April 16, 2024

Newton JV baseball finishes second in own tournament

By Jocelyn Sheets

Junior Derek Damman was key to Newton High’s junior varsity’s success in Saturday’s home tournament. The Cardinal JV placed second in the event. (Jocelyn Sheets)

Newton High’s junior varsity baseball team was one out from winning its home tournament Saturday at Eversman Field in Woodland Park. One out is all the Cardinals needed.

Unfortunately, the Ottumwa Bulldog junior varsity connected for four singles and used a hit batter to score three runs and take a 7-6 lead in the championship game. The Cardinals put the tying run on in the bottom of the sixth, but couldn’t move the runner.

Ottumwa walked away with a 7-6 victory and the NHS Junior Varsity Baseball Tournament title.

“Our junior varsity had a very good day in the tournament,” said Dustin Brisel, Newton head coach. “The younger guys played well all day and came very close to winning the championship.”

Newton reached the championship game by rolling to an 8-1 win over BGM. Trey Vanderlaan threw a two-hitter, striking out nine Bears and issuing two walks.

The Cardinals had a 12-hit attack in the game against BGM. Derek Damman ripped out a single and a triple, and drove in two runs for Newton. Garrett Sturtz delivered a single and a double while Tyler Stanton and Andrew Weiland each had two singles.

Vanderlaan doubled. Trevor Engrenbright, Grant Nook and Josh Gulling each had a single.

Newton plated three runs in the bottom of the first to take a 3-1 lead on the Bears. The Cardinals pushed across four runs in the fourth and added a run in the fifth.

In the championship game, Ottumwa had a 2-0 lead after two innings. With two gone in the third, Sturtz reached on an error and Nook singled. Damman doubled in two runs and scored on a double by Josh Gulling. Gulling came in on a base hit by Stanton.

The Bulldogs tied the score with two runs in the fourth, but the Cardinals regained the lead in their half of the inning. Weiland was hit by a pitch and Sturtz singled. Damman hit another two-run double to put his team up 6-4.

Damman threw a complete game for Newton, allowing seven runs on none this and two walks. He struck out three.

Damman hit two doubles while Gulling and Nook each had a single and a double. Sturtz and Stanton had a single apiece.

Contact Jocelyn Sheets at
641-792-3121 ext. 6535
or jsheets@newtondailynews.com