DeVries’ gem leads PCM baseball to district win over East Marshall

DES MOINES — Kaleb DeVries started the game on the mound for PCM, and his career-high 14 strikeouts led the PCM baseball team to a shutout win over East Marshall on Monday.

DeVries gave up four walks and just one hit but did not allow a run in the 3-0 win during a Class 2A District 11 first-round game at James W. Cownie Baseball Park.

“After the first four innings, I just thought, man, I haven’t put a ball in play yet,” DeVries said. “At one point, I had 12 strikeouts in a row. I was pounding the strike zone, and it made it easy when they were swinging and missing.”

In the bottom of the first, Jaden Houser was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, making the score 1-0.

In the bottom of the third, Coby DeRaad scored on a balk to extend the lead to 2-0. DeRaad finished with two hits in the win.

Then in the bottom of the fifth, PCM capped the scoring when DeVries scored on a wild pitch.

The Mustangs held on to advance to the second round. PCM finished with six hits and four walks.

DeVries had to leave the mound because he reached his pitch count limit. Shay Burns got the final East Marshall batter to fly out to end the game.

PCM (9-13) did not commit an error, and East Marshall (11-13) had only one hit.

“When they put the ball in play, we played great,” DeVries said. “(Wendt) had a great catch at the wall. That was awesome to see. (Hansen) made a play in the gap. Our defense always made the plays it needed to.”

DeVries led the PCM offense with one hit, two runs and two walks. Izaac Bagby also walked twice and Trigg Steenhoek, Alex Wendt and Konnor Bell all had one hit.

PCM earned a date with Class 2A No. 2 Pleasantville (27-1) in the District 11 semifinals. The two teams will play at 7 p.m. on Tuesday in Pleasantville.

“We’re going to have to be at our best again to win,” PCM head baseball coach Brent Fridley said. “They are really talented, but we have what it takes to win. You just have to believe in each other, and you never know what can happen.”

PCM 10, Greene County 0, 5 innings

PRAIRIE CITY — The Mustangs notched 10 hits in their Heart of Iowa Athletic Conference win over Greene County on July 3.

PCM, which limited Greene County to two hits, led 6-0 after three innings. The Mustangs got two runs each in the next two innings, ending the game after five.

Wendt led PCM with three hits, including a double, and three RBIs. Houser, Steenhoek and Bell each had a pair of singles.

Houser scored three runs and totaled three RBIs, Steenhoek scored two runs, had one RBI and walked once, DeVries tallied one hit, one run and one walk and he was hit by one pitch and Bell drove in one run.

Wendt added one run, Carson Hansen walked and scored one run, Bagby walked once, scored one run and had one RBI, DeRaad scored one run and Trenner Van Dyke finished with one RBI. DeVries and Bell also stole one base.

“It was another quality start for (DeVries),” Fridley said. “Behind him, a lot of others contributed to the win, and it was a total team effort.”

DeVries (3-3) pitched the entire game for PCM, allowing two hits and striking out nine.

He gave up zero earned runs and earned the win and the Mustangs did not commit an error.

“It’s a great feeling to finish the game when you are run ruling a team,” DeVries said.

The two hits from Greene County (7-14, 4-12) came from Noah Hinote and Isaac Carman. The Rams also committed two errors.

Knoxville 10, PCM 0, 4 innings

PRAIRIE CITY — PCM dropped a non-conference game, 10-0, to Knoxville on July 2.

After the top of the third, the score was 4-0. In the top of the fourth, the Panthers (21-10) rattled off six runs.

“I thought we played all right, but they just outplayed us,” Fridley said. “Offensively, they took advantage of some of the things we just don’t do very well.”

Bell (0-1) started the game pitching for the Mustangs and he surrendered five hits, nine runs and six walks. He ultimately took the loss.

To close the game, Jensson Hood came in and pitched two innings. He surrendered three hits, one walk and one run. The Mustangs committed two errors.

Knoxville’s Roston McCarty pitched five scoreless innings. He surrendered four hits and one walk and struck out three.

PCM was out-hit 9-4. Houser, Burns, Wendt and Bagby hit singles and Bell drew a walk.