13-run fourth inning carries Rams to win

Cade Van Ness hit two three-run home runs in a 13-run fourth inning and Michael Radford tossed a four-hit complete game for Glenwood in a 15-4, five-inning victory over Atlantic in Hawkeye 10 Conference baseball Thursday in Atlantic.

The Rams (11-7 overall, 9-3 in the conference) sent 16 batters to the plate in the decisive fourth inning.

“That was kind of a big inning for us,” joked Glenwood coach Kurt Schultz. “We were hitting (Atlantic starter Brody O’Brien) early and had runners but weren’t getting them in. We started to get to him in the fourth. It just took us a little while. We hit it pretty well so you can’t complain about that.”

Van Ness drove in nearly half the runs in the fourth with his two home runs driving in six runs in the inning. Van Ness’ six home runs this season match Council Bluffs Lewis Central’s Jordan Wardlow for the conference lead.

“He’s been hitting the ball real well lately,” Schultz said of his senior catcher, who went 8-for-20 with three home runs and 11 RBIs in the Rams’ 4-1 week. “He’s been more patient. He’s an emotional kid so when he settles down, that’s what he needs and its shown in how he’s hit it.”

Kaden Wray went 4-for-4 with an RBI. Ethan Fisher singled, drove in three runs and scored three runs.

Radford, who struck out five and allowed three hits and three runs to earn the win on the hill,  aided his own cause with two hits and an RBI.

Schultz said Radford had a strong outing while throwing a career-high 112 pitches.

“He had five strikeouts and four walks – that’s kind of been his problem this year,” Schultz said. “ He’s had a few too many walks. He had the capability to strike guys out and get big strikeout numbers but the walks have hurt him.

Glenwood split with Clarinda

The Glenwood baseball won the opener 9-0 and dropped the nightcap 8-6 in a Hawkeye 10 Conference double-header split with Clarinda last Wednesday.

After jumping out to a 4-0 lead after an inning and cruising to a 9-0 win in the opener, the Rams rallied back from a five-run deficit to cut the lead to 8-6 in the bottom of the seventh and had the bases loaded but the rally ended there.

“We just couldn’t get those tying runs in,” said Glenwood coach Kurt Schultz. “It’s kind of the same story we’ve had all year. It was  kind of frustrating. We feel like we should have won this one. We just didn’t get the hit we needed at the right time.”

The Rams combined for 22 hits, drew walks and stole 11 bases in the two games – but stranded too many runners on base, Schultz said.

“We hit it well but we just left too many runners out there,” he said. “That’s plagued us all year. Sometimes, we’re getting runners on with two outs or it’s not getting hits when we need them.”

Kaden Wray picked up four hits and drove three runs in the twin bill. Cade Van Ness and Eli Bales added three hits each. Michael Radford had two hits and drove in four runs.

Pierce Harrington threw six strong innings on the mound to earn the game one victory. The senior allowed just one hit and fanned eight.

“He had a good outing,” Schultz said. “I’m not sure he’s thrown that many innings or pitches but he felt good about it. Eight-nine pitches in six innings is pretty good.”

Andrew Holiday started game two and pitched two strong innings before getting into trouble in the third inning. The Cardinals pushed seven runs across in the frame.

“He threw well but he just got in trouble in that third and couldn’t get out of it,” Schultz said.
Holiday took the loss after allowing five hits and six earned runs before giving way to reliever Eli Bales. Bales came on to pitch the final 4 3/3 innings, surrendering two hits and two runs and striking out seven.

“Both of them threw well. We had some mistakes on defense that might have disrupted our focus a little bit. We had plenty of chances to win that game and we just didn’t.”

Rams take two from Tigers

Glenwood pounded 22 hits and scored 11 first inning runs in a Hawkeye 10 Conference sweep of Red Oak last Monday.

The Rams plated seven runs in the first inning in a 13-7 game one winner and four runs in the top of the first in the 8-3 night cap victory.

“We got off to quick starts but that was kind of it,” said Glenwood coach Kurt Schultz. “We got a lot of people on base but we just couldn’t get anybody in (after the first inning).”

After take big leads after and inning in both games, the Rams’ bats went silent until the seventh inning. They scored six in the top of the seventh in game one and four in the top of the eighth in game two.

“I’m not sure if we got complacent or what,” Schultz said. “We scored a lot of runs and we hit the ball well.”

Glenwood had 11 hits in each game. Cade Van Ness recorded three hits combined, including a home run, and drove in five runs.

Andrew Holiday, Eli Bales and Michael Radford each added three hits.

Chad Fisher was the game one winner. In his first career varsity start the junior  scattered five hits and no earned runs.

“That was probably the most pitches he’s thrown but he looked comfortable and threw well,” Schultz said of Fisher.

Freshman Jayme Fritts also made his first career start and was credited with the game two victory. Fritts allowed four hits, three earned runs and struck out two in three innings of work.