Webb’s two homers, Wendt’s one hitter lead PCM baseball past Nevada

PRAIRIE CITY — Easton Webb’s quiet bat got a huge wake up call against Nevada on Wednesday.

With two runners on base in front of him during each of his first two at-bats, Webb slugged a pair of three-run dingers and that was more than enough run support for Jacob Wendt during the PCM baseball team’s 10-0 home victory over Nevada in the Heart of Iowa Athletic Conference finale.

“My bat the last few games has been quiet so it’s a good time to wake up,” Webb said. “It felt pretty good. I was hoping to hit a third one. Who doesn’t right?”

Webb was walked on four pitches in his third plate appearance. But the top four batters in the Mustangs’ lineup — Nick Farver, Kaleb DeVries, Webb and Gabe Hobbs — accounted for seven of the team’s 10 hits, nine of the squad’s 10 runs, eight RBIs and four walks.

Farver and DeVries were on base during both of Webb’s homers. Farver finished with two hits, one double, three runs and two walks and DeVries chipped in one hit, one walk and three runs and he was hit by one pitch.

Farver leads the squad with 33 total bases, while DeVries has a team-best 24 runs.

“I finally got an extra base hit,” Farver said. “I don’t think I’ve gotten one of those for like a month.

“Last year I had a little taper at the end of my knob, which helped me. I don’t know why it helped. I was talking to one of the coaches — Jason Burns — and told him I thought that was what helped me last year. He got me a taper and ever since then, I’ve hit better. I feel like I don’t roll over as easy, and I hit the ball a lot harder.”

Farver opened the bottom of the first with a single and DeVries was hit by a pitch. Webb then belted a three-run homer that hit the scoreboard in left field.

In the third, Farver walked, DeVries singled and Webb’s homer came on a 2-0 pitch that he slugged to left-center field.

“We’ve been talking about guy’s setting the table and getting on base by any means necessary,” PCM head baseball coach Lewis Daye said. “Even if that means having a good eye and knowing the zone. That’s how Nick and Kaleb got on. That set the table for Easton.

“That’s one big message we’ve talked a lot about. Just find a way to get on base. The rest takes care of itself.”

The Mustangs (9-12, 7-7 in the conference) walked it off in the sixth and ended the game early thanks to four more runs.

Coby DeRaad started the frame with a single then Farver doubled. DeVries walked to load the bases before Webb reached on an error. Gabe Hobbs then plated one with an RBI fielder’s choice and Jack Jungling made it 9-0 with an RBI double.

Trigg Steenhoek ended the game with two outs in the sixth following an RBI sacrifice fly to center field.

Webb’s two homers gives him six for his career. He ended the game with two hits, two runs, six RBIs and one walk and now leads PCM with 19 RBIs and 17 walks.

“The first one was a curve ball. Teams have been throwing me curve balls all year,” Webb said about his homers. “That’s kind of what I expect to see most of the time.

“I think the second one was a high inside fastball. They tried to mix it up, but I was sitting fastball and adjusting to the curve.”

Hobbs finished with two hits, one run and one RBI, DeRaad had two hits and one run and Jungling doubled, walked once and had one RBI. Alex Wendt also walked once.

Hobbs leads the Mustangs with a .429 batting average and an on-base percentage of .562. Jungling now has a team-best seven doubles and Steenhoek’s 19 RBIs are tied with Webb for the team lead.

That was more than enough run support for Jacob Wendt, who allowed just one hit in five innings. He walked one, hit one and struck out three. Jacob Wendt (2-1) needed just 55 pitches to complete five innings.

Trenner Van Dyke got one inning of work and allowed no hits and no runs.

“My curve ball and slider were pretty good tonight. I think I was able to locate both pitches,” Jacob Wendt said. “Then once I throw them for strikes, I can get the hitters guessing and throw a high fastball. They were taking emergency swings with those all night.”

Daye went with Wendt on the mound in part because of his off-speed pitches.

“We knew he would be a good matchup for these guys. Nevada is a good fastball hitting team,” Daye said. “His off speed stuff was great. His curve ball looked good and he’s throwing in a slider and cut fastball that are working, too. He was able to keep them off balance and didn’t allow them to just hunt the fastball.”

The victory gives PCM a third-place finish in the final HOIAC standings. The Mustangs improved to 7-7 and trailed only Class 2A No. 1 West Marshall and 3A Saydel, which is receiving votes in that class poll.

Nevada (10-12, 5-9) was led by Anthony Eaton, who had the team’s only hit and was hit by a pitch. The Cubs came into the game winners of four of their past five.

PCM swept the season series against the Cubs, outscoring them 26-4. It was the Mustangs’ eighth straight victory over Nevada.

PCM had just two games last week. Their road games against Atlantic and Sigourney both were canceled. And Monday’s game against Cardinal also has been canceled.

The biggest challenge for Daye and his coaching staff has been finding consistency this season.

“I wish I knew the answer. We just take it one step at a time and want to find something we can build off every game,” Daye said. “Hopefully we start to get the consistency now. Because now is the time.”

South Hamilton 8, PCM 2

The Mustangs were limited to five hits and were plagued by two errors during an 8-2 conference loss to South Hamilton on Monday.

PCM fell behind early and never recovered during its Senior Night. The Hawks led 2-0 after one and added four in the fourth and two in the fifth. The Mustangs scored once in the fourth and fifth.

Jungling led PCM with two hits, one double and one RBI, while Jacob Wendt clubbed his first homer of the season.

Farver tallied one hit, one run, one walk and one steal, Alex Wendt got the other hit and Hobbs walked once.

Shay Burns (1-2) took the pitching loss after allowing six runs — one earned — on five hits, one walk and two hit batters in four innings. He struck out five.

Carson Hansen surrendered two earned runs despite not allowing a hit in three frames. He walked three and hit three batters.

PCM’s six seniors recognized before the game were Hobbs, Jungling, Farver, Webb, Jacob Wendt and Jacob Gentry.

Landon Greufe led the Hawks’ offense with two hits, one run and one RBI and Prestin Van De Pol added one hit, two runs and one walk and he was hit by a pitch.

Landon Sogard tossed all seven innings. He struck out eight and surrendered two earned runs.

PCM is 20-9 against South Hamilton (9-10, 6-8) since 2009. The Mustangs have won four of the past six but the Hawks have claimed two of the last three.