GRINNELL — The heat was on the Newton baseball team Monday night with 90-plus degree temperatures and the pressure of playing for a conference title, but the Cardinals weren’t able to beat that heat.

Playing in two rather similar games, Newton was edged out by now-Little Hawkeye Champion and Class 3A No. 4 Grinnell by identical scores of 3-1 in a doubleheader in Grinnell that was rescheduled from a rainout last Friday.

“We had the opportunity to play for a conference championship, but we couldn’t get it done,” Newton coach Jim Marter said. “Hats off to Grinnell, they played well and their pitching was a little too much for us. It was fun to get into this position and obviously it’s tough to lose, but we have to look forward and accomplish some new goals.”