Eagles bite Bears in SICL home game

KEOTA — One game after a tough one-run loss to Lynville-Sully over the weekend, the Keota baseball team was right back to their winning ways on Monday night.

The Eagles blew past English Valleys 7-1, racking up their eighth win in the last nine games.

“We’re keeping our energy up is the big thing,” said Keota head coach Dakota McCombs. “Really what does it is that the kids are having fun.”

Defensive miscues led to an unearned run for English Valleys in the first inning, but it was all Eagles from that point forward. Aidan Anderson dominated on the mound, giving up just three hits and striking out nine batters for a complete-game win.

“As the game went through, we kind of settled down as a team,” Anderson said. “I felt comfortable on the mound, throwing all three of my pitches.”

Keota took the lead with a four-run second inning and tacked on three in the sixth. Caleb Waterhouse led the way offensively, going 2-for-4 with a double and three RBIs.

Anderson went 2-for-3 with an RBI triple in the win. Evan Vittetoe was 2-for-2 with an RBI. Colten Clarahan and Dalton Dodd each knocked in a run.

Keota is now 14-4 overall and 10-2 in South Iowa Cedar League play. The Eagles will be looking for revenge in Sigourney (13-3, 11-1) on Wednesday night after dropping a game to the rival Savages earlier this season.

“The mindset is that we’ve got to split the series,” McCombs said. “Our kids don’t want to lose to them. It’s going to be a tough game, but it’s definitely a winnable game.”