Junior Emma Hoyle led the Greene County softball team to a 3-1 victory in Harcourt on Wednesday night vs. Southeast Valley (Gowrie) in the opening round of Class 3A Region 2 action. The junior threw a no-hitter and struck out 13 Jaguars as the Rams guaranteed themselves no worse than a .500 season for the first time since 2016, improved to 13-12 while SEV finished at 14-11. It was the second win over SEV in as many weeks for the Rams who lost six of their first seven games this season before turning their season around.

Coach Tom Kennedy watched his team go up 1-0 in the first inning and tack on two more runs in the third. The lone SEV run scored with two outs in the seventh inning. Junior Olivia Shannon opened the game with a double to the gap in right center and later scored on Hoyle’s fielder’s choice ground ball. In the third, Hoyle, junior Paige Teeples, and senior Carmyn Paup all singled to go with Shannon’s double, and Paup had one RBI. The Rams left six on base and SEV stranded seven.

Next up is a 7 p.m. Saturday, July 9 Region 2 semifinal vs. Saydel at Saydel High School on the northeast side of Des Moines. the Eagles are ranked number 7 in 3A, and won the Heart of Iowa Activities Conference title. they are 2-0 this season vs. the Rams with 3-2 and 5-0 victories.