BASEBALL

Hawks Score Big Win Over League Leader

East Greene picked up a big win at Panora 8-4 on Tuesday night, June 16, knocking the Panorama Panthers out of first place in the West Central Conference.

The Hawks have now won three straight and four of their last five, moving their season record to 6-3.

Not only did the win knock Panorama off the top of the league standings, but it moved the Hawks up from seventh place to fourth place, where they are tied with Van Meter at 4-2. Josh Neese and Jesse Luther each hit home runs to lead the Hawks at the plate. Tyler Cooklin held the Panthers in check, giving up 8 runs, 3 walks and striking out 3.

EG was up 8-0 and held off a surge by Panorama in the bottom of the seventh, with Brock Lyons coming in to relieve Cooklin after the Panthers had notched four runs. Lyons got the last out, striking out the batter with the bases loaded.

On Monday night, the Hawks took care of Glidden-Ralston 12-2 in a game shortened to six innings. Last week the Hawks beat Guthrie Center on Monday 11-4, fell to Coon Rapids-Bayard 5-1 on Tuesday but came back for a win over West Central Valley 9-2 on Thursday.

Against G-R, the Hawks pounded out 12 hits led by Cooklin going 3 for 4 with 2 singles, a double and 2 RBIs. Bradley Clark was 2 for 3 with a single and a double, and Neese went 3 for 4 with a double and 2 singles. Aaron Lyons had 3 RBIs off his single hit in two trips to the plate.

Wes Onken got the win for EG, giving up just 2 runs, 1 walk and striking out 8 Wildcat batters. The Hawks had a great night offensively and defensively with 8 stolen bases and just 1 error.

The West Central Valley game saw the Hawks pile up 13 hits, 10 stolen bases and no errors. Jesse Priest was 3 for 3 with 3 singles and 3 stolen bases. Onken got the win with Brock Lyons relieving him in the final inning.

West Central Conference Standings:
Earlham 5-1
Panorama 6-2
Des Moines Christian 6-2
East Greene 4-2
Van Meter 4-2
Madrid 5-3
Coon Rapids-Bayard 4-3
Glidden-Ralston 1-7
West Central Valley 1-6
Guthrie Center 0-8


SCOREBOARD
Wednesday, June 17:
DMC 3, MAD 2
Non-conference
CRB 10, Walnut 0
Carlisle 15, WCV 0
Martensdale-St. Mary’s 6, VM 3

Tuesday, June 16:
EG 8, PAN 4
WCV 12, GC 9
EAR 10, GR 0
CRB @ VM, ppd. to July 10
MAD @ DMC, ppd to Wed, June 17

Monday, June 15:
EG 12, GR 2
EAR 5, VM 2
CRB 9, WCV 0
DMC 6, PAN 4
MAD 5, GC 1

EYE ON GJ SAYS:

This is a big win for the Hawks and really tightens up the conference race. Any of the top seven teams in the league have a shot at the WC crown. Panorama, DMC and Madrid have a slight advantage at this juncture as they have played eight league games, while Earlham, EG and Van Meter have played just six. CRB may be 4-3 and in seventh place, but they’ve got a great baseball heritage, talented players and a veteran coach. Look for CRB to also shine in the post-season as they host both district and substate baseball tournaments.

EG is truly showing its mettle against the area “big schools.” West Central Valley, Panorama and Jefferson-Scranton are the three largest schools (all in Class 2A) on the Hawks’ baseball and Hawkettes’ softball schedules this season. Enrollment-wise, EG is the smallest of the 10 schools in the West Central, while non-conference foe J-S plays in various sports as either a 2A or 3A school. So far, the Hawks are 3-0 against these “Big Three,” downing J-S, West Central Valley and Panorama. The Hawkettes are 2-2, losing in league play to WCV and Panorama in Grand Junction, but beating Panorama down in Panora and downing J-S in a tournament in Ogden. Combined score: EG 5, BIG THREE 2. Small in numbers, but certainly not in heart and talent!