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The
Official Newspaper of Anamosa, located in Jones County, Iowa
Anamosa News
Since 1855
 Thursday, June 21, 2007
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Raider baseball resolve leads to wins
By
Daryl Schepanski - Sports Editor |
ANAMOSA— The start to the Raider baseball week wasn’t exactly what coach Byron Schlotterback had hoped for, but the way his team closed it out posting wins over Mount Vernon, Ed-Co and North Cedar brought a smile to his face.
“This team showed a lot of resolve with the way they played after a rough start to the week against Maquoketa Valley,” said Schlotterback. “We had two close losses against the Wildcats and Alec Embree had a lot to deal with losing his grandfather. The team really wanted to respond for Alec and for themselves and I thought they did a great job of that.”
Anamosa (9-10, 4-5) traveled to Mount Vernon Wednesday, June 13, and against a powerful Mustang team, rallied for an impressive 13-11, nine-inning victory.
“We had an enormous day at the plate,” said Schlotterback. “Everyone in the line-up contributed something and our bats didn’t let us down. This should be a huge confidence booster game for us the rest of the way.”
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Second to none
Anamosa junior Brady Vaughn goes high for a throw while a Maquoketa Valley runner attempts to steal second-base Monday, June 11, during the Raiders’ 4-3 loss hosting the Wildcats. (Journal-Eureka photo by Daryl Schepanski) |
Mount Vernon scored four quick runs in the opening frame and led 4-1 entering the third when the Raider bats began to rumble.
Greg Vernon, Spencer Davis, Kaleb Kilburg and Brady Vaughn all crossed the plate in the third as Anamosa took a 5-4 lead.
The contest went back-and-forth with the Raiders taking a 9-7 into the sixth inning before the Mustangs answered with a two-run inning knotting the score and forcing extra frames.
“We wanted to play hard for Alec and win this one for him,” said Schlotterback. “The guys did a great job of that making play after play until we finally won it in the ninth.”
Anamosa made several sensational plays defensively including throwing out the what would have been the winning Mustang run at the plate in the eighth inning.
The ninth saw Anamosa break loose scoring four times as Tucker Vondracek, Nate Vaughn, Greg Vernon and Davis all scored giving the visitors a 13-9 lead. Mount Vernon answered in their half of the frame scoring twice before squashing the rally and leaving town with the impressive two-run victory.
“Jordan Alderdyce threw out a Mount Vernon runner at the plate in the eighth and we won it in the ninth,” said Schlotterback. “This game had everything. Offense, defense and pitching.”
Stu Miller was solid on the hill for the Raiders working all nine innings allowing 11 Mount Vernon hits while striking out seven batters. |
Making the rounds
Anamosa freshman Kaleb Kilburg rounds third-base as coach Byron Schlotterback sends him home during the Raiders’ narrow 4-3 setback hosting Maquoketa Valley in the first game of a big Tri-Rivers Conference doubleheader Monday, June 11. (Journal-Eureka photo by Daryl Schepanski) |
Picking up the spare
Raider junior Kalib Seeley drives the baseball for the Anamosa baseball team during their narrow doubleheader setback hosting a talented Maquoketa Valley team Monday, June 11. (Journal-Eureka photo by Daryl Schepanski) |
“Stu gave is a gutsy effort on the mound,” said Schlotterback. “We knew we needed Stu to throw deep into this game but we didn’t know he’d go nine full innings. He gave us all he had.”
Anamosa was extremely aggressive on the bases stealing 13 in the contest while Brandon Kula ripped four hits and drove home four runs.
“This wasn’t exactly a perfect baseball game fundamentally,” said Schlotterback. “But I’m sure it was fun for fans to watch.”
The road show continued for the Raiders stepping back into Tri-Rivers baseball action at Ed-Co and in a contest called by darkness after five frames, Anamosa posted a 16-8 triumph. |
“We knew darkness was coming and the game was in doubt and the guys blew up in the fifth,” said Schlotterback. “It was a hot day and Brandon Kula battled for 3 1/3 innings. With the game tied in the fifth, we took control and ended any doubt that my have been left as to who was going to win.”
