Eagles fly past Tri-County for baseball win

THORNBURG — When a player can put the ball in play, good things happen. Keota had 15 hits Wednesday in a 17-3 road South Iowa Cedar League win against Tri-County.

There is one thing that has happened for Keota’s baseball season, one thing that has turned the year positive after losing 3-of-4 recently.

“Our hitting has made a difference,” coach Dakota McCombs said. “We have great pitchers and a low earned run average but we don’t always hit the ball.”

Keota’s pitching has been dominant and the fielding “pretty good,” according to McCombs. “If we can hit .300 as a team it will be tough to beat us going forward. ”

Forward is the playoffs. With the postseason approaching, better teams will be playing better teams.

“I think we will see better pitching so that will help our hitting,” shortstop and pitcher Colten Clarahan said.

The Eagles were hitting it Wednesday. Colten Clarahan went 4-for-5 with six runs batted in, which is quite a performance no matter the opponent.

Carson Sprouse connected on a single and a home run, his first of the season, while Keota teammate Sam Sieren was 2-for-4 as well.

Aidan Anderson tossed three innings with six strikeouts, no walks, no hits while Cole Kindred and Aiden McGuire combined for the other four innings with five strikeouts, a walk and an earned run.

“I am just always looking for that pitch that is middle away and making contact,” Clarahan said. “Don’t worry about stats, just score more than the other team.”

In the SICL, Clarahan is second with three triples, fifth in RBI with 23. Brady Duwa leads the league in home runs with four. Sam Sieren is third in the league with 20 singles. Duwa is fourth in slugging percentage, fourth in total bases.

Clarahan said he hits better when he is pitching, but Wednesday’s stats show he is very adept either way.

Clarahan has only struck out batting twice this season. On the mound, Clarahan is first in Class 1A with 87 strikeouts, sixth in opponents batting average at .081. In the SICL, he is second in wins with five and with earned run average at 1.18. Carson Sprouse is fourth at 1.51. Sprouse is fifth in strikeouts at 52.

Catcher Caden Clarahan has thrown out five runners stealing. That is fourth in the league.

“All those stats are not what I play for,” Clarahan said.

When asked what stat matters most his answer was, “Team wins.”

Keota is 12-6 overall and 10-5 SICL.- Tri-County is 1-15, 1-14.