(Avoca, IA) — In the regular season final game for both teams, AHSTW beat CAM 6-5 and guaranteed themselves to finish above .500 for the season.
CAM scored twice in the top of the first inning off Viking starter Sage Blotzer — Carson McKee got a leadoff walk and scored on Zach Kauffman’s RBI double in the LF corner. Kauffman scored on a RBI grounder from Kason Calhoun.
AHSTW got one back in the bottom of the first against CAM starter Braxton Dennis with a leadoff single from Chase Wheatley who scored on a RBI hit from Cash Freeman.
In the top of the 2nd, the Cougars got runners on 2nd and 3rd and McKee hit a bounder up the middle that looked like a sure hit but Taylen Hanson came out of nowhere from his shortstop position, fielded it and beat McKee by a sliver at first. Hanson the delivered a leadoff double in the bottom of the 2nd and went to third on an error then scored on CAM’s 2nd error of the inning and it was tied 2-2.
CAM retook the lead in the top of the 3rd when Collin Bower got hit by a pitch, Calhoun singled and Dennis hit a fly ball to shallow center — it was caught but the Vikings forgot about Bower who tagged up late and scored on the sac fly to lead 3-2.
In the bottom of the third, AHSTW kept the pressure on with back to back leadoff singles from Ty Nelson and Cash Freeman. After Camdyn Dresen struck out, Blotzer walked to load the bases and Donnie Behrens delivered a clutch 2 run single to give the Vikings a 4-3 lead.
They added to it in the bottom of the 4th — Wheatley got a one out walk and Nelson singled. They both moved to 2nd and 3rd and would both score on wild pitches as Dennis started to tire and AHSTW led 6-3.
CAM came back in the top of the 5th as Blotzer started to tire — Kauffman singled, Bower was hit by a pitch for the 2nd time on the night. After Calhoun flew out, Dennis brought in Kauffman on a RBI fielders choice with Bower thrown out. Dennis would eventually score on a bases loaded walk but Blotzer got a pop out to get out the inning and CAM left the bases full.
Andrew Lund came in and allowed just one baserunner in the final two innings to preserve the win.
AHSTW
Ty Nelson 3-4, 2 runs
Cash Freeman 2-3, RBI
Taylen Hansen 1-3 double, run
Sage Blotzer 5 IP, 5 R, 4 ER, 5 H, 3 BB, 3 K
CAM
Zach Kauffman 3-4, double, RBI, 2 runs
Kayden Winther 2-3
Braxton Dennis 4 IP, 6 R, 5 ER, 7 H, 3 BB, 5 K
Line Score
CAM (14-9) 5 Runs, 6 Hits, 2 Errors, 8 LOB
AHSTW (13-11) 6 Runs, 9 Hits, 2 Errors, 8 LOB
W: Blotzer (2-0)
L: Dennis (3-2)
Sv: Lund (1)
Time: 1:53
