Indees drop first DC game, win three others

Independence/Gilmanton’s loss to Eleva-Strum last Monday created a logjam at the top of the Dairyland Conference baseball standings.

The Indees couldn’t get a single run across the plate in a 5-0 loss to the Cardinals. They went on to beat Alma Center Lincoln, Melrose-Mindoro and Alma/Pepin last week to keep pace as one of three teams at the top of the DC standings with one loss. The Cardinals are technically the top team in the DC with a 7-1 record, while both I/G and Whitehall are 6-1. E-S previously lost to Whitehall and Whitehall lost to I/G. 

I/G played a doubleheader in Augusta on Tuesday of this week and are set to host Blair-Taylor on Friday. Next week they have games against Cochrane-Fountain City on Tuesday and Eau Claire Immanuel Lutheran on Thursday.

Eleva-Strum 5 I/G 0

The Indees struggled offensively and defensively as they had more errors than hits in the loss. 

I/G had two errors to start the game, allowing E-S to take a 1-0 lead in the top of the first. Two singles in the third plated another E-S run. The Cardinals plated another in the fifth and two in the sixth. 

Brandon Sylla took the loss for I/G despite not allowing an earned run. He struck out five in 3.2 innings, while allowing three hits. Ben Pyka pitched 2.1 innings and Nathan Pyka finished the game. Ben Pyka also struck out five. 

The Indees had just two hits in the game and committed six errors. 

I/G 12 AC Lincoln 0

The Indees scored multiple runs in each of the first four innings to take control of the game early. 

Brandon Sylla had an RBI single as part of a three-run first inning. In the second, Hunter Guenther had a one-run single and Nathan Pyka doubled in two runs to put I/G ahead 6-0. Another run scored on a passed ball before the end of the second.

Two runs scored on an error in the third. I/G went ahead 10-0 when Guenther scored on a passed ball in the fourth then two more runs came home on an error.

Guenther and Pyka both had two hits for the Indees as the team totaled seven.

Kingsbury pitched a complete game, striking out 10 without a walk, while holding the Hornets to three hits.

I/G 13 Mel-Min 1

The Indees took an early lead then broke the game open late.

Eric Rojas Lopez doubled in two runs to put I/G ahead 3-0 in the top of the first. They added another on a sacrifice fly by Nathan Pyka, making the score 4-1 in the third. 

I/G pulled away in the fourth as Guenther and Rojas Lopez both had two-run doubles as part of a seven-run inning. They added two more runs in the fifth as Guenther and Carlos Montalvo both brought runs home on groundouts.

The Indees had eight hits as a team as Guenther went three-for-four with three RBIs. Rojas Lopez was two-for-three with four RBIs while Kingsbury also had two hits. Montalvo and Pyka both had two RBIs. 

Sylla pitched the Indees to the win, striking out five without a walk and just one hit allowed in five innings.

I/G 8 P/A 1

The Indees jumped ahead with three runs in the first inning then pulled away with five in the fifth.

Sylla and Nathan Pyka had consecutive RBI hits in the first that put the Indees ahead 3-0. 

The Eagles scored one in the third, but the Indees got that back and more in the fifth. Sylla brought home a run with a single before Rojas Lopez scored two with a hit and another run scored on a dropped third strike. 

The Indees had 12 hits in the game as Guenther went three-for-four while Sylla, Pyka and Kingsbury all had two hits.

Guenther got the win on the mound, striking out eight without a walk while limiting the Eagles to seven hits.