Creston too much in Wolverines opener

GREENFIELD — Nodaway Valley/OM tied the game heading to the top of the fifth but Creston responded with five runs in that inning and pulled away for a win in non-conference action on the opening night of the Wolverines’ baseball season.

The Panthers scored three runs in the second, five in the fifth, three in the seventh and one each in the third and fourth innings for a 13-7 victory Wednesday.

Nodaway Valley/OM scored three in the fourth and two in the sixth after bridging the gap to a 4-2 Creston lead after three innings.

Creston had 11 hits, led by senior Parker Varner, who went 3-for-3 with two runs scored, two walks and an RBI. On two hits, sophomore Tanner Ray drove four runs in and scored once. Ray, freshman Logan Stehr and sophomore Tom Mikkelsen finished with two hits each. The Panthers were 5-for-5 stealing bases.

Creston committed two errors on the night defensively.

Freshman pitcher Landyn Scherer got the win, pitching four innings. He gave up four earned runs on seven hits, walked one and dealt four of the team’s 10 strikeouts for the night.

“Landyn Scherer came out and did a nice job on his first varsity start on the mound,” Creston coach Brandon Phipps said. “Nodaway Valley is always a gritty team and their home field is a tough place to play.”

The Panthers used three pitchers in the game.

“We were deep in our rotation so it was nice to see guys like Camden Smith and Cason Scarberry step up out of the bullpen,” Phipps said. “Offensively, once we adjusted, we were able to string together some scrappy innings.”

Wolverine freshman Titan Foster went 2-for-3 with a run scored and a walk while sophomore Manolis Galanakis was 2-for-4 with a run scored, a single, a double and two RBIs. Junior Remington Woosley homered in the game with one RBI.

NV/OM used Ty Strode, Paul Berg, Eli Harris and Woosley on the mound in the game.

Nodaway Valley/OM (0-1) has a trip Thursday to Mount Ayr and a home game Friday against Red Oak.