SOLON — The final week of the regular season saw a double loss to West Delaware, a win over Regina, and a split with WaMaC West’s Clear Creek Amana. A non-conference visit to North Scott Monday, July 3 finished the regular campaign ahead of Substate play starting on Friday, July 7. The Spartans took a 21-18 record to North Scott and finished the WaMaC East campaign third behind Marion (16-4/26-5) and West Delaware (16-4/24-11).
West Delaware takes two from Solon
West Delaware’s Hawks were flying at the top of the WaMaC East last week when the Spartans visited for a varsity doubleheader Monday, June 26, and swept the Spartans 10-5 and 5-4.
Solon plated two runners in the top of the first inning of game one but watched their lead evaporate with four Hawks scoring in the third, five in the fourth, and one in the fifth. The Spartans attempted a rally with three runs in the sixth.
Brett White led at the plate with three hits including a double, Nolan Seagren had two hits with one apiece from Blake Timmons, Gehrig Turner, Vince Steinbrech, and Maddox Kelley. Steinbrech was charged with the loss after 3-2/3 innings on the mound giving up eight hits, nine runs (five earned), walking two and striking out one. Nash Kotar pitched 2-1/3 innings giving up one hit and one unearned run.
The Spartans looked to be on track for a split after putting up three runs in the third inning of the nightcap but the Hawks tied with one run in the fourth and two in the sixth. The stalemate was nearly broken in the ninth with one Solon run, however the Hawks answered with a run in the bottom of the inning and finally won the contest with a run in the bottom of the eleventh.
White led with two hits (one double), while Timmons and Jackson Link produced one apiece with two RBIs for Link. Seagren and Steinbrech drove in one run each. Link worked the mound for eight innings giving up three hits and three runs (one earned), walked one, and struck out eight with 102 pitches. Tyson Wheeler took the loss with 2-1/3 innings giving up one hit and one unearned run and walking two. Brick Kabela pitched 1/3 of an inning giving up one hit and one unearned run with one walk.
Solon rolls over the Regals
Regina Catholic (Iowa City) visited Solon for the clubs’ second meeting this season Wednesday, June 28. The Regals fell 8-1 to Solon June 23 on Regina’s diamond.
Solon plated three runners in the bottom of the first inning and watched the lead slip as the Regals scored two in the second. One Spartan scored in the fourth with five runs coming in the fifth for a 9-2 advantage. Regina challenged with three runs in the sixth but two more Solon runs went up in the bottom of the inning ahead of a scoreless seventh.
Brett White led at the plate with three hits including a pair of doubles and two RBIs. Vince Steinbrech had two hits and one RBI while Gehrig Turner, Nolan Seagren, Jackson Link, and Dylan Gorham produced one hit each. Blake Timmons, Turner, Link, Garret Stebral, and Tyler Bell each drove in one run. Kaden Hanson took the win with six innings on the mound giving up ten hits and five earned runs with four walks and three strikeouts. Aidan Doyle pitched one inning giving up no hits and striking out one.
Clippers and Spartans split
Clear Creek Amana’s (CCA) “Boats” sailed into Solon for a WaMaC East vs. West rivalry doubleheader Thursday, June 29 resulting in a split as the Spartans won the opener 6-5 but the Clippers prevailed with a 10-7 nightcap win on Youth Baseball Night.
The Clippers put three runs on the board in the top of the first inning in game one, which was answered by the Spartans with three in the bottom half of the inning. A lead off double by Blake Timmons led to an RBI double from Brett White who came home on a Gehrig Turner RBI double. Dylan Gorham drove courtesy runner Eddie Johnson home with an RBI single to tie. The Boats plated two more in the second inning while a Jackson Link sacrifice fly in the bottom of the third scored Vince Steinbrech to make it a 5-4 ballgame. Link drove Nolan Seagren home in the fifth to tie and Johnson scored the go ahead run in the sixth on a wild pitch.
Timmons produced three hits with one each by White, Turner, Seagren, Steinbrech, Link, and Gorham. Tyson Wheeler took the win with 5-2/3 innings on the mound giving up two hits, no runs, walking two, and striking out three. Cole Farnsworth pitched one inning giving up two hits and three earned runs with one walk while Tyler Bell worked 1/3 of an inning giving up one hit and two earned runs with three walks and one strikeout.
Solon Alum Luke Ira threw out the first pitch for the nightcap, the final home game for Sparty’s Boys this year in general, and in particular for seniors Timmons and Aidan Doyle. Ira graduated in 2018 and led the Spartans his senior year with 66 hits in 146 at bats for a .452 average. Ira also belted out a team-high 19 home runs in the 2018 season and led in RBIs with 58.
Link led with two hits while White, Seagren, Bell, Stebral, Gorham, and Farnsworth produced one each with a double for White and Farnsworth, and two RBIs for Farnsworth. Brick Kabela pitched 3-1/3 innings giving up on hit and three earned runs, walked seven, and struck out three. Gorham worked two innings giving up three hits and five unearned runs, walking two and striking out one while Turner pitched one inning giving up two hits and one earned run with one walk and one strikeout. Aidan Doyle pitched 2/3 of an inning giving up one hit and one earned run while walking three and sitting down one.
The road to Iowa City starts in Tiffin with a rematch
The Spartans’ postseason starts Friday, July 7 at 7:00 p.m. with a Class 3A Substate 4 quarterfinal game against CCA in Tiffin. The winner will face either Wahlert Catholic (Dubuque) or Vinton-Shellsburg in the semifinals. Assumption Catholic (Davenport) will take on Washington (Iowa) at North Scott while Central DeWitt will host CPU to round out the bottom of the Substate 4 bracket.
WaMaC East standings
Conf. Overall
Marion 16-4 26-5
West Delaware 16-4 24-11
Solon 14-6 21-18
Independence 12-8 18-19
Mount Vernon 9-11 11-19
Maquoketa 3-9 8-20
Ty Bell (30) gets under a fly ball as Nolan Seagren (8) moves in to back him up Thursday, June 29 at home in a varsity doubleheader against WaMaC West rival Clear Creek Amana.