Iowa Mennonite School kept their baseball hot streak ali…

By Sports

Win three in a row during week

Iowa Mennonite School kept their baseball hot streak alive, winning three games last week. The three wins upped their winning streak to six games going into a home doubleheader with Winfield-Mount Union Tuesday.

The Maroon and Black started their week with a sweep of Columbus Junction last Tuesday. A rally in the late innings of game two highlighted the sweep.

IMS scored 11 runs in game two over the final four innings for an 11-7 win. Columbus had led 7-4 heading into the bottom of the fourth.

IMS’ offense was once again in high gear in the nightcap. Senior Zach Grimm was at the forefront as he went four for four, scored twice, stole five bases and drove home a run.

Other offensive stars in game two for IMS were Ryan Schrock - two for four with two RBI’s; Doug Hochstedler - two for three with a double and an RBI; Jace Bailey - two for four with a double and two RBI’s and Durrell Bontrager - one for three with an RBI and two runs scored.

The opener was just as wild. Columbus held a 3-2 lead after an inning and a half, IMS rallied back for a 7-3 lead with five runs in the bottom of the third, the Wildcats came back with three in the top of the fourth to make it 7-6 and the Maroon and Black finished the game with a single run in the fourth and three in the fifth for an 11-6 win.

Doubles were wild in the opener for IMS as well. Grimm, Chuck Miller, Bailey and Tim Yoder all had two-baggers.

Grimm wrapped up a sensational twinbill at the plate, going three for four with a double, an RBI, scoring three times and stealing four bases. Miller finished three for four with a double, three RBI’s, two runs scored and two stolen bases, while Bailey ended the opener two for three with an RBI and scored once.

Miller picked up the game one pitching victory to improve to 3-4 on the season. Clint Miller came on in relief of Bailey in game two to record his second win against no losses.

West Branch

The Maroon and Black ended the week 3-0 with a wild 10-9, eight-inning decision over the Bears at home last Thursday.

West Branch held two four-run leads in the game, but IMS rallied. The brunt of their rally came in the fourth as they tied the game 6-6 with four runs.

Bontrager and Nolan Yoder led off the inning with back-to-back singles, while Schrock, Chuck Miller, and Bailey all drove in runs. Miller had a double, while Bailey drove in the final two with a “seeing-eye” single just past the glove of West Branch first baseman Eric Kabela.

The Bears answered back with three in the fifth as Luke Murphy drilled a two-run double to highlight the rally. IMS managed to send the game into extra innings with a three-spot of their own in the bottom of the sixth.

The Maroon and Black loaded the bases with one out. From there, Bailey drove home a run with an infield single, Justin Slaubaugh added another with an RBI ground out and the final run of the inning scored on an error on the throw following Slaubaugh’s ground ball.

Grimm set up the game-winning run in the eighth. He singled with one out, stole second and third and scored on another Slaubaugh ground ball. Clint Miller was the winning pitcher, pitching three-plus solid innings.

IMS’ JV rolled to a 12-3 win. A six-run third inning rally got the Maroon and Black going.

Nolan Yoder pitched a complete game for the win. He also drove in two runs and singled.

Renfred Miller finished the game with two RBI’s and a single, while Bailey went one for two with a double and scored. Clint Miller, Kenton Miller and Rylan Miller all scored twice in the game.

IMS’ JV hosted Pekin of Packwood Monday.