July 27, 2018 By Chris Varney
It is our final day of the work week and two more schools to review for the baseball and softball season.
Tri County
Baseball (1-19, 1-15, Last Place in SICL): There was only 11 players on the roster for the Trojans this year and because of injuries there were a couple of times that Head Coach Scott Edmundson could only finish a game with 8 players. The only victory was a forfeit game by Sigourney because they violated the pitching count rule. Pitching continues to be a problem for Tri County with a team ERA of 8.44. Still that is an improvement over a season ago when it was over 11. Offense was an issue too with a team batting average of .181. Senior Cameron Krumm (.360) was the exception and the Trojans leading hitter. Sophomore Brayden Monroe and Junior Aydan Bos and Krumm handled most of the workload on the pitching front. Warren Williams was the only other senior.
Softball (3-19, 2-14, 11th place in the SICL): All three wins for the Trojans were against last place Keota. Tri County had won 11 games in 2017 but were hard pressed to find a replacement for graduated pitcher Kaitlyn Little. The team ERA this season was 10.04. Sophomore Emma Miover (2-14, 8.92) saw most of the work. Senior Myrissa Garber (.426, 1, 12) did have a good year batting and Freshman Reace Thomas (.309) also has showed some promise. Little else went right for the Trojans who graduated 3 seniors, 2 of them starters.
East Marshall
Baseball (13-15, 6-6, T 4th in NICL West): On June 27, the Mustangs were just 6-14 but something clicked late. After winning 4 games in a row to end the regular season, East Marshall beat Des Moines Christian in the first round of the district playoffs. They avenged two losses to arch-rival West Marshall in the district semifinals then took care of PCM 11-4 to win the district final. Centerville would end the Cinderella story in the substate finals but it was a great run nevertheless. Senior Justin Ridout (5-2, 1.69; .404, 5, 31) and Sophomore Zach Jacobson (3-2, 2.84) would lead the club down the stretch, especially on the mound. Senior Zane Johnson (.500, 2, 26) was red hot with the bat. Senior Tyler DeBondt (2-4, 5.32; .306) provided much needed leadership. Head Coach Justin Frost says that after the Mustangs won 5-0 over a good Gladbrook Reinbeck team, the confidence just grew with each game afterward. Johnson, Ridout, DeBondt, and Colton Weese are all gone next year and East Marshall only has two juniors that start so it will be a young team in 2019.
Softball (26-8, 10-2, 2nd in NICL West): After a .500 season a year ago, East Marshall surged back into state tournament contention, losing in the regional finals to Louisa Muscatine. The Mustangs had a chance at the conference title but lost 1-0 to AGWSR in their regular season finale. Sophomore Kodie Hoskey (17-6, 1.89) was a dominant ace with 147 total strikeouts. Sophomore Regan McIlrath (9-2, 2.71; .314) came back after a year hiatus and pitched well in the #2 role and played some good shortstop. Junior Madison Farrington (.421, 7, 34) became a big leader and Head Coach Jary Hoskey calls her one of the best catchers he has ever had. Juniors Maria Rasmussen (.372, 0, 31), Melinda Puumala (.357, 23 SB), and Julianna Arifi (.301, 2., 21) all had big seasons. Sophomore Hannah Birks (.402, 0, 25) emerged this year as well. East Marshall only graduated one senior (Ellen Hungerford .398, 2. 33) so this team will be poised for another run next year. AGWSR returns their star pitcher Taryan Barrick so it will be a tough battle between the Cougars and the Mustangs in the NICL West next season.
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