Newton works a split in LHC action with DCG

Rallies were the norm for Newton High’s baseball team against Little Hawkeye Conference foe Dallas Center Grimes on Friday at Eversman Field.

One rally was enough for a 2-1 win for the Cardinals in the first of the LHC doubleheader with the Mustangs. They rallied to take a 5-4 lead in the nightcap, but the Mustangs had their own rally to tie the game to force extra innings.

Newton’s final rally came up one run short. DCG scored twice and held Newton to one in the eighth inning to claim a 7-6 victory.

“These guys are playing well and playing really good ball right now,” Newton head coach Dustin Brisel said. “They believe in themselves and in each other.”

Junior Ben Leal threw a complete game for the Cardinals in the opener, limiting the Mustangs to four hits. He walked one and struck out four.

Dallas Center-Grimes scratched out a run in the second inning when Cody Hall drew a walk with two gone. Isaac Boley went in as courtesy runner for Hall and went to third on an error on a ball hit by Brady Nicolet. Colby Wigham drove Broley in on a base hit.

Newton finally got on the scoreboard in the sixth inning. Trevor Ergenbright worked a one-out walk and Ryan Barr reached on an error as Ergenbright ended up at third base.

Blayden Rhone’s groundout drove in the tying run. Julian Hotchkin delivered an RBI single to put Newton up 2-1.

Leal and the Cardinal defense worked a 1-2-3 inning in the seventh to secure the win.

Ergenbright had two singles in the game. Hotchkin, Cole Cazett and Jacob Murphy each had a single.

DCG scored twice in the first inning of the seocnd game. Newton responded quickly in its half of the first frame.

Hotchkin singled with one out and Ergenbright got on by an error. The two moved up on a passed ball followed with an RBI groundout by Barr. Ergenbright scored on an error to tie the game.

Going into the bottom of the fifth inning, Newton trailed 4-2. Jaron Roush walked and was moved over on a sacrifice bunt by Leal. Hotchkin singled then Ergenbright’s sacrifice fly plated Roush.

Rhone singled to lead off the sixth for the Cardinals but was still on base with two outs. Ike Bebout singled and Luke Maharry was a pinch runner. Roush singled to drive in a run then Leal was hit by a pitch to load the races. Hotchkin forced in the tying run when he was hit by a pitch.

Newton was up 5-4. There were two out in the top of the seventh and Zack Beekman unloaded for a home run over the right field fence to tie the game.

The Cardinals weren’t able to score in the bottom of the seventh and the teams went to the eighth. DCG had one on and two out then an error and a walk loaded the bases for the Mustangs. Two passed ball allowed two runs to score as the Mustangs went up 7-5.

Taylor Danley singled with one out to get the Cardinals going in the eighth. Roush walked and Leal had a fielder’s choice and an error by the Mustangs allowed Danley to score. But a fly out finished the rally.

Hotchkin went 3-for-4 with three base hits for Newton. Rhone hit two singles. Barr doubled. Danley and Roush each had a single.

Taylor Greinrer went 6 2/3 innings for a no-decision on the mound. He gave up five runs on 10 hits and two walks and had one strikeout. Hotchkin pitched 1 1/3 innings, allowing two runs on on hit and three walks. He struck out two batters.

“We’re hitting the ball hard right now and running the bases well. We were able to grind it out in the first game and just came up short in the second game,” Brisel said.

Newton dropped to 4-6 in LHC play. The Cardinals host Class 3A No. 7 Grinnell for a conference game at 7:30 p.m. on Monday at Woodland Park. They have a home LHC doubleheader at home at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday against Oskaloosa.

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