Dyersville Beckman, Cascade battle to high school baseball doubleheader split

CASCADE – Dyersville Beckman’s Joe Engler wasn’t sure what to expect this season.

He didn’t envision being one of the Blazers’ top bats, especially when he struck out his first two at-bats of his senior campaign. Engler quickly found his groove, leading Beckman in about nine offensive categories.

“I didn’t think my role was going to be what it is right now,” Engler said. “I’m just here to drive in runs and hit the ball.”

Engler’s two-run home run gave Beckman to its first lead of the inning and helped the Class 2A No. 10 Blazers split with rival Cascade in a River Valley Conference North Division prep baseball doubleheader Thursday night at American Legion Ballpark. The Cougars won the opener, 6-1. The Blazers rebounded for a 9-5 victory in the nightcap.

“It’s good to get the second one,” Beckman Coach Ryan Mabe said. “Obviously, you never want to get swept.”

Engler finished with four hits overall, going 3-for-4 in Game 2. He displayed his transformation into a key contributor. Engler more than doubled his batting average to .450 after Thursday. His team-best in hits (27), doubles (9), home runs (3), runs (15) and RBIs (24) surpassed his 2024 totals.

“Without him, I don’t know where we’re at,” Mabe said. “He’s just been that consistent for us. It’s three or four hits every doubleheader. It’s not singles. It’s doubles, homers, so he’s driving the baseball.

“He’s been kind of the rock for us while other guys try to figure it out. Those games where other guys do figure it out is when we put up 13 or 14 hits.”

Engler was credited with an infield single his first plate appearance of the second game, but his at-bat in the third was the difference maker. His two-out blast over the left field fence produced the Blazers’ first lead of the night, making it 2-1. Engler said he knew it was gone on contact and it was a feeling you never forget.

“It was a fastball,” Engler said. “I saw it right in my money zone and I couldn’t miss it.”

The blast sparked the Blazers. Starter Dylan Recker started to take control on the mound once he had an advantage.

“He definitely had a different mentality after we gave him a lead.” Mabe said. “You can see a little change, like his pace. Just the way his mentality was. He was like I’m going to win this ball game and that’s what we need to have from him.”

Recker pitched 5 2/3 innings with eight strikeouts, scattering nine hits. He only allowed three baserunners from the second through the fifth, striking out the side in the fourth.

“Just played with a lot more confidence with some insurance,” Recker said. “Everyone knows it’s not fun playing from behind. I can thank Joe Engler for that. A two-run bomb when we’re down one is awesome.”

Beckman (11-8, 8-1) scored all nine runs in a three-inning stretch. Tate Ries had an RBI double and Recker added a two-run double in the fourth. The Blazers added four in the fifth, including a two-run single from Ries.

Eight starters scored and all nine reached base at least once. They feed off each other offensively.

“Once someone does something amazing, everybody wants to do their job,” Engler said. “It works.”

Cascade (8-9, 3-5) rallied for the final four runs and brought the tying run to the plate with two outs in the bottom of the seventh but Recker recorded the final out at third to secure the split.

The Cougars, like Beckman, have suffered through inconsistency in doubleheaders. They perform well in one game and then drop the other. Cascade has figured out its best lineup and the players are adjusting.

“I think we finally found out who we are, what guys will have to play where,” Cascade Coach Roamn Hummel said. “I think they’re starting to get a little more comfortable with it but it has to be consistent.

“Hopefully the next three weeks the guys will feel that consistency.”

In the opener, Cascade led throughout. The Cougars opened with two runs in the first, getting a leadoff double from Mick Hoffman and an RBI single from Cooper Hummel. Cason Rausch drove in Hummel for a 2-0 lead.

The early lead was enough for starter Jackson Green, who pitched 5 2/3 innings and allowed one earned run on five hits. Hoffman pitched 1 1/3 innings of scoreless relief.

Green has been reliable on the mound and demonstrates that consistency Hummel wants to see.

“On the mound, we’re there,” Roamn Hummel said. “Jackson threw really well in the first game. Mick came in and closed that part out.”

Nate Schockemoehl reached on an error and scored on a wild pitch in the third. Schockemoehl added an RBI single to plate Jake Hosch the following inning.

Small ball produced a run in the fifth. Brody Otting led off with a single and scored on a squeeze bunt from Eli Fritz. Hoffman singled and scored on an error for an insurance run in the sixth.

Hoffman had two hits and two runs in Game 1 and had two more hits, a run and RBI in the nightcap.

Hoffman is in the leadoff spot. It may not be his forte but he is the best option for the Cougars.

“He’s kind of playing there because that’s what we need him to do,” Roamn Hummel said. “He’s done it all year. He’s had moments where he’s been really good and when you have a guy that can set the table at the beginning of the game, like he did today for us, that makes a huge difference.”

Cooper Hummel had two hits in each game. He has overcome injuries from the start of the season and has progressed along with the season. The younger Hummel is healthier and could be a crucial component to Cascade’s future success.

“Every team has a ‘guy.’” Hummel said. “He’s our guy. He was hurt at the beginning of the year. Last week it seemed like he turned the corner a little bit. … If we can get him really hot for us, and carry us here through the end, that’s what teams need.”

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