March 19, 2024

Indians score first conference win since 2012

The Clarke baseball team’s sweep of Centerville on Monday was a big step forward for head coach Justin Stoulil’s program.

With the 10-6 win in game one of the varsity doubleheader, the Indians picked up their first conference win since the 2012 season.

The Indians didn’t stop there, however, as they came back to win 15-4 in six innings in the nightcap.

The two wins improved the Indians to 4-6 for the season, giving Clarke more wins already this year than in the past two years combined.

“I believe it’s our first conference win in three years,” Stoulil said Monday night. “We already have more wins than we’ve had in the past couple of seasons, as well. Good start to the season.”

Landon Spurgin pitched a complete game for the Indians in game one Monday night.

Stoulil said Spurgin did a good job of throwing strikes and letting Centerville put the ball in play, while the defense behind Spurgin did a good job of making the plays. Spurgin threw 106 pitches over seven innings.

Skylar Johnson hit a three-run triple in the win for Clarke, while Trevor Kirkpatrick and Dustan Van Loon each recorded a pair of hits.

As a team, Clarke stole 14 bases in the game, as Reed Kale swiped three bags.

Kirkpatrick threw all six innings of the nightcap for Clarke, as the Indians won by the 10-run mercy rule after six innings.

Kale finished 2-for-3 at the plate with a pair of stolen bases and two RBI. Gable Reece walked three times and collected a hit, stealing three bases. Johnson also finished with three walks and a hit to go with four runs scored and three stolen bases.

Zach Harmsen hit a three-run double and Devin Wills drove in three runs in the win.

“We’re starting to play well,” Stoulil said. “Once we get the offense going and making things happen on the offensive side, we seem to play much better than we do when we don’t get the bats going.”

All four Clarke wins this season have come since June 3.

Since that date, the Indians are 4-2.

That run started off with an 8-3 win over Moravia on June 3, highlighted by a strong pitching performance from Reece.

Reece pitched a complete game three-hitter, while striking out 13 and walking just one.

“Throwing strikes, mixing up his pitches,” Stoulil said. “Fastball, has a great curveball. When he throws it for a strike, it’s virtually unhittable. That was the first game we really got our bats going and off to a good start for us.”

Offensively, Reece finished with a double in the game. Wills finished with two hits and two RBI to go with two stolen bases in the win. Kirkpatrick, Van Loon and Johnson each drove in two runs for Clarke.

On Friday, Clarke suffered a close 11-7 loss to Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont after spotting the Rockets five runs in the first inning.

Starting pitcher Harmsen settled down after the first inning and finished with 12 strikeouts, but was hampered by six walks in the first frame.

Clarke stole 13 bases as a team in the game, led by Harmsen’s four swipes. Reece and Kale each stole three bases.

In Saturday’s tournament at Martensdale-St. Marys, the Indians opened with an 11-8 win over Lamoni.

Reece doubled and drove in two runs, while Gordon Witt finished with two hits and two RBI to go with two stolen bases. Kirkpatrick finished the game with three RBI and three thefts.

Reece pitched 4 2/3 innings, giving up four runs on four hits with six strikeouts and three walks. Harmsen picked up the win in relief, going 2 1/3 innings.

“We continued to play small ball, stealing bases, putting bunts down, making the defense make plays,” Stoulil said. “They didn’t make plays when we put bunts down, so those turned into hits, too. Definitely a great game to get the ball rolling and pick up another W.”

Clarke then lost to Des Moines Christian, 10-7.

Reece hit a solo home run in the game and Johnson drove in two runs on two hits. Van Loon finished with three hits and one RBI, while eighth-grader Conner Deutsch drove in one run.

Clarke returns to action at home today in a varsity doubleheader against Davis County.