Oskaloosa Claims Three Wins After Setbacks to Other Indians

Oskaloosa’s Alex DeJong slides home against Indianola on Monday night.

by Wade Steinlage

Following a pair of tough losses to league-leading Indianola, the Indian baseball team rallied together to win three Little Hawkeye Conference games last week.

Oskaloosa (13-7, 8-4 LHC) fell twice to Indianola last Monday, 7-3 and 7-1. The squad then responded with a 7-5 victory over Pella Christian Wednesday before sweeping Grinnell Friday, 12-3 and 10-1.

Indianola 7, Oskaloosa 3

OHS entered Monday’s twinbill against the eighth-ranked team from Class 4A with dreams of taking over the LHC lead with a pair of wins, but unfortunately the dream was dashed.

Both sides scored once in the third inning, but the visiting Indians of Indianola pulled away in the latter half of the contest with four runs in the fifth and two more in the sixth. Indianola outhit Oskaloosa just 9-8.

OHS attempted to do the impossible in the seventh, but could only put two on the board.

Tucker Nunnikhoven, Nick Harrington, and Seth Sarver (double) all tallied two hits in the opener. Sarver drove in two runs as well

Harrington pitched the first 4 1/3 frames, while Blake Van Veldhuizen (2 IP) and Noah Van Veldhuizen (2/3 IP) entered out of the bullpen as well.

Indianola 7, Oskaloosa 1

The nightcap was a near mirror image of the first matchup. Indianola scored once in the top of the second and Oskaloosa answered in the bottom half. Unfortunately IHS recorded another big inning with six runs in the fourth to complete the sweep.

The hosts owned a 7-4 edge in base knocks, but had issues in the field as three of Indianola’s runs came across unearned.

Blake Van Veldhuizen and Bennett Spry produced a pair of hits each. Peyton Crouse was saddled with the loss in a four-inning effort (one strikeout, one walk), while Tyler Miller kept his crew close by tossing three shutout frames of relief (three Ks, three BBs).

Oskaloosa 7, Pella Christian 5

Oskaloosa hit the road Wednesday and nearly added to its losing streak, but a four-run seventh-inning allowed the maroon and white to steal the win. The game was tied at 2-2 after the top of the third, but the Eagles claimed the edge with two in the bottom of the third.

OHS cut the deficit in half in the fifth, but still needed some magic in its final at-bat to take down PC.

Miller tallied three of Oskaloosa’s nine hits (9-8 edge for OHS), while Nunninkhoven and Sarver (two doubles) were good for two each as well. Sarver touched home plate on three occasions, while Miller drove in a trio of scores. Spry was a more quiet factor with one hit, two walks, and two stolen bases; he had one run and one RBI as well.

Rian Yates almost went the distance, throwing 6 1/3 innings with two strikeouts and one walk. Noah Van Veldhuizen earned the save with a pair of strikeouts in the final frame.

Oskaloosa 12, Grinnell 3

The Indians scored in five separate innings in the opener, including putting multiple runs across four times. The second, fourth, and fifth innings were OHS’ best with three runs each.

Highlighting a 16-6 advantage in hits was Nunnikhoven’s three-hit performance. Miller, Spry, Harrington (two doubles), Blake Van Veldhuizen, and Ethan Arnold each recorded two hits apiece as well.

Nunnikhoven also rounded the pads, doing so three times, while Miller and Sarver each accomplished the feat twice. Spry batted in three of his teammates, while Miller, Blake Van Veldhuizen, and Alex DeJong were all good for two RBIs.

Harrington (three Ks, three BBs in 3 2/3 IP) started the game, but Charlie Bandstra had the more efficient effort as he shut out the Tigers on just two hits over 3 1/3 innings. Bandstra struck out five and walked three.

Oskaloosa 10, Grinnell 1

The Indians did not let up in the nightcap as the only thing that could slow down OHS was the weather.

Oskaloosa scored all of its runs in the first four frames, including five in the second, but Mother Nature intervened on Grinnell’s behalf and the game was called after five innings. Rain kept Sarver from going the distance, but also secured a no-hitter for the senior. He walked one batter (two strikeouts), but did not allow a base knock in the victory. Grinnell scored its lone run in the first inning.

On the flip side, OHS pounded Tiger pitching for 12 hits, including three each by Nunnikhoven (all doubles) and Spry (two triples); Crouse contributed two hits as well. Nunnikhoven touched home plate on three occasions, while Miller and Spry did so twice.

Spry batted in a trio of Indians and Miller drove in two.

Next Up: Oskaloosa returns home to host Dallas Center-Grimes in a single LHC game at 7:30 p.m.

Posted by on Jun 18 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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