The Spartans traveled to Clear Creek Amana (CCA) on Thursday, July 2, for a doubleheader and fought it out until the last inning, losing the opener 4-7. The Spartans gained an early lead when center fielder Dylan Gorham scored a run at the top of the first inning, and pitcher Luke Deike struck out the last Clipp
er batter to end the bottom. No runs came to either team until the bottom of the third when the Clippers got two hit by pitches to earn two walks to first, which led to three runs for the Clippers and none for the Spartans by the end of the inning.
The Spartans gained a defensive edge for the next two innings, with Tate Miller’s quick footwork getting CCA’s Blayne Roberts out at first in the fourth, and Luke Deike’s pop-up catch to end the inning. The Spartans shined in the fifth, when second baseman Michael Bigelow and Tate Miller coordinated in a double play, getting the Clippers out at second and first bases to end the inning.
The “Boats” regained their footing in the sixth however, scoring four additional runs. Solon attempted to fight back in the seventh, with Luke Merrick scoring a home run while Maddox Kelley and Bigelow were on bases, scoring three runs, ending the game with a three run lead for the Clippers.
Stats
Hits – Carson Kidwell 4, Dylan Gorham 1, Luke Merrick 1, Luke Deike 1, Hayden Detra 1, Michael Bigelow 1
HR – Merrick 1
RBI – Merrick 4
Pitching – Deike (L) 6 innings, 107 pitches, 5 hits, 2 unearned runs, 3 walks, 8 strikeouts
In a tied stalemate for all seven innings, the Spartans and the Clippers went into overtime in the nightcap with CCA barely pulling ahead with the deciding run in the ninth inning.
The Spartans started things off with a run by Dylan Gorham, who wasted no time getting a single at first bat. At the bottom of the inning, shortstop Maddox Kelley caught a pop-up to get CCA’s Luke Young out, but the Clippers ultimately tied things with a run of their own.
With no runs from either team for the next seven innings, the Solon defense held its line. Maddox Kelley again, caught a line drive in the fourth, and then another in the fifth. Pitcher Luke Merrick led an amazing game, pitching two strikeouts in the third inning, one in the fourth, two again in the fifth, two more in the sixth, and finishing with three in the seventh before being switched out with Tyler Greazel.
Coming down into overtime, Gorham hit a triple clear into outfield in the ninth inning, but could not make the drive home before the end of the top of the inning. In the bottom of the ninth, Deike put CCA’s Benicio Garcia out at first, but the Clippers manage to get one run in, finishing the game.
Stats
Hits – Dylan Gorham 2, Luke Merrick 1, Luke Deike 1, Michael Bigelow 1
3B – Gorham 1
RBI – Merrick 1
Pitching – Luke Merrick 7 innings, 111 pitches, 3 hits, 1 unearned run, 2 walks, 11 strikeouts. Tyler Greazel (L) 2 innings, 26 pitches, 1 hit, 0 unearned run, 2 walks, 2 strikeouts
26 runs for Spartans in sweep of West Delaware
Solon pounds Hawks 12-1, 14-4
Last Monday (June 29) was Senior Night for the Spartans as they hosted West Delaware in a WaMaC East match up.
Seniors Tyler Greazel, Ty Turner, Carson Kidwell, Dylan Gorham, Hayden Detra, and Caden Bails, and their families, were recognized for their contributions to Spartan Baseball; and celebrated with a sweep of the Hawks with Solon outscoring their guests 26-5.
Maddox Kelley and Luke Deikie, juniors both, led in the opener with three hits each while sophomore Luke Merrick drilled a solo home run and sophomore Michael Bigelow drove in four runs. Tate Miller, a sophomore, went the distance giving up four hits and four runs (three earned), walking five, and striking out two.
Stats
Hits – Maddox Kelley 3, Luke Deike 3, Hayden Detra 2, Brady Wick 2, Michael Bigelow 2, Dylan Gorham 1, Luke Merrick 1, Carson Kidwell 1
HR – Merrick
2B – Gorham, Kelley 1
RBI – Bigelow 4, Deike 2, Detra 2, Kelley 1, Merrick 1, Kidwell 1, Wick 1
Pitching – Tate Miller (W) 6.0 innings, 93 pitches, 4 hits, 4 runs (3 earned), 5 walks, 2 strikeouts
Brady Wick held the Hawks to just three hits and one unearned run through five innings for the win in the nightcap. The junior issued seven strikeouts in the 12-1 victory. Dylan Gorham and Luke Merrick hammered out a homerun each with three RBIs for Merrick and two for Gorham.
