—Photo courtesy of Iowa Central athletics ST. EDMOND graduate Lauren Gibb, shown here was part of Iowa Central’s busy weekend at Rogers Park. The No. 25 Tritons split with Northeast on Saturday and were swept by No. 1 Kirkwood.

The No. 25 Iowa Central softball team put the finishing touches on the regular season here this past weekend at Rogers Park, and with it, honored their sophomores.

After splitting with Northeast on Saturday, the Tritons were swept by No. 1 Kirkwood on Sunday. They will host Hawkeye Friday back here at 4 p.m. in the Region XI-B Tournament.

The weekend started strong for Iowa Central (38-16 overall, 23-13 in ICCAC), as they posted an 8-1 victory over Northeast. Jersey Hawf blasted two of the five home runs for the Tritons, as Fort Dodge Senior High graduate Cadence Touney, Josephine Moore and Natalie Rasmussen each added one.

Hawf finished with four RBI, as Touney had two in support of Jillian French, who went the distance, striking out eight with just four hits allowed and no walks.

“It’s always tough playing in this conference because each team has the ability to defeat anybody on any given day,” ICCC head coach Bo Tjebben said. “Our girls did a good job in the opener vs. Northeast, but we just couldn’t put together that big inning in the second game. Still, I’m glad we were able to honor our sophomores because they have really helped continue building this program to the level we want it to be at.”

Iowa Central plated four runs in the first to gain the early advantage, adding one in the fifth and three more in the sixth. Kyra Kain had three hits and scored a run while Rasmussen finished with two hits and Moore worked two walks.

St. Edmond grad Lauren Gibb added a hit.

In a 5-4 loss in the nightcap to Northeast, Jozie Kerr hit two home runs and Moore added her second of the day. Kerr was 2-for-3 with three RBI, as former Southeast Valley standout Ellie Nolte had two hits and scored a run.

Northeast led 4-0 before Iowa Central plated two in the second and runs in the fifth and sixth to make it close.

The Tritons honored sophomores Jaidan Abel, Rasmussen, Nolte, French, Gracie Kirk, Blessing Edittu and Avery McKinney.

“All of these sophomores have done a phenomenal job in doing what we’ve asked of them,” Tjebben said. “They have taken on leadership roles both on and off the field, helping bring the freshmen along and get them ready to compete in the ICCAC.”

In a 14-8 setback to Kirkwood, Hawf and McKinney each had three hits and drove in a run, as Kain plated three. Addyson Jeske, a former Eagle Grove standout, recorded two hits with a run scored.