Mt. Pleasant can’t overcome slow start

MT. PLEASANT — The Mediapolis bats were hot early and that spelled bad news for Mt. Pleasant, who fell 11-7 in a nonconference game.

Mediapolis scored the first seven runs in the contest, plating five in the first and two in the second. The Panthers cut the lead down to as little as three, at 9-6 after four frames.

Zerek Venghaus was the only Panther to record an RBI, going 0-for-0 with two runs batted in. Jack Johnson went 1-for-2 at the plate, and Chase Williamson was 1-for-3.

Fairfield falls to 4A foe

FAIRFIELD — The Trojans welcomed in Class 4A’s Muscatine Muskies, and the visitors brought a six-run first, which led to a 10-2 Muscatine victory.

Brad Smithburg led the Trojan offense, going 2-for-2 with an RBI in the loss. Nate Smithburg finished the night 2-for-3 with a double, and Brody Angstead went 1-for-4.

New London takes 2

NEW LONDON — The Tigers pulled two wins back-to-back, beating Keota 12-0(5) and Notre Dame 10-4.

Carter Allen pitched a two-hit shutout over Keota. Tucker Gibbar was the top New London hitter, going 2-for-2 with a double and three RBIs. Hecneil Rodriguez went 1-for-2 with a triple and two RBIs, and Brendan Richey was 2-for-3 with two RBIs.

New London had five players record multiple hits in Game 2, against Notre Dame. Allen led the way going 2-for-3 with a double and two RBIs.

Rodriguez picked up the win on the mound for New London in Game 2. He gave up one earned run over three innings, and struck out seven Nikes in the process.

Highland sweeps pair

RIVERSIDE — Much like New London, the Huskies took on two different teams on the same night and vanquished them both. Highland beat Sigourney 5-0 and Columbus 21-0.

Against Sigourney, junior Chase Schultz picked up the win on the mound, giving up just three hits and striking out 11 batters over 5 2/3rd innings. Logan Bonebrake went 1-for-3 with two RBIs. Connor Grinstead was 2-for-2 with an RBI, and Kaige Vonnahme knocked in one.

A quartet of Highland pitchers held Columbus to no hits in a four-inning Game 2. Grinstead took the win, throwing two innings and striking out four. Luke Miller, Logan Bonebrake and Vonnahme all pitched as well.

Miller went 1-for-2 with four RBIs to lead the Highland offense in Game 2. Vonnehme and Grinstead both knocked in three.

Pekin pulls past Hillcrest

PACKWOOD — Pekin scored the first five runs of the ballgame to beat Hillcrest 7-5 in a game originally postponed on June 24.

After a one-run first inning, Pekin scored four on Hillcrest in the second. The Ravens battled back to cut the lead all the way down to one run, at 6-5, in the sixth inning.

Despite the loss, Luke Schrock had a nice night for Hillcrest, going 2-for-4 with two RBIs.

Cardinal pounds HLV

VICTOR — Cardinal’s offense was unstoppable in a nonconference road game at Harwick-Victor-Ladora. The Comets whipped the Warriors 18-2 in five innings.

Blaine Bryant went crazy for the Comets, going 5-for-5 with a home run and six RBIs at the plate. Dawson Lewis was 1-for-3 with three RBIs. Landon Becker and Drake Durflinger each knocked in two.

Tatum Telfer had a strong outing on the mound, pitching a complete-game and giving up just two runs (one earned).

Van Buren falters

FORT MADISON — Van Buren County fell victim to a red-hot Fort Madison offense, who slugged out 19 runs over four innings in a 19-4 win.

The Warriors scored two runs in the top of the first and held a 2-1 lead after one frame, but the Bloodhounds scored 18 runs over the next three.

Treyton Bainbridge was 3-for-4 with an RBI in the loss. Casey Yochum went 2-for-3 with a home run and two RBIs.