The Newman Catholic Knight baseball squad is inching closer to a coveted spot in the State Tournament after posting two decisive victories in recent play. The back‑to‑back wins have sparked optimism among players and coaches alike.
In the first matchup, the Knights erupted for six runs, highlighted by a three‑run second inning and additional scores in the fourth and fifth frames. West Cole’s bat crackled with a home run and two hits, while Jaxon Dutcher delivered four solid innings, surrendering only two hits and striking out six.
Pitching Dominance
Dutcher’s versatility shone through both outings. Against Lake Mills he tossed seven innings, fanning 12 batters and allowing just two hits, while his earlier four‑inning effort against West Hancock featured six strikeouts and a mere two‑hit performance. Complementary work from Logan Vaske, who pitched three innings and struck out three, added depth to the rotation.
The offense continued to click, scoring four runs on three hits in the fifth inning against Lake Mills. RBI contributions from Teagen Eisenlohr and Hudson Gast capped the rally, while the team’s disciplined defense limited errors to a single miscue and turned 21 putouts with two assists on 24 total chances.
With momentum building from these performances, the Knights are poised to carry their strong pitching and timely hitting into the next stretch of the season, aiming for a State Tournament berth that has eluded them in recent years.