SOLON — The second week of the 2023 season saw the varsity Spartans go 4-2 on the diamond with a sweep against archrival Mount Vernon, a split against WaMaC West foe Independence, and non-conference games against Cascade and Washington.
Cascade 11 Solon 6
The Spartans attempted to overcome an 8-0 deficit with two runs in the top of the third and four in the fourth Monday, May 22 in Cascade. The Cougars tacked on one run in the fourth, fifth, and sixth for the win.
Gehrig Turner, Vince Steinbrech, and Tyson Wheeler had two hits each with a pair of doubles and two RBIs for Turner. Brett White and Dylan Gorham had one hit each. Tyler Bell took the loss with two innings on the mound giving up eight hits and eight runs (one earned). He struck out two. Aidan Doyle worked 3-2/3 innings giving up three hits and two earned runs, walking three, and striking out two while Kaden Hanson pitched 1-1/3 innings giving up one unearned run, walking one, and striking out one.
Solon sweeps Mount Vernon 9-4, 6-5
A pair of two-run homers by Brett White in game one helped the Spartans to sweep their archrival Tuesday, May 23 in a varsity doubleheader.
The Mustangs put one run up in the top of the first before White drilled his first homer, scoring Blake Timmons. White drove Timmons home in the second with his second dinger for a 4-1 lead. Tyson Wheeler brought Jackson Link home in the third before the Mustangs plated one in the fifth and two in the sixth to cut Solon’s lead to 5-4. Four Spartans crossed the dish in the sixth for the win.
Link led at the plate with four hits including two doubles and two RBIs, Timmons knocked three singles, White had four RBIs off his dingers, while Gehrig Turner, Vince Steinbrech, and Wheeler had one hit each.
Timmons took the win after six innings on the bump giving up three hits and four runs (one earned), walking two, and striking out seven. Link pitched one inning giving up one hit and striking out one.
A five-run effort in the bottom of the seventh gave Solon the win in the nightcap after battling back from a two-run deficit with one run in the fourth. The Mustangs scored two more in the fifth and one in the seventh to lead 5-1.
White produced two hits while Timmons, Turner, Nolan Seagren, Steinbrech, and Gorham had one apiece with two RBIs for Seagren. Brick Kabela took the win with one inning on the mound giving up one hit and one earned run and striking out two. Steinbrech pitched six innings giving up three hits and four runs (two earned). He walked two and struck out seven.
Solon splits with Independence 7-6, 0-1
The Spartans traveled to Independence Thursday, May 25 to face the WaMaC West’s Mustangs and came away with an extra innings split.
Solon plated three runners in the top of the first inning in game one, but quickly fell behind as the ‘Stangs scored four runs in the bottom of the inning and added one in the second to go up 5-3. Solon scored one run in the sixth, and two in the seventh to knot the game at 6-6. One Solon run in the top of the eighth bought the win.
Blake Timmons had two hits with one each by Brett White (double), Gehrig Turner, Nolan Seagren (a double and two RBIs), Vince Steinbrech, Tyson Wheeler, and Dylan Gorham. Kaden Hanson took the win with six inning on the mound giving up three hits and two runs (one earned), walking three, and striking out four. Seagren and Link pitched one inning each with two hits and four earned runs for Seagren.
The nightcap was a seven-inning scoreless stalemate until a Mustang crossed the plate in the bottom of the eighth.
Solon produced four hits from Timmons, Turner (double), Link, and Tyler Bell (double). Brick Kabela was charged with the loss after 7-1/3 innings giving up three hits and one earned run, walking four, and striking out four. Link pitched 1/3 inning giving up one hit and striking out one.
Solon shells Washington 20-9
The Demons proved to be less than frightful as the Spartans hammered them Friday, May 26 in Washington.
One Spartan crossed the plate in the top of the first, with another in the third before the Demons tied with two runs in the bottom of the inning. The fireworks soon followed as three Spartans plated in the fourth, but Washington scored seven runs in the bottom half to go up 9-5. Four Solon runs in the top of the fifth knotted the game 9-9. Two more runs gave Solon a little cushion in the sixth, but a nine-run effort in the seventh ended the contest.
Gehrig Turner, Nolan Seagren, and Tyson Wheeler produced two hits each with a double and four RBIs apiece from Turner and Seagren. Brett White, Dylan Gorham, and Cole Farnsworth had one hit each. Wheeler took the win with four innings on the bump giving up six hits and three unearned runs with six strikeouts. Tyler Bell pitched three innings giving up three hits and six runs (four earned). He walked four and struck out four.
Upcoming schedule
Thursday, June 1 – Home doubleheader vs. Vinton-Shellsburg. 5:00 p.m.
Saturday, June 3 – Home vs. Iowa City West. 11:00 a.m.
Monday, June 5 – Doubleheader at Marion High School. 5:00 p.m.
Tuesday, June 6 – Home vs. Mid-Prairie. 7:00 p.m. (Level 3 plays at 5:00 p.m.)
Thursday, June 8 – Home doubleheader vs. South Tama. 5:00 p.m.
WaMaC East standings
Conf. Overall
Marion 2-0 4-1
Beckman Catholic 4-0 4-4
West Delaware 3-1 6-1
Solon 3-1 4-5
Maquoketa 1-1 2-5
Mount Vernon 0-2 2-4
Vince Steinbrech delivers a pitch in game two against Mount Vernon Tuesday, May 23 at home. The Spartans swept the Mustangs.