Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

IOWA CITY – After an impressive offensive start to the season Regina found itself in the possible early stages of a slump after being no-hit in the second game of a double header sweep at the hands of top-ranked Wilton last week.

It was nothing a little hard work couldn’t fix.

Regina continued its red-hot hitting on Friday banging out 21 hits and scoring 18 runs in a non-conference doubleheader sweep of Clear Creek Amana at Duane Banks Field in Iowa City.

“Ever since that Wilton game we’ve gone back to work,” Regina coach Jeff Pacha said. “We did two-a-days that week and ever since we’ve been very locked in just understanding how good we can be and proving it to ourselves.”

Class 2A No. 10 Regina had four extra base hits and scored in every inning but the third while winning an 11-7 slugfest in the opener and completed the sweep with a 7-4 win in the nightcap.

Regina improved to 14-5 with the sweep and has won seven of eight games since being swept by Wilton on June 5 and is averaging better than 10 runs per game during that stretch.

“Taking those two losses kind of hurt,” Regina junior Blake Berns said. “That’s been a really big motivator, that’s for sure.”

Motivation has only been part of the equation for offensive success for Regina.

After scratching out just six hits in 14 innings against Wilton the Regals made a few changes, starting with their approach at the plate.

The results have come quickly.

Regina has scored 83 runs and had 86 hits in eight games since the Wilton doubleheader, scoring double digit runs in five of those games.

The Regals posted double digit runs three times in their first 11 games.

“After that game we decided we needed to change things around,” Berns said of the second game against Wilton “We changed our mental approach and I think we are a lot more confident at the plate.”

Regina put that confidence on display on Friday.

Playing at spacious Banks Field the Regals had five doubles and junior Ryne Schooley had a triple in each game.

 “We did a really good job of staying short and not trying to get lift on it,” Pacha said. “That was evident as we sprayed some gaps and we hit the ball hard.”

Regina scored three runs in the sixth inning to break open a tie game in the opener, holding on for an 11-7 win.

Five different Regina players had two hits in the opener led by junior Trent Hoogerwerf who double twice and drove in a run while Ryan Schott and Mitchell Gahan each had two hits and two RBI.

The nightcap was all Regals as Regina scored the first seven runs, all coming in the first four innings.

“You always like to get up on a team early,” Hoogerwerf said. “That always helps the energy in the dugout so that was big.”

Berns had an RBI double to center field and Schooley a run-scoring triple down the right field line in a three-run Regina first inning.

A sacrifice fly by Berns plated a run in the second and Gahan had an RBI double in a two-run Regal third.

“It all builds off of confidence and our energy in the dugout,” Hoogerwerf said. “When everyone is up we are a hard team to beat when we hit the ball.”

The early cushion was enough for Regina starter Nick Brandt who tossed six strong innings to earn the win.

Brand allowed one run on six hits while striking out two and walking two.

Clear Creek Amana dropped to 6-12 with its fifth loss of the week to a ranked opponent.

Tyler Hallett went 3-for-3 with a triple and three RBI to lead Clear Creek Amana in game two.

“It’s been tough, we’ve been playing with some really good teams over the last week, Regina is ranked, Solon is ranked Vinton is ranked,” Clear Creek Amana coach Brent Henry said. “Over the past 10 days we have seen some outstanding clubs and the record doesn’t show it but I am really pleased with where we are at.”

 

Game 1

Regina                        410  113  1  –  11 12  3

Clear Creek Amana  310  030  0  –   7  10  4

W – Masen Miller       L – David Jensen

2B – ICR: Trent Hoogerwerf (2), Mitchell Gahan. CCA: TJ Bollers, Camden Smyka.

3B – ICR: Ryne Schooley.

Game 2

Regina                        312  100  0  –  7  9  1

Clear Creek Amana  000  100  3  –  4  9  2

W – Nick Brandt        L – Donovan Wildman  

2B – ICR: Mitchell Gahan, Blake Berns,

3B – ICR: Ryne Schooley. CCA: Tyler Hallett