Solon shuts out Raiders 2-0, 10-0
WILLIAMSBURG — The perfect week started Monday, June 16 with a trip to WaMaC West foe Williamsburg. Seniors Ty Bell and Jackson Link scored in the top of the second while Spartan defense, led by sophomore Brady Wick on the mound, shut out the Raiders 2-0 in game one.
Wick went the seven inning distance giving up five hits, no runs, no errors, and issuing five strikeouts. Link led at the plate with two hits while sophomore Maddox Kelley, junior Carson Kidwell, and Bell produced one each with a double for Kelley and an RBI for senior Nolan Seagren.
An eight run deluge in the top of the eighth inning, after two runs in the first, gave Solon a 10-0 nightcap win.
Kelley, Bell, and junior Tyler Greazel crossed home plate twice with one run each from Seagren, freshman Luke Merrick, junior Dylan Gorham, and Wick. Kelley and Kidwell produced two hits each with two RBIs for Kidwell. Seagren, Gorham, and Bell each had one hit with two RBIs for Bell. Link went the distance giving up three hits, no runs, walking three, and dispensing five strikeouts.
Spartans tame the Tigers 11-7, 4-1
GRINNELL – Following a Wednesday, June 18 rainout against Wahlert Catholic (to be made up Wednesday, July 2) the Spartans traveled to Grinnell for a varsity doubleheader Thursday, June 19, sweeping the Tigers.
Sophomore Maddox Kelley hammered a three-RBI homerun breaking a tie and securing the win in the eighth inning of game one. Two runs each were scored by senior Nolan Seagren and junior Hayden Detra, and one run apiece by freshman Luke Merrick, junior Carson Kidwell, junior Dylan Gorham, and freshman Michael Bigelow. Kidwell had the hot bat in the 11-7 win with four hits including a double and four RBIs. Senior Ty Bell knocked out three hits with a pair of doubles and three RBIs while Gorham smacked two with one double. Seagren, Kelley, Merrick, and senior Jackson Link had one hit each in the opener with an RBI for Merrick.
Gorham took the win with one inning on the mound giving up one hit and issuing one strikeout. Sophomore Luke Deike pitched 3-1/3 innings giving up four hits and five runs (four earned), walking four and striking out four. Junior Tyler Greazel pitched 2-2/3 innings giving up one hit and one earned run, walking one, and striking out one. Merrick pitched one inning giving up two hits and one earned run with one walk.
A three run cushion was enough in the nightcap as Solon won 4-1 with Kelley scoring twice with two hits and one RBI. Merrick and Detra scored one run each in the contest. Seagren had two hits with one double, Merrick drove in one run and had one hit as did Gorham. Bell also had one hit for six total for Solon. Freshman Tate Miller took the win after five innings on the bump giving up two hits and one unearned run, walking five, and retiring four. Bell worked the mound for 1-2/3 innings giving up three hits and no runs, walking three, and striking out one. Gorham pitched 1/3 of an inning.
The Spartans improved to 13-8 overall (8-4 in the WaMaC East).
A glimpse of the postseason
Class 3A postseason play begins Friday, July 11 with eight teams advancing to the 2025 IHSAA State Baseball Tournament, July 21-25, in Sioux City.