×

Bobcats bounce back to edge Maroons

Ninth-ranked Marshalltown upsets No. 1 Dowling Catholic in game two

T-R PHOTO BY ANNE VANCE Ñ Marshalltown sophomore Joseph Harris (34) delivers to the plate during the second game of WednesdayÕs CIML Iowa Conference doubleheader against Dowling Catholic in West Des Moines. Harris pitched 6 2/3 shutout innings for the win in game two as the ninth-ranked Bobcats split with the No. 1 Maroons.

WEST DES MOINES — The Marshalltown baseball team uncovered the perils of playing on the road in the premiere conference in the state, and then showed the mettle it takes to compete in the very same league.

Joseph Harris and Wade Canaday combined on a four-hit shutout and Canaday drove in the only run of the nightcap as the Class 4A No. 9 Bobcats earned a CIML Iowa Conference split with top-ranked Dowling on Wednesday night.

The Maroons (15-4, 7-3) claimed the opener in convincing fashion, 10-0 in five innings, before Marshalltown (13-4, 6-2) managed to battle back for a 1-0 triumph in the second game.

“Heading on the road in the CIML is tough duty, as we found out in game one,” said MHS head coach Steve Hanson. “Our guys deserve a whole lot of credit, however, for getting up off of the deck and playing really well in game two.”

Dowling delivered the same type to beating to the Bobcats in the opening game that No. 2 Johnston did two nights earlier in Marshalltown. Four of the Maroons’ six hits went for extra bases and ace Luke Yacinich twirled a two-hit shutout in the run rule-shortened, five-inning first game.

T-R PHOTO BY ANNE VANCE Ñ Marshalltown second baseman Matt Bohan, left, gets the force-out of Dowling CatholicÕs Connor Erps (14) in trying to turn a double play against the Maroons during game two of WednesdayÕs CIML Iowa Conference doubleheader in West Des Moines.

Charlie Johnson finished 2-for-3 with a three-run home run and an RBI double that ended the game in the bottom of the fifth, leading the Maroons to victory. Yacinich (4-0) walked two and struck out four, walking Tate Kuehner twice while surrendering a pair of fifth-inning singles to Matt Bohan and Dylan Eygabroad. Bohan was the only Bobcat to advance as far as third base.

Lucas Duff (0-2) took the loss on the mound for MHS, allowing nine runs — four earned — on five hits, six walks and a hit batsman over 3 2/3 innings, striking out one. Dru Dobbins got the final out of the fourth before Will Van Buren surrendered the game-ending run in the fifth.

Though just as it had two nights earlier, Marshalltown battled back from the opening loss to earn the conference split. Harris (2-1) held down Dowling’s big bats for four singles over 6 2/3 innings, walking four and striking out five, and Canaday came on for his second save after Harris plunked Nick Bordenaro with two outs in the seventh. Canaday got a fielder’s choice grounder off the bat of Yacinich to end the game, sealing Marshalltown’s 1-0 triumph.

“As usually is the case, it all starts on the mound and Joseph Harris pitched a phenomenal game,” said Hanson. “Our defense was solid and backed each other up in support of Harris. Wade Canaday closed things up and also had a key, two-out hit to get us our only run of the night.”

The only run of the nightcap arrived in the top of the fourth as Marshalltown leadoff batter Nate Vance ended Carter Baumler’s young perfect game with a single. Vance moved up on a sacrifice by Kuehner and a groundout by Kody Ricken before Canaday came through with an RBI single up the middle.

T-R PHOTO BY ANNE VANCE

The Bobcats managed only one more baserunner the rest of the way — a seventh-inning single for Dru Dobbins — but Harris, Canaday and the MHS defense fought off Dowling’s every advance.

Baumler (2-1) took the loss despite striking out 11 and walking none in a complete-game three-hitter. Hunter Simpson had two singles for the Maroons.

The Maroons had at least one batter reach base in each inning, but never strung two hits together in the same frame, nor did they advance as far as third base in the entire game. Van Buren threw out an attempted base-stealer in the first inning and Harris induced 10 groundouts.

“We’re in a real tough stretch of the schedule right now and that’s when good players step up and fight through obstacles to succeed,” said Hanson. “Our guys hung in there well tonight and I’m confident that the wins we’ve gotten this week against the best teams in the state will pay dividends moving forward.”

The Bobcats stray from CIML Iowa play for the remainder of the week, hosting Southeast Polk for two games tonight before visiting North Polk for a single game Friday in Alleman.

At West Des Moines

Game One

Dowling Catholic 10, Marshalltown 0, 5 innings

MHS 000 000 0 — 0 2 2

DOWLING 140 41 — 10 6 0

Lucas Duff, Dru Dobbins (4), Will Van Buren (5) and Kody Ricken; Luke Yacinich and Hunter Simpson. W–Yacinich (4-0). L–Duff (0-2). 2B–DC: Adam Brauch, Nate Steenblock, Charlie Johnson. HR–DC: Johnson (1). LOB–MHS 4, DC 7.

Game Two

Marshalltown 1,

Dowling Catholic 0

MHS 000 100 0 — 1 3 3

DOWLING 000 000 0 — 0 4 0

Joseph Harris, Wade Canaday (7) and Van Buren; Carter Baumler and Simpson. W–Harris (2-1). L–Baumler (2-1). Sv–Canaday (2). LOB–MHS 2, DC 9.

Newsletter

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *
   

Starting at $4.38/week.

Subscribe Today