March 29, 2024

Creston baseball takes season opener 16-6 over SW Valley

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The Creston varsity baseball squad kicked off its season with a promising victory Monday night over the Southwest Valley Timberwolves, 16-6.

While the Panthers worked out some kinks in their defense, their bats came alive to start the season off on the right foot.

“We hit the ball,” said head coach Steve Birchard. “They helped us a couple times and we took advantage.”

The Panthers blew the game wide open in the third inning, stringing together a series of walks and base hits with designated hitter Beau Barncastle placing an exclamation point on the inning with a three-RBI double. Barncastle also knocked in the winning run with a single in the bottom of the sixth, ending the game via the 10-run mercy rule.

Coach Birchard said of the win, “It was a good start for us. Southwest Valley’s got a good team; they’re headed in the right direction.”

Southwestern Community College assistant coach Kenny Namanny, former Denison-Schleswig player, is the new Timberwolves coach.

Creston’s Brody Frain contributed two doubles, a single and three runs scored to the Panthers’ victory.

Birchard was encouraged by the initial team effort, but knows his squad’s season will continue to bring challenges.

“We’ve got Glenwood coming up tomorrow, one of the top teams in the conference,” Birchard said. “Wednesday we have Indianola, a big school to come down here and give us a good challenge.”

In junior varsity action the Panthers also garnered a victory, defeating Southwest Valley 6-5 in three innings. Barncastle led the way offensively with two base hits and two RBI.

“Overall it was a good day,” JV coach Brandon Phipps said. “We did a lot of things right, but obviously with it being the first game we have a lot to work on. It was nice to sprinkle in some of the eighth-grade guys to give them a little taste of high school baseball.”

Creston 16, Southwest Valley 6

R  H  E

SWV 002 130 — 6 5 4

Creston 228 013 — 16 9 2

Cr: Cody Crawford and Jaden Driskell. SWV: Addison Bull, Aiden Gaule and Ryan Allison. W — Driskell (1-0). L— Bull (0-1). HR — none. 3B — none. 2B — Cr: Brody Frain 2; Beau Barncastle 1. RBI — Cr: Beau Barncastle 4; Brody Frain 1; SWV: Trevor Holbrook 1. Multiple hitters — Cr: Brody Frain 3; Beau Barncastle 2; SWV: Addison Bull 2.