Kate Kralik crossed the 500 strikeout mark as the #4 in class 5A Indianola softball team shut out Newton Monday evening 9-0, while the baseball team also had a stellar night taking down the Cardinals 8-1.

The Indians softball team started the scoring early with three runs in the first with an RBI single from Destiny Lewis and a two-run bomb from Kylee Tucker, then scored another two in the second on a Brynn Ortlund RBI fielder’s choice and a Lewis RBI double, another two in the third on a Lewis sacrifice fly and a Tucker RBI single, then another two in the sixth on a home run from Alley May and a Macie Mays sac fly. Kralik struck out 16 batters, and said crossing the 500 plateau was something she has wanted since seeing former pitcher and current assistant coach Sydney Sickels cross the mark.

“It has always been a big goal of mine. I saw Sydney hit it when I was a freshman and it was just really exciting to see. So it was always a big goal, and once I got past my sophomore and junior year I saw that it was in reach so it was exciting to get to one of my big goals.”

The Indians improve to 27-4 on the season, and 16-1 in Little Hawkeye Conference play, and they will next play tomorrow hosting a doubleheader with Norwalk.

The Indians baseball squad was equally impressive on the night, scoring their first run in the second inning off of a Mark Pepper RBI single. The Indians added another two in the third on a Brady Blake sacrifice fly and a Jack Strong RBI double, then exploded in the fifth for five runs that included a two RBI double from Strong, and RBI singles from Connor Howard and another from Pepper. Casey Stecker picked up the win on the mound striking out nine. The Indians are now 19-8 overall and 11-6 in conference play, and will also match up with the Warriors for a doubleheader tomorrow.