Postseason play opened at home as Solon (27-11) faced WaMaC West foe Vinton-Shellsburg (7-23).
The Spartans plated three in the bottom of the first inning as Gehrig Turner drove in Brett White and Vince Steinbrech slammed a two-RBI double scoring Nolan Seagren and Cole Farnsworth (running for catcher Turner). Five runs went up in the second as White, Seagren, Farnsworth, Steinbrech, and Maddox Kelley all crossed the dish. The Vikings threatened in the top of the third, but a big strikeout issued by Steinbrech ended the half with Vinton-Shellsburg trailing 8-0. White was hit by a pitch for the second time in the bottom of the third and joined Tyson Wheeler (who drew a lead-off walk) on base. Steinbrech hammered his second two-RBI double of the night scoring Wheeler and White to make it 10-0. Steinbrech dispensed three strikeouts in the fourth to further demoralize the Vikings before the Spartans delivered the coup de grâce. Dylan Gorham singled and scored on a Wheeler RBI double. With Tyler Bell and Wheeler on base, White pounded out a three-run homer making it 14-0.
Kaden Hanson relieved Steinbrech on the mound for the final three outs of the game in the top of the fifth.
Steinbrech, Gorham, and Wheeler had two hits apiece with one from White, Turner, and Kelley. Steinbrech was awarded the win after four innings giving up two hits, no runs, and striking out eight.
Solon 4 Wahlert Catholic 0
The week opened with a non-conference shutout against Wahlert Catholic’s Golden Hawks in Dubuque. Brett White led at the plate with two hits including a double and drove in one run. Nolan Seagren, Maddox Kelley, Garret Stebral, Dylan Gorham, Tyler Bell, and Tyson Wheeler had one hit each with a double and an RBI for Seagren and an RBI for Wheeler. Jackson Link took the win after five innings on the mound giving up five hits and no runs, walking one and striking out five. Seagren pitched 1-1/3 innings giving up one hit, walking two, and striking out one while Wheeler pitched 2/3 of an inning giving up no hits and no runs.
Liberty High 8 Solon 2
The Spartans were struck by the Liberty High Lightning in the final game of the regular season last Tuesday at Liberty High in North Liberty. The “Bolts” plated one run in the first, three in the fourth, one in the fifth, and put three more across the plate in the sixth. Brett White, Nolan Seagren, Garret Stebral, and Bell had one hit each with a solo homer for White and a double for Bell. Kaden Hanson was charged with the loss after one inning on the mound giving up two hits and three earned runs and walking three. Bell spent three innings on the bump giving up two hits and one earned run, walking two and striking out two. Gehrig Turner went from behind the plate to the mound for one inning giving up four hits and three earned runs and walking one while Tyson Wheeler pitched one inning giving up one unearned run, walking one, and striking out one.
2024 IHSAA State Baseball Tournament information
Class 3A and 4A games will be played at Veterans Memorial Stadium in Cedar Rapids Monday, July 22-Friday, July 26. 3A quarterfinals will be played Monday with semifinals Wednesday (24th) and the Championship game on Friday.
Tickets will be available online at www.ihsaa.org/tickets and will go on sale Thursday, July 18 at 9:00 a.m. at a cost of $10 per ticket (plus fees).
WaMaC East Standings (Sunday, July 14)
Conf. Overall
Marion 19-3 29-5
CPU 16-6 27-8
Solon 16-6 28-11
Mt. Vernon 10-12 19-17
Independence 9-13 14-20
W. Delaware 7-16 11-25
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