Stats
Hits – Dylan Gorham 2, Luke Deike 2, Michael Bigelow 2, Maddox Kelley 1, Luke Merrick 1, Hayden Detra 1, Brady Wick 1
HR – Gorham 1, Merrick
2B – Deike 1
RBI – Merrick 3, Bigelow 3, Gorham 2, Deike 1
Pitching – Wick (W) 5.0 innings, 3 hits, 1 unearned run, 3 walks, 7 strikeouts
Spartans slam IC West Trojans 14-7
Solon visited Iowa City West High School Tuesday, June 30 for a single non-conference game against the Mississippi Valley Conference’s Trojans and brought home a 14-7 win.
The Spartans had three cross the plate in the first inning followed by two more in the second, and one each in the fourth, fifth, and sixth. The Trojans rallied in the bottom of the sixth with a seven-run effort to narrow the gap to 8-7. However, six Solon runs in the seventh sealed the win.
Junior Maddox Kelley had the hot bat with four hits including a homer and a double with four RBIs on the night. Senior Carson Kidwell also cleared the park with a homer and five RBIs in the contest. Thomas Lepic, a junior, took the win after three innings giving up seven hits and five runs (one earned), walking three, and striking out four. Tyler Greazel, Luke Deike, and Dylan Gorham also saw time on the bump.
Stats
Hits – Maddox Kelley 4, Dylan Gorham 2, Carson Kidwell 2, Hayden Detra 2, Luke Deike 1, Brady Wick 1, Kinnick Sokol 1
HR – Kelley 1, Kidwell 1
2B – Gorham 1, Kelley 1
RBI – Kidwell 5, Kelley 4, Deike 2, Gorham 1, Wick 1
Pitching – Thomas Lepic (W) 3.0 innings, 67 pitches, 7 hits, 5 runs (one earned), 3 walks, 4 strikeouts. Tyler Greazel 2.2 innings, 39 pitches, 1 hit, 1 walk, 3 strikeouts. Deike 1.0 inning, 17 pitches, 1 hit, 1 walk, 1 strikeout. Gorham 0.1 inning, 1 hit, 2 runs, 0 walks, 0 strikeouts
Grinnell takes care of unfinished business in 8-2 win over Solon
The Spartans and Grinnell Tigers closed out the books on a doubleheader that started June 18 with a 4-3 win for Solon in game one, and the onset of adverse weather in the nightcap leading to the game being suspended in the fifth inning with the Tigers ahead 4-2. Luke Merrick and Hayden Detra knocked out solo homeruns to put the Spartans on the scoreboard in the second and third innings.
Wednesday, July 1, the Tigers returned to Solon to finish the game and added two runs in the fifth and two in the sixth while holding the Spartans scoreless for the win and a WaMaC East vs. West split.
Stats
Hits – Dylan Gorham 2, Luke Merrick 1, Carson Kidwell 1, Hayden Detra 1, Brady Wick 1, Sawyer Hansel 1
HR – Merrick 1, Detra
RBI – Merrick 1, Detra 1
Pitching – Wick (L) 4.0 innings, 74 pitches, 4 hits, 4 runs (3 earned), 2 walks, 5 strikeouts. Gorham 2.0 innings, 22 pitches, 4 hits, 2 earned runs, 0 walks, 1 strikeout. Michael Bigelow 1.0 inning, 16 pitches, 0 hits, 0 runs, 1 walk, 0 strikeouts.
Upcoming postseason schedule
Friday, July 10 – Class 3A Substate 5 Quarterfinals: HOME vs. Keokuk, 7 p.m.
Williamsburg vs. Fairfield
Assumption Catholic vs. Maquoketa
Burlington vs. Mt. Pleasant
Monday, July 13 – Class 3A Substate 5 Semifinals: Site TBD, 7 p.m.
Wednesday, July 15 – Class 3A Substate 5 Championship/State Qualifier: Site TBD, 7 p.m. Tickets – www.iahsaa.org/tickets/
Monday, July 20-Friday, July 24 – Class 3A State Baseball Tournament, Veterans Memorial Stadium, Cedar Rapids
IHSAA State Tournament Central – www.ihsaa.org/baseball/state-tournament-central/