April 25, 2024

Cardinals drop LHC games to DCG

By Jocelyn Sheets
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Newton High pitcher Connor Gholson fields a bunt by a Dallas Center-Grimes batter in the first game of Tuesday’s Little Hawkeye Conference doubleheader at Newton’s Eversman Field. The DCG Mustangs claimed both games — 4-1 and 2-0 — as Newton concluded its conference schedule. The Cardinals play two games at home Wednesday to end the regular season. (Jocelyn Sheets)

And the hits just don’t keep coming for Newton High’s Cardinals. The Cardinals could muster just six hits in two games Tuesday night at home.

Newton dropped its final Little Hawkeye Conference contests — 4-1 and 2-0 — to visiting Dallas Center-Grimes’ Mustangs. The Cardinals finished conference play at 5-13 while the Mustangs were 11-7.

“It’s the story of our season. We get great defense and great pitching, but our hitting isn’t there,” Newton head coach Dustin Brisel said. “We hit the ball hard tonight but right at people again.”

Newton’s Connor Gholson turned in another complete game on the pitcher’s mound in the opening game of the conference doubleheader. Gholson gave up eight hits, walked two, hit a batter and struck out two.

DCG’s Jordan Humphreys was just a bit better on the hill. Humphreys surrendered three hits — two in one inning — and did not issue a walk. He struck out one batter.

Newton fell behind 3-0 going into the bottom of the fourth inning. Drew Stout singled to left field and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Trey Vanderlaan. Duncan Lee delivered a base hit to left, which was followed by an RBI fielder’s choice by Gholson.

The other hit of the game was a double by Gholson.

The Mustangs used a double by Brett Foreman, a sacrifice bunt and a sacrifice fly by Brandon Risius to plate one run in the first. Tanner Draisy was hit by a pitch to start the fourth followed by a base hit by Foreman. Risius’ one-out single chased home two runs.

Dallas Center-Grimes added a run in the fifth. Callen Bertrand singled to right field and scored on a one-out double by Humphreys.

“Baseball is little about luck. We haven’t had any luck, especially offensively, the past two weeks,” Brisel said. “I thought we had something going in the second game in the third. Duncan doubled and Connor hit a rocket to right field, but the kid made the catch.”

DCG had single runs in the first and third innings of the second game to lead 2-0. With one gone in the bottom of the inning, Lee doubled to deep center field. Gholson drilled a pitch to right field, which Bertrand caught. Bertrand threw the ball in to double off Lee at second base.

Newton returned the defensive favor in the fourth frame. At third base, Stout went up to snag a line drive by Brody Gannon, and he threw the ball to first, doubling off Nathan Brown.

Vanderlaan was Newton’s starting pitcher, but after the first inning left the mound to play first base. Brisel said the left-hander was experiencing soreness, so Brisel went to Tyler Stanton, who pitched six innings for the Cardinals.

The highlight defensive play of the second game came in the top of the fifth inning with a runner on and one out for DCG. Gholson made a diving stop at shortstop a couple of feet from second base. While on his stomach, Gholson flipped the ball behind his back to second baseman Garrett Sturtz. Sturtz completed the inning-ending double play with a throw to Vanderlaan at first base.

Stanton took the loss, giving up one run on four hits and three walks. He struck out two. In his one inning of work, Vanderlaan was charged with one run on two hits and one walk and had one strikeout.

Trevor Ergenbright and Keith Steinbach each had a single for Newton.

Wednesday is the final games of the regular season for Newton (9-21). The Cardinals are playing back-to-back junior varsity/varsity doubleheaders at home in Woodland Park.

Newton takes on South Tama starting with the junior varsity game at 11 a.m. followed by the varsity contest at 1 p.m. Class 3A eighth-ranked Boone comes to Eversman Field Wednesday evening with the junior varsity game at 5:30 p.m. followed by the varsity at 7:30 p.m.

“Maybe we can get something going in Wednesday’s games and get some momentum going into Friday’s game at Pella,” Brisel said.

Newton opens 3A District 12 tournament play at 7 p.m. Friday against tournament host Pella, which is fifth-ranked. Knoxville plays Chariton at 5 p.m. Friday at Pella. The winners play for the district title at 7 p.m. Monday in Pella.

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