Tigers improve in second half of season

Every team wants to be playing its best ball at the end of the season.

The Iowa Valley baseball team is doing that.

The Tigers started the season 4-6, roughly at the halfway point of the season. Since then, they’ve won five of six. The lone loss came to Class 1A No. 3 Lynnville-Sully, 4-2.

“After Caleb (Haack) left you could tell it seemed like we were missing something,” Iowa Valley coach Sam Rohovit said. “We reminded the guys that we are just playing a game and to let loose and have fun with it.

“They started taking their game to a whole new level.”

The Tigers are batting .328 as a team this season through 16 games. Nolan Kriegel (. 441) and Layne Peska (. 404) are both batting over .400.

Six different players have over 10 RBIs, led by Mason Hoyt’s 18.

The Tigers are set to face Belle Plaine in the first round of 1A district play Saturday. It’ll be the third time in 11 days the two teams have faced off.

Game one was a high scoring affair which the Tigers won 17-14. Tuesday is the regular season finale for both teams before Saturday’s postseason game.

The Plainsmen are 7-9 following this week’s games.

Wade Sankot leads the South Iowa Cedar League in batting average (. 511), while Ty Alcott is tied for first in RBIs (30).

Both Sankot and Alcott have been solid on the mound this season, posting 2.70 and 3.72 ERAs.

Here is quick look at other area 1A district games Saturday.

BGM vs. GMG

A key part of the game for the Bears will be limiting GMG’s Colin Teske’s production at the plate. The senior, who has missed four games, is batting .585 with a team high 24 hits.

The Bears bring balance at the plate, with six players with 10-plus RBIs through 20 games. Beau Burns leads the way with 19, while also batting .508.

The Bears have also been aggressive on the base pads, with 104 as a team, and a conference leading 32 from Tucker Wright.

Montezuma vs. Lone Tree

The Braves have 104 hits in 395 at-bats, compared to the Lions’ 88 in 379 at-bats.

The Lions do have a better on-base percentage, .432, through 17 games, showing they can get on base in other ways. When they do, they steal, which will be something to look out for.

They have 99 stolen bases on the season.

Both teams’ aces on the mound this season have produced solid statistics. Lone Tree’s Jack Patterson posts a 1.62 ERA with 43 strikeouts. Montezuma’s Luke Erselius has 66 strikeouts with a 2.07 ERA.

HLV-TC vs. Hillcrest Academy

The challenge for HLV-TC in this one will be the Ravens’ pitching.

As a team, Hillcrest Academy has a 2.99 ERA through 18 games and is giving up just 3.5 runs a game. Seth Ours leads the team in innings pitched (33 2/3) with a .113 average allowed.

Hitting-wise, the Warriors have been led by Peyton Roth, who is batting .333. Keegan Gorsh leads the team in RBIs (11), through 14 games.

English Valleys at Highland

Highland is led by the bats of Logan McFarland and Landon Roling, both batting over .400.

McFarland has also been the team’s top pitcher, posting a 1.83 ERA.

Colton Mikesell leads the Bears in hits this season with nine, through 14 games.