Anamosa led 8-3 in the fourth when the Vikings exploded for five runs to tie the score. The Raiders had the final say however as Vondracek, Nate Vaughn, Vernon, Kilburg, Nathan Kaufman, Kalib Seeley, Alderdyce and Davis all crossed the plate in the game-winning fifth frame.
Kaufman took over for Kula in the fourth and tossed the final 1 2/3 including working through a scoreless Ed-Co fifth before darkness settled in and forced the game to be called.
“We scraped across runs early in the game then blew up later,” said Schlotterback. “It was nice to get a conference win too.”
Alderdyce and Nate Vaughn led the 15-hit Raider offensive onslaught with three hits each while Kaufman picked up the pitching win fanning one Viking batter.
Anamosa made the trip to North Cedar Friday, June 15, and in a doubleheader with the Knights in Lowden, split the two game dropping the first 7-5 before rallying for an 11-8 triumph in the finale.
The Raiders jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the first game thanks to runs from Kula, Kaufman, Kilburg and Davis, but the Knights responded scoring seven of the game’s next eight runs using a big five-run third inning to take a lead with all of the runs coming off Raider errors.
Two more North Cedar runs in the fifth sealed Anamosa’s fate in the two-run defeat.
‘Kalib threw a nice game and deserved a better fate,” said Schlotterback. “He only gave up two earned runs. I was proud of the way he pitched and battled.”
Anamosa bats tallied 10 hits led by Nate Vaughn, Kaufman and Embree.
“We out-hit them 10-6 but also made four errors to their one,” said Schlotterback. “That one bad inning in the third did us in and cost us this win.”
The second game saw Raider bats continue to roll pounding out 13 hits in an 11-8 victory over the Knights.
“This time we took advantage of some of the mistakes they made,” said Schlotterback. “Greg Vernon stepped up and gave us some innings we sorely needed on the mound.”
North Cedar led 2-0 before Anamosa exploded for five runs in the third then added another five in the fourth taking a 10-3 lead.
North Cedar began chipping away at the big Anamosa lead but with Vernon throwing two scoreless innings at the Knights in the sixth and seventh innings, the Raiders had enough to hang on for the three-run triumph.
Vernon not only keyed the win from the hill working all seven innings fanning eight batters, but also drilled a solo home run leading a 13-hit offense with three hits.
Kaufman, Seeley, Embree and Alderdyce all added two hits each to the Anamosa offensive effort.
The week began for the Raiders in a big Tri-Rivers Conference tilt hosting Maquoketa Valley Monday, June 11, and in the first game came out on the short end of a tight 4-3 contest.
“We feel like if we give up only four runs in a game, we should win,” said Schlotterback. “We have enough confidence in our offense to score five runs a game and our offense just let Kaufman down in this one. He pitched well enough to win but we just couldn’t get the big hit.”
The Raiders led 1-0 after Nate Vaughn scored in the fourth but a four-run Wildcat fifth frame was all the visitors needed to post the triumph.
Kaufman worked seven innings and allowed just three earned runs while striking out four batters.
“We tried rallying in the seventh but came up just short,” said Schlotterback after his team scored twice in the final frame. “We had the tying run on but couldn’t get him home.”
The second game saw yet another tight one-run Raider loss.
Anamosa led 3-2 after Kaufman, Seeley and Embree scored in the second inning and took a 4-2 lead after a Davis run in the fourth. A three-run Maquoketa Valley fifth frame was enough for the visitors to leave town with the doubleheader sweep.
“Alec battled and gave us a great effort on the mound,” said Schlotterback. “Our pitching gave us a chance to win, it just didn’t happen.”
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Raiders blank Tri-Rivers foes
By
Daryl Schepanski - Sports Editor |
ANAMOSA— Feeling the full force of a Raider softball team that is gaining more and more confidence as the season moves along, Tri-Rivers Conference foes Center Point-Urbana and Central City could do nothing against not only a sensational Anamosa pitching effort, but outstanding offense and defense as well.
“It’s all coming together,” said Anamosa softball coach Rick Delagardelle after his team blanked Center Point-Urbana in a doubleheader Monday, June 11, then did the same to the Wildcats Wednesday, June 13. “Defensively we look very sharp with very few mental errors and offensively we are getting some timely hits and taking advantage of the mistakes the other team gives us.”
