Cardinals unable to keep pace with host Warriors

NORWALK — Newton High’s Cardinal baseball team couldn’t figure out how to hit against Norwalk’s Jake Fees in Wednesday’s Little Hawkeye Conference game.

While Fees kept the Cardinals hitless through four innings, the Warrior hitters were providing him with run support. Norwalk led Newton 7-0 after three innings.

Newton junior Taylor Danley broke up Fees’ bid for a no-hitter with a leadoff single in the fifth. Dalton Altemeier doubled off the left field fence to drive in a run to avoid a shutout. Newton lost 11-2.

“They hit the ball hard. They had the approach at the plate we want our kids to have,” Newton head coach Dustin Brisel said.

“We worked from behind the count all night. Taylor had a good hit then Dalton really tagged the ball on his double.”

Newton fell to 0-6 in LHC play and 1-8 overall. The Cardinals play a LHC doubleheader at Pella Christian on Friday starting at 5:30 p.m.

Norwalk pounded out 15 hits which included six doubles. The Warriors scored three runs in the first and two each in the second and third innings.

“Our pitchers weren’t as sharp as we wanted but they were throwing strikes,” Brisel said. “Norwalk’s hitters were swinging at first pitch strikes and making contact.”

Junior Clay Meyer was Newton’s starter on the mound. He went 1 2/3 innings, giving up five runs on six hits and three walks. He hit one batter.

Freshman Braydon Chance came on in relief for Newton. He was charged with six runs on nine hits in 3 1/3 innings of work.

Gatlin Chambers pitched one inning. The junior threw four pitches in the sixth.

In the top of the fifth, Danley singled and went to second base on an error. Altemeier delivered an RBI double.

Senior Ty Arguello reached on a fielder’s choice as Altemeier was retired. Arguello stole second base and advanced to third on a wild pitch.

Julian Hotchkin, a junior, drew a walk from Fees. Arguello scored Newton’s second run on a passed ball.

Unfortunately, Newton wasn’t able to do any more damage as the Warrior hitters did their work in the bottom of the fifth. The Warriors pushed four runs across.

Fees allowed two runs on two hits and three walks in five innings. He struck out six Cardinal batters.

Tanner Foltz came on to finish the final two hitless and scoreless innings against the Cardinals. He walked one and struck out four.

“We just didn’t have the approach at the plate we needed tonight,” Brisel said. “We have (Thursday) to practice then have two big games against Pella Christian on Friday.

“We strive to get better every day. We’ll dig in our heels and go to work.”

After Friday’s LHC doubleheader at Pella Christian, Newton hosts its annual Cardinal Invitational tournament on Saturday. There’s a junior varsity event and a varsity event.

The junior varsity tournament begins at 10 a.m. with Carlisle playing Davenport West and Newton taking on Pleasantville. At noon, the losing teams of the early games play in the consolation game and the winners in the championship game.

The varsity baseball tournament is slated to start at 3 p.m. with Carlisle playing Davenport West on Holland-Patterson Field and Newton faces Gilbert on Eversman Field. The varsity championship and consolation games are scheduled for 5 p.m.

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