GAME OF THE WEEK (April 11–17)

BASEBALL: Iowa–Grant 10, Belmont 7

BELMONT — Iowa–Grant snapped a seven-all tie by plating three runs in the top of the seventh inning to sink the Braves, 10–7, in their home opener Monday afternoon at IGHS.

It was the Panthers’ (3–4) third straight win after an 0–4 start.

Belmont’s Riley Christensen singled and scored on a passed ball in the bottom of the sixth to pull the Braves even with the Panthers at 7–7, but the team didn’t remained tied for long as Nick Connelly brought in Isaac Hill with a fielder’s choice in the top of the seventh inning to put I-G ahead to stay.

Ross Havlik and Matthews Winders added RBI-singles in the stanza to extend the lead to 10–7.

Junior Carter Christianson belted a two-run homer in the top of the fourth inning to give the Panthers a 5–3 lead. Kaden Paradis and Keaton Durni has RBI singles later in the inning to extend the lead to 7–3.

The Braves scored three runs in the bottom half of the fourth and tied the the game in the bottom of the sixth when Christiansen singled and later scored on a passed ball.

After rallying to tie the Panthers on three separate occasions in the game, the Braves’ magic ran out in the bottom of the seventh as Havlik held them scoreless to secure I-G’s fourth consecutive victory.

Winders finished 2-for-2 with two RBI and two runs scored for the Panthers, while Durni drove in two runs and Havlik went 2-for-4 with a run and a RBI. Starting pitcher Carter Christanson allowed six runs on eight hits and four walks in 3 2/3 innings.

Belmont senior Colin Austin belted two solo home runs for the Braves, one in the first inning and another in the third, which tied the score at 3–3. Christensen finished 2-for-4 with a RBI and a run for Braves, who out-hit the Panthers 10–8 in the game.

Iowa–Grant will travel to Potosi/Cassville Thursday afternoon. 

The Braves’ Six Rivers cross doubleheader at Monticello/Albany on Friday, April 12, was postponed due to the weather, and has been rescheduled for Monday, April 22, at MHS starting at 3:30 p.m. The Braves will also host Shullsburg/Benton in Six Rivers West action on Tuesday, April 23, also at 5 p.m.

Iowa–Grant 10, Belmont 7

(From Monday, April 15 @ Belmont)

Iowa-Grant…. 201  400  3 – 10    8  1

Belmont…….. 111  301  0 –   7  10  4

Leading Hitters: IG – Havlik 2x4, Winders 2x2; B – Colin Austin 2x4, Riley Christensen 2x4. HR – IG: Christianson; B: Austin 2.

W – Havlik (3.1 IP, 1 R, 0 ER, 2 H, 3 BB, 3 K). L – Luke Kamps (3.1 IP, 3 R, 3 ER, 3 H, 2 BB, 6 K).