March 28, 2024

Rams break away in middle innings, 11-1

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The Glenwood Rams have shown plenty of offensive firepower in an undefeated start to the 2015 season, including an 11-1 road victory at Creston Monday night.

The Rams started the season with an 18-6 victory over Tri-Center, followed by a 7-3 win in the Hawkeye 10 opener against St. Albert.

Creston, meanwhile, has scored seven total runs in a 1-2 start, which included a 1-0 win at Indianola last week.

The Rams benefitted from a lot of flares and blooping hits in the hole Monday, mixed in with five bases on balls and a pair of hard-hit balls by catcher Cole Loeffelbein for a double and triple.

Creston, meanwhile, managed only singles by Cody Crawford and Brody Frain againt Ram pitcher Zak Mumm, who struck out six and walked four in the five-inning contest.

He was backed by an offense that included a 3-of-3 night by Nate Nebel with two RBI, and a pair of hits by third baseman Dru Little. Shortstop Kolten Wilwerding also had two hits for the Rams.

Still, Panther starting pitcher Cody Crawford seemed destined for a better fate, working in a 0-0 game through three innings. He ran into some early trouble in the fourth with a single down the third-base line by Kyle Murfeld, followed by a walk and sacrifice bunt.

A flair single by Nebel over Panther shortstop Conner Pals made it 1-0. A walk loaded the bases with one out, but Pals fielded a bouncer and fired to catcher Kadon Hulett for a force at the plate for the second out.

Crawford could have escaped with just the one run, but on a 3-2 count with all three runners leaving on the pitch, a dropped popup cleared the bases. Loeffelbein followed with an RBI double to make it 5-0, with four of the runs unearned.

Crawford was relieved by Brody Frain at that point and the Rams chipped away again in the fifth with six runs on five hits, including a triple by Loeffelbein over center fielder Gavin Woods.

“It was one of those games,” said Creston coach Steve Birchard. “They dropped a few in, then they tattooed a couple.”

Birchard planned on freshman Jaden Driskell taking the mound tonight at Clarinda, leaving sophomores Kadon Hulett and Chase Shiltz for the doubleheader at Harlan Thursday. Hulett was still nursing a tender arm Monday after throwing more than 100 pitches in the Indianola game, but did throw out a steal attempt at third Monday at catcher.

Shiltz did not play Monday with a sprained ankle from soccer last week, but Birchard said his condition is improving and he should be ready by tonight or Thursday.

Glenwood won the JV game 8-0 but it was only 1-0 through two innings when eighth-grader Kylan Smallwood pitched with three strikeouts and three walks. The Rams followed with four runs in the third and three more in the fourth.

Having a single each for Creston were Smallwood, Cory Marquardt and Matt Hoffman.

Glenwood 11, Creston 1

R H E

Glenwood 000 56 — 11 13 3

Creston 000 01 — 1 2 2

G: Zak Mumm 6K 4BB and Cole Loeffelbein. Cr: Cody Crawford 1K 3BB, Brody Frain (5) 2K 2BB and Kadon Hulett. W — Mumm. L— Crawford. 3B — G: Cole Loeffelbein. 2B — G: Loeffelbein. RBI — G: Wyatt Schulz 2, Loeffelbein 2, Nate Nebel 2, Dru Little 1; Cr: Conner Pals 1. Multiple hitters — G: Nate Nebel 3, Loeffelbein 2, Little 2, Kolten Wilwerding 2.