March 28, 2024

Baxter baseball routs Collins-Maxwell

BAXTER — Carter Nelsen had an earned run average of 5.77 last season and opponents hit .321 against him.

Fast forward to this season, and the statistics are much better. Nelsen is yet to lose a game he’s pitched in, has an ERA under 1.00 and has only allowed two earned runs in a little more than 16 innings of work.

Nelsen was summoned to the mound in relief for the first time this season on June 6, and he shut the door on Collins-Maxwell’s attempt to rally during a 15-5 Iowa Star Conference baseball win.

Nelsen entered the game with the bases loaded and one out in the third inning and stopped the Spartans’ rally with consecutive strikeouts.

The strikeouts kept the Bolts in front 7-5 and Baxter scored eight unanswered runs to win in five. The home team scored three runs in the first, four in the second, five in the third and three in the fourth.

“It’s good to finally see everything we have been working towards come full circle,” Baxter coach Lewis Daye said. “I am glad we got back in the win column and get our confidence back up.”

The victory matched Baxter’s win total from last year. Collins-Maxwell, which is in its first season as Spartans, is still winless as a program.

“I didn’t want their first win to be against us,” Nelsen said. “I am just glad we got out of here with a win.”

Nelsen missed his scheduled start against Colo-NESCO on June 5 because of an illness. He wasn’t back to full strength against Collins-Maxwell, but he had enough to strike out eight of the 10 batters he faced.

Nelsen hit the first batter he faced to bring in the Spartans’ fifth run. He also allowed a one-out single in the fourth before striking out the side. He struck out the side in the fifth, too.

“I gained like 15 pounds so I can throw harder this year,” Nelsen said when asked how he was so much better this year than last year. “I have also been impressed with Cody (Damman) at catcher. He’s helped me out a lot.

“I have more movement on my slider. I worked on it in the offseason and am controlling it better. Last year, I hit a lot of guys with it and left it inside too much.”

Collins-Maxwell took an early 2-0 lead in the first inning against Baxter eighth-grader Jake Travis. Eighth-grader Luke Huntrods and junior Brett Livesay both had RBI hits for the Spartans.

Baxter got in front for good in the bottom of the first. Freshman Rory Heer reached base four times in the game. He was hit by a pitch in the first inning. He stole second and third before scoring on Derrick Klemme’s RBI single.

The Bolts were then walked four straight times to produce the other two runs.

Travis struck out the side in the second, and Baxter plated four runs in the bottom half to go up 7-2. Cole Damman and Heer both walked, Nelsen had an RBI single and Patrick Kennedy collected a two-run single in the frame.

The Bolts scored five runs on four hits in the third. Cole Damman had a two-run single, Nelsen produced another RBI hit and Klemme brought in two with a double.

Nelsen three hits, three RBIs and two runs at the plate. Klemme collected three hits, two runs and two RBIs and Cole Damman finished with two hits, three runs, three steals and three RBIs.

Heer had one hit but walked once, was hit by a pitch, scored four runs and stole four bases. Travis walked twice, stole two bases and scored two runs. Patrick Kennedy was 1-for-1 with a walk, two RBIs and a run scored.

Travis went the first 2 1/3 innings and got the win, allowing four earned runs on five hits with four strikeouts and two hit batters.

“I just wanted to shut the door. I wanted Carter to stay loose with his arm, too,” Daye said. “He was supposed to pitch yesterday but was sick. If I didn’t throw him today, he would have gone a week and a half without pitching.”

The Bolts hosted Tripoli on June 10, went to Riceville on June 12 and play at North Tama at 5 p.m. on June 14 in Traer.

Clarksville 7,

Baxter 6, 8 innings

CLARKSVILLE — Cole Damman had three hits and three runs and Nelsen cranked out a pair of doubles and drove in four runs, but Baxter fell to Clarksville, 7-6, in eight innings on June 4.

Ian Thomson also had two hits, Heer had one hit, one walk and two runs and Cody Damman finished with one hit, one run and one walk.

Thomson started on the mound and took the loss after allowing six earned runs on 12 hits with three walks and four strikeouts in 5 1/3 innings.

Derrick Klemme allowed one earned run on four hits with two strikeouts in 2 1/3 innings of relief.

Colo-NESCO 10, Baxter 1

ZEARING — Baxter fell 10-1 on the road to Colo-NESCO during Iowa Star Conference play on June 5.

The Bolts fell behind 5-0 after two innings. The Royals scored four runs in the first inning and four runs in the sixth inning.

Baxter’s lone run was scored by Brendyn Padget in the fifth.

The Bolts had four hits in the game, two from Padget and one each from Klemme and Jalen Porter. Klemme had one RBI and walked once. Padget, Porter and Cody Damman and Cole Damman all walked once. Damman and Padget both had two steals.

Klemme started on the mound, allowed two earned runs on five hits with three walks and three strikeouts in three innings.

Brad Matthews pitched the final 2 2/3 innings, allowing no earned runs on five hits with one walk and three strikeouts.

Don Bosco 25, Baxter 4

BAXTER — Don Bosco’s baseball team, which is ranked fourth in Class 1A, defeated the Bolts 25-4 in four innings on June 3.

Baxter was led by Cole Damman at the plate. He finished with one hit, one run, one RBI, one steal and one walk.

Klemme chipped in one hit, one run and one RBI and Cody Damman walked twice and had an RBI.

Nelsen had the Bolts’ other hit. Heer, Thomson and Andrew Klemme all walked once.

Cole Damman took the loss on the mound, allowing 13 earned runs on seven hits with seven walks in one inning. Matthews pitched 1 2/3 innings and allowed one earned on four hits. Andrew Klemme pitched the final 1 1/3 innings, surrendering 11 earned runs on five hits with five walks.