DES MOINES — Nodaway Valley senior Jackson Lamb has participated in other sports at the state level, and so have many of his teammates.
He will close out his prep career participating at the state level in one sport he’d yet to play at the highest level.
“It’s going to be a highlight of my year, especially with golf and basketball,” Lamb said. “Just to cap everything off, going out there and for it to be my final game, nothing’s going to beat it.”
Eighth-seeded Nodaway Valley, 19-10, takes on top-seeded and top-ranked Mason City Newman, 35-2, at Principal Park.
First pitch is set for 7:30 p.m.
Nodaway Valley will chalk up another state tournament experience tonight when they step onto the diamond at Principal Park.
“It’s awesome to be with your teammates,” Lamb said. “Each sport is a different group. There’s some similarities. I wish everybody could have a chance to play on a high stage like that. I’ve been blessed to do that.”
Participating in state basketball and state golf helps lead Lamb into the experience at state baseball.
“I’ve been blessed to be able to do that,” Lamb said. “I’m prepared, I’m ready to lead my team in that role. I hope I can keep their nerves down and play Nodaway Valley baseball.”
Lamb isn’t alone in having competed at a high level. Other Wolverines have participated in cross country.
Some of the team has shown cattle in big shows.
Coach Dan Jameson expects those experiences to calm the team’s jitters in their first trip to Principal Park.
“They’ve been successful in other places,” Jameson said. “This is a little different environment. They’ll relax and play. All that success does help out.”
Reaching the state tournament shows what the program has.
“It just validates that we have quality kids,” Jameson said. “They can play baseball. They can get it done. They know what to do."
“It’s a huge step for the program.”
Nodaway Valley rode solid pitching performances much of the season, led by Lamb, senior Sam Marnin and sophomore Corbin Bond. The trio has combined to go 15-6 with 99 strikeouts against 25 walks.
But it has been the bats that have carried the Wolverines in the postseason. Nodaway Valley has scored an average of nine runs a game.
Senior Ryan Jensen leads the Wolverines in several categories. He’s batting .380 with 27 runs driven in and 20 runs. Junior Joe Herr is batting .333 with 15 driven in. Lamb is batting .329 with five doubles and has driven in 18.
“Up and down the lineup, everyone has done a great job,” Jameson said.
What Jameson and the coaching staff has been working on with the team in the batting cage has paid off at the right time.
“It’s just crazy to think we’ve all been zoned in,” Lamb said. “Coach at the beginning of the year stressed our approach each at bat, each game. One-through-nine, we’ve been doing great.”
The Wolverines will need to bring hot sticks to Principal Park against the state-tested Knights.
“The guys have a lot of confidence swinging the bat now,” Jameson said. “Hopefully we can carry that through early, show them we’re there to play.”
Nodaway Valley will have to be at its best on the mound and at the plate against the perennially powerful Knights. Newman Catholic is at state for the ninth straight season, best in all classes. The Knights are the defending Class 1A champions and have won five titles since 1998 and been the runner-up four times in that stretch.
The Knights are led offensively by senior Bryce Ball. Ball is batting .515 with 16 home runs and 64 driven in. Junior Peyton Scott is batting .349 wiht 20 driven in and 48 runs. Senior Parker Dondlinger is hitting .441 with 49 driven in.
“Newman is Newman,” Jameson said. “They’ll be tough. They’re solid up and down the lineup.”
Newman Catholic also has solid pitching. Freshman Evan Paulus is 7-1 with a 1.11 earned run average. Ball is 7-0 with a 1.45 ERA.
For Lamb and the Wolverines, the moment is theirs, adding a state trip to their resumes.
“Going into this year, I thought golf was my only chance,” he said. “We surprised everybody, surprised ourselves playing at the level we are now.
“It’s crazy. Nothing beats it.”