Anamosa (10-7, 6-2) was very impressive against the Pointers rolling to a 7-0 triumph in the first game before blanking Center Point-Urbana again in the second game 6-0.
“I was a little worried about this doubleheader,” said Delagardelle. “I didn’t know how we’d handle the success we had at our tournament and this was our first opponent since we won our championship two days earlier. I wondered how we’d react. I had nothing to worry about.”
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Eye for the softball
Anamosa junior Dakota Ahrendsen keeps a close eye on this Center Point-Urbana high fastball during the Raiders’ 7-0 victory in the first game of a doubleheader hosting the Pointers Monday, June 11. Anamosa swept past CP-U and Central City in a perfect Tri-Rivers Conference week. (Journal-Eureka photo by Daryl Schepanski) |
The Raiders plated two first inning runs when Cammy Dole and Kellie Vaughn crossed the plate.
Anamosa broke the game wide open in the third scoring five times with the benefit of just two hits as Vaughn, Kayla Sanborn, Dakota Ahrendsen, Maisie Timp and Traci Dirks all crossed the plate.
In the win the Raiders tallied just three hits, with Sanborn ripping two, but they took advantage of seven Pointer errors and also worked seven walks in the triumph.
Mallory Lacy was dominate tossing a three-hitter fanning eight Center Point-Urbana batters in the pitchers’ circle.
The second game again saw Anamosa jump out quickly scoring twice in the first frame before adding two-run innings in the third and fifth to cruise to a 6-0 shutout victory.
Timely hits and Pointer errors keyed the Raider offense as Ryann Pratt picked up the pitching triumph tossing the final five frames of shutout softball striking out four batters.
“We were patient at the plate in both games,” said Delagardelle. “I think the girls really understand it’s one pitch at a time and one walk at a time. |
Throwing zeros
Raider sophomore Ryann Pratt blazes in a fastball during Anamosa’s impressive 6-0 blanking of Center Point-Urbana Monday, June 11. (Journal-Eureka photo by Daryl Schepanski) |
They don’t take any extra baggage to the plate and every at-bat is a new one. With that approach, the girls are staying focused each time up there and working the counts and finding the right pitch to hit.”
It was more of the same at Central City Wednesday, as Anamosa rolled to a 12-0 blowout triumph over the Wildcats using a huge seven-run first inning as their springboard.
“Traci really got us going with her big bomb in the first inning,” said Delagardelle. “The girls have been working so hard on their fundamentals and are understanding you don’t have swing the bat hard to hit the ball hard. This was an impressive offensive performance.”
Dirks hit the ball very hard launching a grand slam in the first inning for her first career home run.
When the ball cleared the fence, Ahrendsen, Sanborn and Vaughn all crossed the plate in front of Dirks and the Raiders quickly had a 5-0 lead.
Lindsey Bildstein and Lacy also scored in the opening inning as the Raiders took control quickly against Central City.
“It’s not every game you get to see a grand slam,” said Delagardelle. “The girls were really excited for her too. Traci doesn’t take a big swing but she’s so fundamentally sound with her swing.”
The Raiders went scoreless until the fifth when they added another run before a single run in the sixth handed the visitors a 9-0 lead.
A three-run seventh ended the scoring as Vaughn, Sanborn and Timp all crossed the plate.
Anamosa bats ripped 10 hits led by Dole and Dirks with two hits each as eight of the nine Raider batters tallied hits.
Lacy was phenomenal fanning 11 Wildcats batters in tossing a three-hit shutout in the pitchers’ circle.
The second game again saw the Raiders score early and often plating two first inning runs before exploding for 10 runs in the second taking a 12-0 lead.
After Dirks and Kelly Colehour scored in the third inning, the game ended with the 12-run rule victory for the Raiders as Pratt completely baffled Wildcat batters throwing a one-hitter fanning four in picking up the pitching victory.
“When you score 26 runs in 10 innings, it’s pretty easy to say the girls stayed focused,” said Delagardelle. “We scored early and never lost focus in both games and it would have been easy to do that.”
Vaughn ripped three hits to lead the nine-hit offense for the visitors.
Anamosa made the trip across the state to compete at the Dallas Center-Grimes tournament Saturday, June 16, and in the opener against a powerful Woodward-Granger team, gave the perennial softball powerhouse program all they could handle before succumbing to a 3-2 defeat.
