Newton baseball splits pair with Pella Christian

PELLA — One of the best pitching performances of Tade Vanderlaan’s career helped the Newton baseball team salvage a split against Pella Christian on Friday night.

The Cardinals fell in the opener 5-2, but a complete game on the mound by Vanderlaan led the visitors to a 6-2 victory in the nightcap during Little Hawkeye Conference action.

Newton won the season series following the doubleheader split. The Cardinals downed the Eagles 4-2 at home back on June 7.

Vanderlaan evened his season record at 4-4 after the pitching win. He used up almost all of his allotted pitches (106), allowed two runs — one earned — on seven hits and one walk and struck out seven in seven innings.

Both teams had seven hits at the plate and the Cardinals (10-14 overall, 6-11 in the LHC) took advantage of two Pella Christian errors.

Kacey Sommars led the offense with two hits, one double, three RBIs and one stolen base. He has a team-best 12 steals this summer.

Finn Martin and Jake Ingle also collected two hits, Ingle walked once, scored three runs and stole one base and Martin scored one run.

Riley Mouchka walked twice, Skyler Milheiser had one hit and one RBI, Eli Stewart walked once and had one RBI and Vanderlaan was hit by a pitch and scored one run. Drew Thompson also was hit by one pitch.

Corbin Westerkamp and Eliot Menninga each had two hits to lead Pella Christian. Westerkamp also threw three innings on the mound but did not factor into the decision.

Both teams scored one run in the third inning. Newton went in front for good with a three-run fourth and added one more in the sixth.

In the opener, Pella Christian (15-13, 7-11) led 4-0 after three and both teams plated two runs in the sixth.

The Eagles out-hit the Cardinals 8-6 and won the game despite committing two more errors.

Brody Bauer and Stewart each had two hits to lead the offense. Bauer added two RBIs and one steal and Stewart doubled and scored one run.

Thompson doubled and scored one run and Ingle collected one hit. The Cardinals struck out eight times and did not draw a walk.

Turner Williams (3-5) started on the mound and took the loss after surrendering four earned runs on four hits and two walks and four strikeouts in two innings.

Bauer pitched the final four innings and allowed two earned runs on four hits and one walk and eight strikeouts.

Collin Vander Wal collected two hits and four RBIs to lead the Eagles at the plate and Lincoln Vander Molen allowed no earned runs and struck out eight in seven innings.