TCT sports round-up: Ballard baseball, Colllins-Maxwell softball clinch conference titles

The Ballard baseball team clinched the Raccoon River Conference championship with three conference victories last week.

The Bombers improved to 18-10 overall and finished 13-3 in the conference after rebounding from a 5-4 loss in 10 innings against Winterset to defeat Gilbert (2-0), Carroll (11-0) and North Polk (9-4).

Ballard first baseman Kora Johnson (2) catches the ball as North Polk's Katelyn Klever (10) reaches first base during the second inning of the Bombers' 3-2 loss to the Comets at Gary Telford Field Tuesday, June 28, 2022, in Huxley, Iowa.
Ballard first baseman Kora Johnson (2) catches the ball as North Polk's Katelyn Klever (10) reaches first base during the second inning of the Bombers' 3-2 loss to the Comets at Gary Telford Field Tuesday, June 28, 2022, in Huxley, Iowa.

The No. 4 (Class 1A) Collins-Maxwell softball team wrapped up the regular season with a pair of 10-0 victories over Don Bosco and Lynnville-Sully. The Spartans improved to 21-2 and they ended the regular season with another perfect 12-0 run through Iowa Star Conference South Division.

The Collins-Maxwell baseball team saw its season come to a close with a 10-9 loss to Madrid in the opening round of 1A district play. The Spartans also fell to Don Bosco by a 16-3 score June 27.

The Collins-Maxwell baseball team finished 12-10 overall and 8-6 in the ISC South.

The Ballard softball team crushed Carroll by a 17-0 score June 30 at Carroll. The Bombers fell to Winterset in both games of a doubleheader June 27 (10-0 and 7-5) as well as North Polk (3-2), Gilbert (11-8) and Ames (11-0) in finishing the regular season at 13-20 overall and ending up 8-8 in the RRC.

Great pitching gets Ballard the RRC title

The Ballard baseball team received masterful pitching over its final three RRC games to earn its conference championship.

Eli Rouse fired a five-hitter with 10 strikeouts and three walks in the victory over Gilbert. Jayden Cattell scored and drove in a run, Rouse crossed the plate once and Cole Heinen picked up two hits for the Bombers on offense.

Miles Mudd went all six innings in the victory over Carroll. Mudd fired a three-hitter with two strikeouts.

Colby Calvert went 2-for-3 with a triple and two RBIs and Jaren Njos went 2-for-3 with two runs and RBI to pace Ballard offensively against Carroll. Jaden Peasley tripled and scored twice, Rouse was 1-for-4 with two runs and an RBI, Cattell went 1-for-3 with two runs and Bryce Haessig finished 1-for-2 with a run.

In the win over North Polk Jacob Ross allowed two earned runs on three hits with three strikeouts in 5 2/3 innings to get the victory. Ross also doubled and drove in two runs, Calvert doubled twice and picked up a pair of RBIs and Rouse was 2-for-4 with a run.

In the loss to Winterset Cattell went 3-for-4 with two doubles, runs and RBIs apiece. Haessig also drove in two runs.

Peasley took the loss against the Huskies, giving up one unearned run on one hit in 1 1/3 innings of relief.

Spartans coast in final two games

The Collins-Maxwell softball team made short work of both of its opponents to close out the regular season.

Erica Houge threw a three-hitter with 11 strikeouts and Alexis Houge, Vivian Kahler and Kenzi Wierson were each 3-for-4 for the Spartans against Don Bosco. Alexis also had a double, three steals, two runs and an RBI, Kahler two RBIs and Wierson one run and RBI apiece.

Avery Fricke was 2-for-4 with three runs and two steals and RBIs apiece against the Dons.

Erica Houge and Marissa Boege both drove in two runs and Alexis Houge scored three times and stole three bases in the victory over Lynnville-Sully. Erica Houge also fired a two-hitter with 12 strikeouts in six innings as the winning pitcher.

Cypress Erickson was 2-for-3 with a run and Kahler singled and scored against the Hawks.

