The Iowa Falls-Alden baseball team rallied back from an early deficit to earn a 4-3 win over AGWSR, as aired on 99 The Wave on Tuesday. It was Cadets first win over the Cougars since 2022. The IFA softball team ended a two game slide with a 6-4 win over the Cougars.
In the baseball game, AGWSR struck first with an RBI groundout by Remington Kerns in the second inning, to go up 1-0. The Cougars added another run in the third on a triple by Carl Hoodjer, who later scored on a Cadets wild pitch, for 2-0 lead. IFA tied the game at 2-2, scoring on a Cougars catching error in the third and a sacrifice fly RBI by Andrew Bartlett in the fourth. The Cougars took the lead back at 3-2 on Cadets pass ball in the fifth. The Cadets tied it again at 3-3 in the bottom of the inning on a RBI groundout by Ryder Pitre. The Cadets drove in the go ahead run with two outs in the sixth, off the swing of Brooks Hickman with an RBI single in center, to take first lead at 4-3. The Cadets defense held in the seventh for the win.
Cadets Sophomore Brooks Hickman on his clutch hit, helping lead defensively and the rivalry win.
“I went in there, I was just confident and thought I was gonna get a hit right away. Never a doubt in my mind. I’ve been in a slump recently and it feels nice to finally be getting some contact now,” says Hickman. “I just try not to overreact too much. Sometimes it can be stressful, but I just try to keep it calm. It feels great. I think it just boosts our confidence as a team and brings us together, I feel like.”
IFA Head Coach Wyatt Ziesman on being aggressive on offense and consistent improvement.
“We’re trying to really teach these guys the ins and outs of baseball. Getting into scoring position, how important that is. When there is a lead off walk or lead off hit, moving them over and getting them into scoring position, without having to burn up a bunt and an out. We’re trying to get these guys a little bit more aggressive and into the spots we can score off of hits,” says Ziesman. “We’re excited to see the other half of the conference and really put our foot on the gas pedal. To try to better ourselves as a team and just show improvement every game out there. Make a run for it.”
Brady Lancaster in relief earned the win for the Cadets on the mound. Blake Willems in relief took the loss for AGWSR.
IFA baseball (5-7) will have valuable time off before hosting Gilbert on Friday. AGWSR (5-6) will travel to Sumner-Fredericksburg in a NICL crossover on Wednesday.
In the softball game, IFA led 3-0 after the first. AGWSR got within a run, scoring twice in the second. The Cadets went back up by two at 4-2 with a run in the bottom of the inning. The Cougar plated one run and the Cadets added insurance with two in the third to go up 6-3. The Cougars scored one run in the fifth, but were denied from completing the rally. Lila Holmgaard and Trevyn Smith each had an RBI for the Cougars. Abigail Janssen led the Cadet with three RBI’s. Izzy Janssen earned the win for the Cadets with six strikeouts. Brylea Metzgar took the loss for the Cougars with seven strikeouts.
IFA softball (4-4) will play at Clear Lake on Wednesday. AGWSR (3-7) will be at #11 (3A) Sumner-Fredericksburg on Wednesday.
