GMG freshman ace Riah Boege pitches against the now-No.10 Collins-Maxwell Spartans in Green Mountain on June 4. Boege has led her ‘young but mighty’ team this season, earning six wins and striking out 112 (as of Thursday, June 12) to put her at No. 3 across all classes in Iowa for strikeouts and No. 2 in 1A. Only junior Rachel Eglseder of Edgewood-Colesburg ranks higher with 116 strikeouts. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

GREEN MOUNTAIN – After not even fielding a team last year, GMG softball has been turning bats and turning heads this season.

When not racking up the wins, GMG’s majority underclassman roster has been giving stronger teams some of their fiercest competition yet. That performance – as of press time 5-4 (4-3) – has gotten a lot of people talking including those in attendance on June 4 for the team’s home game with Class 1A No. 11 Collins-Maxwell. Before facing GMG, the Spartans (now ranked 10th) had defeated every competitor by more than 10 points except BCLUW.

Against GMG in Green Mountain, Collins-Maxwell claimed victory only after breaking open the very close game by knocking in three runs in the top of the seventh inning. The Spartans’ hard fought 5-2 win stands, as of press time, as its narrowest yet this season.

“[Collins-Maxwell] definitely went in thinking they had the game in the bag but we put up a good fight!” GMG first year head coach Autumn Sash said in a message to the newspaper following the game. “I preach confidence and believing because I know these girls can do anything they set their minds to. It’s also nice hearing from other teams after the game that they were surprised by us!”

The Spartans (undefeated prior to their 10-0 loss to Don Bosco on June 9) had led 2-1 before scoring in the seventh; GMG countered with a run in the home half to close out the game.

GMG eighth-grader Natalie Upah, left, successfully makes the out at first base against the now-No. 10 Collins-Maxwell Spartans on June 4. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

Wolverine freshman pitcher Riah Boege allowed just one earned run on four hits and four walks while striking out 11. Her fellow freshman, catcher Skyler Murty hit two doubles and scored a run. Eighth grader Tatum Jones singled and scored while Taelyn Sash, also an eighth grader, notched one hit.

GMG’s 13-member roster counts six (6) eighth graders, six (6) freshmen, and one junior (Rhianna Murty) among its ranks. They are a tough, scrappy team referred to by Coach Sash as ‘young but mighty’.

“I tell them to believe in themselves because I know they can prove people wrong. People think that because we are young we aren’t going to be good but I tell them to play their game,” she said.

In the lead-up to the season, the current crop of underclassmen had played together previously across several sports including softball, helping forge the team’s cohesiveness, Coach Sash — herself a GMG Class of 2006 alumna and former softball player — explained.

“Last year we didn’t have enough girls (for a varsity team) and a few parents put together a fall league to see if we’d have enough girls for a season and we had so many wanting to play!” she continued. “When the girls head coach position came open, I just knew I needed to apply and give the girls a shot at having a season.”

Wolverine eighth grader Taelyn Sash (1) shares a laugh with her coach and mom Autumn Sash (off frame) while on deck against Collins-Maxwell on June 4. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

This past weekend (June 7) at the competitive BGM Tournament in Brooklyn, GMG split a pair of games, falling to the host Bears before pounding Aplington-Parkersburg.

In the second game against A-P, GMG piled up seven runs in its first at-bat to breeze past the Falcons 12-2 in four innings. While the Wolverines got just three hits during the game, they cashed in on a dozen total walks issued by Falcon pitchers and seven A-P errors.

Boege doubled and walked twice; her courtesy runner freshman Madison Bryant tallied two runs. Eighth grader Grace Mathern and freshman Bryleigh Bartel each hit an RBI single for the Wolverines, and eighth grader Natalie Upah reached base four times and scored three runs.

Boege allowed two earned runs on three hits and five total walks while striking out six for the win.

Boege is GMG’s ace this season, but Mathern has been providing more than relief, Coach Sash said, telling the newspaper, “I have two very capable pitchers. Riah (Boege) is the one I usually start but also Grace (Mathern) will step in when I need her and does just as good as Riah. I am very proud of Riah and how well she’s handled the teams we’ve faced.”

GMG’s infield along with pitcher Riah Boege (22) celebrate after successfully picking off a Collins-Maxwell runner on June 4 in Green Mountain. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

Following the Saturday tourney, GMG narrowly defeated Rockford 1-2. The Warriors – a team North Tama head coach Madonna Madorin has referred to as ‘waaaaay better than their record’ – are in their first season as a member of the Iowa Star Conference.

Boege earned the win for GMG against Rockford in seven innings, allowing one unearned run on three hits and three walks while striking out a whopping 20 batters and hitting one.

This past Tuesday, the Wolverines were scheduled to face South Tama on the road followed by Janesville at home on Wednesday before traveling to 1A No. 2 Clarksville today, Friday, June 13.

GMG will be back at home this coming Monday (June 16) to face Dunkerton at 5 p.m. On Wednesday the team heads to Gilbertville to play the Dons.

But no matter who the Wolverines face – win or (narrowly) lose – Coach Sash said it’s a learning experience every time.

PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

“We came out (this season) playing our game and what happens, happens and we learn from it,” she said. “These girls have been very competitive for as long as I have known them, so I wasn’t worried about [not fielding a varsity team last season] but making sure the girls knew they were good enough! Confidence, believing, and doing anything you put your mind to is what we talk about and these girls have grown so much since [the first game].”

“I am excited to see what the rest of the year has in store for us!”

PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER