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Marshalltown doubles down on Waterloo East

T-R PHOTO BY ANNE VANCE - Marshalltown shortstop Dylan Eygabroad, center, snares a pick-off throw to second base as a Waterloo East baserunner dives back safely during Thursday’s non-conference baseball doubleheader in Marshalltown. The Bobcats won 10-0 and 10-3.

The Marshalltown baseball team returned to action for the first time in six days and shook off the resultant rust well enough to handle Waterloo East on Thursday night.

The Bobcats got a combined 18 hits of offense while starting pitchers Tate Kuehner and Wade Canaday struck out nine apiece to help MHS rack up wins of 10-0 and 10-3 over the Trojans.

Kuehner and reliever Joseph Harris teamed up to toss a no-hitter in the first game, a five-inning affair, as the duo struck out 11 and walked three in Marshalltown’s first game since defeating Newton last Friday.

The Bobcats (3-2) banged out nine hits in both games, highlighted by Canaday’s three-run home run in Marshalltown’s first at-bat of the night. The first five MHS hitters reached base as Kuehner and Dylan Eygabroad walked to set the table for Canaday who cleared it, and Harris and Will Van Buren followed with back-to-back singles. Marshalltown led 4-0 and never trailed in either game.

“It was great to finally get out and play, and nice to pick up a couple wins,” said MHS head coach Steve Hanson. “Our play was a bit rough around the edges, but not being on a field for a week will do that to you.”

Kuehner struck out nine and walked two in four innings of no-hit ball in the first game, and Harris struck out two and walked one in his inning of relief.

Van Buren went 3-for-3 with two doubles and two RBIs to lead Marshalltown’s hit parade. Canaday finished 2-for-2 with a double, a homer and four RBIs, and Harris was 2-for-3 with a double, an RBI and two runs scored.

In the nightcap, Canaday came through with nine strikes and three walks while allowing three hits in four innings as the Bobcat starter. Waterloo East (1-8) got its three runs against Blake Trowbridge in the fifth, while Harris struck out two in another inning of relief work.

“Tate and Wade were effective but not as efficient as we’ll need them,” said Hanson. “We made some nice defensive plays but also kicked some easy ones.”

Four of Marshalltown’s nine hits went for extra bases as Van Buren again led the way, finishing 2-for-3 with a double and four RBIs. He had an RBI single in the first and a two-run double to cap the Bobcats’ four-run fourth inning that put MHS ahead 10-0.

Kuehner was 2-for-4 with a triple and two runs scored at the top of the order, while Eygabroad and Harris both had a double for their only hits. Carson Williams added an RBI single in the Bobcats’ four-run third.

“We were able to do some things from a baserunning standpoint, but there’s always room for improvement,” said Hanson.

The Bobcats’ long layoff between games will be ramped up with next week’s seven-game schedule. Marshalltown hosts No. 3 Southeast Polk on Monday, Ottumwa on Wednesday, makes up its game at Cedar Rapids Kennedy next Thursday and travels for two at Des Moines North on June 7.

“We have a demanding schedule next week, and we’ll have to upgrade our performance to have a chance against those quality teams.”

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