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| The RVC South is no slouch in class 2A. Wilton and Regina are ranked and Durant may be the surprise team this year with a solid pitching staff. |
Wildcats Are Surprising Team To Start 2015
DURANT — The Durant Wildcats are off to their best start in years with a record of 5-2 including winners of their last five. The only losses that Durant has suffered this year are to state ranked Iowa City Regina in their first games of the season back on May 26. The Wildcats pitching staff have been lights out so far with a team ERA of 0.61 in 34 innings pitched. The staff of Jake Benischek, Reece Bird, Colin Weigh and Adam Wiese have 27 strikeouts to 2 walks through their Monday, June 1 games. The Wildcats play #3 Cascade in Cascade on Thursday, June 4 and that will be a big RVC cross-over game for both teams.
Equally as impressive is the 5-0 start by Wilton. The Beavers opened their new baseball facility in week one and drew many fans curious to see their new stadium. The 2015 team is ranked #4 in the latest class 2A baseball rankings. Wilton has only given up one run, unearned, through their first five games and that was to North Cedar on Monday, June 1 in Lowden. Beaver pitching has a team ERA of 0.00 in 25 innings pitched with 58 strikeouts against only 9 walks. Opposing teams are batting 0.045 against Wilton pitching through five games. Junior Javin Drake and senior Caleb Kaufmann each are 2-0 while Evan Reifert is 1-0.
The Beavers offense has been equally impressive, scoring 10 or more runs in all five games and 12 or more in four of those games. Wilton has 45 hits in 114 at-bats and a team batting average of .395 and on-base percentage of .546. The Beavers already have stolen 29 bases in 30 attempts, fourth in class 2A. Drake and Zach Randolph each are batting over .600 through five games.
The Tipton Tigers picked up their first win of the season on Friday, May 29 in a 7-0 win over Midland. The Tigers opened with a doubleheader loss to Durant.
Mid-Prairie handed state ranked Iowa City Regina their first loss of the season on Monday, June 1 in the second game of the RVC doubleheader. The Golden Hawks beat the Regals 11-10.
Hit Leaders
Name Hits AB Batting Average
Jake Conley (D) 11 24 .456
Payton Raso (ICR) 11 20 .550
Jacob Gahan (ICR) 10 18 .556
Luke Gallagher (ICR) 10 21 .476
Brandon Dykes (D) 8 23 .348
Colin Weih (D) 8 23 .348
Gavin Meyer (D) 7 21 .333
Joey Tobin (D) 7 20 .350
Braden Nielsen (MP) 7 19 .368
Derek Rich (MP) 7 17 .412
Hunter Wargo (WB) 7 25 .280
Zach Randolph (WIL) 7 11 .636
Javin Drake (WIL) 7 11 .636
RBI/Slugging Pct./.OBP
Name RBI Slug% OBP
Luke Gallagher (ICR) 9 .762 .476
Javin Drake (WIL) 9 .727 .692
Jacob Gahan (ICR) 8 .722 .680
Payton Raso (ICR) 8 1.200 .640
Brandon Dykes (D) 7 .435 .423
Ryan Schott (ICR) 7 .333 .333
Evan Reifert (WIL) 7 .500 .533
Jake Conley (D) 6 .667 .536
Zach Galindo (ICR) 5 .500 .444
Colin Weih (D) 4 .435 .444
Pitching:
Name W-L IP ERA K’s BB’s
Jake Benischek (D) 2-1 20 1.40 15 6
Reece Bird (D) 1-0 14 1.50 9 2
Matt Pelzer (T) 0-1 12 1.75 8 3
Mason Hays (WB) 1-0 10.3 0.68 5 6
Payton Raso (ICR) 2-0 10 0.70 21 3
Alex Hamer (WB) 1-1 10 2.10 6 5
Derek Rich (MP) 0-0 9 5.44 14 3
Javin Drake (WIL) 2-0 9 0.00 21 3
Scores from around the River Valley Conference
Durant Wildcats:
Tuesday May 26
At Durant — Iowa City Regina 9, Durant 0
At Durant — Iowa City Regina 9, Durant 6
Thursday May 28
At Tipton — Durant 4, Tipton 0
At Tipton — Durant 5, Tipton 0
Friday May 29
At Durant — Durant 8, Mediapolis 2
At Durant — Durant 14, Mediapolis 4
Monday June 1
At Durant — Durant 1, Camanche 0
Iowa City Regina Regals:
Tuesday May 26
At Durant — Iowa City Regina 9, Durant 0
At Durant — Iowa City Regina 10, Durant 6
Thursday May 28
At Iowa City — Iowa City Regina 6, West Branch 2
At Iowa City — Iowa City Regina 14, West Branch 3
Monday June 1
At Iowa City — Iowa City Regina 11, Mid-Prairie 1
At Iowa City — Mid-Prairie 11, Iowa City Regina 10
Wilton Beavers:
Wednesday May 27
At Wilton — Wilton 12, Wapello 0
At Wilton — Wilton 12, Wapello 0
Friday May 29
At West Liberty — Wilton 10, West Liberty 0
At West Liberty — Wilton 14, West Liberty 0
Monday June 1
At Lowden — Wilton 12, North Cedar 1
Tipton Tigers:
Thursday May 28
At Tipton — Durant 4, Tipton 0
At Tipton — Durant 5, Tipton 0
Friday May 29
At Tipton — Tipton 7, Midland 0
West Liberty Comets:
Wednesday May 27
At Lone Tree — Lone Tree 15, West Liberty 0
Friday May 29
At West Liberty — Wilton 10, West Liberty 0
At West Liberty — Wilton 14, West Liberty 0
Monday June 1
At Monticello — Monticello 16, West Liberty 0
West Branch Bears:
Tuesday, May 26
At West Branch — West Branch 4, Mid-Prairie 2
At West Branch — West Branch 3, Mid-Prairie 0
Thursday May 28
At Iowa City — Iowa City Regina 6, West Branch 2
At Iowa City — Iowa City Regina 14, West Branch 3
Saturday May 30
At West Branch — West Branch 9, Sigourney 1
At West Branch — Alburnett 9, West Branch 6
Monday June 1
At Goose Lake — NE Goose Lake 8, West Branch 0
Mid-Prairie Golden Hawks:
Tuesday, May 26
At West Branch — West Branch 4, Mid-Prairie 2
At West Branch — West Branch 3, Mid-Prairie 0
Friday May 29
At Highland — Mid-Prairie 12, Highland 2
Monday June 1
At Iowa City — Iowa City Regina 11, Mid-Prairie 1
At Iowa City — Mid-Prairie 11, Iowa City Regina 10
