Prep softball: No. 12 (5A) Ottumwa scores season-opening sweep

OTTUMWA — Adeline Thompson has only hit a ball over an outfield fence one other time before Thursday night.

>"I think that a couple falls ago when I was playing for my travel team," Thompson said.

>In just her ninth trip to the plate in three seasons as an Ottumwa High School softball varsity player, Thompson tested the limits of Frank Huston Field for the first time lifting a fly ball high in the air deep into left field. Thompson took off around the bases and didn't realize until she got to second base just how far it went.

>"I was just hoping to make some contact when I came up there," Thompson said. "I knew I hit it really high, but I didn't really see it. I heard one of the other coaches from the other team say something about to drop her step. That's when I saw the outfielder all the way back at the fence.

>"Then, I saw it drop over."

>With that, Thompson had her first home run of her Ottumwa High School varsity career. Thompson's second-ever home run highlighted an incredible opening game for the Bulldog junior that included a bases-clearing double later in the 14-run third inning of a 14-0 win over Des Moines East in the first of two season-opening Iowa Alliance Conference south division wins for the 12th-ranked (5A) Bulldogs at Frank Huston Field.

>"I was pleasantly surprised when it went over the fence," Thompson said. "I'm really excited to be in the batting line-up this season. It's nice to know that I can help myself out. My teammates have always done a great job of helping me out, but it's always nice to know I can put a little trust in myself. It's nice to not just be pigeonholed into pitching.

>"It's almost like I was little again getting the chance to hit."

>In the pitching circle, Thompson allowed just one runner to reach base pitching a four-inning no-hitter against the Scarlets (0-3, 0-2 Iowa Alliance) to open the season. After issuing a season-opening walk, Thompson retired the next 12 batters striking out seven batters in the contest.

>"I was really excited to get back on the field with my team. I love this team so much," Thompson said. "Getting to start out at home is really fun. Coming off last season nearly making it to the state tournament, we're really excited to see what we can do this season."

>Haydn Francis added a four-inning, one-hit shutout in the pitching circle for Ottumwa (2-0, 2-0 Iowa Alliance) in the second game of the doubleheader leading the Bulldogs to an 11-0 win. Caysen Thompson added a pair of hits, including a double, while driving in three runs and scoring twice while Lily Garrison closed out a five-hit doubleheader going 2-2 at the plate in game two scoring three of Ottumwa's 11 runs in the nightcap.