Messenger photo by Britt Kudla: Coen Hammen of Pocahontas Area tags out St. Edmond’s JT Laufersweiler on Tuesday at Rogers Park. For more photos, please visit CU.messengernews.net

Head coach Bill Meacham’s club is learning on the fly, and they are starting to find their niche as the season winds down.

The Pocahontas Area baseball team has just five upperclassmen on their 16-man roster, but the youthful Indians had a big night here on Tuesday at Rogers Park. In their 10-2 win over St. Edmond, PAC started one senior, two juniors, five sophomores and two freshmen.

“We are a young club and we have struggled at times,” Meacham said. “We’ve struggled at times to hit and put the ball in play.

“But (Tuesday) we were able to do both of those things and we ran the bases hard.”

Sophomore Ethan Bowder (3-3) picked up the victory for the Indians (7-12), going 6-plus innings and allowing seven hits. He struck out five Gaels and walked one.

“He was throwing strikes and giving our defense a chance to make plays,” Meacham said. “The big inning was huge for us, because it takes some pressure off when you are able to get a lead like that.”

The Indians pounded out 14 hits on the evening, including five in their six-run third inning.

Liam Trimble was a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate with two runs scored and an RBI. Chase Flaherty was 3-for-5 with two doubles and an RBI.

“We have to make plays,” said SEHS head coach Mike Szalat. “Every play counts, whether it’s taking a pitch to get the pitch count up or hitting a cutoff. Everything you do has an affect on the (final outcome).”

Trevor Sturhenberg had two hits, two runs and two RBI. Hunter Trevyn added two hits and an RBI.

Jackson Flaherty recorded two hits and drove in two. Dominic Aljets and Gabe Ehn also drove in runs.

The Gaels had eight hits in all. Grant Galles led the Gaels, going 3-for-4.

Starting pitcher JT Laufersweiler was 2-for-2. John Nemmers tallied the lone RBI for the Gaels.

“We have to start showing more passion,” Szalat said. “Our kids are trying, but we have to play with the love that I hope they have for the game of baseball.”

St. Edmond stole four bases, led by two from Laufersweiler. Hayden Derrig and Galles swiped one each.

Derrig scored both runs for St. Edmond.

The Gaels are back in action on Wednesday when they host Iowa Falls-Alden. First pitch is slated for 7:30 p.m.