Van Buren opens season with 8-1 home win

KEOSAUQUA ? Junior Robby Laughlin pitched a complete game and helped out his own cause with a three-run homer, lifting the Van Buren baseball team to a season-opening win over West Burlington Monday in Keosauqua.

The junior Laughlin was tagged with one run ? none earned ? in the 8-1 home win. He gave up five hits and walked two while striking out five Falcons.

Sophomore Noah Whitten paced Van Buren?s seven-hit offense with three hits in four at-bats. Garrett Saunders went 2-for-4 with one run and one RBI, and fellow sophomore Brandon Plecker walked twice and earned two steals. Will Mertens, a freshman, also finished the game with one single.

The Warriors (1-0) visit Albia Thursday.

Van Buren vs. West Burlington

West Burlington? 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 ? 1 5 2

Van Buren ? 0 4 0 0 1 3 x ? 8 7 1

VAN BUREN ? Whitten 3-4, RBI; Saunders 2-4, RBI, R; Laughlin 1-2, HR, 3RBI; Mertens 1-3, RBI, R; Plecker R, 2SB; Sprouse R; Barker R; Fett R; Heisel R; Bartholomew RBI

Pitching ? Laughlin (W, 1-0) 7 INN, R, 0ER, 5H, 2BB, 5K