“We opened pool play with Woodward-Granger and played a good ballgame,” said Delagardelle.
“We were up 2-0 in the fifth and proved we could play with them. As the game went along, the girls just kept believing they could win and almost got it done.”
Sanborn scored in the opening inning for the Raiders who were the visiting team on the scoreboard after an Ahrendsen RBI double.
The score stayed the same until the fifth when Vaughn singled and scored thanks to a Hawk error.
Woodward-Granger knotted the score in their half of the fifth before scoring the game-winning run in the sixth.
“We had our chances,” said Delagardelle. “We left nine runners on base. This was a very evenly matched game all the way through. Both teams had about the same number of hits and errors, but we left more runners on base and in the end, that proved to be the difference.”
Vaughn led the six-hit Raider offense with a pair of singles while Lacy tossed a gem allowing just five Hawk hits while fanning six batters in working all seven innings in the pitchers’ circle.
The Raiders tangled with Van Meter next and in a contest that was all Anamosa from the start, rolled to a 16-0, five-inning blowout.
“Van Meter is a very young team and our girls took charge right away,” said Delagardelle. “The momentum kept building for us and we kept hitting the ball hard. We took care of business and kept attacking all game long.”
After a scoreless first frame, Anamosa plated two second inning runs when Dirks and Lindsey Bildstein scored.
The Raiders blew the game wide open in the third scoring nine times with Dole, Sanborn (twice), Ahrendsen, Timp, Dirks, Lauren Herren, Lindsey Bildstein and Pratt all crossing the plate.
Leading 11-0, Anamosa added five more runs in the fifth and final frame.
“Our bats were going all game long,” said Delagardelle. “It was hot outside, but our offense was even hotter.”
Raider bats tallied a whopping 19 hits in the five inning contest with Sanborn rapping four hits.
Timp and Dirks added three hits each. Ahrendsen, Chelsey Bildstein and Lindsey Bildstein all came through with two hits as well.
Pratt was the beneficiary of all the offense tossing all five frames in the pitchers’ circle working a three-hitter.
After going 1-1 in pool play, Anamosa was matched up with No. 14 ranked Pekin, the champion of pool 3, and against a very talented Panther squad the Raiders battled before succumbing to a 5-3 defeat.
“It was very hot and Pekin had a longer break than we did,” said Delagardelle. “I’m not saying that made a difference in the outcome, but we didn’t have quite the energy they did early on.”
And it was early on when Pekin did most of their scoring plating two runs in each of the first two frames taking as 4-0 lead.
Ahrendsen scored in the fourth inning to get the Raiders on the board then Anamosa added two runs in the sixth to close to within a run at 4-3 before a Panther run in the bottom of the sixth sealed the win.
Lacy pitched well for the Raiders firing five frames fanning five Pekin batters while allowing just six hits in the narrow two-run loss. |
Williams silences East Central bats
By
Daryl Schepanski - Sports Editor |
WYOMING — Little did the Midland baseball team know the two runs they scored in the very first inning hosting East Central Thursday, June 14, was more than they would need with Riley Williams working the mound for the Eagles.
Williams silenced Raider bats all game long recording a rare no-hitter while fanning two batters in Midland’s impressive 6-0 rout.
“It all starts on the mound and Riley pitched a gem,” said Eagle baseball coach Josh Soper after Williams completely dominated the contest in the shutout triumph. “It’s a special moment when a pitcher goes out and pitches a no-hitter. He had a pretty solid defense all night long and coach Westhoff called a good game.”
The Raiders only had five base runners in the seven inning contest working four walks while the Midland defense committed just a single error.
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Off with the pitch
Eagle Jed Holland breaks for second-base as the Springville pitcher strides home Friday, June 15, during Midland’s 11-9 setback hosting the Orioles. (Journal-Eureka photo by Daryl Schepanski) |
“Our outfield took away hits from East Central,” said Soper. “It’s really nice having basically three center fielders out there that can run, anticipate and throw like our guys can. Our infield defense was better tonight as well.”
Midland (5-9, 4-2) tallied two first inning runs when a Williams ground out scored Scott Willimack then Trevor Robinson doubled home Jed Holland for more than enough help for Williams on the hill.
