OTTUMWA — Davis County wrapped up the South Central Conference title on Wednesday with a dominating sweep of Clarke, 14-2 and 7-2.

Davis County (26-4, 17-3) was able to win the conference crown outright after ninth-ranked Eddyville-Blakesburg (24-6, 14-4) split with fifth-rated Chariton on Tuesday, winning the opener 7-5, but dropping the ensuing game 15-0. The Rockets split with Centerville on Wednesday night.

Davis County, a state qualifier last season, has now won 12 league games in a row and 16-straight overall.

The fifth-ranked Mustangs closed out the regular season and play Central Lee in Donnellson on Saturday in Class 2A district play.

“A lot of things had to fall in place for us to get this thing done. We overcame a little adversity, got a few kids on and got things snowballing,” said Mustang coach Todd White.

The Mustangs exploded for eight runs in the second inning of game one. Josey Garmon won the opener and improved to 4-0 on the season. He also smashed two home runs and racked up six RBI. Kyle Graves doubled and tripled in the win.

The Mustangs had another big inning, as Davis County plated six runs in the sixth inning of game two.

Garmon homered again and Zach Fligg also went yard in the nightcap. Aaron Halls earned the win in the nightcap, striking out three batters.

Davis County leads the state in home runs with 53.

“I’m very proud of the boys. We hung in there all season long and made improvements where we needed to. Hopefully that will continue to carry us in the postseason,” said White.

Davis County swept Centerville 11-0 and 16-6 on Tuesday.



Wednesday’s Games

Davis County 14, Clarke 2

Davis Co.    180    32    —    14    10    1         

Clarke     000    20    —     2     3    0

Davis County battery — Josey Garmon (W, 4-0) (4IP, 3H, 2R, 2ER, 8K, 4BB), Clint Foster (1IP, 1K), Kyle Graves catching.

2B — Calvin Mathews, Nic Johnson, Graves.

3B — Graves.

HR — Garmon 2.

Hits — Garmon 2-2, Graves 2-2, Mathews 2-3, Jacob Davidson 1-1, Zach Fligg 1-3, Calvin Utt 1-3, Johnson 1-4.

RBI — Garmon 6, Graves 3, Mathews 2, Johnson 2.

Runs — Martsching 2, Fligg 2, Mathews 2, Davidson 2, Garmon 2, Roberts 2, Johnson, Utt.

Davis County 7, Clarke 2

Davis Co.    000    061    —    7    11    0         

Clarke     002    000    —    2     5    0

Davis County battery — Aaron Halls (W, 2-1) (4IP, 4H, 2R, 2ER, 3K, BB), Martsching (2IP, H, 2K, BB), Graves catching.

2B — Martsching, Graves, Garmon.

HR — Fligg, Garmon.

Hits — Graves 2-3, Garmon 2-3, Martsching 2-4, Fligg 2-4, Mathews 2-4, Halls 1-3.

RBI — Fligg 2, Garmon 2, Mathews, Graves.

Runs — Fligg 2, Martsching, Mathews, Garmon, Roberts, Park Mikels.

Tuesday’s Games

Davis County 11, Centerville 0

D.C.    043    40        —    11    15    0         

CV     000    00        —     0     4    5

Davis County battery — Clint Foster (W, 4-0) (5IP, 4H, K), Kyle Graves catching.

2B — Josh Martsching, Jacob Davidson, Josey Garmon, Aaron Halls.

3B — Graves.

Hits — Garmon 3-3, Davidson 3-4, Graves 2-4, Nic Johnson 2-4, Zach Fligg 1-2, Halls 1-2, Calvin Mathews 1-3, Martsching 1-3, Foster 1-3.

RBI — Foster 2, Halls 2, Garmon 2, Fligg, Davidson, Johnson.

Runs — Davidson 3, Johnson 2, Garmon 2, Austin Roberts 2, Halls, Martsching.

Centerville battery — Richard England (L, 4-7) (2IP, 4H, 4R, 3ER, 1K, 3BB), Michael Starcevich (4H, 3R, 2ER), Tony Armington (1 2/3 IP, 3H, 4R, 1ER, 2K), J.D. McDanel (1 1/3 IP, 2H, 1BB), Michael Firkins catching.

Hits — Grant Walker 1-2, England 1-2, Armington 1-2, Levi Sebolt 1-2.

Davis County 16, Centerville 6

D.C.    227    32    —    16    11    1         

CV     105    00    —     6     7    3

Davis County battery — Fligg (W, 4-0) (4IP, 7H, 6R, 4ER, 3K, 5BB) and Foster (IP), Graves catching.

2B — Martsching, Johnson, Foster.

3B — Fligg.

Hits — Fligg 2-2, Martsching 2-3, Foster 2-4, Graves 1-2, Davidson 1-3, Johnson 1-3, Garmon 1-4, Calvin Utt 1-4.

RBI — Graves 4, Martsching 2, Fligg 2, Davidson 2, Garmon, Foster.

Runs — Foster 4, Johnson 2, Mathews 2, Martsching 2, Fligg 2, Utt, Davidson, Roberts, Park Mikels.

Centerville battery — Kolton Gonnerman (L, 1-8) (2 2/3IP, 6H, 10R, 6ER, 4K, 6BB), Jared Armington (2/3 IP, 4H, 4R, 3ER, 2BB), Russell Bauer (1 2/3 IP, 1H, 2R, 1ER, 2K, 2BB), Firkins catching.

3B — Daniel Cisler.

Hits — Zach Lockman 1-2, England 2-2, Cody Cowan 2-2, Gonnerman 1-2, Cisler 1-2.

RBI — England, Cowan, McDanel, Gonnerman.

Runs — Lockman 2, Walker, England, Cowan, McDanel.



E-B splits with Centerville

Courier sports staff

EDDYVILLE — The ninth-ranked Eddyville-Blakesburg Rockets got a major shot in the arm from Christian Bambrook’s bat on Wednesday versus Centerville in a South Central Conference baseball twinbill.

Bambrook’s pinch-hit double in the sixth inning propelled the Rockets to a game two 2-1 win in walk-off style. Centerville won the opener 10-3.

“I’m pleased that we ended on a winning note. It’s a good way to start the extra season,” said E-B head coach Rod Ashman.

E-B ends the regular season with a 26-8 record and 15-5 league mark. The Rockets host Cardinal on Saturday in Class 2A district play in Eddyville.

Levi Sebolt helped the young Big Reds claim game one. He pitched a complete-game six-hitter and struck out eight. Cody Cowan doubled twice, knocked in three runs and scored three runs.

Jake Crosby suffered the loss for E-B. He allowed eight earned runs and struck out four batters. Craig Larkin doubled twice and knocked in two runs.

Trevor Swartz came up big on the hill in the nightcap for E-B. His complete-game three-hitter was coupled with one strike out. He did not allow an earned run.

Daniel Cisler pitched well in the second game for Centerville. His complete-game performance included just one earned run allowed.

Centerville (8-25, 4-16) plays at Fort Madison in a doubleheader this Friday.



Trojans lose to Iowa Valley

THORNBURG – Iowa Valley topped Tri-County 17-9 in South Iowa Cedar League baseball play on Wednesday. I-V scored nine runs in the top of the seventh to blow the game open.

Jake Brumbaugh went 3-4 with two doubles for the Trojans. Kaden Foubert knocked in two runs and Colton Molyneux doubled.

Molyneux worked four-plus innings and surrendered nine earned runs.

Tri-County (0-23, 0-19) hosts Sigourney in the Class 1A District quarterfinals on Tuesday in Keota.