Tigers maul Cougars

CARROLL — Last year’s Class 1A baseball quarterfinals were tough to swallow for New London, but on Monday evening at Merchants Park, the Tigers showed everyone it’s not last year anymore.

New London fans who traveled four hours to see the Tigers play their stat opener saw the Tigers pour on 12 runs against a CAM, Anita team that had just two losses coming in. New London started fast and never let up in a 12-3 drubbing.

The win wiped out a sour taste from a controversial 4-3 loss to Kee in the 2021 quarterfinals, and set a new bar for the Tiger baseball program in the process. Before Monday, New London had never won a game at the state baseball tournament.

“Last year already happened,” said New London senior Joshua Catala. “Our mindset is a new day, a new blessing. We had the opportunity to come this year again, and we're just going to do the job.”

The Tigers drew first blood. Catala started the bottom of the first with a walk, and came around to score on a throwing error when CAM starter Lane Spieker threw the ball into the outfield while trying to get out Tucker Gibbar in a rundown.

One inning later, the Tigers busted it open. New London loaded the bases with two outs. Kooper Schulte walked to make it 2-0, and then Dereck Santiago sent an 0-2 pitch into left-center field, which cleared the bases and gave New London a 5-0 lead.

In just two innings, Santiago had struck out six players on the mound and knocked in three RBIs at the plate. He would go on to finish with eight strikeouts on the day.

“I felt comfortable,” said Santiago, who is one of the few new players to the Tiger’s varsity squad. “I trusted the team as always, so I felt super comfortable.”

CAM scored once in the top of the third, but New London got it right back when Carter Allen scored on a wild pitch. Spieker would only go three innings for the Cougars as the bullpen took over from the fourth inning on.

“That's kind of our M.O. every game,” said New London head coach Brad Helmerson. “We try to get that starter out of the game, and they did a great job of doing that tonight.”

New London continued to pour it on in the fourth. The Tigers used three walks, a hit-by-pitch and a botched infield fly by the Cougars to put up three more. After four, it was 8-1.

“Whenever you're just tensed up, you have a tendency to make more errors,” said Gibbar. “When we packed on the runs early, we were able to be relaxed and play our game.”

CAM was able to put up two runs in the top of the fifth, forcing New London to go to its bullpen, putting Catala in for Santiago. The Cougars had a glimmer of hope with the score down to 8-3, but New London just wouldn’t let up.

The Tigers had four hits in the bottom of the fifth. Kooper Schulte knocked in one run with an RBI single, and Gibbar crushed a long bases-loaded single to left to bring in two more.

“I was looking for the inside pitch, and they hadn't given it to me all game,” said Gibbar. “He threw it inside, so I just turned and burned. I thought it was gone off the bat, but I guess I've got to do some more pushups.”

New London put on one last run when Catala doubled in pinch runner Gage Burden in the sixth.

Santiago finished the day 1-for-2 with a double and three RBIs at the plate. Gibbar was 1-for-3 with three RBIs. Schulte went 1-for-3 with two RBIs. Catala was 1-for-2 with a double and an RBI, and Allen went 1-for-4 with an RBI.

New London drew a ridiculous 10 walks, three of which came from Catala. The Tigers placed three runners on via the hit-by-pitch. Catala and Schulte each scored three runs in the win.

Santiago picked up the win, giving up three earned runs on six hits and three walks over 4.1 innings. Catala didn’t give up a run in 1.2 innings pitched, and Brenden Richey threw a scoreless sixth.

New London advances on to Wednesday’s semifinals against Newman Catholic. The Tigers will be the road team in that game, which begins at 7 p.m.

“I don’t think we want to change anything,” said Helmerson. “I think we’ve just got to rely on good pitching, taking good at bats, and doing what we do.”