The Eagles added another run in the fifth when Kolby Harms singled home Ryan Johnson, who was pinch running for Gene Ehlers.
A three-run sixth inning added even more insurance as Williams helped himself out with a two-run double that plated Jarred Stepp and Holland. Lucas Meyer pinch ran for Williams and scored when Adam Lasack singled.
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Barehand play
Midland’s Alex Paulsen makes a barehand play for the baseball in left field during the Eagles’ narrow 11-9 loss hosting Springville Friday, June 15. (Journal-Eureka photo by Daryl Schepanski) |
“Offensively we had some timely hits against their number one pitcher,” said Soper. “The middle of our line-up has really been hot. Tonight East Central pitched around Scott Willimack and Jed Holland late in the game but Riley and Trevor are hitters too and they both had big hits in key situations.”
Willimack and Holland paced the 11-hit Eagle offense ripping two hits each with Williams and Robinson each ripping doubles in the big win.
Midland hit the road traveling to Calamus-Wheatland Wedne
sday, June 13, using a powerful offensive attack to roll to a 10-4 rout of the Warriors.
“This was a total team win,” said Soper. “We pitched well, hit well and played better defensively.”
Calamus-Wheatland opened the scoring plating two first inning runs but the Eagles answered scoring the game’s next seven, including a huge six-run fourth frame that handed the visitors a 7-2 lead.
Willimack and Harms had two-run singles in the big inning while Williams launched a two-run home run.
The Eagles added three more runs in the fifth when Robinson drilled a three-run homer.
“All in all this was a nice win,” said Soper. “People may look at our record and this it’s not good, but five of our losses are against 3A and 4A schools. We like tough competition. and those games will make us better as the season rolls along. In the end, people will see that.”
Midland bats tallied a whopping 17 hits in the seven-run victory with Williams coming through with four while Robinson and Holland added three each.
Willimack worked the game from the hill tossing all seven frames allowing six hits and just two earned runs while fanning three Warrior batters.
The week began for the Eagles hosting Bellevue Monday, June 11, and in a contest that saw the hosts take a 4-3 lead into the fifth frame, would eventually succumb to a 7-5 defeat at the hands of the Comets.
“This was a tough loss,” said Soper. “Alex Paulsen went out and pitched really well. If he had gotten some better support from his defense, he would have had the win in this game instead of the loss.”
The Eagles tallied two-run frames in the first and second innings and held a precarious one-run lead heading into the fifth then Bellevue knotted the score with a single run.
The visitors took their first lead since the opening inning in the sixth scoring twice then added another run in the top of the seventh taking a 7-4 lead.
Midland attempted to make a seventh inning spurt as Willimack and Holland singled and Williams reached on an error. Willimack scored the only run in the frame on a passed ball for the hosts as the winning run was left on base.
“We had runners in position to win,” said Soper. “But we couldn’t get the timely hit at the end.”
The Eagles stepped out of Big East Conference action Friday, June 15, hosting Springville who upset Midland in an 11-9 final.
“It’s been a while since I’ve seen a game like this,” said Soper. “They came out and had seeing-eye singles one after another that dropped and we came out and hit the ball hard, but right at them.”
The Eagles led 7-5 into the sixth inning when the Orioles plated two runs to tie the score.
Midland came right back and captured the lead once again in the bottom of the sixth when a Williams triple plated Holland and a Robinson single scored Williams handing the hosts a 9-7 lead.
Springville battled back yet again however scoring four unearned runs in their final at-bat.
“Defensively we collapsed in the seventh inning,” said Soper. “That helped Springville score all four of their game-winning runs. We just needed a couple of more timely hits when we had runners in scoring position and we would have really piled on the runs. Unfortunately, we couldn’t do that.”
Stepp, Willimack, Holland, Williams and Robinson led the 11-hit offense for the hosts ripping two hits each.
Cody Dirks worked the game’s first five innings from the hill fanning three. |
Balanced attack leads to Eagle wins
By
Daryl Schepanski - Sports Editor |
Making the connection
Midland’s Sammi Jeffrey connects with the softball as the Eagles hosted and defeated Springville Friday, June 15. (Journal-Eureka photo by Daryl Schepanski) |
WYOMING — Displaying their all-around dominance on the softball diamond Thursday, June 14, Midland used a combination of powerful pitching, offense and defense to roll to a Big East Conference 8-0 rout hosting East Central.
