MANSON, Ia. — The Clarion-Goldfield-Dows Cowgirls softball team opened the 2026 season on Thursday evening, as they traveled to Calhoun County to take on the Manson-Northwest Webster Cougars in non-conference action at the Keith Hart Athletic Complex.
CGD would jump on the Cougars immediately with a 5-run first-inning, with runs scoring on a passed ball, back-to-back RBI singles and a 2-run RBI single from Leighton Pate to put the Cowgirls ahead 5-0. CGD added onto their lead in the 2nd with an Addy Howell RBI double and an Ella Engstrom RBI groundout to put CGD ahead 7-0, before Manson scratched a couple runs back in the bottom of the 2nd to make it 7-2. The Cougars continued to claw back with 2 more runs in the 3rd to make it 7-4, before CGD added more insurance runs in the 5th off a Kinlee Nail RBI single and a wild pitch to take a 9-4 lead. A Manson run in the 5th was responded in the 7th with a Harper Nerlein RBI single to put the Cowgirls up for good with a 10-5 victory.
Blaire Askelsen picked up the win, pitching 2.2 innings, allowing 4 runs on 3 hits and striking out 2, as Kinlee Nail pitched 4.1 innings in relief, allowing 1 run on 1 hit and striking out 6. Addy Howell went 2-for-4 with a double and 2 RBI, as Leighton Pate went 1-for-1 with 2 RBI.
Clarion-Goldfield-Dows softball returns to action on Friday, when they host county-rivals Eagle Grove in non-conference action at CGD High School, with first pitch at 7:30 PM.