MCDONALD'S SWNEWS4U.COM GAME OF THE WEEK (April 2–9)
PREP BASEBALL: Iowa–Grant 14, Orangeville/Aquin 2; Iowa–Grant 14, Monticello/Albany 3
By Jason Nihles, The Platteville Journal
Panthers finally open season with a pair of wins
LIVINGSTON — The sixth time was finally the charm for the Iowa–Grant baseball team.
After having their first five games of the season postponed due to rain and snow, the Panthers finally opened their 2024 season Saturday with a pair of non-conference wins over Orangeville/Aquin (Ill.) and Monticello/Albany.
IG opened the season with a 14–2 win over the Orangeville/Aquin Broncos Saturday at 2 p.m.
The Broncos scored an unearned run in the top of the first against IG ace senior Brach Holman, but the Panthers stormed back with 10 runs in the bottom half of the inning and never looked back.
Sophomore Everett Zimmer led off the bottom of the first with a single, stole second and scored on classmate Maddox Fisher’s RBI double to tie the game at 1–1.
Gavin Hinderman, Holma an Dawson Ried drew three-straight walks to plate another run, then Myles Pettit line a two-run single to left field.
Zimmer (3x3, 3 RBI) added a two-run single to centerfield to make it 7–1, and back-to-back errors on ground balls by Fisher and Hinderman plated two more IG runs. Pettit drew a bases loaded walk to cap the scoring.
Holman added an RBI double in the third, and Treaton Loeffelholz added a two-run single later in the inning to make it 13–1.
Holman (1–0) struck out five and allowed the one earned run on two hits in two innings to earn the win. Owen Wyatt, Nehemiah Cartwright and Loeffelholz each pitched an inning of relief to close out the win.
The IG offense dominated game two with 10 hits in a 14–3 win over host Monticello/Albany. The Panthers scored 10 runs in the top of the fifth to blow open a 4–3 game and win via the 10-run rule.
Zimmer finished 3-for-4 with two steals and three runs scored. Gavin Hinderman went 3-for-4 with three RBI and a run, while sophomore Sam Lundell finished 2-for-4 with two RBI and two runs scored. Brock Hinderman reached base for times with a single and three walks.
Fisher (1–0) earned the win with 2 1/3 innings of scoreless relief, striking out two and walking two.
The Panthers improved to 3–0 on the young season with a 9–2 win at Shullsburg/Benton Monday afternoon. IG scored eight runs in the top of the eighth inning to break a 1–1 tie on sophomore Will Fulton’s two-run double. Iowa–Grant took advantage of four-straight SB errors to scored the final five runs of the inning.
The Panthers’ season opener March 26 against Potosi/Cassville was postponed to April 18.
Last Monday’s home game was Belmont was postponed and does not yet have a makeup date, while last Tuesday’s home game against Riverdale was rescheduled for April 22.
Thursday’s home game with Monticello/Albany was moved to a road game Saturday, while Friday’s SWAL opener at Fennimore will now be played as part of a home doubleheader April 30.
Iowa–Grant hosted Mineral Point Tuesday and will now travel to Darlington Friday and Boscobel on Monday. The Panthers will then host Cuba City on Tuesday.
Iowa–Grant 14, Orangeville/Aquin 2
(from Saturday, April 6 @ Monticello)
Orangeville/Aqui. 100 10 — 2 3 3
Iowa–Grant (10)04 0x — 14 9 3
Leading hitters — O: Gustafson 2x2 (2R); IG: Everett Zimmer 3x4 (3RBI, R), Treaton Loeffelholz 2x3 (2RBI, R). 2B — IG: Holman, Gavin Hinderman, Maddox Fisher.
W — Brach Holman (1–0, 2IP, 2H, 1R, 0ER, 5K, 0BB). L — Pfeiffer (0.1IP, 5H, 9R, 7ER, 0K, 3BB).
Iowa–Grant 14, Monticello/Albany 3
(from Saturday, April 6 @ Monticello)
Iowa–Grant 130 0(10) — 14 10 1
Monticello/Alb. 030 00 — 3 3 5
Leading hitters — IG: Everrett Zimmer 3x4 (3R), Gavin Hinderman 3x4 (3RBI), Sam Lundell 2x4 (2RBI, 2R). 2B — IG: Myles Pettit.
W — Maddox Fisher (1–0, 2.1IP, 1H, 0R, 2K, 2BB). L — Pfeiffer (0.1IP, 5H, 9R, 7ER, 0K, 3BB).
