North Mahaska held off a ferocious Montezuma rally in the seventh inning Monday to score a 13-10 South Iowa Cedar League victory. Junior Dane Van Mersbergen hit four singles and a double to drive in five runs to lead the Warhawks. He also tossed the final 2/3 innings to seal the victory.
The contest against the long-time rivals was another wild affair for coach Kevin Kelderman’s Warhawks. They scored 13 runs on 19 hits while Monte scored 10 on 10 hits.
NM scored one in the top of the first inning then plated three in the third. They scored in each of the final four frames and led 13-3 after tacking on three runs in the top of the seventh. Montezuma came to bat and scored seven times before NM ended the game.
Jaxon VanDerVeer picked up the win for North Mahaska going 6.1 innings allowing four runs on nine hits, three of them earned with a walk and six strikeouts. Hunter Wernli came in to relieve VanDerVeer once he reached his pitch count and gave up four runs on three walks and a hit batsman. Van Mersbegen then came in and shut the door.
Behind Van Mersbergen, Dyland Meland rapped three singles, while Charlie Goemaat and Tyson Ferguson hit two singles with an RBI. Lucas Nunnikhoven hit a single and double to drive in two runs. Ryan Groom hit a pair of singles as well.
Montezuma, 4-9, was led by Nolan Hudnut with three singles and an RBI. Ty Smothers hit a single and double with an RBI.
Easton Hudnut took the loss for Montezuma allowing seven earned runs on 11 hits, two hit batsmen and two walks. Gavin Wilcox and Isaac Wedgwood also pitched yielding three runs each.
North Mahaska improves to 10-7 on the season. Their nonconference contest with Oskaloosa was rained out Tuesday. They are scheduled to host Colfax-Mingo Wednesday, then travel to Cardinal Friday.