Van Buren falls in quarterfinals

DES MOINES ? The heart of the Hinton order was just too much for Van Buren on Monday afternoon, as the Warriors lost 9-1 in the state tournament opener at Principal Park.

Collin Jurgensmeier and Ross Wenzel picked up three RBIs apiece in the ballgame for the Blackhawks to pace the Hinton offense. Truman Schmitt had two RBIs and Carson Covey drove in the final Blackhawk run. Skyler Beller and Terrill Henrich, the first and second hitters in the lineup, picked up two hits and two stolen bases each.

Tommy Laughlin led the way for Van Buren, collecting a pair of hits off Jurgensmeier. Also picking up hits for the Warriors were: Austin Bartholomew, Tyson Sprouse, Robert Barker, Wyatt Gatton and Gavin Heald. Mason McDonough scored the only run as a courtesy runner in the fifth inning, scoring on a single by Laughlin.

Bartholomew struggled on the mound for the Warriors, suffering the loss in 4 2/3 innings. The senior struck out six and walked five in his outing, giving up five runs, four earned, in the start. Barker pitched 1 2/3 of relief, allowing one run and striking out three Blackhawks. Will Mertens allowed a hit in the final 2/3 of an inning, walking three and striking out one.

Jurgensmeier scattered seven hits en route to the victory for Hinton, allowing only the one earned run. The junior struck out four and walked four as well.

Van Buren ends the season at 23-5 overall, with a plethora of seniors departing the program. They are: Mertens: .461 batting average, .764 slugging percentage, six home runs, 42 runs, 37 RBIs, 18-20 stolen bases, 3-0 record, 2.49 earned run average; Barker: .424 BA, one HR, 28 RBI, 7-2 record, 1.17 ERA, 71 strikeouts; Bartholomew: .379 BA, one HR, 13 RBI, 2-1 record, 4.50 ERA, 24 Ks; Sprouse: .295 BA, 17 RBI and Zach Smith: .238 BA, 12 RBI, 13-14 SB.

Hinton advances to play defending 2A champion Clear Lake on Thursday, posting the Blackhawks? first-ever win at the state tournament in program history.