March 28, 2024

Cards take down state champions in Dallas Center, 5-3

After getting an unexpected day of rest following the rainout on Monday, the Newton baseball team traveled to Dallas Center-Grimes on Tuesday. The Cardinals were behind on the road going into the final frame, but they rallied for three runs in the seventh inning to come away with the 5-3 over the host Mustangs.

This has to be a big confidence boost for the young Cardinals.

The Mustangs are a senior-heavy team trying to defend its state title. Newton co-coaches Pat Riley and Darin Tisdale were very happy with the win.

“Really big win for us tonight,” they said. “They were the defending state champs, and they were senior loaded. Our pitchers did a great job of throwing strikes, and we made the plays we needed to win. We had some clutch at bats and even got a suicide squeeze down. It was an all around good effort out of our team.”

The Cardinals used four different pitchers to try to hold down the Mustang offense. Sophomore Tyler Wood started the game on the mound. He pitched the first two innings, allowing two hits and no earned runs. Derek Wrage replaced him, pitching the next two frames without allowing any Mustangs to reach base.

Sophomore Michael Barr pitched the fifth and sixth innings, surrendering the only three runs of the game for the Mustangs (all earned) on five hits and two walks. Sophomore Jordan Travis was brought on in the final frame. He encountered some trouble, allowing two hits, but he ultimately shut the door on the Mustangs.

On the offensive end, the Cardinals turned in a supreme team effort. The Cardinals’ seven hits were spread amongst seven different batters. Nobody had more than one RBI, and three batters reached base twice.

Wood hit leadoff and went 0-for-3 with a walk and a run scored. Junior third baseman

Chandler Sturtz hit second, getting a hit and a walk in three at-bats while also scoring a run. Travis played first base for much of the game, recording a hit and a run scored in four at-bats.

Second baseman Mike McCormick went 1-for-3 with a stolen base, a run scored and an RBI.

Jeff Stanton had an RBI on a single in four at-bats. Evan Shimon had an RBI single and a walk in two at-bats.