The Roland-Story Norsemen baseball team returned to action on Tuesday, as they hosted the Knights of Newman Catholic in non-conference action at Norsemen Field in Story City. Roland-Story entered at 17-7, while Newman Catholic entered at 19-7 and ranked #10 in Class 1A.
Game 1 saw the Norsemen get off to a good start, putting up 2 runs in the bottom of the 1st off a William Zamzow sac fly and a Colin Willis RBI groundout, as Newman Catholic answered in the 2nd with a run to make it 2-1. The Knights would tie the game in the top of the 4th to make the score 2-2, but Roland-Story answered with a 4-run bottom of the 4th thanks to 2-run RBI singles from Jake Knoll and Colin Willis to put the Norsemen up 6-2. Newman scored two more runs in the 5th, as Roland-Story answered back with a run in the bottom half off an Aiden Frey bases-loaded walk to go ahead 7-4. In the 7th, it was Newman that would rally for 3 runs to tie the game and send it to extra, as the Knights plated 2 more runs in the top of the 8th to cap a 9-7, come-from-behind victory.
Colin Willis went 1-for-4 with 3 RBI, Jake Knoll went 1-for-4 with 2 RBI, as Cael Faber went 2-for-3 with 2 runs scored. Tucker Hawkins picked up the loss in relief, allowing 5 runs (3 earned) on 3 hits, as Braden Wallace pitched 6 innings, allowing 3 runs on 6 hits and striking out 8.
Game 2 saw Newman Catholic jump ahead early with a two-run top of the 1st, only to be rebutted by 4 Roland-Story runs in the bottom of the frame off a Colin Willis RBI double, a Chance Georgious RBI single, a balk and a Braden Wallace RBI single to make the score 4-2. Scoring wouldn’t pick back up until the 4th, as Colin Willis RBI single made it 5-2, before Roland-Story added 2 runs in the 5th off a Braden Wallace RBI single and an Aiden Frey RBI fielder’s choice to put the Norsemen ahead 7-2. Newman Catholic once again attempted a late rally, but this time Roland-Story slammed the door for a 7-5 win.
Colin Willis went 2-for-4 with a double and 2 RBI, while Braden Wallace went 2-for-2 with 2 RBI and a run scored. Cael Faber pitched the complete game, allowing 5 runs (4 earned) on 6 hits and struck out 4.
Roland-Story baseball returns to action on Wednesday, as they host the Lenox Tigers for a non-conference doubleheader at Norsemen Field in Story City, with first pitch at 4 PM.