The Spartans shut out the Keokuk Chiefs in their first game of the IHSAA Class 3A Substate 5 postseason tournament on Friday, July 10. Winning 7-0, the Spartans defended their home field with the first inning ending in two runs for Solon, the first by shortstop Maddox Kelley, followed by right fielder Luke Merrick. The second inning started again with pitcher Luke Deike sending Keokuk’s batters right back to the dugout with two strikeouts. Finishing the inning, Merrick smacked a home run clear past left field, sending Kelley home with him to score the pair ’s second set of runs.

The top of the third was some of Deike’s best, sending all three Keokuk batters back to the dugout for three strikeouts with only nine pitches. Second baseman Michael Bigelow capped off the inning with a triumphant run, first hitting a single, then sneaking to second, and finally coming home on left fielder Sawyer Hansel’s single.

The next two innings resulted in no runs for either team, but Solon’s defense remained strong. A quick pass from first baseman Tate Miller to Kelley to get Keokuk’s runner out at second in the fourth, but the pass back to Miller wasn’t in time for the double play to get the batter out. Maintaining the energy, center fielder Dylan Gorham catches a ball way in outfield to transition into the bottom of the inning.

Moving to the bottom of the sixth inning, Kelley hits another double, only to then trade places with Merrick on his double. The two scoring the last couple of runs for Solon, while pitcher Brady Wick switches in for Miller to pitch the last inning, getting two strikeouts to end the game.

The win advanced Solon to the semifinals and a Monday, July 13 visit from WaMaC West foe Williamsburg (after this edition’s deadline). The winner faced either Assumption Catholic (Davenport) or Mount Pleasant in the Substate 5 state qualifier game Wednesday, July 15.

Stats

Hits – Luke Merrick 3, Carson Kidwell 3, Maddox Kelley 2, Michael Bigelow 1, Brady Wick 1, Sawyer Hansel 1, Dylan Gorham 1, Luke Deike 1

HR – Merrick 1

2B – Kelley 2, Merrick 1, Kidwell 1

RBI – Merrick 3, Kidwell 2, Deike 1, Hansel 1

Pitching – Luke Deike (W) 4 innings, 41 pitches, 0 hits, 0 runs (earned), 1 walk. Tate Miller 21 pitches, 1 hit, 0 runs (earned), 0 walks. Brady Wick 13 pitches, 0 hits, 0 runs (earned), 0 walks

Spartans go 2-1 to close out regular season play

Solon 17 South Tama County 0

The Spartans’ final WaMaC conference game of the regular season was Monday, July 6 at home against winless South Tama (WaMaC West) for a four-inning shutout. Junior Brody Woolley, eighth grader Gavin Kelley, and senior Caden Bails produced two hits each with a double, a triple, and five RBIs for Woolley. Sophomore Milo Menzel took the win after two innings on the mound giving up no hits, no runs, walking one, and striking out three.

Stats

Hits – Brody Woolley 2, Gavin Kelley 2, Caden Bails 2, Maddox Kelley 1, Aidan Holroyd 1, Thomas Lepic 1, Tyler Greazel 1, Cody Milliman 1

3B – Woolley 1

2B – Woolley 1

RBI – Woolley 5, Luke Deike 2, M. Kelley 1, Holroyd 1, Lepic 1, G. Kelley 1, Milliman 1, Zach Schlote 1

Pitching – Milo Menzel (W) 2 innings, 22 pitches, 0 hits, 0 runs, 1 walk, 3 strikeouts. Lepic 1 inning, 10 pitches, 0 hits, 0 runs, 0 walks, 2 strikeouts. Kellen Wick 1 inning, 10 pitches, 0 hits, 0 runs, 0 walks, 2 strikeouts

Solon 5 North Scott 1

The Spartans also hosted the Mississippi Athletic Conference’s North Scott Lancers last Monday improving to 22-8 overall with a non-conference win. Senior Carson Kidwell produced two of Solon’s six hits with a single, a double, and three RBIs. Sophomore Tate Miller was awarded the win after four innings on the bump giving up two hits and the Lancer’s only run (earned). Miller retired five batters in the contest.

Stats

Hits – Carson Kidwell 2, Maddox Kelley 1, Luke Merrick 1, Luke Deike 1, Sawyer Hansel 1

2B – Kidwell 1

RBI – Kidwell 3, Deike 1, Hayden Detra 1

SAC – Detra 1

Pitching – Tate Miller (W) 4 innings, 46 pitches, 2 hits, 1 earned run, 0 walks, 5 strikeouts. Brady Wick 2 innings, 23 pitches, 1 hit, 0 runs, 0 walks, 3 strikeouts. Tyler Greazel 1 inning, 20 pitches, 2 hits, 0 runs, 1 walk, 0 strikeouts

Liberty High 5 Solon 4

The Spartans closed out the regular season with a visit to North Liberty and the Liberty High Lightning falling 5-4 to the Mississippi Valley Conference, Mississippi Division “Bolts” after a 1-1 tie at the end of the first inning. Liberty plated one run in the second and two in the fourth before two Spartans scored in the top of the fifth to cut the gap to 3-4. Liberty added a run in the bottom of the fifth while Solon’s final run crossed the dish in the sixth.

Maddox Kelley, Carson Kidwell, and Michael Bigelow produced Solon’s three hits with a homerun for Kelley and a double for Bigelow. Thomas Lepic was charged with the loss after three innings of work giving up seven hits, three earned runs, and striking out two.

Stats

Hits – Maddox Kelley 1, Carson Kidwell 1, Michael Bigelow 1

HR – Kelley

2B – Bigelow

RBI – Kelley 2, Kidwell 1, Brady Wick 1

Pitching – Thomas Lepic (L) 3 innings, 51 pitches, 7 hits, 3 earned runs, 0 walks, 2 strikeouts. Dylan Gorham 1 inning, 24 pitches, 1 hit, 1 unearned run, 1 walk, 2 strikeouts. Tyler Greazel 1 inning, 10 pitches, 2 hits, 1 earned run, 0 walks, 0 strikeouts. Kelley 1 inning, 8 pitches, 1 hit, 0 runs, 0 walks, 1 strikeout.

Class 3A State Baseball Tournament

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/

WaMaC East standings (7-11-26)

Conf. Overall

Independence 17-4 27-10

Marion 17-4 25-10

Solon 15-6 23-9

Mount Vernon 9-10 14-16

West Delaware 4-15 9-23

Center Point-Urbana 2-19 4-33