Cardinals win regular-season finale

Creating a little bounce to their step heading into the postseason, Newton High’s Cardinal baseball players snagged a 6-5 win at home Tuesday. They beat South Tama, 6-5, in their final regular season game.

“It was a great way for our seniors to finish their final game on their home field. It gives us a boost going into Friday’s substate game at Ankeny,” Newton head coach Dustin Brisel said. “I’m really proud of our guys tonight after the last two tough losses to stick with it and win this one.”

Newton had seen seventh-inning leads evaporate in losses to Des Moines East last Thursday and to Knoxville on Monday. Not Tuesday night as the Cardinals were able to make the pitches and the plays to shut off a rally by the Trojans in the sixth inning.

The Cardinals trailed 2-0 after the first inning. South Tama used a two-run home run over the left field fence by Carter Kriegel to take the lead. Cael Kellogg had singled with two gone just in front of Kriegel.

A six-run fourth put Newton in the lead. Senior Trevor Ergenbright sparked it with a one-out single and by stealing second base. He moved to third on a groundout by senior Blayden Rhone.

Ben Leal, a junior, delivered an RBI single followed by a double from senior Kamden Kuennen and a walk to sophomore Taylor Danley to load the bases. Walks issue to senior Jaron Roush and junior Ty Arguello forced in two more runs.

Sophomore Julian Hotchkin, who was the Cardinal starting pitcher, helped himself by driving in two runs with a double to center field. Junior Ryan Barr had an RBI base hit. Newton scored six runs on five hits in the inning.

The Trojans produced a run in the fifth when Kellogg doubled and scored on a single by Kriegel. After issuing a leadoff walk to Jackson Beltz in the sixth inning, Hotchkin gave way to junior Taylor Greiner on the mound for Newton.

Greiner walked Brayden Smith and with two gone, Kellogg drove in two runs with his second base hit of the night. Greiner was able to get Kriegel to ground out to third base to end the threat and the inning.

In the seventh inning, Greiner issued his second walk of the game but came right back to strike out Beltz to end the contest. Greiner allowed one run on one hit, two walks and struck out two in two innings of relief.

Hotchkin earned his first win of the season in four starts. He gave up four runs on eight hits and three walks with two strikeouts.

“Julian gave us five really good innings on the hill tonight and Taylor came in and was able to get the job done to close it out,” Brisel said. “We needed this type of pitching from these two guys. Our defense played well behind them.”

Newton had 10 hits in the game led by Hotchkin with a single and double. Arguello, Barr and Leal each had two singles. Kuennen doubled and Ergenbright singled.

South Tama (14-20) was led at the plate by Kellogg with two singles and a double and by Kriegel with his home run and a single. Lane Koch and Smith each had two singles.

Mickey Wanatee took the loss charged with six runs on seven hits and three walks in 3 2/3 innings of work. He struck out five. Lucas Wilkerson and Cam Klostermann finished out the game with 1 1/3 innings and one inning of work, respectively.

The Cardinals (11-20) open Class 4A Substate 7 action at 7 p.m. Friday at Ankeny.

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