Huskies knock Cardinals out of 4A baseball playoffs

Ten hits and 10 base runners stranded led to a 5-4 loss for Newton High’s Cardinals Friday night. Hosting a Class 4A Substate 7 first-round game, the Cardinals were looking to break through to a second round contest for the first time in awhile.

Visiting Des Monies Hoover’s Huskies had other plans. The Huskies lost an early 2-0 lead, but rallied with single runs in the sixth and seventh to force the game into extra innings.

Tied at 4-all in the top of the eighth, the Cardinals retired the first two Husky batters. Nathan Roby connected for a single to left field and Daniel Gomez was hit by a pitch from Newton starter Tyler Wood. Nic Snider ripped an RBI double to center field to drive in the go-ahead run.

Newton head coach Dustin Brisel made a pitching change, bringing in Jordan Travis to take over on the mound in relief of Wood. Travis got Andre Wadsworth to ground out to Wood at shortstop.

The Cardinals were in a familiar position, down by one run. Brennen Dodd got hit by pitch from Gomez to open the Cardinal eighth putting the tying run on. Travis fouled out to the first baseman then Drew Stout hit a ground ball, which the Huskies turned into a game-ending double play.

“This was a great high school game, but it was the story of our season,” Brisel said. “We had base runners, but couldn’t get the big hit when we needed it. They got the big hits.”

Hoover made its six hits count and took advantage three Newton errors. In the first inning, a walk and a Cardinal error in the outfield resulted in the Huskies taking a 1-0 lead. An error on a bunt in the third inning, allowed Jalen Horton to reach third base with one gone. Horton scored on a sacrifice fly.

Newton cut the Huskies’ lead in half with a run in the bottom of the third. Travis doubled to right field and moved to third on a sacrifice fly by Stout. Travis scored on a passed ball.

At appeared as if the Cardinals were ready to take control of the contest as Michael Barr doubled and Wood singled to left field. But Duncan Lee struck out to end the inning.

Newton’s defense turned a double play to end the Hoover fourth, then tied the game at 2-2. Mike McCormick doubled to left field with one gone in the bottom of the inning. He stole second, then took off for third on an errant throw by the Huskies.

Another bad throw to third, sent McCormick home. McCormick scored the tying run as the throw home was off the mark. Unfortunately, the Cardinals put two runners on base with two gone and again could not capitalize as Jeff Stanton grounded out.

Wood worked a 1-2-3 top of the fifth for the Cardinals. He sparked the Newton offense in the inning when he reached on a Hoover error, ending up at second base. With two gone, Connor Gholson beat out an infield hit to drive in go-ahead run.

McCormick doubled and Dodd drew a walk to load the bases. Hoover starting pitcher Lukas Powley issued another base-on-balls to Travis to force in a run. Gomez came on in relief and got Stout to pop up to close the inning.

Newton led 4-2. A walk and a Newton error allowed Hoover to score a run in the top of the sixth. The Cardinals went in order in their half of the inning.

Leading 4-3, Newton needed three outs to be able to advance to the substate semifinals.

Wadsworth sharply hit the ball to center field for a single to lead things off for the Huskies. A sacrifice bunt by Brock Larsen moved Wadsworth to second base. Wood came all the way back from a 3-0 count to strikeout out Powley.

Newton was one out away. Horton tripled to right field to drive in the tying run, then he was caught in a rundown trying to score. Lee, Newton’s catcher, made the tag to end the inning.

Gomez and the Huskies retired the Cardinals in order to send the game into the eighth inning.

Wood took the loss, going 7 2/3 innings and allowing five runs on six hits, three walks and one hit batter. Wood struck out three. Travis retired the only batter he faced.

Travis went 2-for-3 with two doubles and drove in a run. McCormick had a single and a double while Wood and Gholson each hit two singles. Barr doubled and Stout singled.

“Our guys are fighters. They never gave up tonight nor anytime this season,” Brisel said. “We lose a great group of seniors, who really showed a lot of leadership this season. But, we also have youth in the program. We had some young guys who stepped up and did well at the varsity level this season and our junior varsity team had a good season.”

Following the game, Newton recognized its six seniors — Barr, McCormick, Tristan Peters, Stanton, Travis and Wood — and their parents.

Newton ended its season with 11 of its final 13 games on the road, including the final seven of the regular season. The Cardinals finished at 16-14.

“We were in the conference championship race. We had a great game tonight against a CIML team. The future looks bright for Cardinal baseball. We’re going to be in the conference race and playoff contention,” Brisel said.

Brisel finished his first season as head coach of his alma mater.

“I had a great time coaching these kids and coaching with my staff,” Brisel said. “To be able to coach here at Newton, where I played, is a dream job for me. We all learned things this season, which will improve the program and keep us going forward.”

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