Keota falls short in sole title bid against BGM

The Keota softball team lost its opportunity at an outright South Iowa Cedar League title on Friday in a loss at BGM.

Six errors haunted the Eagles as the Bears jumped out to a 5-0 lead. BGM extended its lead to 7-2 in the bottom of the sixth, and the Eagles’ final rally fell short, scoring just two in the bottom of the seventh.

“We just made enough little mistakes to make it really hard on ourselves,” Keota coach Shawn Haifley said. “Like I told the girls, there is never any quit in us. We fought like heck until the end, we just have some things we need to clean up.”

Senior Kennedy Jackson led the way for the Eagles offensively, collecting two hits on the night.

BGM, Keota and North Mahaska now sit in a dead heat at the top of the SICL, all three 1-1 against each other with two losses in conference play. With no games left, the Bears and Warhawks have secured their shares of the conference title, while the Eagles play for theirs on Thursday against English Valleys.