South Tama tops Newton by one

TAMA — Newton Senior High's Cardinals combined for more hits than the South Tama High Trojans in Thursday night's game. Unfortunately, the Cardinals came up on the short end of a 2-1 decision.

The Cardinals connected for eight hits in the game. Newton's Derek Wrage gave up just five hits in a complete-game pitching performance. Wrage walked two and struck out four Trojan batters.

Newton grabbed a 1-0 lead in the top of the third. Michael Barr doubled and moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by Levi Michener. Chandler Sturtz drove in Barr with a single.

South Tama answered with a tying run in its half of the inning. South Tama (20-9) produced the eventual winning run in the sixth. The Trojans had three extra-base hits in the game.

The loss evened the Cardinals’ record at 16-16. They finish the regular season at home Monday with a junior varsity/varsity doubleheader against Oskaloosa.

Sturtz delivered a single and a double and drove in the run. Barr had a double and scored the run for the Cards. Hitting a single each were Taylor Field, Taylor Wood, Mike McCormick, Jeff Stanton and Wrage.

The Cardinals were without senior Jacob Hill, who is gone because of another commitment.

South Tama’s Sam Kuhter racked up eight strikeout against the Cardinals. Newton’s junior varsity posted a decisive 15-3 win over South Tama Thursday.