Eagles sweep Lisbon, gain in TRC East

Baseball

   Midland baseball swept a home doubleheader against Lisbon June 24, winning 2-1 and 8-7, the second game in 10 innings.

   The wins moved Midland to 7-3 in the Tri-Rivers Conference East Division. The Eagles moved into a tie for second place with Easton Valley (Bellevue Marquette has clinched the title), and are 10-8 overall.

   The opener marked the first time the Eagles had beaten the Lions since 2016. Pitching played a big role; Anthony Harrington pitched the first five innings, allowing one run on two hits and striking out seven. D.J. Soper worked the last two innings and got the win, allowing no hits and striking out two. Offensively, Masyn Broderson went 2-for-3.

   A key play happened in the sixth inning, when Seth Bixler reached second base, stole third, and scored on a throwing error.

   “That was a game-changer both on the scoreboard and with the momentum,” Midland coach Josh Soper said.

   “We had a lot of contributions from everyone on the team, and played some really clean baseball.”

   The teams combined for 25 hits in the second game, with Midland getting 11 of those.

   The Eagles won it in the 10^th inning when Matt Sauer delivered a walkoff single, scoring D.J. Soper.

   “It was a perfect ending for two seniors on Senior Night,” coach Soper said.

   Harrington went 2-for-2 including a three-run home run, and four stolen bases. He was also walked four times. Matt Sauer was 2-for-4 with two RBIs. Dane Ballou went 2-for-4, and Seth Bixler was 2-for-5.

   “Owen Sterk played six different positions and also pitched four innings in relief,” the coach said. “Dane caught 15 innings in the heat before coming in to pitch in extra innings. He showed a lot of toughness.

   “Xander (Eldred) came into a mess to pitch in the second inning and got us settled down and helped give us a chance.”

   The Eagles were scheduled to play Easton Valley in a doubleheader June 28, but it was rained out and rescheduled for July 2.

Softball

   Midland bounced back from four early-week losses to record a doubleheader sweep in last week’s softball action.

   The Eagles lost both ends of a home doubleheader against Edgewood-Colesburg June 24, by scores of 11-7 and 10-4. Ed-Co scored in each of the first six innings of the first game, including four runs in the top of the first. Midland had 11 hits, led by Shea Benhart, who was 4-for-4 with a double, three stolen bases and three runs batted in. Mollie Ries and Emmaleigh Soper each went 2-for-4; Soper stole two bases. Starting pitcher Gabbie Franzen took the loss.

   In the second game, Ed-Co’s eight-run fifth inning was the difference. The Eagles were held to three hits; Benhart went 2-for-2 with three stolen bases. Olivia Coates and Ries each stole two bases. Anna Bartels pitched and took the loss.

   Midland then played a doubleheader at Alburnett June 26, and lost 11-1 in four innings and 10-0 in five. The Eagles had two hits in the opener, a double by Benhart and a single by Ries. Bartels stole two bases. Franzen was the losing pitcher.

   Gracie Harrington, Benhart and Franzen had the Midland hits in the second game. Bartels had two stolen bases, but also pitched for the loss.

   Midland then played host to Starmont in a June 27 doubleheader, and won by scores of 5-4 and 12-1, the second game in five innings.

   The Eagles scored three runs in the first inning of the first game, and added two in the fifth after Starmont had tied it. Bartels pitched all seven innings to get the win, giving up four hits and striking out seven. Top midland hitters were Benhart, 3-for-3 with two RBIs, and Ries, 2-for-4. Ries and Bartels each had three stolen bases, while McKenna Doll and Benhart had two apiece.

   In the second game, Bartels pitched her second no-hitter of the season, striking out three and walking just one in five innings. Soper batted 2-for-4 with a triple, a double and four RBIs. Benhart was 3-for-3 with two RBIs, while Harrington went 2-for-3 with two RBIs. Ries had five more stolen bases, and now leads all of Iowa with 72 for the season. Benhart and Doll had two steals apiece.

   A June 28 home game against Camanche was postponed and rescheduled for July 9.