Baxter baseball ends season after narrow loss to ACA

URBANDALE — Carter Nelsen pitched into the seventh inning and struck out 10 but Baxter's baseball team suffered a 2-1 loss to Ankeny Christian Academy on July 11 during Class 1A District 4 play.

The seventh-seeded Bolts lost to second-seeded ACA on a walk-off sacrifice fly to center field in the bottom of the seventh inning.

The Bolts (4-8) had only three hits in the game and walked four times. They went down in order in the first, third and fifth innings.

ACA (12-4) scored its first run in the third inning. Baxter tied it in top of the seventh. Nelsen and Jake Travis led off the frame with back-to-back singles. Andrew Klemme's RBI sacrifice fly to left field tied it.

The Eagles won the game with a walk, Baxter error and hit by pitch in the bottom of the seventh. Nelsen's final pitch was the 109th of the game.

Rory Heer, Nelsen and Travis had the three hits for the Bolts. Nelsen also walked and stole a base. Trey Wesselink scored Baxter's only run as Nelsen's courtesy runner.

Travis, Cody Damman and Nate McMinamen all walked once.

Nelsen allowed two runs — one earned — on three hits with 10 strikeouts, four walks and two hit batters in 6 2/3 innings.