SOLON — The Spartans sat at the top of the WaMaC East conference last week with a 5-1 conference record and 7-7 showing overall after sweeping WaMaC West contender Vinton-Shellsburg and dealing with non-conference teams from West Branch (River Valley Conference) and the Mississippi Valley Conference’s Xavier Catholic, and Iowa City West High in a five-game home stand.
Solon 12 West Branch 2
Eight Spartans crossed the plate in the bottom of the first inning as Solon blasted the Bears Tuesday, May 30 at home. One more runner came home in the third before West Branch scored two runs in the top of the fourth. A three-run effort in the fifth clenched the win.
Brett White had the hot bat with three hits including a triple and two RBIs. Nolan Seagren, Tyson Wheeler, and Dylan Gorham produced two hits each with a pair of RBIs for Seagren and Gorham. Blake Timmons, Gehrig Turner, Jackson Link, Vince Steinbrech, and Tyler Bell had one hit each with a double for Link.
Steinbrech claimed the win with 4-2/3 innings on the mound. He gave up four hits and two earned runs, walked five and struck out six. Gorham pitched 1/3 of an inning with one strikeout, no hits, and no runs.
The Bears remained winless at 0-6.
Xavier Catholic 9 Solon 0
The Cedar Rapids Xavier Catholic Saints shutout the Spartans Wednesday, May 31 on Solon’s diamond with six runs in the top of the fourth and three in the seventh.
Brett White had two hits including a double with one hit from Tyler Wheeler.
Blake Timmons was charged with the loss after four innings on the bump and giving up six hits and six runs (five earned), walking two, and striking out four. Wheeler pitched one inning giving up one hit and issuing one strikeout while Cole Farnsworth worked two innings giving up two hits and three runs (two earned). He walked one and struck out two.
The Saints improved to 7-3.
Solon sweeps Vinton Shellsburg 15-1 and 11-1
The Spartans kept the Vikings searching for their first win of the season as they swept Vinton-Shellsburg in a Thursday, June 1 doubleheader.
The Vikings scored one run in the top of the first inning of game one, but Solon scored twice in the bottom of the inning and followed with four runs in the second and third, and five in the fourth to end the game under the mercy rule.
Brett White and Dylan Gorham produced three hits each with a double, a homerun, and three RBIs for White and a triple and two RBIs for Gorham. Blake Timmons, Gehrig Turner, Nolan Seagren, Jackson Link, and Tyson Wheeler had one hit apiece with a double and two RBIs for Turner, a triple and two RBIs for Seagren, and an RBI for Link.
Brick Kabela went the distance giving up five hits and one unearned run with two walks and five strikeouts issued.
The Spartans continued to punish the Vikings in the nightcap with three runs in the top of the first, two in the second, and four in the third before Vinton-Shellsburg scored a run in the bottom of the third. Two more Solon runs in the fifth sealed the win and ended the night early.
Timmons had a three-hit game with a triple, White and Turner banged out two hits each with three RBIs for White and a double and an RBI for Turner. Seagren had one hit and a pair of RBIs in the contest.
Kaden Hanson went the distance giving up three hits and one unearned run, walking one, and striking out three.
The Vikings dipped to 0-10 at the bottom of the WaMaC West.
IC West 11 Solon 9
Greek mythology tells of Paris, son of the Trojan King, running off with Helen, wife of Menelaus of Sparta and triggering a ten-year war, which culminated in the famous Trojan Horse.
Saturday, June 3 Trojans and Spartans engaged each other again, but this time within the friendly confines of the Spartans’ baseball diamond for a WaMaC East vs. MVC Valley Division contest.
The Trojans scored four runs in the top of the first inning setting the tone for the battle to come.
The Spartans answered with four runs in the bottom of the first as Blake Timmons, Brett White, and Gehrig Turner loaded the bases. Nolan Seagren drove Timmons home on a sacrifice fly, Jackson Link scored White with a single, Vince Steinbrech singled, Tyson Wheeler brought in courtesy runner Nash Kotar with a single, and Steinbrech stole home as Wheeler stole second.
One Trojan scored in the second, but Dylan Gorham, who was celebrating his birthday, drove Steinbrech home in the bottom of the fourth to tie the game. Timmons brought in Gorham for the 6-5 lead and scored on a White RBI single to make it 7-5. West High plated two in the sixth and four in the seventh for an 11-7 advantage. However, The Spartans weren’t ready to surrender as Timmons slapped a double, White walked, and Seagren walked to load the bases with one out. Timmons walked home as Steinbrech took, “an RBI bruise to the back (hit by a pitch)” to reload the bases with two outs. Wheeler too was hit by a pitch bringing White home and making it 11-9 in favor of West. Unfortunately, the third out fell with three men left stranded.
Timmons led the offense with three hits including two doubles and one RBI. Steinbrech had two hits with an RBI, while White, Link, Wheeler, and Gorham knocked one hit each.
Five Spartans worked the mound with Ty Bell giving up two hits and four earned runs, Link pitching two innings and giving up two hits and one earned run with one strikeout, Wheeler working three innings giving up two hits and two earned runs while walking two and striking out two, Gorham pitching one inning with one strikeout, and Aidan Doyle pitching the final inning giving up two hits and four runs with one walk.
West High improved to 7-6 to sit in the middle of the Valley Division (4-4 in conference play).
Upcoming schedule
Thursday, June 8 – Home varsity doubleheader vs. South Tama. 5:00 p.m.
Saturday, June 11 – Home vs. Iowa City, City High. 11:00 a.m. (part of the annual Fight With Flash Crosstown Classic Tournament. 1:30 p.m. — IC West vs. Regina Catholic, 4:00 p.m. — Liberty High vs. Clear Creek Amana)
Monday, June 12 – Varsity doubleheader at Williamsburg. 5:00 p.m.
Wednesday, June 14 – At Fairfield. 7:00 p.m. (Level 2 plays at 5:00 p.m.)
Thursday, June 15 – Home varsity doubleheader vs. Liberty High School. 5:00 p.m.
WaMaC East standings
Conf. Overall
Solon 5-1 7-7
West Delaware 4-1 8-3
Marion 2-1 8-2
Independence 3-3 6-7
Mount Vernon 1-3 3-6
Maquoketa 1-3 2-11
Tyson Wheeler (5) delivers a pitch Saturday, June 3 at home against the Iowa City West High Trojans in a non-conference match up.