37 runs in one inning

NEW LONDON — Before Wednesday night, nobody in Iowa High School baseball history had scored more than 31 runs in an inning. On Wednesday, the New London baseball team not only beat the record, but did so in style, scoring 37 runs in a 37-0 four-inning win over Columbus.

That win was the first of two victories for the Tigers, who followed with a 9-1 win against Central Lee later that day.

The previous record of 31 runs in an inning was set by Mason City when the Mohawks blasted Des Moines North 40-0 in 2011.

After that first inning, New London didn’t score any more runs. Coach Brad Helmerson said his team took a less aggressive approach for its next two at bats, choosing to take strikeouts.

The game was called after the top of the fourth inning via the 15-run mercy rule.

For New London, it all happened in their first at bat. The Tigers went through their lineup four times, and some players came to the plate for a fifth time. A couple of strike outs and an out in the field got Columbus out of the long inning.

Hecniel Rodriguez had a monster game, going 2-for-2 with a home run, a triple and nine RBIs. His nine RBIs in the first inning were just five shy of the record of 14 in an entire game.

Ryan Richey went 2-for-3 with six RBIs. Carter Allen was 3-for-4 with four RBIs. Drew Benz was 1-for-2 with three RBIs.

Camden Kasel, Richey and Bowen Glaha each knocked in two runs. Josh Catala, Kooper Schulte and Vegas Watson all knocked in a run.

All 11 of the Tigers who saw the field scored at least two runs. Rodriguez, Allen, Kasel, Richey, Benz and Tucker Gibbar scored four runs apiece.

Allen threw four innings and gave up one hit. Columbus’ lone hit came from Will Schwab, who finished 1-for-2 with a double.

Columbus used four pitchers in the game. Garret Palmer had the most success, giving up just six runs (one earned) on two hits, two walks and three hit batters, while striking out four. Marco Martinez struck out one New London hitter.

The Tigers scored a season-low nine runs in the late game against Central Lee. The game was tied at 0-0 but New London scored two in the third, three in the fifth and four in the sixth.

Rodriguez went 3-for-4 with two triples and an RBI in the win over Central Lee. Gibbar went 1-for-4 with a triple and two RBIs. Kasel and Richey each had two hits and an RBI, and Allen finished with an RBI.

Catala picked up the win against Central Lee, throwing five one-hit innings. Seth Bailey gave up just one unearned run on one hit and three walks over two innings. The two combined for 10 strikeouts.

In the Tigers’ first four games, they won by a combined total of 76-1.