March 28, 2024

Cardinals sweep LHC doubleheader

NORWALK — After holding off Norwalk’s late rally to win 6-4 in the first game in Friday’s Little Hawkeye Conference doubleheader, the visiting Newton High Cardinals staged a rally of their own to claim a 5-1 victory in the night cap.

“These are two huge wins to help us build momentum for next week,” Newton head coach Dustin Brisel said. “Right now, our kids are coming out and just playing baseball. They are having fun again.”

With the sweep of the Warriors, the Cardinals have won three straight conference games after losing nine in a row. They are 5-11 in LHC baseball play and have a home doubleheader against Dallas Center-Grimes on July 12 to finish conference action.

In Friday’s opener at Norwalk, the Cardinals put up two runs in the first inning. Brennen Dodd walked and moved to second on a sacrifice by Trey Vanderlaan. Connor Gholson, Newton’s starting pitcher, helped himself with an RBI double then scored on a base hit by Duncan Lee.

The 2-0 lead held up until the Cardinals added three runs in the fifth. With one gone, Vanderlaan and Drew Stout had back-to-back singles. Gholson reached on a fielder’s choice followed by a two-run double by Lee.

Tyler Stanton and Trevor Ergenbright drew walks to load the bases. Garrett Sturtz was hit by a pitch to force in a run.

The Warriors used four consecutive hits including two doubles to score three runs in the sixth. Gholson responded with three straight strikeouts to end the Warrior rally.

A Norwalk error allowed Lee to reach safely, and Keith Steinbach went in as a courtesy runner. With two gone, Sturtz hit a ball to right field, which turned into an error and Steinbach raced home to score.

Newton had Norwalk down to its final out when the Warriors used a triple and a passed ball to score one final run. Gholson got a ground ball to Stanton at second who threw to first for the out to end the game.

Gholson allowed 11 hits and struck out eight in the complete-game win.

Lee connected for a single and a double, driving in three runs. Vanderlaan had two singles. Gholson doubled and Stout singled.

“We had great situational hitting tonight. Bunting was a big key in our run production in both games,” Brisel said. “We had 11 hits in the second. The guys are going up there more relaxed and putting the ball in play.”

Lee led the hitting attack in the second game also. He was 3-for-4 with two singles and a double. Grant Nook delivered a single and a double and Dodd had two singles. Gholson doubled. Vanderlaan, Stanton and Ergenbright each had a single.

Norwalk pushed a run across in the bottom of the first inning. Newton broke through in the fifth with three runs and added two more in the seventh.

Lee doubled to open the fifth for the Cardinals. With Steinbach running, Stanton’s sacrifice bunt moved him to third base, and Steinbach scored on a single by Ergenbright. With two gone, Nook singled and Dodd reached on an error. Vanderlaan’s single drove in two runs.

In the seventh, Nook doubled and Dodd singled. Gholson came through with a two-out, two-run double.

Vanderlaan saw his first action on the mound since June 2. Brisel said Vanderlaan hadn’t been healthy enough to pitch.

“Trey threw four solid innings for us and Brennen pitched the final three innings. They held Norwalk to just four hits. Our defense was tremendous tonight. We did not have an error in the two games,” Brisel said.

Vanderlaan gave up one run on three hits and two walks, and recorded seven strikeouts. Dodd pitched three scoreless innings, allowing one hit and walking one.

Newton (9-16) hosts Des Moines East Tuesday in non-conference play. The junior varsity game starts at 5:30 p.m. followed by the varsity at 7:30 p.m. at Eversman Field in Woodland Park.

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