—Photo by Paul DeCoursey Fort Dodge graduate Loghen Schnetzer celebrates a home run for Iowa Central in their home opener on Thursday.

Bo Tjebben knew he was rambling and repeating himself, and the Iowa Central softball coach couldn’t care less.

Tjebben and the 13th-ranked Tritons earned a thrilling sweep over North Iowa Area here Thursday at Rogers Park in their home opener.

Scores were 7-6 in eight innings and 16-11.

“I’m just so excited and happy for these girls,” Tjebben said. “The energy. The energy they bring to each day, each practice and each game is just off the charts. I really can’t say enough about that energy.”

Sophomore Kenzie Rosenboom ended the first game with a walk-off solo home run in the eighth. Former Fort Dodge Senior High standout Loghen Schnetzer and Humboldt grad Carlie Thompson each went deep for Iowa Central (12-8 overall, 6-0 in ICCAC) in the contest.

Mady Lange, Thompson’s Humboldt teammate, added a two-RBI single in support of Kayla Wookey and Mikhaela Muir inside the circle. Muir pitched the final two-plus innings, striking out five.

“We just keep battling,” Tjebben said. “We never get down, never get mad at each other. The character of this entire team is so incredible. We’ve been working hard getting ready for the conference season and these girls are excited to prove themselves against the best of the best.

“There were several times where we could have let NIACC take control, but each time, we found a way to answer.”

Rachel Newell had two steals and Iowa Central had six as a team.

In the nightcap, Iowa Central went up quickly 6-0 before the Trojans answered with seven runs in the top of the second. Laila Pelds tied it at 7-all with a solo homer and Allyson Stewart gave the Tritons back the lead with an RBI-double in the third.

Rosenboom followed with her third homer of the day in the inning as Iowa Central took command, 13-7 after three. In the sixth, Kryslynn Ruppert came on and sent the first pitch she saw over the fence in left.

“Kenzie is just hitting the ball to all parts right now,” Tjebben said. “She’s really been on fire at the plate. And Kryslynn comes in there and makes me look smart, hitting a home run after just coming in.”

Rosenboom had six RBI on three hits with Thompson also recording three hits and two stolen bases. Pelds, Paytton Crawford and Stewart each had two hits in the win with Lange and Muir stealing a base each.

Madison Huisman picked up the victory, striking out seven with Emily English finishing it off for the save with two strikeouts and the final out on a liner.

The Tritons return to action this weekend, hosting Southeastern for four games on Saturday and Sunday.