Ranked Indians Go 5-1 in Opening Week

Oskaloosa’s Peyton Crouse in action this past week against Ottumwa.

by Wade Steinlage

The Oskaloosa Indian baseball team got the 2017 season off to a spectacular start.

The Indians, who went 24-11 last summer, have earned the preseason ranking of #7 in Class 3A, and are on a mission to prove that is more than deserving.

Oskaloosa (5-1) began its summer by sweeping Knoxville Tuesday, 5-1 and 10-3. The Indians then split with Class 4A Ottumwa Wednesday, falling 3-0 before winning 3-2.

On Thursday, OHS pounded Class 1A #8 Martensdale-St. Mary’s 16-2. The squad finished the week with a 14-10 win over Winterset Friday.

Oskaloosa 5, Knoxville 1

The Indians opened the campaign with one run in the first inning, but the Panthers answered with one of their own in the third.

Oskaloosa recaptured the lead with two in the fourth frame and added a pair of insurance runs in the fifth.

OHS posted a 7-2 edge in hits. Nick Harrington led the offense by going 3-for-3, while Seth Sarver tallied two RBIs. Tyler Miller and Bennett Spry, who walked twice, were both busy on the basepaths with two stolen bases each.

Rian Yates was strong in the start, permitting just one unearned run on one hit in five innings for the win. He managed three strikeouts and three walks. Charlie Bandstra also only gave up one base knock in two relief frames; he struck out one and walked two.

Oskaloosa 10, Knoxville 3

Oskaloosa completed the sweep with a four-run third that was complemented by a five-run fourth. The victors tallied a 10-6 mark in hits with Spry, Ethan Arnold (both doubles), and Tucker Nunnikhoven all producing two hits.

Spry, Tanner DeKock, and Cole Kraber all rounded the pads two times, while Spry and Blake Van Veldhuizen drove in two runs each. Nunnikhoven sprinted to a pair of steals.

Sarver’s 4 2/3-inning effort included permitting only two runs (one earned) on two hits. He struck out two and also walked two. Alex DeJong worked 2 1/3 frames out of the bullpen and allowed one earned run on four hits; he sat down three batters on strikes and walked a pair as well.

Ottumwa 3, Oskaloosa 0

The Indians, who were hosting their home opener, were shut out in the pitcher’s duel, being outhit 6-4. The Bulldogs produced all three of the game’s runs in the sixth frame.

Sarver tallied the lone extra-base hit with a double, while Peyton Crouse was saddled with the loss. He tossed 5 2/3 innings, allowing three runs (all earned) on five hits. Crouse had one K and one BB. Spry gave up one hit and struck out one in 1 1/3 relief innings.

Oskaloosa 3, Ottumwa 2

Ottumwa scored first in the nightcap, but Oskaloosa claimed its first advantage with a two-run third and then managed one more tally in the fourth. The visitors cut the margin in half in the seventh, but Spry held on and only gave up the one unearned run for the save (one K, two BBs).

The hosts, who outhit the Bulldogs 8-6, were guided by Sarver who had a double and a solo home run as part of a 2-for-3 effort that included two runs scored.

Arnold was 2-for-2, while Crouse was also 2-for-3. Harrington did not go the distance, but was more than competent as he permitted one earned run on six hits in six innings. He posted six strikeouts and one walk.

Oskaloosa 16, Martensdale-St. Mary’s 2

The final score would suggest this one was never close, but the Indians actually needed a run in the top of the fifth to knot the score at 2-2. OHS would then find its stroke in the last two frames, putting eight on the board in the sixth and six more in the seventh.

The Indians racked up 18 hits, while limiting the home team to only three. Harrington was 4-for-5, while Arnold finished 3-for-5. DeJong, Spry, Blake Van Veldhuizen, and Miller contributed two base knocks each as well. Arnold and Van Veldhuizen both cleared the fence in the win.

DeJong and Arnold drove in four RBIs apiece, while Miller (3) and Noah Van Veldhuizen (2) managed multiple RBIs as well. Helped by three stolen bases, Sarver converted three walks into four runs, while DeJong, Arnold, Nunnikhoven, and Miller all rounded the pads twice. Casey Hill and Tyler Miller stole a pair of bases as well.

A trio of hurlers combined to shut down Martensdale-St. Mary’s Thursday, led by starter Miller who struck out five with one walk in three innings. Bandstra had a strikeout against two walks in the following three frames, while Noah Van Veldhuizen struck out the side in a scoreless seventh.

Oskaloosa 14, Winterset 10

The teams combined for 29 total hits, including 17 by Oskaloosa. The Indians pulled out to a 10-1 lead after the top of the sixth, but had to hold off a strong Winterset rally that included five runs in the seventh.

Miller and DeJong topped OHS with three hits each; DeJong scored three times and also stole three bases, while Miller scored twice.

Arnold, Crouse, Nunnikhoven, and Bandstra all reached base twice via hits. Arnold and Nunnikhoven matched DeJong with three base thefts, while Arnold also scored three times. Three RBIs were produced by Arnold as well, while two came from the trio of Crouse, Sarver, and Bandstra.

Sarver had the best showing of the four Indian pitchers who drew work. He allowed only one earned run on four hits in 4 1/3 innings (one K, one BB).

Next Up: Oskaloosa returns home Wednesday, hosting Grinnell in Little Hawkeye Conference action at 7:30 p.m.

Posted by on May 28 2017. Filed under Local News, School Activities. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

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