Linn won a solid game on Thursday at home against St. James, 4-0, with a run in each the second through fifth innings.

“We had a nice win against St James to end the week and send out our seniors out with a win in our last home game,” said Coach Dan Campbell. “Peyten Peters threw a tremendous game. The boys have been working hard at practice heading into districts. We are hoping to surprise some teams as the six seed.”

In the second, Gus Peters started the rally with a one-out walk and stole second. With two outs, Aaron Starke (2-2, RBI) singled to center field to drive in Peters for a 1-0 lead.

More small ball followed in the third after Jax Kubiak (1-4) led off with a single. He stole second and moved to third on a groundout. Austin Dudenhoeffer used a sac fly to drive in Kubiak.

Linn appeared to have an opportunity to break the game open in the fourth after Craig Laughlin (1-3) drilled a hard-hit single through the left side. He advanced to second on a passed ball, and Starke joined him on the bases with a walk. Joseph Brandt entered the game as a CR for Starke and promptly stole second. Laughlin stole third and scored on an overthrow error to make it a 3-0 game.

Linn’s final run in the fifth came after Bobby Winkelman (1-3) led off with a single and moved to second on an error. He later moved to third on a sac groundout by Dudenhoeffer, and scored on a P. Peters’ RBI groundout.

P. Peters was sharp on the mound, finishing with seven strikeouts and no walks with just one hit and no runs in a complete-game shutout.

On Tuesday, the Wildcats lost 6-0 to New Bloomfield.

Linn’s lone hit was a double by Winkleman. On the hill, Tryten Reynolds started and went two innings, allowing two earned runs on two hits, with six walks and a strikeout. P. Peters pitched 2.1 innings, allowing four earned runs on three hits, with a walk. Nash Tyree closed the game with a strikeout and a walk in one inning.

The JV game ended in a 3-3 tie.

P. Peters (RBI), Laughlin, and G. Peters each had a hit for the Wildcats.

Carson Kempker started the game on the mound, giving up two earned runs on one hit with three strikeouts and four walks. In an inning, Kubiak struck out two.

Linn lost a pair of tough games by one run last Monday in a doubleheader with Vienna (2-1) and Owensville (3-2).

“We didn’t execute very well offensively or defensively when the pressure was on,” said Coach Campbell. “Austin and Gus pitched nice games for us; we just didn’t execute when the game was on the line.”

Winkelman (double) and G. Peters had two hits apiece, while P. Peters, Dudenhoeffer, and Kubiak added one hit each in the game against the Eagles.

Dudenhoeffer got the start and struck out seven with six walks over 5.1 innings. He allowed one earned run on two hits. In 1.2 innings, G. Peters struck out one and walked one.

Against the Dutchmen, Linn led 2-1 going into the seventh, when Owensville plated two go-ahead runs for the eventual win.

Laughlin and Dudenhoeffer each posted a double and drove in a run to account for Linn’s offense.

G. Peters allowed two earned runs on seven hits, with two strikeouts and a walk in a 6.1-inning start. Reynolds allowed one earned run on two hits in two-thirds of an inning.