Solon starting pitcher Brandon Shulista hurled a complete-game shutout en route to a 4-0 win over Interstate 35 in a Class 2A first-round game Monday afternoon at Principal Park. Shulista gave up only two hits, no walks, hit a batter and struck out nine batters.

The top-ranked Spartans got on the board in the bottom of the first inning. Marshall Koehn drew a lead off walk and subsequently stole second base. Two batters later, he was singled in by Derrick Loveless to make it a 1-0 game in favor of Solon.

Solon struck again in the bottom of the second. Ryan Butler singled with one out and advanced to second on an error. Three batters later, Butler scored on a single by Koehn, giving the Spartans a 2-0 lead.

The Spartans put up a run in the bottom of the third, their third run in as many frames. Loveless led off the inning with a triple and scored as Tyler Smith reached base on an error, increasing Solon’s lead to 3-0.

As Shulista was coasting on the mound for the Spartans, his counterpart, Blake Brommel pitched a good ball game for the I-35 Roadrunners. Brommel also tossed a complete game, surrendering six hits, four runs (three earned), two walks, while striking out eight.

In the end, Shulista was just too much for the Roadrunners to handle, as they could only muster six baserunners all afternoon. Shulista did not yield his first hit until there was one out in the top of the fourth inning. His record on the season now stands at a perfect 11-0.

Koehn reached base four times for Solon, going 2-for-2 with two walks, two RBI’s, a run scored and three stolen bases.

With the win, Solon pushed their record to 39-2. The Spartans will now play Waterloo Columbus Thursday evening at 6 p.m. for a berth in the 2A state championship. Solon defeated fellow WaMaC Conference member Waterloo Columbus twice in the regular season.

 

 

Bloomfield Davis County second baseman Coleton Mathews hit a fly ball to right field that PCM Monroe right fielder Kody Wilkie couldn’t corral into his glove as Davis County walked off with a 2-1 win in the Monday nightcap at Principal Park.

Davis County, the number three ranked team in class 2A, was on the verge of being on the losing end as PCM was able to breakthrough on the scoreboard first thanks to some misplays on the part of Davis County.

Entering the sixth inning in a scoreless tie, Wilkie led off and reached base on a hit-by-pitch. Hutch Burns then placed a perfect bunt down the third base line on a sacrifice attempt. As Davis County third baseman fielded the bunt and threw out Burns, Wilkie rounded second and headed for third after seeing nobody was covering the base. A wild throw over to third on an error by first baseman Caleb Rook then allowed Wilkie to score and give PCM a 1-0 lead.

The lead didn’t last for long as Davis Co. was able to rally back in their half of the sixth and took advantage of a PCM defensive miscue.

Center fielder Zach Fligg hit a one-out double and advanced to third on a passed ball by catcher Joe Gilson. Mathews then soared a ball to center field that was deep enough to plate Fligg and tie the game at 1-1.

After Davis County starting pitcher Calvin Mathews retired the side in the top of the seventh, the Mustangs showed patience at the plate against reliever Kurt Timmons.

Timmons walked both Kyle Graves and Josey Garmon to start the inning to put baserunners on first and second. After Rook popped out on a bunt attempt, Josh Martsching advanced the runners to second and third with a sacrifice bunt. Fligg drew a walk to load the bases which brought up Coleton Mathews. He jumped on a pitch from Timmons that went into right field and Wilkie made a diving attempt to catch it. The ball popped into and out of his glove as he met the ground and Graves came from third to score the winning run.

Calvin Mathews (15-0) got the win and stayed undefeated on the season. He pitched a complete game, giving up only one hit and one unearned run while walking one and striking out 10 batters over his seven innings of work.

Mathews was dominating most of the game, retiring his first nine in a row while striking out seven of them. His only hit allowed was a lead off single in the top of the fifth.

Timmons (4-3) received the loss, giving up one unearned run with three walks and one strikeout over an inning of work.

Davis County improves to 34-1 on the season and will face third seeded Carroll Kuemper Catholic on Thursday at 8 p.m. at Principal Park.

PCM ends their season at 16-12.