For the first time since 2022, the Dike-New Hartford baseball team will compete in a district final Saturday. They’ll play at Roland-Story in the District 4 final.
The Wolverines (14-12) bounced back from consecutive losses to end the regular season by defeating Iowa Falls-Alden 7-2 in Tuesday’s district semifinal. The Wolverines compiled seven hits and were aided by being issued eight walks. Additionally, junior pitcher Lewis Textor pitched 2.1 quality relief innings after an injury kept him off the mound for a portion of the regular season. Head Coach Jordan Martin on Textor’s return.
“We got about three guys that we can rely on going forward throughout the end of the game in our bullpen,” Martin says. “Lewis was one of our top guys. He always has been the last three years. So I have all the faith in the world in him. I know he’s going to strike some guys out, but he’ll also just let our defense make plays as well.”
Roland-Story (15-17), the #1-seed in the district, opened the playoffs with Tuesday’s 9-1 home win over Clarion-Goldfield-Dows. It snapped a three-game losing streak that ended the regular season. William Zamzow and Brett Schmitz provide powerful bats, each batting .340 or better. Despite the losing record, a deep pitching staff has given up just four runs per game.
Martin says it’ll take a disciplined approach to advance.
“We just have to continue having good at-bats at the plate, being smart at the base pass, having timely hits, but also having good at bats and not chasing balls that we’re not normally able to swing at.”
The game will start at 7:00 p.m. The winner will advance to Tuesday’s district final in Marshalltown against either #1 (2A) West Marshall or Aplington-Parkersburg.
