Van Buren bats go cold in substate baseball quarterfinal

KEOSAUQUA — The Van Buren County baseball team had scored 26 runs over its last two games of the regular season, but the Warriors stalled at the wrong time in Tuesday’s Class 2A Substate 6 semifinal.

The hosting Warriors fell 7-1 against Davis County, ending the season for Van Buren and advancing Davis County on to the substate semifinals.

Davis County scored three early runs against Van Buren starter Taylor Sprouse. The Warriors sophomore settled in after that, giving up just one more over his next three frames, but the run support never came.

The Warriors scored their only run of the game in the bottom of the second frame. Owen Loeffler, the ninth batter in the Warrior order, knocked in Bailey Roen to cut the Mustangs’ lead down to 3-1.

Davis County scored one run in the top of the fifth to stretch the lead to 4-1, and then piled on three insurance runs in the seventh.

Van Buren had six hits in the loss. Jackson Manning led the way, going 2-for-4. Ryan Wolf had the only extra base hit, going 1-for-4 with a double.

Sprouse took the loss, giving up four runs (two earned) on three hits and six walks, while striking out four batters. Lucas Fett gave up three runs (two earned) in relief.

Van Buren County ended its season at 14-11.