(Audubon, IA) — Stanton broke a scoreless tie with four runs in the bottom of the 5th and Gavin Ford threw a six hitter leading the Vikings past Griswold 4-0 on Saturday night in a Class 1A first round playoff match-up.
In the 5th, Cooper Dreyer singled off Tiger starter Calden Turner and Jayden Burke walked. That knocked Turner from the game who only allowed 2 hits in the game. In came Kolbe Klindt and Jacob Martin laid down a bunt but Klindt threw it away and ended up at third base after another throwing error — Dreyer and Burke both scored. Owen Marsh followed with a RBI single to make it 3-0 and Marsh later scored on a 2 out RBI double from Nolan Case.
Ford retired the last 8 hitters he faced to earn the win, striking out 11 and did not walk anybody.
Griswold did have chances — Klindt was hit by a pitch with 1 out in the 2nd and Brayden Lockwood singled down the left field line but Ford got a strike out and ground out to end the threat. In the third inning, Bode Wyman hit one to the wall in left and tried for a triple but was thrown out at third. It was unfortunate for the Tigers because Nollan Smith and Zane Johnson followed with back to back singles but Ford got a strike out to end the inning. Alex Nelson and Wyman each got singles in the 5th but Ford got a pop up and fly out to end that threat. Griswold was 0-5 with runners in scoring position and nobody got to third base safely.
Calden Turner was the surprise starter for Griswold and he kept his team in the game, going 4+ innings, allowing 2 runs, 1 earned on just 2 hits, walked 3 and struck out 6 but took the loss. Griswold ends the season at 8-15.
Stanton is now 10-10 and will visit Martensdale St. Mary’s, the top seed in Substate 7 on Tuesday night.
Line Score
Griswold (8-15) — 0 runs, 6 hits, 3 errors, 6 LOB
Stanton (10-10) — 4 runs, 4 hits, 0 errors, 6 LOB
Win: Ford (6-4)
Loss: Turner (0-1)
Time: 1:33
