SPORTS

Story City Herald sports round-up: Norse baseball team clinches the HOIC championship

Joe Randleman
Ames Tribune
Matthew Phelan struck out 13 batters in his first career start on the mound for Roland-Story during a 10-0 victory over South Hardin June 30 at Norsemen Field in Story City.

The Roland-Story baseball team ended the regular season on a five-game winning streak and the Norse softball team defeated Prairie City-Monroe in its final game of the regular season last week.

The Roland-Story baseball team swept South Hamilton by scores of 7-4 and 10-0 June 27 at Norsemen Field in Story City. The Norsemen crushed South Central Calhoun on the road by a 23-2 score June 28, won at PCM by a 6-1 margin June 29 and hammered South Hardin by a 10-0 score June 30 on senior night at Norsemen Field.

The Roland-Story baseball team improved to 19-6 and wrapped up another Heart of Iowa Conference title, finishing with a 13-1 conference mark.

The Norse softball team split with South Hamilton June 27 at Roland, winning 7-3 and losing 8-6. They suffered an 11-0 loss to an Ankeny Centennial team ranked sixth in Class 5A June 28 at Roland and concluded the regular season with a 5-3 win over PCM at Monroe.

With the PCM win the Norse softball team improved to 19-9 overall and finished 10-4 in the HOIC. Roland-Story, ranked 14th in Class 3A, ended up second in the conference behind seventh-ranked Saydel (12-2).

Tyler Isebrands lays down a bunt during Roland-Story's 10-0 victory over South Hardin June 30 in Story City.

Norsemen baseball team on a roll heading into districts

The Roland-Story baseball team finished the regular season in style with its five victories last week.

Brett Schmitz, Thomas Matthes, Carter Loof and Dillon Lettow combined to go 9-for-13 with five RBIs and runs apiece in the 7-4 victory over South Hamilton. Schmitz was 3-for-4 with a triple and Matthes, Loof and Lettow each had two hits.

Matthes was the winning pitcher after 2 1/3 perfect innings with four strikeouts. 

In the 10-0 victory the Norsemen put the game away early with an eight-run fifth inning. Matthes threw a two-hitter with seven strikeouts to get the win and he went 2-for-3 with one run and RBI apiece. Alex Berends was 2-for-3 with a double and one run and RBI apiece and Cooper Loof was 1-for-2 with three RBIs.

In the dominant win over South Central Calhoun Matthes was 3-for-5 with a home run and four RBIs, Matthew Phelan and Schmitz each doubled and drove in three runs and Jackson Anthony also drove in three runs. Schmitz was the winning pitcher after giving up two hits and one walk with seven strikeouts in three scoreless innings.

Roland-Story clinched the HOIC behind a two-hitter from Berends. Berends struck out 13 batters and only walked three. Matthes, Lettow, Berends and Ben Greenfield each drove in a run and Carter Loof singled and scored.

Phelan had a great first-career start in the win over South Hardin on senior night. Phelan fired a two-hitter with 13 strikeouts and two walks in just five innings before the game ended early on account of the mercy rule.

Matthes was 2-for-3 with three RBIs, Lettow drove in two runs, Cooper Loof finished 2-for-3 with two runs and Berends was 2-for-3 with a run against South Hardin.

Roland-Story's Kayley Birkland connects for a base hit during a doubleheader against South Hamilton June 27 in Roland.

Norse softball team downs PCM in nine innings

Roland-Story went into extra innings in its win over PCM to close out the regular season. The Norse broke a 3-3 tie with two runs in the top of the ninth.

Hayden Walters drove in two runs and Macy Friest and Madison Geise one apiece in the victory over the Mustangs. Reagan Faber was 3-for-5 with a run and Ally Ringsby 2-for-5 with a run.

Geise was the winning pitcher after giving up three runs on four hits and two walks with seven strikeouts.

In the loss to Centennial Kayley Birkland had two hits and Faber, Ringsby and Alynn Solberg one apiece. Geise gave up two earned runs on four hits in 2 1/3 innings and Adison Sabatino two earned runs on eight hits in 2 2/3 innings.

In the 7-3 victory over South Hamilton Ringsby went 3-for-4 with a run, Geise 2-for-4 with two runs and RBIs apiece, Birkland 2-for-4 and Friest 1-for-3 with a double and two RBIs. Walters also drove in two runs and Kamryn Lande 2-for-3 with two runs.

Reagan Faber gets a steal during Roland-Story's doubleheader with South Hamilton June 27 in Roland.

Alyssa Jones was the winning pitcher, giving up one run on five hits and one walk with two strikeouts in 5 1/3 innings.

In the 8-6 loss to the Hawks Friest drove in two runs and Birkland one. Faber was 3-for-5 with two runs and Lydia Oetker 2-for-4 with a run. Geise gave up three earned runs on six hits with three strikeouts in 3 2/3 innings as the losing pitcher.