On Thursday, the Wildcats scored three runs in the fourth and held off a last-inning effort by Iberia to claim a 3-1 win in the Class 2, District 8 tournament at New Bloomfield.

“This was a really good, clean ballgame,” said Coach Caleb Thomas. “We also had good defense to back up Dawson Sprenger on the mound, who was incredible.”

Linn took advantage of a lead-off walk to Jax Kubiak (1-2), who moved to second on a passed ball, and scored when Peyten Peters (1-4, RBI) drilled a double to left field. Aaron Starke (2-3, RBI) followed with a single deep enough to plate Peters. Sprenger (1-3) kept it going with a single.

Though Starke was tagged out in a fielder’s choice advancing home, Sprenger moved to second on the play, and scored when Joe Brandt (1-3) notched a base hit to right field. “We had a good offensive game against a quality pitcher from Iberia,” said Thomas as the team worked four walks, and Nash Tyree added a base hit. “Our lineup has grown some depth to it. The bottom half hasn’t been giving away at-bats lately, and the heart of our lineup has been making that count. Unfortunately, we made some base-running mistakes that could have padded our lead, but we have been an aggressive team in that department all season.”

That put the Wildcats in the driver’s seat, and Sprenger continued to pressure the Rangers on the mound, finishing with 11 strikeouts over six innings. He allowed no runs on four hits with a walk.

In the final inning, P. Peters allowed no earned runs on one hit with two strikeouts.

Last Tuesday, Linn claimed a 7-3 win over New Bloomfield to end the regular season, posting 11 hits, including four for extra bases.

“This was a good dress rehearsal for district play against our district’s number two seed,” said Thomas. “It’s a good time of year for the lineup to start to lengthen, and we hope we continue to meet that standard through postseason play.”

Kubiak (2-4, double, triple, 3 RBI) had a solid game as the Wildcats struck with two runs in the second to eliminate a one-run deficit, then added a run in the second, three in the fourth, and another in the sixth.

Tyree (double, RBI), P. Peters (RBI), and Brandt (3 runs) added two hits apiece, while Starke (double, RBI), Gus Peters (RBI), and Craig Laughlin finished with a hit each.

On the mound, P. Peters got the start, allowing no earned runs on one hit, with two strikeouts and two walks over 2.2 innings. Starke threw 3.1 innings, allowing one earned run on four hits, with two strikeouts, and Sprenger closed out the game with an earned run on two hits, with two strikeouts.

“Every pitcher got a chance to compete this week, which is huge for us,” said Thomas.

On Monday last week, the Wildcats lost to Russellville, 2-1.

“This was a tough matchup on senior night,” said Thomas. “Gus threw well enough to win a ballgame; we just couldn’t do enough offensively. We attacked our game plan really well, and their two runs scored when we tried to catch a runner sleeping, and it just didn’t go our way.”

After the Indians scored two in the third, the Wildcats cut that to one in the fourth. Linn had an opportunity to tie the game in the seventh.

Starke (1-2 RBI) led off with a single and advanced on a passed ball. Craig Laughlin smashed a ball back up the middle, and the Russellville pitcher made a great play, then doubled off the runner. “A couple of inches either way and we tie it up,” said Thomas. “It was a great ballgame against the top seed in our district and the conference champion.”

G. Peters had Linn’s other hit.

On the mound, G. Peters allowed no runs on four hits with three strikeouts and six walks over a five-inning start. Sprenger struck out two and allowed no runs or hits in two innings of relief.