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Dodgers close gap with No. 2 Dowling

A little over two weeks ago, the Fort Dodge baseball team dropped a doubleheader to second-ranked (Class 4A) West Des Moines Dowling on the road in lopsided fashion.

While the rematch Wednesday night at Ed McNeil Field ended in the same result, FDSH head coach Blake Utley saw plenty of improvements since that time.

Scores were 6-1 and 13-5 in favor of the Maroons (23-3 overall, 13-1 in CIML Iowa Conference).

“We were much better this time around,” said Utley, who watched his team fall 9-1 and 15-0 in the first meetings. “Slowly, we are getting there. It’s just going to take time, especially when you are playing programs like Dowling.”

In the opener, senior Colin Lacey pitched a one-hitter, striking out nine and walking five. Fort Dodge’s (7-17, 1-13) Drake Miller had the lone hit, reaching after Lacey and Cole Coffin were unable to make a play on a ball hit up the first base line.

Bryer Nelson reached on a walk and scored after stealing, while Keaton Jones and Kade Solverson each recorded stolen bases. Jones pitched six-plus innings, striking out two and walking three.

“(Lacey) kept us guessing and we had guys trying to do too much against him to help the team,” Utley said. “I thought Keaton pitched his butt off and gave us a chance to play with a very good team.”

Dowling, which has won 11 straight since a loss to Sioux City Heelan, plated three in the first, three in the fourth and five in the fifth in the nightcap. That included a three-run homer from Lyle Fini, who is headed to Iowa Central in the fall, and a grand slam by Noah Gyldenvand, who has signed with Century Community College.

The Maroons started six players on the night who have signed to play college baseball, a number that does not include ace pitcher Ben Probst, who is headed to the University of Iowa. They have 25 seniors and juniors on their varsity roster.

“I thought our guys came out and played hard in the first game,” Utley said. “We lost some focus in the second. They had a big inning there in the fifth where we gave them too many freebies (walks). We’ve read studies on winning the freebie war and you have a much better chance of winning when you do that.

“Kade pitched well for us, really pumping the strike zone, but they just made good contact.”

Dowling belted out 12 hits in both games, including four homers and seven doubles on the night. Peyton Krugler, another future Triton, scored two runs in the first.

Lucas Williamson had a two-RBI single in the first inning of the nightcap, while Drew Callon had two hits. Brycen Bell scored a run and stole a base, and Jones worked a pair of walks and drove in a run.

The Dodgers return to action Thursday evening, hosting Ames beginning at 5 p.m.

WEST DES MOINES DOWLING 6, FORT DODGE 1

Dowling 021 100 2 — 6 12 1

Fort Dodge 010 000 0 — 1 1 0

Colin Lacey (W, 3-0, 7 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 9 K, 5 BB) and Lyle Fini; Keaton Jones (L, 1-3, 6+ IP, 12 H, 6 ER, 2 K, 3 BB), Anthony Wagner (1 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 1 K, 0 BB) and Shane Halligan.

HR–D: Robbie McCargar. 2B–D: Connor Erps (2), Robbie McCargar, Colin Lacey. RBI–D: Connor Erps, Sam Olson, Robbie McCargar (3), Colin Lacey. SB–FD: Keaton Jones, Bryer Nelson, Kade Solverson. LOB–D: 7; FD: 6.

WEST DES MOINES DOWLING 13, FORT DODGE 5

Dowling 300 351 1 — 13 12 0

Fort Dodge 200 102 0 — 5 7 2

Mitch Goff (W, 3-1, 4 IP, 6 H, 3 ER, 5 K, 1 BB), Nick Paulus (1 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 1 K, 0 BB), Geoff Meek (1 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 0 K, 2 BB), Cade Moulton (1 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 0 K, 0 BB) and Lyle Fini, Nick Bordenaro (6); Kade Solverson (L, 1-2, 5 IP, 9 H, 10 ER, 0 K, 3 BB), Mason Bodholdt (2 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 0 K, 0 BB) and Tyrnan Lara.

HR–D: Lyle Fini, Noah Gyldenvand, Dom Crivaro. 2B–D: Nick Bordenaro, Luke Yacinich, Zach Roering. RBI–D: Sam Olson, Lyle Fini (3), Sam McMurray, Zach Roering, Noah Gyldenvand (4), Dom Crivaro; FD: Keaton Jones, Lucas Williamson (2). SB–FD: Bryer Nelson, Brycen Bell. LOB–D: 5; FD: 8.

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