March 28, 2024

Area baseball roundup: CMB wins two in a row

GRANGER — Collins-Maxwell/Baxter junior Seth Balke drove in two runs and pitched seven innings of five-hit baseball in leading the Raiders to a 6-1 victory over Woodward-Granger Tuesday night.

The Raiders jumped on Woodward-Granger early, three runs in the first inning and two in the second.

CMB senior Zach Samson had two of his team’s eight hits and five different Raiders had RBIs.

Tuesday’s game marked the fourth time this season Balke has pitched a complete game of seven innings. It was the second straight night CMB received a solid performance on the mound from its starter. Sophomore Brady Stover threw a no-hitter Monday night against Colfax-Mingo.

Pella shuts out PCM

PELLA — Little Dutch senior pitcher Ethan Butler threw a complete-game four hitter en route to Pella’s 8-0 win against Prairie City-Monroe Tuesday night.

The four hits Butler gave up were the fewest he allowed since allowing four hits June 10.

Pella took a 1-0 lead in the second against PCM starting pitcher Austin Brown and then added seven runs between the fourth and fifth innings.

Mustang clean-up hitter Chase Keuning had two of his team’s four hits. Zach Uhlenhopp and Dillon Bruxvoort also singled in a losing effort.

The loss was the third straight for PCM (11-13). The Mustangs have scored two runs in that span and have been shut out in three of their last five games.

Lynnville-Sully takes league loss

SULLY — Opening the final week of regular-season play, Lynnville-Sully’s baseball team lost 6-1 to visiting Belle Plaine Monday night. The Plainsmen broke open a 1-1 game with a five-run fifth inning and the Hawks couldn’t muster a response.

The teams played three full scoreless innings. Belle Plaine produced a run in the top of the fourth which Lynnville-Sully matched in its half of the inning.

Lynnville-Sully’s Caleb James singled to center field followed by a base hit to right field by T.J. Cunningham. James scored on a sacrifice fly by Daniel Zimmerman.

The loss dropped the Hawks to 10-9 overall. They are 8-9 for seventh in the South Iowa Cedar League standings. They host Iowa Valley in a league game tonight at Sully.

“I believe the kids are playing with much more confidence and are looking for ways to make things happen,” Hawk head coach Bob Scandridge said. “Offensively, this is by far our best night hitting the ball this season. If we can put the ball in play as hard as we did tonight, we will be tough come districts.”

The Hawks finish the week at Keota on Thursday and at Montezuma on Friday. Lynnville-Sully opens Class 1A District 11 tournament play at North Mahaska in New Sharon on July 15.