Rams prep for North Polk in opening round of districts

Staff Report

An early run wasn’t quite enough for a season-closing upset.

Last week the Greene County baseball team concluded the regular season with a conference game against Saydel. Despite scoring early and keeping the lead for most of the game, the Rams eventually fell to Saydel, 6-1.

In the bottom of the first inning the Rams had one of their best offensive innings of the season. Camden Jacobs was able to get on base after a single. Later, senior Brayden Roberts was able to hit a double for a RBI that brought Jacobs in for a run. 

From there the game remained a 1-0 lead in favor of the Rams for the next five innings. 

On the mound senior Matthew Hovick pitched extremely well as he shut down the Eagles who came into Jefferson expecting to hit their way around the Rams. Instead, Hovick, and the Greene County defense, continued to make plays that shut down the Eagles offense. 

It wasn’t until the sixth inning that the Eagles would get on the board. Saddle scored two runs to take the lead away. Greene County wasn’t able to tie the game up in the bottom of the sixth. 

The magic of Hovick’s arm wore off in the top of the seventh. Saydel was able to score four runs to take a 6-1 lead. 

The Rams were unable to score in the bottom of the seventh as Saydel took the Heart of Iowa Conference win. The game ended the Greene County regular season. 

Overall the Rams had just three hits in the game. Camden Jacobs had one hit with a run scored. 

Brayden Roberts had two hits. He had a double for a RBI. He also had a single. Only one other Greene County player, Noah Hinote, reached base. He reached base off an error. Hinote made the most of his time on base as he finished with a stolen base. 

Hovick finished the game after pitching six and two-thirds innings on the mound. He pitched 111 pitches, reaching the end of his pitch count limitations. During his time on the mound he gave up six hits, six runs, five of them earned. He struck out five batters and walked six. 

Gavyn Winters pitched one third of an inning. After 10 pitches, he gave up two hits. 

With that game the Greene County baseball team ended the regular season with a 3-19 overall record. 

Next up the Rams will prepare for their district opener, which will take place on Friday against North Polk in Alleman. 

The former Heart of Iowa foes will square off in a class 3A substate 2 first round game. 

North Polk, who won the Raccoon River Conference title finished with a 24-4 overall record. They finished the season ranked as the No. 2 team in class 3A according to the Iowa High School Baseball Coaches Association. 

Since these teams used to be in the same conference they have a long history of match-ups. 

Their last meeting came on July 6 2020 in a double header. North Polk won the first game 6-4, but Greene County took the second game with a 9-0 victory. 

In the Varsity Bound era, the Comets hold a 19-4 record over Greene County. From 2017-19 North Polk won five-straight games. In June 2016 Greene County won a 5-4 game. 

The Rams swept the games in 2015 as they won 16-0 and also 7-1. North Polk won all of the games between 2009-2014. 

This year the Comets are led by junior pitcher Reece Wrage who has seven wins. He has pitched in 41 and one third innings. During that time he has struck out 62 batters. He has only allowed 18 hits all year. He’s given up seven runs, five of which were earned. He’s walked 13 batters and hit four. 

Another strong pitcher for the Comets is junior Hunter Cook. Cook has started in nine games and has compiled a 6-2 overall record. In that time he has struck out 83 batters. 

Overall Cook has allowed 37 hits, 10 runs scored, seven of which have been earned. He’s walked 13 batters and hit one. 

As a tam the Comets hold a team ERA of 1.5. They have struck out 264 batters, allowed just 141 hits with 61 runs given up, 41 of which were earned. 

The Rams are led pitching wise by Noah Hinote. The Sophomore holds a 3-3 record this year. He’s given up 32 hits, 30 runs, 21 of which were earned. He’s struck out 37 batters and holds a ERA of 4.12. 

As a team the Rams have struck out 96 batters, and allowed 178 hits. They have given up 194 runs, 127 of them earned. 

The Comets have has 225 hits this year, led by Austin Parkins, who has had 30 total hits on the season, 28 of them singles and two doubles. He is hitting .330. 

Cooper Spurgeon has had 25 hits, with 20 singles, four doubles and a triple. He has also hit 18 RBI. 

Colton Manock, a junior, leads North Polk with 21 runs scored. He has just one hit on the year. 

Greene County, as a team, is hitting .192 on the season. They have 102 hits, with 82 singles, 18 doubles, one triple and a home run. 

Brayden Robets leads the Rams with 17 hits. He has had eight singles, eight double and the only home run on the year for the Rams. 

Camden Jacobs, Noah Hinote and Gavyn Winters all have 14 hits each. 

Winters has 11 singles and three doubles. Camden Jacobs has had 14 singles. Hinote has 10 singles and four doubles.

The district game starts at 7 p.m. on Friday night in Alleman. Winner of the game will advance to play either Hampton-Dumont or Webster City in the class 3A substate 2 semifinals on July 10.