March 28, 2024

PCM baseball routs R-S, softball team loses

STORY CITY — It took a few innings to get going, but Prairie City-Monroe scored a pair of runs in the fourth and then blew the game open in the fifth during a 10-0, five-inning road win over Roland-Story on Monday night.

The Mustangs cranked out 14 hits at the plate and Derek Brown tossed another gem on the mound during the Heart of Iowa Conference game.

Brown improved to 4-1 on the season after allowing no runs on three hits with nine strikeouts and two walks. He was pulled after 88 pitches. Gabe Steenhoek got the final out in the fifth.

“Derek was fairly dominant again,” PCM coach Jeff Lindsay said. “He’s continued to be strong as the year goes on.”

The PCM offense was held scoreless through three innings, and the Mustangs left six on base through four innings. But in the fourth, Brown put PCM up for good with a two-run single.

The Mustangs (14-2 overall, 7-2 in conference play) ended the game early with an eight-run fifth inning. It was PCM’s 12th straight win.

“We made some adjustments at the plate as the game went on, and then took advantage of some balls in the middle of the plate,” Lindsay said.

Reed Worth, Brayton Van Dyke, Dane Owens, Olin Meinders, Sage Burns and Wes Cummings all had two hits. Van Dyke and Cummings each had two RBIs, Owens and Burns scored two runs and Meinders, Worth and Burns all had one RBI.

Caleb Duinink had one hit, one walk and was hit by a pitch. His courtesy runner, Kaeden VanSoelen, scored two runs.

PCM, which swept the season series against the Norse (11-10, 3-8) and outscored them 22-1, makes up its home game with Nevada at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday in Prairie City.

SOFTBALL

Roland-Story 4, PCM 1

ROLAND — Roland-Story got an early lead and then held the Mustangs to four hits during a 4-1 home win on Monday in HOIC softball action.

The Norse (8-11, 4-8) scored all four of their runs in the first inning and took advantage of six Mustang errors. PCM (8-12, 5-6) scored its lone run in the seventh.

“Roland-Story came out and punched us in the mouth early. The first inning was the difference,” PCM coach Shaun Hudnut said. “We weren’t quite ready for that. That’s on me. The second time seeing a team is dangerous. You win early and can feel like nothing can go wrong the next time.”

Hailey Schutte had one hit and one RBI and Anna Shaver, Riley Johannes and Camryn Wignall all had one hit. Sidney Shaver was hit by a pitch and RaeAnn Duinink drew a walk and scored the team’s only run on Schutte’s RBI single.

“We pressed a little at the plate after the first and chased pitches instead of making her pitch to us,” Hudnut said. “We left seven girls on base and didn’t get a lead-off girl on base until the sixth inning. That is something we need to be more efficient with.”

Paige Steenhoek (7-11) took the loss in the circle, allowing two earned runs on four hits with one strikeout and three walks in six innings.

PCM hosts Knoxville at 7 p.m. on Tuesday in Monroe.