Kingsley Pierson vs North Linn – Class 1A Quarterfinals
Kingsley Pierson 7
North Linn 4
After a lengthy back and forth between the North Linn Lynx and Kingsley Pierson Panthers, the Panthers were able to get solid hits in the seventh to win it and continue their journey in the Class 1A State Tournament.
Kingsley Pierson batted in the top of the first inning and they wasted little time getting runners home. Damon Schmid got a base hit and was brought home off a deep ball from Conner Beelner. Evan Neumann manufactured an RBI with a sac bunt to score Beelner, giving the Panthers a 2-0 lead early. North Linn was able to get runners on first and second in the second inning but left them stranded. The Lynx changed their luck in the third inning with two runs scored off a two-RBI double from Mason Bechen, tying the game at 2-2.
The Lynx kept their bats alive with another two-run inning in the fourth. Trey McEnany and Ben Wheatley got base hits and McEnany later scored off an error on the Kingsley Pierson defense. North Linn had bases loaded when Bechen was walked and credited with an RBI to give the Lynx the 4-2 lead. Kingsley Pierson’s offense was silent for a time, getting only two runners to first base in four innings after their two-run first inning. The Panthers had luck in the sixth with an RBI single from Malakie Christopherson and a sac bunt RBI from Brandon Kron to tie the game again at 4-4. They’d keep their momentum going in the bottom half of the inning, retiring the first three batters of North Linn and giving them a shot to take the lead.
Schmid was able to reach first off an error and Beelner got a base hit to start the top of the seventh. Christopherson then rocketed off a two-RBI double to give the Panthers the 6-4 lead. He was brought home by Boston Doeschot who got an RBI single, extending the Panther lead to 7-4. With one final push defensively, Kingsley Pierson was victorious by a final score of 7-4. Evan Neumann was the winning pitcher as he pitched three and one-third innings, giving up five hits, one earned run, and recorded three strikeouts. Kingsley Pierson will face the winner of Remsen St. Mary’s and South Winneshiek on Wednesday at Merchant’s Park around 4:30 PM.
Kingsley Pierson Stats
Damon Schmid: 1-4, 2 RS
Conner Beelner: 2-3, 2B, 3 RS, RBI; Pitching: 3 IP, 1 Hit, 2 K
Evan Neumann: 1-2, RBI; Pitching: 3.1 IP, 5 Hits, 4 RA, ER, 3 K, WP
Malakie Christopherson: 2-4, 2B, RS, 3 RBI
Beau Goodwin: RS
Boston Doeschot: 1-3, 2B, RBI
Jackson Howe: 1-4
Brandon Kron: RBI
Beau Bubke: 1-2, HBP
Kevin Wright: Pitching: 0.2 IP, 2 BB, K
North Linn Stats
Austin Hilmer: 1-4, RS; Pitching: 6.1 IP, 9 Hits, 7 RA, 6 ER, 2 BB, HB, 6 K
Cael Bridgewater: RS
Mason Bechen: 1-3, 2B, 3 RBI; Pitching: 0.2 IP, 2 K
Cole Griffith: 1-4
Corbin Woods: 1-3
Trey McEnany: 1-3
Jake Van Etten: RS
Ben Wheatly: 1-3
Tate Woods: RS
Box Score
Teams 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Final
KING 2 0 0 0 0 2 3 | 7
NL 0 0 2 2 0 0 0 | 4
