Newton baseball takes No. 5 Indians to the wire in loss

INDIANOLA — Don’t be fooled by the final score — 6-2 — of Wednesday’s Newton High baseball loss.

“We played a really solid 6 1/3 innings tonight. The last two-thirds I’m just going to forget about. This was a 3-2 ball game to the wire,” Newton head coach Dustin Brisel said. “I’m extremely proud of our kids. They took the No. 5 team in 4A to the last inning.”

The Cardinals and Indians were deadlocked at 1-1 after the first inning. Indianola pushed a run across in the third but Newton answered with a run in the fourth.

To open the Little Hawkeye Conference game, Jaron Roush drew a one-out walk but was out on a fielder’s choice by Trevor Ergenbright. Ryan Barr delivered a two-out, RBI double to put Newton on the scoreboard.

Indianola’s Teyt Johnson tied the game up with a leadoff home run in the bottom of the first. He was hit by a pitch in the third inning, stole second base and scored on two errors by Newton.

It was Roush getting on base again via a base-on-balls to begin the fourth inning. Ergenbright used a sacrifice bunt to move Roush. Blayden Rhone singled then Julian Hotchkin doubled in the tying run.

The Indians manufactured a run on two singles in the fifth to go up 3-2. They pushed three runs across the plate in the sixth.

“Trevor was outstanding on the hill and our defense was solid,” Brisel said. “We put some really good swings on the ball and every ball we hit was hard. We just didn’t find the holes and gaps like we have been doing the past couple of games.”

Ergenbright started and went 5 1/3 innings, taking the loss. He allowed five runs on five hits and four walks and struck out two. Ben Leal worked the final two-thirds of an inning, giving up one run on one walk.

Brisel said Indianola brought on a guy in relief who threw very well the final two innings. Logan Edwards was the starter, going four innings then Joey Bylund pitched one inning — striking out three . Duncan Davitt threw one inning of one-hit ball and struck out four Newton batters.

Hotchkin finished with a single and double to lead the Newton hitters. Barr doubled. Rhone and Ty Arguello each had a single.

“I’m very pleased with the way our guys are swinging the bats and playing the game out there,” Brisel said. “I believe our guys have shown we’re not a team to take lightly. We’re in this for the run now.”

Indianola, which is 12-1 overall and 6-1 in LHC play, was held to five hits by the Cardinals. Johnson had the home run and they had four singles by Brady Held, Brendan Sher, Davitt and Chayton Reif.

Newton is 3-5 in LHC action and 5-9 overall. The Cardinals have a home varsity doubleheader with Dallas Center-Grimes at 5:30 p.m. on Friday at Eversman Field.

On Saturday, Newton hosts its annual junior varsity and varsity tournaments at Woodland Park. The junior varsity tournament begins at 10 a.m. and the varsity tournament starts at 3 p.m.

Newton will also have its NHS Baseball Hall of Fame induction. It is scheduled for before the Cardinal varsity’s final game on Saturday. The NHS Baseball Hall of Fame Class of 2018 includes Tyler Williams and Trent Williams.

Newton’s junior varsity plays Pleasantville at 10 a.m. on Eversman Field. On Holland-Patterson Field will be Carlisle and Davenport West playing at the same time. Win or lose, Newton will play on Eversman Field at noon, when the consolation game and championship game are played.

For the varsity, Newton plays Gilbert at 3 p.m. on Eversman Field while Carlisle takes on Davenport West on Holland-Patterson Field. The 5 p.m. games have Carlisle playing Pleasantville on Holland-Patterson and on Eversman Field it is Davenport West playing Gilbert.

Newton takes on Pleasantville at 7 p.m. on Eversman Field.

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