Beavers Win 9th and 10th Games Of The Year, New #1 team in 2A

Wilton starter Matt Paustian delivers a pitch last Saturday in game two against Mediapolis, an 8-4 win. Paustian won two games last week and has started the season 2-0 with 16 strikeouts and an ERA of 2.33. Photo by Ryan Stonebraker. 

By Ryan Stonebraker
Sports Editor, Tipton Conservative

WILTON — The Wilton Beavers won their 9th and 10th baseball games of the season Saturday, sweeping a non-conference doubleheader against Mediapolis.  The Beavers improved to 9-0 at home with home victories this past week over Wapello, Monticello and Mediapolis.  The Beavers are on a 10-game winning streak to start the season.  The Beavers also took over the top spot in the class 2A IHSBCA rankings released Monday.  The Beavers moved up from #2 to #1 after their hot start to the season.  Two other RVC school are also in the top-10 with Cascade #5 and iowa City Regina #10.

The Beavers beat Mediapolis by scores of 12-5 in game one and 8-4 in game two.  It was the second sweep over a Southeast Iowa Super Conference team in a seven day span.  The Beavers swept Wapello to start the week.

In game one, the Beavers and Bulldogs traded the lead three times.  Mediapolis led 1-0 after the top of the first and 3-2 after the top of the second, but a four-run bottom of the first inning by Wilton gave them a 6-3 lead, one they would not give up.

The Beavers took the Bulldogs out of the game with a five-run third to take an insurmountable 11-3 lead.

Wilton had 12 hits in the game including five doubles.  Jake Lenker and Cory Anderson each had three hits and Even Reifert, Jared Townsend each had two hits and 2 RBI’s in the game.  Nolan Leaton won his second start in a row, going five innings and scattering three hits.  He gave up five runs, but only one earned, struck out four and walked two.  Brock Hartley pitched the final two innings in relief and did not allow a hit or run.

In game two, Wilton had to come from behind again to secure the 8-4 win.  Wilton led 1-0 after the first inning, but two Mediapolis runs in the second gave the Bulldogs the 2-1 lead they would hold until the bottom of the fourth.  There, Wilton put up four runs to take a 5-2 lead.  The Beavers added three in the bottom of the fifth to take a 8-2 lead.  Mediapolis added two runs in the sixth to set the score at 8-4, but could get no closer.

Colin McCrabb had a big game, going 3-for-4 with a double, home run and 5 RBI’s.  He also scored three times.  Evan Reifert, Kaleb Timmsen and Nolan Leaton each had two hits.  Timmsen drove in the other three Beaver runs.

Matt Paustian picked up his second pitching victory of the week with a five-inning effort.  He struck out nine, walked seven and gave up two runs on three hits.

Beavers Wear Down Panthers, Win 11-1

WILTON — The Beavers broke open a 1-1 game in the third with a three-run inning and followed that with a four-run fourth to take command of their home game on Tuesday, May 30 against Monticello.  The Beavers scored 10-unanswered runs from the third through sixth innings to secure win number eight on the season.  The four-run fourth gave Wilton an 8-1 lead.  Wilton added two in the fifth for a 10-1 lead and ended the game in the sixth after pushing across their eleventh run of the game.

Evan Reifert started the game and pitched one-inning before being lifted for relief.  Reifert gave up one-run on one hit and struck out two batters.  Colin McCrabb pitched the final five innings and got the win.  He struck out eight and walked two batters.  Reifert had a big game at the plate too, going 3-for-3 with a RBI, stolen base, three doubles and three runs scored.  Brady Barrett, Jake Lenker and Kaleb Timmsen each had two hits.

Monticello won their first three games to start the season, but after the Wilton loss, the Panthers have lost three in a row as this week’s games start.

6-game week starts with Wapello Sweep

WILTON — The Wilton baseball team improved to 6-0 with their third doubleheader sweep to start the season.  Last Monday, May 29 the Beavers swept SEISC foe Wapello by the scores of 11-0 and 10-1.  The scores were the most runs Wilton has scored this season in back-to-back games and the third straight game where they have hit double digits in a game.  Wilton hit three home runs in the two games.

In game one, Wilton scored all 11 runs in the first five innings and the Beavers scored in every inning but the third.  Wilton scored three runs in the first and second inning to take a 6-0 lead.  A two run fourth set the score at 8-0 and a three-run fifth ended the game at 11-0.

Wilton had 11 hits in the game led by three players with three hits.  Colin McCrabb, Jared Townsend and Kaleb Timmsen all had three hits.

Nolan Leaton was the winning pitcher after working five innings.  He struck out six and walked one in the win.

In game two, Wilton trailed 1-0 in the third before a three-run bottom of the third gave Wilton a 3-1 lead.  The Beavers put up four runs in the bottom of the fifth to extend their lead to 7-1 and tacked on three more runs in the sixth to set the score at 10-1.

Wilton had seven hits by six different players.  Jake Lenker was 2-for-3 with a triple and 2 RBI’s to lead Wilton.  Evan Reifert had a solo home run, Brady Barrett doubled and had 3 RBI’s and Jared Townsend had a hit, 2 RBI’s and scored three times.  Tyler Hartman added a RBI single and Colin McCrabb had a single and scored two runs.

Matt Paustian picked up his first win in his first start of the season.  He pitched four innings, struck out seven and scattered three hits.  Cory Anderson pitched the final three innings in relief and allowed no runs on no hits.