KEOTA – Keota pushed across a run in the bottom of the seventh inning to take a 4-3 win over Montezuma in a tense baseball struggle on Wednesday, June 9.
It was another Braves vs. Eagles battle, and the result further scrambled in the SICL baseball race at mid-season.
Keota led 3-1 before Montezuma scored twice to tie the game in the top half of the sixth inning.
The Braves didn’t score in the seventh.
Keota starter Colten Clarahan scattered four Montezuma hits over his 6.1 innings. And, he was dominant, with 15 strikeouts to go with just two walks.
Braves starter Cam Johnson gave Keota a different look during his four innings on the mound. He yielded four hits and three runs, one of which was earned. Johnson struck out five and didn’t walk a batter.
Eddie Burgess worked two innings in relief, giving up three hits and two runs, both earned. He walked one and fanned three.
Cole Watts had one hit, stole a base, and made a major contribution with three assists from center field.
Burgess drove in a run with a single.
Connor Van Zee had a hit, and Owen Cook stole a base.
Garrett Watts drove in a run with a two-base hit.
Each team made three errors.
Clarahan starred on offense as well for Keota, going two-for-three with a double and two runs batted in.
Sam Sieren was two-for-three with two RBIs, and Carson Sprouse hit a double.
Luke Hammen got the pitching win by getting the final two outs in the top of the seventh, one on a strikeout.
The Braves fell to 4-2 overall and 3-2 in South Iowa Cedar League play.
Keota, 6-2 overall, rose to 3-2 against the league.
UP NEXT – Montezuma hosts English Valleys on Friday, June 11.