Your Prep Sports

It’s a great feeling to take the diamond in front of a friendly crowd for the first home game of the season.

For West Branch, it felt even better walking off afterwards. The Bears strung together four two-out hits in the seventh inning, coming from behind to take a 4-3 victory from Durant.

After warming up in the final inning, the bats stayed hot in the nightcap as West Branch completed the sweep by a score of 9-2.

After the Bears had just two hits through six and two thirds innings, Mitch Knoop and Brad Hunger doubled that total to keep the Bears alive. Matt Whaley drove in the tying run, bringing Matt Paulsen to the plate.

Paulsen worked a full count and then delivered the walk-off single to give West Branch the first win of the season. He finished the game 3-4 at the plate.

Trey Eagle made the start and allowed two earned runs on two hits and five walks. Bryce Pickett held the Wildcats scoreless in three innings of relief, giving up one hit and two walks.

The Bears took a commanding 7-0 lead with five runs in the fourth inning of the nightcap. Tanner Lukavsky doubled twice and finished 3-4. Pete Espensen was also 3-4 and drove in four runs as West Branch improved to 2-1 for the season.

City High Buries Clinton With Big Inning

City High hammered 11 hits in a 15-5 win over Clinton in a non-conference contest on Thursday in Clinton.

Th Little Hawks broke open a 5-4 game with 10 runs in the sixth inning while improving to 2-0 on the season.

Freshman Gable Mitchell went 3-for-5 with three RBI to pace City High while Zach Kuepker was 2-for-4 with three RBI and Liam McComas was 2-for-3 with two RBI.

DJ Heck had a two-run home run and scored three runs for City High.

Garrett Bormann picked up the win for City High allowing four runs, three earned, on four hits in four innings while striking out two and walking two.

City High will open Mississippi Valley Conference play on Friday hosting Dubuque Wahlert in a doubleheader.

City High        212  00(10)  –  15  11  2

Clinton           201  101       –  5    5    4

W – Garrett Bormann

2B – CLI: Max Holy, Dante Brunson

3B – ICH: Gable Mitchell, Zach Kuepker

HR – ICH: DJ Heck

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