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Linn-Mar, Iowa City Liberty split doubleheader between Class 4A top-10 baseball teams
No. 7 Lightning take the opener, 8-5; No. 9 Lions bounce back at home with Caleb Mossman’s pitching in 10-3 victory
MARION — One of the best pitchers in the state showed his stuff here Monday night.
Another showed he was pretty good as well.
Iowa City Liberty’s Mason Waterbury was not as dominant as he had been, finally allowing his first earned run of the season in the opener of an Mississippi Valley Conference doubleheader with Linn-Mar.
The junior left-hander, however, was plenty good enough, pitching six strong innings in an 8-5 Lightning win, raising his record to 7-0.
Another southpaw took center stage in the nightcap. Linn-Mar senior Caleb Mossman, who almost tossed a no-hitter in his last home start, threw five strong innings as the Lions secured a split with a 10-3 victory.
On a team with a number of pitchers with similar abilities, Mossman has stepped up in his senior year. He came within an out of a no-hitter before ending up with a no-decision in a 2-1 win over Dubuque Hempstead on June 7.
Now 3-0 after Monday's win, Mossman said he simply works to the strengths of his team.
“I really rely on our defense,” he said. “That really helps to keep my pitch count low. I know I am not a fast pitcher but I know I have one of the best defenses in the state playing behind me.
“I've been confident over my last four games. I just went out there (after the Game 1) loss and just let things ride.”
Linn-Mar Coach Kyle Rodenkirk said Mossman has dedicated his senior season to being exclusively a pitcher and it has paid off.
“He's really had a great year,” Rodenkirk said. “Last year, he had some spot starts here and there, doing other things as well. This year he wanted to be a pitcher only and kind of got rid of the offense and defense.
“He's embraced it. He's been really dialed in with what he needs to do. He pitches to contact and can throw two pitches for strikes.”
Mossman was the beneficiary of a six-run first inning, which all came after the first two batters were retired. Freshman Bridger Schmidt led the way, going 3-for-4, after rapping out two hits in Game 1.
“I'm happy with the way they responded in the second game,” Rodenkirk said. “They came out swinging it.”
In the opener, Waterbury allowed six hits and three runs, but got all the offense he needed when the Lightning scored six runs on six hits in the fourth inning
“You have to tip your cap to (Waterbury) in that first game,” Rodenkirk said. “His numbers are great and there is a reason why. He is around the zone, pitches to contact and has a great defense behind him.”
Ryan Schmierer went 3-for-4 to lead the Liberty offense.
The split leaves No. 7 Liberty at 18-8 while No. 9 Linn-Mar, which had its eight-game win streak snapped in the opener, is 17-7. The Lions host Clinton in a 6 p.m. single game on Tuesday. Liberty returns to action at home on Thursday with a non-conference twinbill with Ankeny Centennial.
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