Softball Completes Marshall Dedication with a Sweep
COUNCIL BLUFFS – Iowa
A perfect day for a perfect facility. Iowa Western officially opened up the brand-new Dr. John and Jean Marshall Softball and Baseball Complex on Saturday afternoon on the campus of Iowa Western Community College.
A ceremony that saw members of the community as well as members of the IWCC Board of Trustees cut the ribbon on the new fields that began with a $3 million gift from the Marshalls in August 2021 to create a one-of-a-kind sports facility for Reiver athletes.
"In the beginning, my goal was to bring a first-class facility to this campus so that those students who really enjoy the game can be proud of where they are playing," said Dr. Marshall. "Jean and I are both really proud of what we are seeing here today and we know what will grow in the future."
"There is no junior college facility for baseball or softball that has we have here at Iowa Western Community College." Added Iowa Western President Dr. Dan Kinney.
"It's such an awesome experience," mentioned Iowa Western Softball Infielder Olivia Kyes. "Softball is played on dirt, but this is so cool. I'm at one of the best JUCOs in the country and now I have this awesome complex to play on so it makes it even better."
The Marshall's grandchildren, Samantha, Makenzie, and Jeff Dellaqua threw out the ceremonial first pitch at both the baseball and softball games that took place following the ceremony.
The Marshalls, long-time supporters of Iowa Western and recipients of the college's elite Investment in Excellence Award in 2011, have been key contributors to the annual Black Tie Harvest for Scholarships event. Dr. Marshall also sits on the Board of Trustees at Iowa Western and the Foundation Board.
On the field, both baseball and softball battled the Southeastern CC Blackhawks. Softball would complete the weekend sweep of the visitors after winning a pair of games against SECC on Friday.
Freshman right-handed pitcher Maddison Depencier (10-3) threw a complete-game shutout in game one, giving up just six hits while striking out 11 batters en route to a 5-0 victory.
Game two saw the Reivers go down 1-0 early in the 2nd inning but tied things up after Mattea Martin plated Camryn Sterling on an RBI groundout.
IWCC broke the game open in the third inning. Alex Stoner started off with a double, Tahjzha Botts followed with a single and Sterling loaded the bases after drawing a walk. Martin would be hit by the next pitch then Erin Gunn roped a double to right-center to plate two more.
Catcher Cydnee Schneider hit her team-leading 11th home run of the season in the bottom of the 6th inning to make it a 7-1 game.
Southeastern would mount a comeback in the top half of the 7th, plating four runs but Erin Kirkland shut the door in an 8-5 victory.
The Reivers (20-10) are back in action on Wednesday, April 12 in an ICCAC matchup versus Indian Hills in Centerville, IA.
On the baseball side, Iowa Western split the series the previous day but fell to the Blackhawks in the rubber match on Saturday 11-7. Iowa Western Baseball is now 25-4 this season and is scheduled to play next at Southwestern Community College on Wednesday afternoon in Creston, IA.