SOLON — Another busy week on the diamonds led to a 4-2 showing for the varsity Spartans with wins over WaMaC West’s Williamsburg Raiders, Fairfield’s Trojans, and a split with the MVC’s Liberty High Lightning (“Bolts”). Solon remained at the top of the WaMaC East at 10-2 in conference play and 15-11 overall.
Solon sweeps Williamsburg 6-1, 18-3
The Spartans and Raiders tangled Monday, June 12 in a doubleheader at Williamsburg.
Solon put up nine hits in game one with two from Blake Timmons (including a double) and a homerun from Brett White. Gehrig Turner, Nolan Seagren, Jackson Link, Tyson Wheeler, Tyler Bell, and Dylan Gorham also had one hit apiece with two RBIs for Turner and one from Seagren. Vince Steinbrech went the distance on the mound giving up two hits and one unearned run while issuing 11 strikeouts.
The Spartans shelled the Raiders with 18 hits and 18 runs in a five-inning nightcap with four hits from Steinbrech (with two RBIs), three from Turner, and two each from Timmons (three RBIs), White (two RBIs), Seagren, and Bell. Link, Wheeler, and Gorham produced one hit apiece. Cole Farnsworth pitched all five innings giving up six hits and three earned runs with three walks and four strikeouts.
Spartans shutout Fairfield’s Trojans 10-0
The boys traveled to Fairfield Wednesday, June 14 for a non-conference game vs. the Trojans and got the shutout win with seven hits. Gehrig Turner produced two hits including a double and drove in three runs. Blake Timmons, Brett White, Vince Steinbrech, Garret Stebral, and Tyler Bell had one hit apiece with two RBIs for Timmons. Jackson Link pitched the five-inning game giving up two hits, walking two, and striking out one.
Bolts and Spartans split non-conference doubleheader 14-11 and 8-4
Liberty High visited Thursday, June 15, and the Lightning struck with 11 runs in the top of the first inning in game one. Solon answered with two runs in the bottom of the first as Vince Steinbrech drove in Blake Timmons and Jackson Link scored Brett White. Gehrig Turner scored Timmons in the second and came home on a Steinbrech single. The “Bolts” added one run in the third. White doubled in the fourth, took third on a wild pitch, and scored on a passed ball while a Steinbrech sacrifice flyball scored Turner making it 12-6. Two more Liberty runs went on the board in the fifth. Steinbrech put up another sacrifice fly in the sixth to bring White in to make it 14-7 ahead of a four-run effort in the seventh. However, the Bolts took the opener 14-11.
White, Seagren, and Steinbrech produced two hits each with four RBIs for Steinbrech. Timmons, Turner, and Link had one hit apiece. Timmons took the loss with 2/3 of an inning on the mound. He gave up six hits and ten runs (four earned) and walked one. Aidan Doyle pitched 3-1/3 innings giving up five hits and four runs (three earned), walked two, and struck out three while Dylan Gorham pitched three innings giving up two hits and striking out three.
Spartan bats produced six hits to win the nightcap 8-4 with two from White and Gorham, with a double and an RBI for White and two RBIs for Gorham. Timmons (a double) and Tyler Bell (two RBIs) rounded out the hitting. Brick Kabela took the win with 5-2/3 innings on the bump giving up five hits and four earned runs with four walks and five strikeouts. Tyson Wheeler pitched 1-1/3 innings giving up two hits.
Cyclones top Solon 5-4
Friday, June 16, the boys traveled to Harlan to take on The Cyclones from the Hawkeye Ten Conference and fell 5-4 in a nine-inning contest. The Spartans plated two in the top of the first but Harlan tied in the bottom of the third and took a one-run lead in the fifth. Two runs in the sixth gave the lead back to Solon, but the Cyclones scored one run in the bottom of the inning for a 4-4 tie. A scoreless seventh led to extra innings before the winning run crossed the dish in the bottom of the ninth.
The Spartans had ten hits led by Blake Timmons’ three with two from Vince Steinbrech. Brett White and Gehrig Turner hammered a homerun apiece with one hit each from Jackson Link, Tyler Bell, and Dylan Gorham. Bell took the loss after 2-1/3 innings giving up two hits and one unearned run with one walk and one strikeout. Kaden Hanson worked six innings giving up eight hits and four earned runs, walking two and striking out two.
Upcoming schedule
Thursday, June 22 – Home varsity doubleheader vs. CPU. 5:00 p.m.
Friday, June 23 – At Regina Catholic, Iowa City. 7:00 p.m. (Level 2 plays at 5:00 p.m.)
Saturday, June 24 – At 2023 Prange Classic, Grand View University, Des Moines
Gilbert vs. Solon at 10:00 a.m., MOC-Floyd Valley vs. Solon at 12:15 p.m.
Monday, June 26 – Varsity doubleheader at West Delaware. 5:00 p.m.
Wednesday, June 28 – Home vs. Regina Catholic. 7:00 p.m. (Level 2 plays at 5:00 p.m.)
Thursday, June 29 – Home varsity doubleheader vs. CCA. 5:00 p.m.
WaMaC East standings
Conf. Overall
Solon 10-2 15-11
West Delaware 11-3 16-8
Marion 9-3 17-4
Independence 8-6 11-15
Mount Vernon 4-8 6-14
Maquoketa 1-7 5-16
Blake Timmons (2) gets a good look at the baseball in game one of a varsity doubleheader against Liberty High School Thursday, June 15 in Solon.