March 28, 2024

PCM baseball edges EBF, loses to Gladbrook-Reinbeck

EDDYVILLE — The PCM baseball team bounced back from a disappointing loss Monday with a 7-6 non-conference road victory over Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont on June 5.

Sophomore Dane Owens threw six solid innings and PCM had 13 hits at the plate.

“Dane threw a super game,” PCM coach Jeff Lindsay said. “He took a step in the right direction. The offense had been close. We were able to square the ball up more tonight. Even guys who did not get hits were hitting the ball hard.”

PCM plated two runs in the first but fell behind after EBF countered with one in the first and two in the second.

The game was tied after three innings, but EBF regained the lead with a pair of runs in the fourth. The Mustangs evened the score in the fifth and then took the lead for good with another two runs in the seventh.

Junior Brayton Van Dyke walked four batters in the bottom of the seventh but did not allow a hit and struck out two to earn his second save of the season.

“Brayton had not had an inning like that since he took over the closer role last year, but it was bound to happen,” Lindsay said. “The positive thing is he overcame the wildness and made the pitches when he had to.”

Owens (2-0) earned the win after allowing five runs — three earned — on six hits. He walked one, hit two and struck out none.

“He showed maturity tonight,” Lindsay said. “He battled through some tough spots. I was proud of him.”

Five players had at least two hits.

Junior Preston Van Wyk had three hits, two runs and his one RBI made it 7-5 in the seventh.

Senior Noah Henkenius had three hits, including a double, and scored a run. Juniors Wes Cummings and Reed Worth and freshman Caleb Duinink all had two hits.

Duinink was 2-for-2 with two RBIs, a walk and a hit by pitch. His RBI double to left field in the seventh gave PCM a 6-5 lead.

Cummings scored a run and Worth scored a run and was hit by a pitch.

Owens had the team’s other hit. Van Dyke and junior Olin Meinders both had two RBIs without getting a hit. Van Dyke walked and was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded. Meinders also was hit by a pitch.

PCM (5-4) hosted North Polk on June 11 and hosted Roland-Story on June 13. The Mustangs host Albia at 7:30 p.m. on June 14 in Prairie City.

Gladbrook-Reinbeck 3, PCM 1

PRAIRIE CITY — Sophomore Trevor Bistline gave PCM six solid innings on the mound, but the Mustangs mustered just three hits at the plate during a 3-1 non-conference home loss to Gladbrook-Reinbeck on June 7.

Bistline allowed one earned run on five hits in six innings. He struck out three, walked one and hit one.

Sophomore Gabe Steenhoek took the loss after surrendering two earned runs on three walks and one hit.

“Trevor did a heck of a job in a spot start,” Lindsay said. “He located his pitches and gave us a chance. We should have scored more runs for him.”

PCM had only three hits at the plate.

Van Wyk singled in the sixth inning, went to third on an error and then scored on a ground out by Henkenius.

Henkenius also had a hit, and Meinders doubled for third hit.

“It was a lot of the same tonight,” Lindsay said. “We are hitting the ball right at people, and we aren’t coming up with timely hits. It’s not from lack of trying though.”

The Rebels (8-1) led 1-0 after one inning. PCM tied the game with a run in the sixth, but G-R won it with two runs in the seventh.