Cardinal baseball opens with a loss

Opening the 2018 season at home, Newton High’s Cardinal baseball team was competing well against the visiting Marshalltown Bobcats on Tuesday at Eversman Field. The game did not end well as the Cardinals dropped a 9-2 decision to the Bobcats.

Through three innings, the Cardinals and Bobcats were in a one-run contest and then things began to slip away from the Cardinals. Marshalltown scored four runs to go up 5-0 but Newton responded by plating two runs.

“We were right back in the game then we kind of imploded letting a couple get away from us. We made some errors defensively and they got some big hits,” Newton head coach Dustin Brisel said. “We struggled hitting the ball after all the work we put into hitting during the offseason.

“Early our guys had good approaches at the plate. We talked about having early approaches in an at-bat, but we had guys watching the first pitch a lot tonight. Down 0-2 in the count and that point in high school baseball, the pitcher is in charge there.”

Newton had four hits — all singles — against the three Marshalltown pitchers. Actually, the hits came against just one, Tate Kuehner who came on to relieve the Bobcat starter Nate Vance. Vance had pitched three no-hit innings with five strikeouts. Wade Canaday finished up the game on two no-hit innings with five strikeouts.

“The first half of the game was a real even ballgame. I was pleased with the way we started playing tonight. Ryan Barr had an outstanding start on the mound for us. Our defense was extremely good as we had guys moving into the right position to field balls and guys backing up people,” Brisel said.

Starting pitcher junior Ryan Barr struck out the first three Bobcat hitters but Vance equaled that in the bottom of the first inning. A double by Dru Dobbins opened the second inning for Marshalltown and a two-out single by Matt Bohan drove in a run.

Newton got its lead-off hitter, senior Trevor Ergenbright, on base to begin the bottom of the second inning as he reached on a Bobcat error. Unfortunately, Ergenbright was stranded at third base.

It was 1-0 after three innings. Barr worked out of a two-on and one-out situation in the third with a fielder’s choice and a ground ball.

Marshalltown scored four runs in the fourth which included a two-run home run by Luke Appel coming after a Cardinal error. Newton had seven errors in the game — three came in a three-run seventh inning for the Bobcats.

Trailing 5-0, the Cardinals greeted Kuehner with a base hit by sophomore Julian Hotchin to begin the bottom of the fourth inning. A one-out walk put Ergenbright on base with Hotchins and senior Logan Wolfe delivered an RBI single. Junior Jacob Murphy followed suit driving in Ergenbright.

Newton stranded two runners as Kuehner struck out the next two Newton batters.

“We made Marshalltown a little nervous when we got back in the game. That’s what we want. You put pressure on a team and make them make a couple of mental errors,” Brisel said.

Ben Leal, a junior who took over on the mound for Newton late in the fourth inning. Marshalltown used a one-out single, a passed ball, a walk and another base hit to score another run for a 6-1 lead.

Junior Ty Arguello beat out an infield hit to put Newton’s lead-off hitter on base in the fifth. The Bobcats turned a double play. On that play, senior Jaron Roush hurt his left knee trying to beat the throw to first base.

Roush went back out to play center field in the sixth, catching three fly balls for the outs. He went down after the final out and was helped off the field. Senior Cole Cazett went into the lineup for the final inning of the game.

Marshalltown produced its final three runs in the seventh inning on three Cardinal errors, a walk and a double. Canaday struck out the Cardinals in order in the bottom of the frame to end the game.

“If we want to be successful this year, we’ve talked about we have to hit the ball and score runs. It’s that simple,” Brisel said. “I think our pitching and defense is good enough once we get a few kinks worked out here and there.

“It’s going to come down to us hitting and scoring runs. Once we start doing that we’re going to have some success.”

Barr took the pitching loss, going 3 2/3 innings allowing five runs on six hits and two walks. He struck out five. Leal worked 3 1/2 innings giving up four runs on three hits and two walks and striking out two.

Hotchkin, Wolfe, Murphy and Arguello had the hits for Newton.

Newton’s junior varsity lost 14-5 to Marshalltown on Tuesday. Newton trailed 12-2 after the first inning.

Newton (0-1) plays at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at Boone. The Cardinals will have a different look Brisel said since they will be without several starters because of the Newton soccer playoff game Wednesday.

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