Pat Harty

Your Prep Sports

IOWA CITY – Jayden Kies has many of the qualities that you want in a lead-off hitter, and he used them at the expense of West Branch on Thursday.

Regina’s junior centerfielder had three hits, drove in three runs and stole a base to lead the Regals to a 14-4 victory over West Branch in the second game of a doubleheader at Regal Field. The game was stopped after 4 ½ innings because of the 10-run rule.

Regina also prevailed in the first game 4-2 behind the pitching of junior Nick Brandt, who scattered five hits and had six strikeouts while going the distance.

Kies also had a single in the first game and combined to get on base five times during the sweep, which improved Regina’s record to 21-7 overall and 13-2 in the River Valley Conference.

“He’s a rare talent,” Regina coach Jeff Pacha said of Kies, who transferred from West High. “He’s a true baseball guy. And anytime you have that kind of speed, that puts a threat on their fielders, that puts a threat on everybody.

“And the fact that now he’s starting to drive the ball just adds another element to his game as well.”

Kies entered Thursday’s doubleheader with a .392 on-base percentage and with a team-leading 19 stolen bases. He belted a double in his final plate appearance in the second game, to go along with two singles.

“I just try to get on base anyway I can,” Kies said. “Obviously, speed helps. If I can get a ball on the ground then I can just run my butt off and try to get on base and help the team.”

Regina had lots of players get on base in the second game, including six by walks and three by hit pitches. The Regals also had eight hits and just one strikeout in the second game.

Regina scored at least one run in every inning in the second game, including six in the second inning to erase a 3-2 deficit.

It was in contrast to the first game, which was tied at 2-2 until Regina rallied for two runs in the sixth. Evan Suchomel scored on a wild pitch to give Regina a 3-2 lead and then Ryne Schooley drove in the fourth and final run with a double.

The Regals showed good patience at the plate in the first game by forcing nine walks.

“We just need to be able to put it all together and have hitting and pitching in the same game, which we had at the end of the second game,” Kies said.

The Regals also had in Brandt a pitcher with impeccable control in the first game as he finished with no walks, much to the delight of his teammates.

“Everybody isn’t moping around and kicking dirt and stuff like that,” Kies said of when a pitcher consistently throws strikes.

Brandt entered Thursday’s game with a sparkling 1.87 earned-run average and improved his record to 5-1 on the mound.

“Nick did a really nice job,” Pacha said. “He’s been one of our most consistent pitchers all year. He doesn’t blow smoke by you. What he does is he commands multiple pitches and everything moves. And he throws strikes.”

Pacha constantly reminds his players, especially his pitchers, about the importance of not surrendering what he calls free bases.

“We believe and truly the stats will show you the team that gives up the least amount of free bases usually wins,” Pacha said. “And Nick understands what type of pitcher he is. And that’s not easy becaue a lot of guys want to be strikeout guys.

“And what we’ve been working with Nick is you’re a pitch-to-contact guy. Hitters will get themselves out. Let them do that. Just pound the zone early and let them put it in play and trust your defense.”

Pacha was pleased with his team’s energy and execution throughout the doubleheader. He also liked that at Regina won a pitcher’s duel in the first game and a slugfest in the second game.

Asked if his team is playing the way he wants with the playoffs approaching, Pacha said:

“We’re close. We seem to be able to put it together. Now it’s just consistency every night.  And once we figure that out, than hopefully, we’ll be pretty dangerous.”

West Branch freshman pitcher Tanner Lukavsky also had his moments in the first game while allowing five hits over five innings.

Fellow freshman Trey Eagle had two hits for the Bears in the first game and scored both of his team’s runs.

Game 1

West Branch  001  010  0  –  2  5  1

Regina            011  002  x  –  4  7  2

Tanner Lukavksy, Trey Eagle (6) and Nick Schreiber; Nick Brandt and Trent Hoogerwerf.

W – Nick Brandt        L – Trey Eagle

2B – WB: Trey Eagle, Brady Lukavsky. ICR: Ryne Schooley.

Game 2

West Branch 300  01 –  4   4  2

Regina            261  5x – 14  8  2

Trey Eagle, Brett Schiele, (2) and Schreiber; Masen Miller, Alex Meister (4) and Hoogerwerf, Nick Wagner (5).

W – Masen Miller       L – Trey Eagle

2B – ICR: Jayden Kies, Ryan Schott.