Wildcats head into post-season

Baseball

     Maquoketa Valley closed out its regular season of baseball with three wins in five recent games.

     The Wildcats split a home doubleheader with Calamus-Wheatland June 28, losing 7-0 and winning 3-1. MV had seven hits in the first game, including a 2-for-3 game from Trent Koopman. Trevor Elgin hit a double. Elgin and Norm Wilson shared pitching duties, with Elgin taking the loss.

     The ‘Cats bounced back by scoring two runs in the first inning of the second game and leading throughout. Brock Hillers pitched all seven innings for the win, allowing seven hits and striking out four. Hillers also was 2-for-2 at the plate, while Tyson Tucker was 2-for-3. Wilson had two RBIs.

     Maquoketa Valley then suffered a 12-1, five-inning loss at Cascade. Hillers went 3-for-3 at the plate. Cole Willenbring was the starting pitcher, and took the loss. Jon Seibert also pitched.

     On July 5, MV traveled to Monona and defeated MFL MarMac 11-5. The Wildcats jumped to a 6-1 lead through five innings and maintained control. Hillers went 3-for-5 with three RBIs. Elgin was 2-for-3 with a double, and Willenbring went 2-for-4. Willenbring pitched six innings to get the win.

     The last regular season game was a 6-1 win at Dunkerton July 6. Parker Sternhagen went 2-for-3, Tucker was 2-for-4, and Hillers drove in two runs. Tucker pitched the first three innings to get the win.

     The Wildcats finished sixth in the Tri-Rivers Conference with a 13-11 record, and are 16-14 overall. They were scheduled to open Class 1A, District 8 play with a quarterfinal game against Easton Valley at North Linn. The winner will face either Calamus-Wheatland or Springville July 12 at North Linn.