The Central Lee High School baseball and softball teams swept Keokuk Wednesday night at Joyce Park.

The softball game had more suspense than baseball with a Chiefs rally coming up just short.

SOFTBALL CENTRAL LEE 7, KEOKUK 6

Central Lee built a 7-0 lead before the Chiefs scored two in the bottom of the fourth and four in the bottom of the seventh inning.

“We just wanted to keep getting to the next girl and use the three outs we had and try to score as many as we can,” Keokuk coach Tim Thompson said.

Gracie Thompson hit what looked like a home run but the ball went between a sign and the fence. That would have tied the game at 7-7. She ended up stranded on third base.

“That’s the first time Ive seen that happen,” Gracie Thompson said. “It’s bittersweet to get that close. Our season has been up and down with some close games. We have the potential.”

Jalyn Hawk did put one over the fence for Central Lee.

“It was very exciting because my team set me up in a good spot,” she said. “I started to get worried in the seventh inning but this team seems to work better under pressure.”

Marie Young hit two doubles for Central Lee and Olivia Day hit one. Thompson was 2-for-4 and teammates Kenadi and Kali Ames each went 2-for-3.

Central Lee is 21-8 and plays Burlington in a doubleheader Monday in Donnellson.

Keokuk is 3-28 and starts the postseason Thursday at Joyce Park against Fort Madison 9-13.

BASEBALL CENTRAL LEE 9, KEOKUK 2

Chase Johnson and Blake Davis each went 3-for-4 with Johnson hitting two doubles and two runs batted while scoring twice for Central Lee. Davis and Bo Herdrich each hit a double.

Mason Sanders was 2-for-5 with three runs batted in and pitches an inning and a third. He gave the Hawks a 3-0 lead with a two-run single in the third inning and singled in the seventh run for the Hawks.

The best hit he had was an out.

“I crushed a good hit to left to the wall but (Mason Claus) made an outstanding catch, a really good catch,” Sanders said. “I have to praise him for that.”

“Here’s what it boiled down to, Keokuk coach Steve Worster said. “Early on we missed location and when we did, they made us pay for it. They don’t take bad swings. They’re all controlled. They’re good two-strike hitters.”

Central Lee is 19-4 and plays at Chariton Tuesday in the opening round of the Class 2A postseason against the winner of Winfield-Mount Union and Wilton.

Keokuk’s next game is the opening round of the Class 3A postseason Friday, July 11 at No. 2 ranked Pella.