STORY CITY, Ia. — The Roland-Story Norsemen baseball team returned to action on Monday night, as they hosted their county rivals in the Gilbert Tigers at Norsemen Field in Story City in non-conference action. Roland-Story entered at 30-1 and ranked #2 in Class 2A, while Gilbert entered at 13-8.
Gilbert struck in the opening frame on an RBI fielder’s choice, before Roland-Story opened the game up in the 2nd on a Chance Georgius solo home run, a Derek Acevedo RBI single, a Jake Knoll 2-run RBI fielder’s choice and a Chance Georgius 2-run RBI single to put the Norsemen ahead 6-1. The Tigers answered with a run in the 4th, but Roland-Story added onto their lead in the bottom half with a Jake Knoll steal of home, a Chance Georgius 2-run RBI double, a Braden Wallace RBI double and a Derek Acevedo RBI groundout to put Roland-Story ahead 11-2. Gilbert would get a run back on a solo home run in the 5th to make it 11-3, but Roland-Story would score a run on a passed ball in the 5th, followed by a Gavin Jeter RBI single in the 6th to walk off a 13-3, 6-inning victory.
Ryan Kepley was the winning pitcher, going 4 innings and allowing 3 runs on 3 hits and striking out 6. Chance Georgius had a big opening game, going 3-for-4 with a home run, double and 5 RBI, as Derek Acevedo went 2-for-4 with 2 RBI.
Game 2 saw Roland-Story get on the board first on a Cael Faber RBI double to go up 1-0, as Gilbert answered with a run in the 2nd and 2 runs in the 3rd to take a 3-1 lead. Roland-Story then stormed back in the bottom of the 3rd on a Chance Georgius 3-run home run and a Braden Wallace steal of home to take a 5-3 lead, before putting up 2 runs in the 4th on a Cooper Triggs steal of home and a Colin Willis RBI single to take a 7-3 lead into the 5th. Jake Knoll then drove in 2 more runs in the 5th on a 2-run RBI double, as the Norsemen locked down a 9-3 victory.
Cael Faber was the winning pitcher, going 6.2 innings and allowing 3 runs (2 earned) on 6 hits and struck out 8. Chance Georgius would go 1-for-3 with a 3-run homer, as Jake Knoll went 1-for-3 with a double and 2 RBI.
Roland-Story baseball returns to action on Tuesday night, when they travel to Mason City for a non-conference doubleheader with the (1A) #5 Newman Catholic Knights, with Game 1 at 5 PM on 95.7 KQWC or online at kqradio.com.