North Mahaska and BGM met up in a classic South Iowa Cedar League baseball contest Monday. It was the final regular season game for North Mahaska before they open Class 1A tournament play Saturday. It was also senior night for the Warhawks.
Each team scored a run in the first inning and North Mahaska took the lead in the second with another run. Then it was a stalemate until the visiting Bears tagged NM for a run in the top of the sixth to tie the game. In the bottom of the 13th North Mahaska moved across the winning run to end the game.
North Mahaska (14-7) pounded out 11 hits including eight singles. Senior Dodge Duke rapped a pair of singles and junior Ben Johannes added a double and triple. Senior Ben Boender drove in a run as did junior Nash Smith and freshman Jack Kelderman. Sophomore Nate Sampson hit a single and a double.
Sampson and senior Jaydyn Steil combined for the pitching win. Sampson went 8 1/3 innings before leaving because of pitch count. He scattered four hits and allowed two earned runs. He walked four and struck out seven. Steil tossed the final 4 2/3 giving up a pair of hits, a walk, three hit batsmen and fanned four to earn the win.
BGM senior Jake Moel hit two singles to lead the Bears. Moel, Jacob Maurer and Mason Maschmann combined for the pitching duties. Moel took the loss. The trio gave up three runs, two earned, on 11 hits, four walks, a hit batsman and nine strikeouts.
North Mahaska travels to Lynnville-Sully Saturday to play Colfax-Mingo at 5 p.m. The winner will play the victor between English Valleys and Lynnville-Sully, who plays at 7 p.m. in Sully.
Prior to the contest, seniors Sam Terpstra, Steil, Duke, Boender, Jayden Stout and reserve Ethan Fogle were honored for their years of service. They were introduced along with their parents.