The Newton baseball team dropped both games of a doubleheader against Oskaloosa, falling 11-5 in the opener and 10-1 in the nightcap. The losses highlight a competitive but error-prone stretch for the Cardinals, who are now turning their focus toward a upcoming matchup with Pella.
Key moments and player contributions
In the first contest, Newton erased an early deficit and briefly threatened to seize momentum, but a flurry of errors and a ten‑run fifth inning by Oskaloosa turned the tide. Gabe Otto led the offense with two hits, while Drew Bauer added a stolen base and Dakota Winkleman’s triple and four RBIs kept the Cardinals within striking distance.
Lane Rozendaal earned the win for Oskaloosa, pitching six innings without surrendering a run, and Colt Koeppen struck out eight batters to limit Newton’s rally. Mason Mendez and Landry Rausch each contributed two hits, but the team’s defense faltered with four errors that helped Oskaloosa extend its lead.
The following game against Pella saw Landry Rausch continue his hot streak, delivering two hits and a triple while scoring a run, but Newton could only muster three runs in a 5-3 loss. Teagan Hoekstra’s two doubles powered the Dutch, and Isaiah Slaughter took the mound for Newton, throwing a solid outing despite the defeat.
Beyond the scoreboard, the roster also includes Aaden Grimm, Ian White, Kreytein Wickliffe, Carter Lehrman and others who have contributed throughout the season, and Gabe Otto remains the team’s batting leader with a .388 average and 21 runs scored.