March 28, 2024

The Pressbox

Big weekend for NHS sports

It’s a big weekend for Newton High fall sports. I’ll extend that to Monday, because the NHS Cardinal boys’ golf team compete in a Class 4A district tournament on that day.

First, the Cardinal football team goes on the road for the second Friday in a row to battle in Class 3A District 6.

The Cardinal football team has the task of taking on a bigger Ballard Bomber team at Huxley. Going on the road again and trying to come away with a district win is a challenge for the Cardinals.

Both teams are coming off losses. Newton had a lead over Gilbert at halftime last Friday night in Gilbert. Second-half mistakes — turnovers and missed defensive and offensive assignments — turned the tide. The Cardinals were still in the hunt with about six minutes left. They got the takeaway but couldn’t move the ball 95 yards to tie the contest.

Taking on the Bombers, the Cardinals can’t afford turnovers and missed opportunties. They are working to stay in the hunt for a playoff spot.

Second comes Saturday’s NHS Cardinal Volleyball Invitational. The eight-team tournament opens at 8:30 a.m. Saturday with round-robin pool play.

Newton’s young volleyball team could use some help from its fans. Show up for a day-long session of Cardinal volleyball and energize the girls on the court.

On Monday, the Cardinal golfers go after a state tournament qualifying spot. The Cardinals will be in district play at Waveland Golf Course in Des Moines.

WHAT’S WRONG WITH SMALL BALL?

No matter what happens in this five-game American League Division Series between the Kansas City Royals and Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, what a ride we Royals fans have had in 2014. Tuesday night’s wild-card game in Kansas City against Oakland was just that — wild.

The Royals brand has been small ball this season. Kansas City does not have those “Bronx Bombers” type in their batting lineup. The Royals manufacture runs. They use contact hitting, stolen bases and bunting instead of power to score runs.

Kansas City manager Ned Yost had some decisions he deserved to take heat on throughout the season and on Tuesday night. But not the sacrifice bunting and the base running — stealing bases — that have defined how the Royals posted their best season in 29 years.

When did the bunt and stealing bases get written out of baseball? According to all the talking heads and others, bunting and stolen bases are not the way to win games. How dare you sacrifice bunt? Only pitching and home run hitting matter, really?

Playing small ball is what got the Royals into the playoffs. Thursday night, they used the long ball to beat the Angels in Game 1 of their series.

Contact Sports Editor Jocelyn Sheets at (641) 792-3121 Ext. 6535 or jsheets@newtondailynews.com.