(Atlantic) Red Oak scored three runs in the top of the first inning and held off Atlantic in the seventh to seal a 5-4 win in a Hawkeye Ten Conference baseball game on Thursday night at Atlantic.
“We focus on scoring first, and we were able to do that tonight and hung on,” said Red Oak Head Coach Mark Erickson. ”
The opposing pitchers, Dawson Bond of Red Oak and Jayden Proehl, dueled it out. Bond picked up the win. The senior allowed four runs on seven hits, eight strikeouts, and three walks.
“Dawson did a nice job on the mound; that is what we expect from him; he pounds the strike zone and looks dominant early, but Atlantic made some adjustments and got some good swings on him late in the game,” said Coach Erickson. “Atlantic made a good run late, and it was a good high school baseball game.”
Atlantic senior Jayden Proehl allowed five runs on seven hits, five strikeouts, and one walk.
“I thought Jayden had one of his best pitching performances this season,” said Atlantic Head Coach Gaylord Schelling. “This will give him great confidence going into the district quarterfinal at Harlan next week.”
The Tigers started quickly with three runs in the top of the first inning. Braden Woods’ two-RBI single drove in two of the three runs. But Proehl settled in and retired 16-straight batters. The Trojans scratched one run across in the second frame. Xavier Darrow singled and scored from third on Clevi Johnson’s sacrifice fly.
Landon Couse broke Proehl’s streak with a single in the sixth inning, Dawson Bond followed with a double, and Braden Woods drove him home from third to expand the visitor’s lead to 4-1. Brody Bond laced a single in the top of the seventh and scored to make it a 5-1 Tiger lead.
The Tiger’s insurance run in the top of the seventh proved to be the most important run of the ball game. The Trojans battled back with three runs in the bottom of the 7th inning. Easton O’Brien belted a three-RBI double with two outs to close the gap to 5-4. But a line out to centerfield spoiled the Trojans’ hope, coming up one run short.
“I was proud of our kids at the plate, “said Coach Schelling. “Easton O’Brien hit three ropes, Hudson McLaren hit a rocket to right field. We did a lot of good things. Hats off to Red Oak and Coach Erickson.”
O’Brien led the Trojans with a double and two singles, and Xavier Darrow went two-for-three and scored a run.
Braden Woods led the Tigers with two hits and three RBI.
The Tigers finish the regular season with an 8-12 conference record and 14-12 overall. They will start post-season play on Wednesday.
Atlantic is 10-14 in all games and 6-14 in the conference. They finish the regular season games against non-conference opponents Thomas Jefferson and Bondurant-Farrar next week. The face Harlan in a Class 3A district quarterfinal at Harlan on July 7.
