Oskaloosa Baseball Avenges Loss to Close Out Week
Tyler Miller hits the brakes at 3rd base against Grinnell. (photo by Tasha Janssen)
by Wade Steinlage
The Oskaloosa Indians baseball team took on strong opposition this week, but came out stronger, including owning a three-game winning streak.
Oskaloosa (11-5, 7-2 LHC) began it all on Monday with a 3-0 loss to Indianola. The squad bounced right back with a dominating 14-0 (5 innings) win over Pella Christian Wednesday and then swept Grinnell Friday by scores of 7-0 and 3-0.
Indianola 3, OHS 0
The Oskaloosa Indians were outhit just 6-5, but failed to bring anyone around. Unfortunately, the Indianola Indians, ranked #5 in Class 4A, were able to capitalize on their few chances, putting one on the board in the third and two more in the fifth.
OHS had a terrific opportunity in the third with runners at second and third with no outs, but could not tally a score.
Wyatt Krier produced two of Oskaloosa’s hits, while Nick Harrington had a double. Starting pitcher Tyler Miller struck out five in four frames.
Oskaloosa also trailed 5-4 in the top of the fifth inning of the nightcap before the game was suspended.
OHS 14, Pella Christian 0
The Indians struck right away with five runs in the first. They then tacked on six more in the third and wrapped it up with three additional tallies in the fourth.
A 16-1 hit margin was recorded by OHS with Tucker Nunnikhoven leading the way with a 3-for-3 performance, including two doubles. Krier, Miller, Keaton DeKock, and Alex Dejong all reached with two base knocks as well. Harrington also hit a home run in the victory.
Five different players scored twice, including Krier, Nunnikhoven, Miller, Dejong, and Harrington, while Nunnikhoven tallied a game-high four RBIs. DeKock and Harrington finished with two RBIs as well.
Rian Yates tallied five strikeouts in three no-hit frames, while Krier had two Ks in relief.
OHS 7, Grinnell 0
Oskaloosa dropped a 5-0 decision to the Tigers two weeks ago, but avenged that setback with a pair of shutouts of its own.
Grinnell, which is #7 in Class 3A, committed four errors, but the Indians really did not need the help with a 10-2 edge in hits.
The hosts scored once in both the second and third frames and then put it out of reach with two in the fifth and three more in the sixth.
Krier had a big game, going 3-for-4, while Harrington produced two hits as well (both doubles). Miller had just one base knock, but it was a home run, and he also scored three times in the victory.
Yates dominated with three strikeouts against two walks in 5 1/3 frames.
OHS 3, Grinnell 0
OHS produced another wide margin in hits at 9-2, but runs were harder to come by as it only scored one run in the first, fifth, and sixth innings.
Krier put Oskaloosa on the board with a single. He then stole second base and was driven home on a DeKock single.
With his team already up 2-0, Noah Van Veldhuizen had the biggest shot of the day, doubling home pinchrunner Wyatt Schultz with the day’s final run.
Krier and DeKock blazed the trail with two hits apiece. Harrington struck out a half dozen batters (one walk) in six innings of action. Miller notched the save with one strikeout and one walk in the seventh inning.
