March 28, 2024

Cardinals drop two-run decision to Boone

BOONE —Newton’s Cardinals came out swinging against Boone’s ace Alex Davis. They scored two runs and had three hits in the first three innings of Tuesday’s non-conference game.

Unfortunately, Davis shut the Cardinals down after that, allowing just one more hit. Newton scored twice in the top of the third inning, but Boone cut that lead to 2-1 in its half of the third.

Fielding errors again were a problem for the Cardinals. The three they made led to three runs by Toreadors in the third and fourth innings. Davis did the rest for Boone, recording 14 strikeouts of Cardinal batters, including striking out the side in the fourth and sixth innings.

The Cardinals had a one-out single by Michael Barr followed by a double to left field by Evan Shimon in the first inning. Barr was cut down at home trying to score and a ground-out ended the threat.

In the third inning, Newton’s starting pitcher Tyler Wood reached on a one-out error by Boone and Barr singled sending Wood to third base. Shimon drew a base-on-balls and Wood scored on a passed ball. Barr had advanced to third on the play then scored on another passed ball to put the Cardinals up 2-0.

Wood gave up a two-out base hit in the second inning to Boone’s Colby Disbrowe. Shimon threw out Disbrowe trying to steal second base to end the inning. Ryan Dighton opened Boone’s third inning with a double and a Cardinal miscue allowed Nolin Newcomb to reach safely. Dighton scored on a double-play turned by the Cardinals.

Two errors and a fielder’s choice by Newton in the bottom of the fourth left the door open for the Toreadors to score. With two one, Disbrowe connected for a two-run single to put Boone in front to stay.

The Cardinals threatened to at least tie the game in the fifth. Wood doubled to right field with one gone and moved to third on a passed ball. Barr drew a walk, but a strikeout and line-drive out stranded two runners.

Boone pushed across an insurance run in the bottom of the fifth to lead 4-2.

Wood gave way to Barr on the mound after four innings of work for Newton. Wood was charged with three runs on three hits and struck out five. Barr pitched two innings, giving up one run on two hits and a walk, and he struck out two.

Barr finished with two singles for the Cardinal offense. Wood and Shimon each had a double.

Newton (0-2) plays at Chariton tonight and goes to West Marshall Friday night. The Cardinals are short-handed right now as some of their players are competing with the Newton soccer team in substate action.