The Greene County Rams’ baseball season ended Friday night in Carroll with a 5-3 loss to the Atlantic Trojans in opening play in 3A District 16. The Rams finish their season 19-11. They tied with Saydel for the second spot in the Heart of Iowa Activities Conference, with Gilbert winning the title.
Senior Riah Nelsen started on the pitching mound for the Rams. In three innings he struck out three batters, walked four and allowed five hits. The Trojans scored four earned runs against Nelsen. Senior Colton Fitzpatrick pitched the fourth, fifth and sixth innings. He struck out four batters, walked none, and allowed three hits. The run scored against him was unearned.
Trojan junior pitcher Ryan Hawkins struck out five, walked two, and hit one with a pitch.
The Rams collected five hits against Hawkins. Reid Lamoureux had a two RBI double, Tyler Beger hit a single that drove in a run, and Daric Whipple hit two singles.
The Rams batted as the visiting team. Nelsen hit a single with two outs in the first inning and was stranded on base. The Trojans put up two runs in the first inning. Nelsen struck out the lead-off batter but walked the next two. The runners came in on a one out double and the Rams were down 2-0 when the inning ended.
Ram Jordan Challen was first to bat in the second inning. He made it to second base on the Trojans’ first error. With two outs Jordan Hostetler got to first on another error and Challen advanced. He made it home on a Tyler Beger single to make it a one run game, 2-1. Whipple loaded the bases with a single, but the inning ended with a Fitzpatrick hit to shallow right field. Hostetler, Beger and Whipple were stranded.
The Trojans stranded two runners in the bottom of the second inning. A highlight of the game was a close play at home, with Whipple’s throw beating runner Travis Peterson to the plate. After two full innings, the score was 2-1.
The Rams scored twice in the top of the third to take the lead 3-2. Nelsen started the inning with a walk and Alex Rasmussen was hit by a pitch. Both runners advanced on a sacrifice bunt by Challen. Lamoureux brought them home with a double, but the inning ended with him stranded on second base.
The Trojans came right back with their own two-run double in the bottom of the third. After two singles and a walk, the bases were loaded for a Noah Bruckner double. That left runners at second and third, but neither scored before the inning ended. Still the Trojans had retaken a 4-3 lead.
The Rams were three-up, three-down in the fourth inning. With Fitzpatrick fresh in the game, the first Trojan batter struck out, the second hit a single, the third struck out and the fourth hit a fly ball to center field for the third out.
The fifth inning started with a walk for Nelsen just as the third inning had. Rasmussen struck out but Challen made it to first on a fielding error. With runners at first and second, Lamoureux hit into a double play, ending the inning for the Rams. It was the Trojans’ turn for three-up, three-down ball, and the score was still 4-3.
The Rams stranded two runners in the sixth inning without scoring, while the Trojans added an insurance run with the help of two back to back Ram errors. The Rams didn’t get hits in the top of the seventh and the final score was 5-3.
It was the final Ram game for seniors Challen, Fitzpatrick, Hostetler, Nelsen, Rasmussen and Dylan McConnell. Starters who will return next year for coach Mark Sawhill are Beger, Whipple and Lamoureux.
The Trojans are now 21-12 for the season. They will play either Carroll or Denison-Schleswig Monday night in Carroll.
