groove.

That groove is to improve at the dish, be smart on the bags and let the pitching and fielding do what it does best.

Against North Central Conference rival Humboldt, the Lynx built up a three-run lead before fending off the Wildcats with a 4-2 victory, which took place on Monday evening at Lynx Field in Webster City.

Junior pitcher and Western Kentucky verbal commit Delainey Bargfrede fared well for the Lynx, earning a victory within the circle by way of 10 strikeouts while allowing just four hits.

According to Brad VanDeer, WCHS softball coach, it was a complete team effort.

“I thought the girls did a great job of staying focused and executing on the offensive side (against Humboldt),” VanDeer said. “The bats came alive, and the baserunners were excellent. The defense was solid again as it was this past weekend.”

By winning their last three of four games, the Lynx improved to 4-8 overall with a 2-2 mark within the NCC. Humboldt dipped down to a 2-1 record in league play and 5-3 overall.

At 7:30 p.m. tonight, the Lynx will face off against Clear Lake for a North Central Conference matchup at Lions Field in Clear Lake. On Thursday, Webster City returns home to take on Iowa Falls-Alden for a conference contest at 7:30 p.m. at Lynx Field.

Recaps from both games will be reported in an upcoming edition of the Daily Freeman-Journal.

The Lynx got their sticks going early, plating one run in the bottom of the first, before tacking on an insurance run in the top of the fourth frame. Humboldt countered with one run in the top of the fifth, before Webster City plated another run in the bottom of the inning.

Even though Humboldt scored one more run, the Lynx held steady to earn a hard fought victory — its fifth straight win in the all-time series between the two schools.

Junior Bonnie Nohrenberg and teammate Addy Tesdahl paced the Lynx offense, as Nohrenberg brought in two RBI and two base hits while Tesdahl recorded a triple for the purple and gold. Junior Ava Peterson notched an RBI, while senior Livia Kasch and teammate Chloe Anderson each notched a single and a stolen base.

Sophomore Breanna Bahrenfuss smacked two singles, while junior Ellie Weinschenk also had a hit.

Freshman Alivia Burns stole one base against the Wildcats.