March 29, 2024

Saydel sends PCM baseball, softball home early

DES MOINES — The Saydel baseball and softball teams avenged early-season losses to Prairie City-Monroe on Friday night during Heart of Iowa Conference play.

Both Eagle squads sent the Mustangs home early. Saydel won the baseball game 10-0 in five innings, and the softball squad defeated PCM 13-0 in three innings.

On the baseball diamond, PCM had only four hits at the plate, a trio of pitchers walked three batters and hit six more and the defense committed two errors.

The Eagles took an early lead as sophomore Derek Brown tried to shake off the rust of not pitching in nine days.

Brown faced five batters and did not record an out, finishing with five earned runs allowed on one hit and four hit batters.

“I think a lot of his night was just not pitching for a week and a half,” PCM coach Jeff Lindsay said. “It was an unfortunate night. He battled, but it just wasn’t working for him.”

Freshman Andrew Mitchell relieved Brown (0-3) in the first inning and pitched into the fifth.

Mitchell allowed five runs — two earned — on six hits with two walks, one strikeout and one hit batter in 4 2/3 innings.

Sophomore Gabe Steenhoek got the final out of the game but also surrendered a walk and hit one batter.

Saydel (10-4 overall, 5-2 in the HOIC) scored eight of its 11 runs in the first inning. The Eagles plated three runs in the fourth.

At the plate, PCM (4-8, 1-7) collected four hits and two walks. Junior Preston Van Wyk led the way with one single, one walk and one stolen base.

Junior Reed Worth also singled and stole a base, while freshman Caleb Duinink doubled and junior Brayton Van Dyke singled. Junior Olin Meinders drew the other walk.

PCM defeated Saydel 3-2 earlier this season, but Eagle starter TJ Stephenson shut down the Mustangs the second time around.

Stephenson improved to 3-1 on the season as he struck out eight in the shutout.

The early-season win over Saydel is now the only conference triumph for the Mustangs. Lindsay was informed of a pitching count violation last week. PCM was forced to forfeit its win over Greene County.

The Mustangs defeated the Rams 5-3 on the field, but the game now goes to Greene County as a 7-0 forfeit win.

On the softball diamond, Saydel hit a pair of homers and held the Mustangs to one hit.

PCM dropped to 2-7 overall and 2-6 in HOIC play after losing its fifth straight game.

The Mustangs defeated the Eagles 6-5 at home earlier this season.

For Saydel (7-11, 5-4), Jade Olsen earned the win in the circle and allowed just one hit, Sophie Barton hit a grand slam and had five RBIs.

PCM senior Kenzie Johnson took the loss in the circle. Junior Camryn Wignall had the Mustangs’ only hit.

Both PCM squads host Gilbert next.

The softball team plays Gilbert at 7 p.m. Monday in Monroe, and the baseball team faces the Tigers at 7:30 p.m. Monday in Prairie City.