Ballard second baseman Maggie Mortensen (27) tries to make the catch as North Polk's Lauren Ausborn (8) reaches the first base safely during the third inning of the Bombers' 3-2 loss at Gary Telford Field Tuesday, June 28, 2022, in Huxley, Iowa.
Ballard second baseman Maggie Mortensen (27) tries to make the catch as North Polk's Lauren Ausborn (8) reaches the first base safely during the third inning of the Bombers' 3-2 loss at Gary Telford Field Tuesday, June 28, 2022, in Huxley, Iowa.

Bomber softball team has rough final week

The Ballard softball team didn't find much success in its final week of the regular season.

The Bombers were held to one hit by Winterset's Thea Banning in the 10-0 loss to the Huskies. Ella Husak singled for the only Ballard hit and Brooklyn Baumgardner was the losing pitcher after giving up six earned runs on 10 hits with five strikeouts in six innings.

In the 7-5 loss to the Huskies the Bombers fell behind 7-0 after two innings and couldn't quite rally over the final five innings in a competitive game.

Maggie Mortson and Sam Vetter both doubled once and drove in two runs, Jada Lande was 1-for-3 with an RBI, Ellie Volkmann doubled and scored and Kasey Larson singled and scored during the loss. Maggie McCrady was the losing pitcher after giving up five earned runs on 11 hits with four strikeouts in six innings.

Baumgardner took the loss against North Polk after giving up one earned run on two hits and walks apiece with four strikeouts in five innings. Johnson was 2-for-3 with a run, Husak singled and scored and Vetter and McCrady were both 1-for-3 with an RBI against the Comets.

Ballard gave up five runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to drop a heartbreaker against Gilbert.

Vetter went 3-for-4 with two RBIs, McCrady knocked in three runs, Husak was 2-for-3 with a double and two runs, Mortensen doubled and scored and Baumgardner also doubled against the Tigers. Baumgardner was the losing pitcher after surrendering five earned runs on five hits in 2 2/3 innings of relief.

Ames used a nine-run fifth inning to put Ballard away early Friday.

Vetter and Larson each singled once for the only Bomber hits off Little Cyclone pitchers Alexa Kopaska and Sydney Smalley. McCrady was the losing Bomber pitcher after allowing six earned runs on eight hits with five strikeouts in 5 1/3 innings.

Collins-Maxwell catcher Luke Huntrods (7) catches a throw as Don Bosco's Andrew Kimball (12) slides home for a score during the first inning of the Spartans' 16-3 loss to the Dons June 27 at the Collins City Park baseball field, Monday, June 27, 2022, Iowa.
Collins-Maxwell catcher Luke Huntrods (7) catches a throw as Don Bosco's Andrew Kimball (12) slides home for a score during the first inning of the Spartans' 16-3 loss to the Dons June 27 at the Collins City Park baseball field, Monday, June 27, 2022, Iowa.

Late innings hurt C-M in district loss

The Collins-Maxwell baseball team fell apart late during its loss to Madrid Saturday.

The Spartans jumped out to an 8-0 lead against the Tigers. But they gave up 10 runs over the final two innings to suffer a heartbreaking loss.

Statistics for the game were not available at press deadline.

Collins-Maxwell third baseman Blake Huntrods (6) tries to make the tag as Don Bosco's Myles McMahon (7) drives back to third on a pick-off attempt during the third inning of the Spartans' 16-3 loss at the Collins City Park baseball field, Monday, June 27, 2022, Iowa.
Collins-Maxwell third baseman Blake Huntrods (6) tries to make the tag as Don Bosco's Myles McMahon (7) drives back to third on a pick-off attempt during the third inning of the Spartans' 16-3 loss at the Collins City Park baseball field, Monday, June 27, 2022, Iowa.

In the loss to Don Bosco the Spartans were hurt by an 11-run first inning by the Dons. Luke Huntrods was 2-for-3 with a double and two RBIs, Caden Hasbrouck finished 2-for-2 with an RBI, Weston Kahler was 2-for-3 with a double, Blake Huntrods doubled and scored, Caleb Dvorak singled and scored and Jace Huntrods walked and scored.

Jace Huntrods took the loss against the Dons after allowing seven earned runs with two strikeouts in two innings.

This article originally appeared on Ames Tribune: Ballard baseball, C-M softball teams clinch conference titles