Area Roundup: Castleman leads El Paso-Gridley past Pontiac in baseball; Lexington sweeps Midland

By Erich Murphy

Bingo Magic Sports

Caden Castleman belted a three-run homer to help lead El Paso-Gridley past Pontiac in a nonconference baseball tilt Monday. Meanwhile, Lexington scored victories over Midland on the baseball and softball diamonds.

Caden Castleman crosses the plate after belting a three-run homer against Pontiac. Castleman drove in four runs in the Titans’ 11-5 victory. Greeting Castleman are Blake Harris (25), Carson Dohman and Owen Adams (10).  (Erich Murphy/Bingo Magic Sports)

El Paso-Gridley was also triumphant on the softball diamond. However, Monmouth-Roseville, West Central and Fieldcrest dropped baseball decisions in other action on Monday.

EPG 11, Pontiac 5

Castleman drove in four runs, including three on his fourth-inning home run, to lead El Paso-Gridley past Pontiac at The Ballpark at Williamson Field for its first win of the season.

Pontiac shortstop Cayden Masching reaches for the ball as EPG’s Carson Dohman slides safely into second with a stolen base. (Erich Murphy/Bingo Magic Sports)

The Titans (1-3) got on the board in the second inning on a two-run single from Elliott Toth. Each side scored a run in the third inning, leading up to a run-heavy fourth frame. Castleman’s homer tallied the EPG runs.

The Indians responded with a four-spot to keep the game close. It was Henry DeYoung providing the power in the PTHS fourth as he belted his own three-run homer to make it a 6-5 game.

EPG got one run back in the fifth and closed the door on the Tribe in the seventh with a four-run outburst. Blake Harris and Landon Garrels had run-scoring singles.

Wyatt Maurer of El Paso-Gridley slides safely into third base in Monday’s game against Pontiac at PTHS. (Erich Murphy/Bingo Magic Sports)

Garrels had two hits and drove in a run for the Titans. Owen Adams added two hits while Castleman had his round tripper and four runs batted in. Toth collected a hit and three RBIs and Harris and Aiden Moore had a hit and RBI apiece. Wyatt Maurer and Blaine Mool each singled.

Adams got then and struck out four before being relieved by Castleman, who fanned six. The duo allowed just two hits.

Henry DeYoung got the start for Pontiac and took the loss as the Indians fell 11-5 to El Paso-Gridley at The Ballpark at Williamson Field on Monday. (Erich Murphy/Bingo Magic Sports)

DeYoung’s homer and three RBIs guided Pontiac (0-3). C Walker had a single. DeYoung took the loss on the bump. He struck out six in three innings. Aden Brummel fanned five in three innings of relief and Ryne Mackinson struck out one in his inning of relief.

EPG 12, Lowpoint-Washburn 0

At Washburn, Ava Pinkham tossed a one-hit shutout as El Paso-Gridley blanked host Lowpoint-Washburn 12-0 in softball play. Pinkham struck out eight.

The Titans scored in each of the first three innings in taking a 7-0 lead. A five-run sixth helped bring the game to an end one inning early.

Abby Killian had a double, single and RBI while Tori Seggerman also had two hits and drove in a run. Alexis Elliott delivered two singles, Sloan Gentes had a two-base hit and two RBIs and Adriana Vargas and Lexi Schouweiler had a hit and RBI apiece. Pinkham helped herself with a base hit.

Lexington 9, Midland 2

At Varna, the Lexington offense collected 10 hits, including a pair of homer runs, in a 9-2 nonconference baseball victory over host Midland.

Miles Lainhart delivered the first bomb with a two-run shot for a 2-0 lead in the second inning. It was 4-0 by the end of the frame. A two-run sixth made it 6-2 and a four-run seventh inning was highlighted by Braeden Barber’s two-run homer.

Barber had two hits and two RBIs while Micah Wiltz had a double, single and drove in a run and Jack Miller stroked a double and single. Lainhart had a homer and two RBIs, Kayden Knight doubled and Cooper Miller and Lukas Martin each had a hit and RBI.

Knight struck out five in five innings for the win. Drake Powell finished up, striking out two.

Lexington-Ridgeview 12, Midland 2

At Varna, hurler Hailey Foote was given a comfortable lead before she threw her first pitch as Lexington-Ridgeview rolled to a 12-2 softball victory over host Midland.

Anna Becker highlighted a four-run first inning for the unbeaten Minutemen with a two-run homer. L-R added three runs in the second and went up 10-0 with a run in the third frame and two runs in the fourth inning.

Emma Stover collected four hits and drove in a run to pace the Lexington-Ridgeview (5-0) offense. Braelynn Gossage and Courtney Wesson had three hits, including a double, and drove in two runs apiece. Foote and Brenna Stover each had two hits and a run batted in, Becker had a homer and three RBIs, Reece Seeman registered a hit and RBI and Rylee Kukuck singled.

Foote fanned nine and scattered six hits in picking up the “W.”

ROWVA-Williamsfield 14, Monmouth-Roseville 4

At Williamsfield, Monmouth-Roseville struck first, but host ROWVA-Williamsfield answered in claiming a 14-4 baseball victory.

The Titans tallied two runs in the top of the first inning, but the Cougars responded with seven runs. It was a 7-4 game when the hosts tallied five markers in the fourth and then ended the game with two runs in the fifth frame.

Elijah Noel had a double, single and RBI for Monmouth-Roseville (1-3). Nick Huston also recorded a double and single while Andrew Way had a two-base hit and run batted in. Ty Moore contributed a hit and RBI and Elliot Rogers singled.

Clay Casteel started and took the loss, He fanned one. Noel set down six on strikes in relief and Way finished up.

Mercer County 13, West Central 10

At Aledo, host Mercer County scored in each of the first five innings to build a big lead. West Central tried to rally with three runs in the seventh but the Heat fell short 13-10.

Colton Spence had a pair of doubles and drove in a run while Sam Deverell collected two hits and three runs batted in for West Central (2-4). Keaton Reubush also singled.

Aiden Todd started and took the loss, striking out two in three innings. Kamryn Gridley struck out one and Michael Weber had three punch outs in relief.

BCC 15, Fieldcrest 5

At Bloomington, Layten Gerdes homered to give Fieldcrest an early lead, but host CentralCatholic rallied to notch a 15-5 baseball victory.

The Knights scored three runs in the top of the first inning and led 5-3, after another two-run homer from Gerdes, before the Saints erupted for seven runs in the bottom of the third to take the lead for good.

Gerdes had two home runs and drove in four runs for the Knights (3-2). Eli Gerdes had a double and Noah Anson had a hit and RBI. Lucas Anson, Caleb Hartley and Rylan Richardson each singled.

Layten Gerdes took the loss on the bump. He struck out two. Lucas Anson and Noah Anson also pitched.

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