By R.D. KEEP
The Oskaloosa Herald
OSKALOOSA
July 02, 2008 11:04 am
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Pella Christian’s Mark Mineart drove in a fourth of his team’s runs and Oskaloosa’s Garrett Luckett fanned 10 Pella Christian batters as the teams earned a Little Hawkeye Conference baseball split Tuesday. Pella Christian won the first game 12-0 while the Indians won the nightcap 4-0.
Pella Christian (18-17, 9-14) took advantage of eight Oskaloosa errors and 10 hits in the first game. Mineart hit two singles to drive in three runs to lead the charge Jon Holwerda added three singles and Alex Veenstra added two singles and two RBI.
Pella Christian’s Matt Vander Hart struck out nine and limited Oskaloosa to two hits to earn the win. He was relieved in the seventh inning by Mineart. He struck out one batter and forced two groundouts.
Oskaloosa coach Brandon Schmidt was disheartened with the result of the game.
“We made too many mistakes,” said Schmidt. “When you make that many mistakes some of them are going to hurt you.
“D.J. wasn’t throwing that badly, we just weren’t making the plays behind him.”
Austin Westercamp and Draughn each had singles for Oskaloosa. Alex West and Jakob McDowell walked for the only other Indian baserunners.
Pella Christian stranded 11 runners in the game.
“We put enough runs on the board in that first game,” said Pella Christian coach Brad Rolffs. “We are not the type of team that plays the short game and puts down a lot of bunts. We are hitters and play that way. We know we will leave some runners on, but we can put up enough runs.”
Game two was a reversal of fortunes. Luckett kept control of the game. He gave up a walk, a double and a two-out single in the top of the fifth as Pella Christian attempted to rally. He struck out his mound nemesis Mineart to end the threat with a runner on board.
The mound performance was impressive enough for Rolffs.
“Their pitcher played a great game,” said Rolffs. “Oskaloosa did not beat us, that pitcher beat us.”
West opened the game with a double and scored on fellow senior Aaron Laird’s groundout. Clinging to the one-run lead, the Indians erupted for three runs backed by McDowell’s two-out dinger.
“It was good to see him come out of a slump,” said Schmidt. “We knew one run would not win it. That three-run home run was big.”
Luckett finished the night scattering three hits, walking two and hit one batter.
“He really has been our most consistent starting pitcher,” said Schmidt.
Oskaloosa has three more dates before tourney action begins. The Indians host Martensdale-St. Mary’s in a junior varsity-varsity doubleheader Wednesday. Thursday they travel to Boone for a JV-varsity twinbill then close out the regular season with a varsity doubleheader at Newton on Monday.
Pella Christian hosts Newton in the regular season closer then opens Class 2A tournament action against Pleasantville at 5 p.m. in Albia on Saturday.
Game 1
Pella Christian 12, Oskaloosa 0
PC 102 213 3 — 12 10 0
Oskaloosa 000 000 0 — 0 2 8
Pella Christian pitching — Matt Vander Hart (W, 6 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 2 BB, 9 K), Mark Mineart (1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 BB, 1 K).
Hits — Jon Holwerda, Chase Dieleman, Mineart 2, Alex Veenstra 2, Matt Vander Hart, Dustin Veenstra, Zack Ruiter, Zack Zylstra. RBI — Mineart 3, Veenstra 2,
Oskaloosa pitching — D.J. Draughn (L, 5 IP, 8 R, 5 H, 4 BB, 5 K).
Hits — Draughn, Austin Westercamp.
Game 2
Oskaloosa 4, Pella Christian 2
PC 000 020 0 — 2 3 0
Oskaloosa 100 300 x — 4 6 3
Pella Christian pitching — Arkema (L, 3 2/3 IP, 4 R, 5 H, 2 BB, 1 K), Mineart (2 1/3IP, 0 R, 1 h, 2 BB, 5 K).
2B — Zack Zylstra.
Hits — Chase Dieleman 2, Zack Zylstra. RBI — Dieleman 2.
Oskaloosa pitching — Garrett Luckett (W, 7 IP, 2 R, 3 H, 2 BB, 10 K).
2B — Alex West 2. HR — Jakob McDowell.
Hits — West 2, Luckett, Bryan Donohue, Tyler Vitzthum, McDowell. RBI — MDowell 3.
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