The Grundy Center summer sports teams made quick work in their trip to AGWSR Thursday with two shortened wins. In a game that aired on 99 The Wave, the Spartan baseball team won 11-0 in five innings and the Spartan softball team won 10-0 in five innings.
In the first inning of the baseball game, two errors allowed an inside the park home run by Ryker Thoren that also scored Brody Zinkula. In the second inning, another series of errors allowed Brayden Davie and Judd Jirovsky to score and double the lead. Thoren drove in Zinkula in the third, followed by consecutive sacrifice flies by Judd Jirovsky and Davie. Tanner Laube drove in Dayton Myers in the fourth. Pete Lebo, Judd Jirovsky and Davie drove in runs in the fifth to complete the scoring. Winning pitcher Tate Jirovsky says the offense took advantage of opportunities and the defense did its job.
“Proud of the way we played, our defense was solid, as it has been for the entire season,” Jirovsky says. “Just putting ball in play is a huge part of this game and that’s what we’ve been trying to do. Hit the ball hard in areas where they’re not. We’ve been taking efforts to practice and in the cage to have that kind of result turn out here in the game tonight. So we’re happy that it turned out the way it did and we’re proud that we put the ball in play.”
Tate Jirovsky gave up two hits and no walks while recording seven strikeouts.
The Cougars were plagued by five errors and had few opportunities with runners in scoring position. Head Coach Justin Kerns.
“Definitely not the way we wanted to end the week, on this note,” Kerns says. “We’ve had a long week, a lot of games. Tate’s a great pitcher. He’s going to college for a reason to play baseball. So kudos to him on a great performance. They hit the ball hard. Couple little things there early in the game really, really got us down. And we just weren’t able to come back. So a pitcher like him, he’s not going to make mistakes. It’s going to be a tough night when you get behind.”
AGWSR’s Landon Benning pitched the complete game with six hits, six earned runs, two walks and four strikeouts. AGWSR (2-9, 2-3 NICL-W) will be at a tournament at North Tama Saturday. Grundy Center (6-3, 3-2 NICL-W) will be at Sumner-Fredericksburg Friday at 5:30 p.m.
Postgame interview with Tate Jirovsky:
Postgame interview with Justin Kerns:
The Spartan softball team had a similarly dominant performance. They scored once in the second, twice in the third, five times in the fourth and twice in the fifth while holding the Cougars off the board. They amassed 13 hits, all singles, led by a 3-for-4 performance by Kyndra Dieken. Ava Mundt compiled the one-hit shutout in the circle with three walks and five strikeouts. AGWSR’s Brylea Metzgar pitched the complete game with 12 hits, four walks and one strikeout.
AGWSR (1-8, 0-4 NICL-W) will play South Hamilton at a tournament at BCLUW Friday. Grundy Center (4-7, 1-3 NICL-W) will be at the BCLUW tournament Saturday.