“Our bats really came alive and we had a number of well-hit balls,” said Eagle softball coach Patrick Block after his club ripped a total of 13 hits in the contest while the pitching of Erika Lineburg held Raider bats to a mere two overall in the seven-inning game. “Erika pitched another fantastic game and got an errorless effort in the field from our defense.”
Midland (7-5, 4-2) scored everything they needed in the opening frame crossing the plate six times.
Caitlin Bisinger plated Amanda Hansen with a single to get things started for the hosts before Aubrey Walters drilled a two-run triple to the centerfield wall scoring Amy Burmeister and Bisinger.
Walters, Lineburg, Paige Paulsen and Shasta Eganhouse all crossed the plate as well in the dominating opening inning for the Eagles with Lineburg and Paulsen also adding triples in the inning.
Leading 6-0 in the fourth, Midland tacked on two more runs when a Walters triple scored Bisinger before a double by Katie Leonard plated Walters.
“We’re getting some consistency from throughout the lineup,” said Block. “And it looks as if we are really starting to believe in ourselves and each other. Aubrey and Caitlin continue to smash the softball and Amanda is doing everything a leadoff hitter is supposed to be doing.” |
Walters paced the 13-hit Midland offense with three hits including two triples and a double while Hansen, Bisinger and Paulsen all added two hits to the effort as well.
Lineburg was sensational in the pitchers’ circle fanning six East Central batters tossing the shutout.
The Eagles stepped out of Big East Conference action Friday, June 15, hosting Springville and using a big three-run third inning, held on for a 4-2 victory over the Orioles.
“This was one of our best-played games of the year,” said Block. “We are finally starting to believe we can beat almost any team we play against if we stay focused and determined every pitch.”
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Taking flight
Midland’s Katie Leonard throws out a Springville runner during the Eagles’ 4-2 victory in Wyoming Friday, June 15. (Journal-Eureka photo by Daryl Schepanski) |
Right on target
Midland catcher Aubrey Walters grabs an Erika Lineburg pitch during the Eagles’ impressive 4-2 triumph hosting the Orioles Friday, June 15. Walters played a key role in the triumph over visiting Springville ripping a pair of hits and driving home two runs for the hosts in the two-run victory. Overall the Midland team tallied eight hits while Lineburg held Oriole batters to a mere two. (Journal-Eureka photo by Daryl Schepanski) |
With Sammi Jeffrey, Hansen and Burmeister all on base, Bisinger drew a bases-loaded walk scoring Jeffrey in the third inning breaking the scoreless tie.
Walters then stepped to the plate and ripped a two-run single to right field scoring Hansen and Burmeister and the hosts had their 3-0 advantage.
Springville added a run in the top of the fourth, but the Eagles answered that with one of their own in the fifth when Bisinger drove home Burmeister with a one-out triple to left-center.
“Walters, Bisinger and Burmeister all came up with clutch hits to help seal our victory,” said Block. “Erika threw a very impressive game too allowing no earned runs and striking out six.”
Lineburg also limited a talented Springville team to just two hits. |
The week began for the Eagles hosting Bellevue Monday, June 11, and after taking a 3-0 lead over the Comets, held on for a narrow 3-2 Big East victory.
“Bellevue has had our number in the past and it’s nice to finally beat them,” said Block. “It was even more refreshing to see the girls go out and win a close game too.”
Walters keyed a two-run Midland first inning scoring Hansen and Bisinger with a two-run double.
Still holding that 2-0 lead into the fifth, a Walters groundout plated Hansen as the hosts led 3-0.
The Comets rallied scoring once in the sixth and again in the seventh, but clutch pitching by Lineburg and eight strikeouts of Bellevue batters keyed the one-run win.
Bisinger led the nine-hit Eagle offense with three hits.
Midland traveled to Calamus-Wheatland Wednesday, June 13, and after leading 4-0 through four frames, eventually succumbed to a wild 13-4 loss.
A seven-run Warrior fifth frame followed by a six-run sixth keyed the hosts to the win.
The Eagles out-hit the Warriors 13-8 but seven errors led to seven unearned Calamus-Wheatland runs. |
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