Greene County started the 2016 high school softball season with longtime rival Perry six weeks ago, and Coach Tom Kennedy’s Rams finished the Heart of Iowa Activities Conference slate at Perry last night. In a contest that was anything but mundane, the Rams won the game 18-8 in eight innings to improve to clinch a wining season at 15-11 while Perry fell to 4-20. In conference play, the Rams finished 7-9 and the Jayettes went 1-15.

Greene County survived six errors and allowing seven unearned runs to the Jayettes, who were just one out away from the upset victory. Four unearned runs in the bottom of the sixth put the Jayetts up 7-6, and the first two Greene County batters in the top of the seventh each made outs on the first pitch they saw. Senior Kaycee Pittman slapped an infield single, went to second on a passed ball, the scored when junior Alaina Heard singled to left and the ball got by the outfielder, which allowed Pittman to score and tie the game, 7-7.

Perry had a two out baserunner at first in the bottom of the seventh, but the game went to the eighth, 7-7. In the top of the eighth, the Rams scored 11 times for a commanding 18-7 lead. Perry countered with one in the bottom of the frame for the final margin.

The Jayettes had 10 hits in the game, but the Rams had 11- in the eighth inning, and 22 for the contest. Both teams were charged with six errors and Perry’s only earned run was the last one they scored. Greene County collected 22 hits including four for extra bases. Eighth grader Delaney Pedersen, a lefty who slap hits, went five for five and scored three runs. Senior Becca Anderson tripled and singled twice, and drove in two runs. Junior Bellah Johnson doubled once, singled twice, and drove in two runs. and Pittman had three base hits. Heard doubled once, singled twice, and drove in a pair of runs. Sophomre singled, doubled, and had one RBI while junior Makenna ebersole drove in two runs with a single.

The regular season ends tonight for the Rams when they host Creston (16-15) in JV/varsity action in Jefferson at the City Diamond on East Lincolnway. Originally, the varsity contest was scheduled for KG98 and streamed on www.raccoonvalleyradio.com, but due to Greene County baseball playing in Story City vs. Roland-Story in the postseason season tonight, the baseball game will be broadcast after 7:30 p.m. on KG98 and streamed on www.raccoonvalleyradio.com.