Iowa City High baseball rolls past rival West

IOWA CITY — The top of Iowa City High’s batting order set the table.

Gable Mitchell plated a run every time at the dish and the Little Hawks feasted on a win over a rival.

Leadoff batter Joey Bouska and No. 2 hitter Carter Seaton accounted for four runs apiece and Mitchell tallied four RBIs, leading Class 4A No. 7 City High to a 13-3 victory in six innings over Iowa City West in a Mississippi Valley Conference baseball game Thursday night at West.

The Little Hawks (24-9, 20-5) jumped to an early lead thanks to their top three batters. Bouska reached on a base hit and raced to score from first on an errant throw on Seaton’s bunt. Seaton reached third and scored on Mitchell’s groundout for a 2-0 lead.

West answered with a solo leadoff home run in the first, but the City High trio came through again in the third. Bouska hit his second of three singles, Seaton reached on an error and Mitchell followed with an RBI single to score Bouska. Seaton scored on a Gavin Koch sacrifice fly.

City High pulled away with four runs in the fourth and fifth, including runs from Bouska and Seaton in both frames. Bouska finished 3-for-4 with a walk and an RBI.

Mitchell added RBIs, managing a sacrifice fly in the fourth and a bases-loaded walk the next inning. Mitchell increased his RBI total to 24 this season.

City High benefited from a balanced attack. All but one starter reached base and six had at least one hit. Ben Kueter drove in two runs with an infield RBI single in the fourth and a sacrifice fly in the sixth, allowing City High to force the mercy rule. Jacob Means also scored three times on two hits, while Koch ended with two RBIs.

John Klosterman pitched four innings, allowing just one run on three hits. James Kriz threw the last two innings in relief.

West (17-11, 12-10) delayed the end with two runs in the fifth. Schuyler Houston walked and Marcus Morgan singled. They scored when Alex McKay reached on an error.

Both teams will play another single game Friday at Mercer Park.

Comments: kj.pilcher@thegazette.com