March 28, 2024

Plate struggles hamper Newton in Cardinal Invite

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“Pitching and defense are not hurting us right now. It is the phase that scores runs. It’s all about the hitting,” Newton High baseball head coach Dustin Brisel said.

Newton’s Cardinals were held to five hits in one game and two hits in a second contest Saturday in the NHS Cardinal Invitational. They lost 8-1 to Pleasantville and 8-0 to Davenport West at Eversman Field.

“Our kids are pressing too hard and putting a lot of pressure on themselves when they go to the plate,” Brisel said. “Each one of them is trying to hit balls to the fence instead of just getting base hits. It’s about situational hitting.”

An example of situational hitting not coming for the Cardinals was in the bottom of the second against Davenport West. Three straight errors by the Falcons loaded the bases with Cardinals with no outs. Newton hit into a double play and had a strikeout with no runs crossing the plate.

Davenport West committed five errors in the game. Newton could not take advantage, but the Falcons cashed in on three Cardinal miscues. The Falcons out hit the Cardinals 11 to 2 in the game.

Davenport West scored three runs in fifth to go up 3-0 and added three more runs in the sixth. The Falcons reached its final margin of victory with a two-run seventh.

Newton’s two hits were singles by Drew Stout and Connor Gholson.

“They are trying too hard. They need to relax and work on getting base hits,” Brisel said. “This next week we have just a couple of games, so we’ll get some practice time and work on things.”

Carlisle won the Cardinal Invitational, winning twice — 7-2 over Davenport West and 17-3 over Pleasantville in six innings.

Four errors by Newton helped the Pleasantville Trojans score eight runs in the tournament opener. The Trojans turned an error into a run in the first inning then with two on in the second a ball hit to center field by Pleasantville’s Zeb Adreon was mishandled. Adreon circled the bases as three runs scored.

The Trojans were up 7-0, which included a solo home run by Adreon over the right field fence in the fourth, before Newton got on the scoreboard in the top of the sixth inning. With one gone, Trey Vanderlaan drew a walk, stole second base and was able to score on a ground-out by Brennen Dodd.

Pleasantville added a run in its half of the sixth. Newton loaded the bases with two gone in the seventh, but a fielder’s choice by Stout ended the game.

Duncan Lee hit two singles in the game. Vanderlaan, Tyler Stanton and Trevor Ergenbright each had a single.

Stanton and Ergenbright were the starting pitchers for Newton in the games. Stanton went the distance, allowing nine hits, issuing one walk, hitting a batter and striking out one. Ergenbright took the loss in the second game, throwing 5 1/3 innings, giving up six runs on eight hits, a walk and a balk.

Stout pitched the final 1 2/3 innings of the Davenport West game. He allowed two runs on three hits, a wild pitch and a hit batter. He stuck one out.

“We had a couple of guys who don’t have a lot of varsity innings pitching today. They pitched alright — threw strikes. Drew did a good job coming on in relief,” Brisel said. “We have to develop pitchers because we can’t throw Connor Gholson and Garrett Sturtz every single night.”

Newton (5-13) has a makeup game at 7:30 p.m. Monday at Bondurant-Farrar. The Cardinals, who are 2-8 in the Little Hawkeye Conference, play at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Grinnell.

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