Warhawks Advance to District Final
BUSSEY – Every head coach needs a positive and supportive assistant. North Mahaska’s Kevin Kelderman has that in Zach Anderson. Anderson said Tuesday night there was no way the Warhawks were going to lose to Twin Cedars. He was right as NM scored a 3-2 victory and advanced to the district final Saturday night.
“I just didn’t want to lose,” said Anderson after the game. “I just had a good feeling.”
It apparently was accurate. The victory avenges a 10-7 loss on the same field a month ago. Twin Cedars came into the contest with a 15-12 mark while NM was 11-14. But a solid mound appearance by starter Jack Kelderman and reliever Nolan Andersen gave the Warhawks the edge.
North Mahaska saw Twin Cedars get on the board in the bottom of the first inning on three hits. The Sabers managed just three more hits the remainder of the game. North Mahaska scored three in the top of the third when Carter Lake singled and stole second base. With one out, Nate Sampson singled and Lucas Nunnikhoven drove in Lake when he reached on an error. Andersen hit a double to bring home Sampson and Nunnikhoven. From that point it was a defensive game.
After that first inning we played a great defensive game,” said coach Kelderman. “Jack and Nolan shut them down for six innings.”
North Mahaska had six baserunners in the final four innings but could not plate them while Twin Cedars had five over the final six. The Warhawks were aggressive on the bases stealing five. The Warhawks had a runner thrown out at home and another caught in a dramatic rundown.
“We want to be aggressive,” said Kelderman. “I didn’t think three runs would be enough. It was a good win for us.”
Nunnikhoven and Andersen each had an RBI for North Mahaska. Kelderman hit two singles as did Sampson. Dane Van Mersbergen and Jaxon Vander Veer each singled.
Kelderman tossed six innings allowing two runs on six hits, two walks and four strikeouts. Andersen tossed the final frame with no hits, a walk and strikeout.
North Mahaska will travel to Sully on Saturday to take on South Iowa Cedar League champion Lynnville-Sully (24-3) at 7 p.m. The winner will advance to the substate final.
“We are going to have to play well,” said Kelderman. “The way Jack and Nolan pitched tonight we will have both of them available Saturday.”
