Wildcats go on four-game winning streak

Baseball

     After a pair of early-season losses, the Maquoketa Valley High School baseball team put together a four-game winning streak.

     The Wildcats (2-2 conference, 4-2 overall) opened the season at perennial powerhouse North Linn in a Tri-Rivers Conference doubleheader, and lost by scores of 10-5 and 6-2.

     In the first game, MV had five hits, including a solo home run by Parker Sternhagen. The Wildcats were held to two hits in the second game.

     The Wildcats traveled to Arlington for a non-conference doubleheader against Starmont, and swept the twinbill, by scores of 6-2 and 14-7. In the opener, Sternhagen pitched six innings for the win, allowing just one hit and striking out 13. At the plate, Sternhagen went 2-for-3 with a double. Also hitting doubles were Michael Schaul and Tim Harmon. Eighth-grader T.J. Cook drove in two runs.

     MV led the second game 7-5 before rallying for six runs in the top of the sixth inning. The Wildcats put up nine hits, including two apiece from Nathan Beitz, Cook and Sternhagen, who hit two doubles. Getting two RBIs apiece were Preston Roling, Tony Offerman, Carter Klaren, Schaul and Beitz. Offerman started on the mound, and Beitz pitched the last 4 1/3 innings to get the win.

     On June 2, the Wildcats played host to Midland, and won 7-6 with two runs in the bottom of the ninth inning. Toby Grimm and Sternhagen each went 2-for-3. Offerman and Cook had two RBIs apiece. Grimm, pitching in relief of Schaul, picked up the win.

     MV also played host ot Clinton Prince of Peace June 3, and won 11-1 in five innings. Cook pitched all five innings to get the win, allowing six hits and striking out six. Schaul, Offerman and Harmon each had two of the team’s 10 hits. Offerman and Roling hit doubles.

Softball

     Maquoketa Valley is flirting with the .500 mark after nine softball games this season.

     The Wildcats (1-4 conference, 4-5 overall) started out with a doubleheader loss at North Linn May 24, by scores of 10-0 in six innings and 11-1 in five. MV was held to one hit in the first game, a single by Carissa Sabers. In the second game, the Wildcats were held without a hit.

     MV moved into the win column May 29 with an 8-0 whitewash of Dyersville Beckman in Delhi, as Abbie Sheehy pitched a no-hitter with seven strikeouts and three walks. The ‘Cats had nine hits, led by Erin Knipper, who batted 3-for-4 with a home run and five runs batted in. Ella Mensen and Sabers had two hits apiece. Jada Knipper hit a double.

     The Wildcats then split a doubleheader at Starmont June 1, losing 4-2 and winning 7-5. MV was held to four hits in the first game. Sabers had two stolen bases. Sheehy pitched and took the loss.

     In the second game, the ‘Cats scored twice in the top of the seventh to break a 5-5 tie. Macy Thompson pitched for the win. Knipper was 2-for-4 with two doubles, and Payton Beaman went 2-for-4 as well.

     That was followed by a doubleheader split at home against Midland. MV lost the first game 6-5, getting three hits. The Wildcats then won the second game 13-1 in four innings, with Beaman pitching a three-hitter with six strikeouts. Beaman also batted 3-for-3 with three triples. Kendra Hillers was 2-for-2 with two RBIs. Erin Knipper and Jada Knipper hit doubles.

     MV then played two games in the North Fayette Valley Tournament June 4. The Wildcats lost the first one, 6-0 to Osage, with a single by Leah Ries as the only MV hit.

     Against MFL MarMac, the Wildcats won 9-2, thanks mostly to a seven-run first inning. Starting pitcher Macy Thompson worked 3 2/3 innings to get the win. Beaman batted 2-for-3. Erin Knipper and Taya Tucker drove in two runs apiece.

Boys golf

     The Maquoketa Valley High School boys golf season came to an end May 21 at the Class 1A district tournament at Pheasant Ridge Golf Course in Cedar Falls.

     MV senior Isaac Zirtzman finished 10^th overall with a score of 85, ending his season.

     “It was a tough ending to a great golfing career for Isaac,” MV coach Ron Besler said. “Coach (Tim) Andrews and I have been very appreciative of the opportunity to coach Isaac, and have enjoyed seeing him attain some of his lofty goals.”