Slow start plagues Baxter baseball in season-ending loss to Madrid

URBANDALE — The Baxter baseball team couldn’t recover from a slow start on Saturday during the Class 1A District 14 quarterfinals at Northview Park.

Cael Wishman clubbed a solo home run in the sixth inning, but that was all the Bolts could muster during a 14-1 season-ending loss to Madrid.

The Tigers scored twice in the first and third, once in the second and sixth and pushed across eight runs in the seventh during the win.

The Bolts were out-hit 11-8. Wishman’s homer led the way and Ben Richardson and Hayden Burdess both doubled.

Colton Moffit collected one hit and one walk and the other hits came from Liam Trent, Colten Damman, James Esqueda and Cody Spurgeon.

Baxter (10-13) tied a program record for wins in a season but ended the year with five straight losses.

Moffit (6-3) took the pitching loss after allowing 10 runs — six earned — on eight hits, two walks and one hit batter. He struck out five in 6 1/3 innings and used all of his 110 pitches.

Aiden Johnson relieved Moffit but couldn’t get an out and surrendered four earned runs on four hits and two walks.

Nolan Hill got the final two outs and struck out one. He did not allow a hit or a run.

Madrid was led by Jayce Fuson, who had three hits, three runs and two steals. Gavin Bridgewater had two hits and two runs.

The Tigers (13-16) advanced to play top-seeded Ankeny Christian Academy (16-8) at 7 p.m. on Tuesday at Northview Park in Urbandale. The Eagles downed Panorama, 4-1, in their quarterfinal contest.

Baxter’s home game against Belle Plaine scheduled for July 2 was canceled due to weather.