Washington Evening Journal
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Pekin, Van Buren pick up wins
Andy Krutsinger
May. 31, 2021 3:32 pm
Despite the weather, Thursday and Friday were a busy two days for the area’s baseball teams. Pekin and Van Buren County added one to the win column, as Fairfield and Winfield-Mount Union fell.
Van Buren County drops 25 on West Burlington
WEST BURLINGTON — To say Van Buren County was red-hot on Thursday would be an understatement. The Warriors ran roughshod over West Burlington, beating the Falcons 25-1(4) on their own home field.
The Warriors scored five runs in the first inning, one in the second and six in the third to take a 12-1 lead after three innings. In the fourth, they exploded for 13 runs.
Ryan Wolf absolutely crushed the Falcons. The senior first baseman went 4-for-5 with a home run, two doubles and six RBIs to lead the way.
The Warriors hit three homers on the day. Treyton Bainbridge went 2-for-3 with a long ball and four RBIs. Casey Yochum was 3-for-4 with a bomb and two RBIs. Taylor Sprouse didn’t hit a long ball, but he did go 1-for-2 with four RBIs.
Sprouse cruised in the circle, giving up just one earned run on four hits and four hit batters, while striking out four over four innings.
Pekin’s Latcham no-hits WMU
PACKWOOD — Pekin’s Brady Latcham threw a no-hitter in the Panthers’ 10-0(5) victory over Winfield-Mount Union on Friday. The Panther senior threw just 64 pitches to earn a five-inning win.
Latcham struck out eight batters in the victory. He walked one and hit one. At the plate, Latcham had the only home run of the day, finishing 1-for-3 with a bomb and two RBIs.
Chase Stansberry went 2-for-3 with three RBIs to help Latcham’s cause. Chandler Stull was 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI. Brady Millikin had two hits and an RBI, and Mason Juhl knocked one in.
Wolves downed at Mediapolis
MEDIAPOLIS — One day prior to their loss at Pekin, WMU was defeated 12-2(5) against Mediapolis. The Wolves were in the game through 3.5 innings, trailing 3-1 heading into the bottom of the fourth, but the Bulldogs scored nine over the next two frames.
Fairfield drops game in Indianola
INDIANOLA — Fairfield had its hands full in a road contest at currently 5-0 Indianola. The Indians toppled the Trojans 10-0(5).
Fairfield had two hits on the day. Nate Smithburg finished the game 1-for-1 with a single and a walk, and Brody Angstead went 1-for-2 with a single.
Brad Smithburg picked up the loss on the mound, giving up six runs (five earned) on six hits and three walks, while striking out three over three innings.
Nate Smithburg gave up four earned runs on three hits and four walks over 1.1 innings, striking out all four batters he retired. Evan Haines faced just one batter but gave up a hit.