(Anita) For the fifth time in the past six seasons the CAM baseball program will be playing in a game to get to state. The 8th rated Cougars improved to 26-2 on the season with a 7-3 District Final win on Saturday over Lamoni.
The Substate Final round has been a familiar one for the CAM which made the state tourney in 2017, but have fallen short in their last three tries. Tuesday night will bring another opportunity as coach Dan Daugherty’s team gets together with 23-9 Ogden. The Bulldogs knocked off #9 Ankeny Christian on Saturday by a count of 3-2.
Colby Rich broke a 3-all tie in the 6th inning of CAM’s victory on Saturday. With two outs and the bases loaded, Rich deposited a two-run single to right field. It would end up being a four run inning for the home squad, which regained control after coughing up a 3-0 lead. Jack Follmann led off the frame with a double and Chase Spieker hit a one out single to put runners at the corners. Lamoni reliever Brayden Olson got a big strikeout for the 2nd out of the inning, but Lamoni opted to intentionally walk Lane Spieker. This loaded the bases for Rich and he made the Demons pay. Spieker scored from 2nd base a batter later when Joe Kauffman hit an infield single. Rich also scored in the inning on a wild pitch.
CAM’s four run 6th inning was the big response they needed after Lamoni rallied back to tie the game in the top of the frame. The Demon’s comeback bid started in the 5th inning when Kade Nowlin led off with a double and was driven in on a Kalvin Brown triple. Brown also scored in the inning on an Odin Rivera groundout to snug things up to 3-2. Cade Ticknor tossed the first five innings for CAM he allowed two runs, three hits, no walks, and struck out five. Joe Kauffman went the final two inning with one run, one walk, two hits, and one hit batter allowed. Kauffman struck out four and earned the win.
Lamoni tied the game in the 6th with a two out rally. Kauffman fanned the first two batters of the frame, but then gave up a walk to Landon McKillop and an RBI double to Braedon Boswell. Boswell’s hit got Lamoni right back in the contest, but the momentum faded out. They end their season at 16-7. McKillop allowed seven hits in four innings with one walk and four K’s. Olson allowed four hits in two innings with one intentional walk and two strikeouts.
CAM rides an 11-game win streak into Tuesday’s substate final against Ogden. The game will air on 96.5 FM KSOM with a 7:00 first pitch.
