NORFOLK, Neb. – The Northeast Community College baseball team battled Des Moines Area Community College Thursday at Norfolk Veterans Memorial Field in Norfolk in a doubleheader. The Hawks dropped Game 1 by a final score of 5-3 in eight innings before taking Game 2 by a final score of 6-5, which marked the 200th career victory for head baseball coach Marcus Clapp.
Northeast (20-14, 7-4 ICCAC) went ahead 3-0 early in Game 1 as starting pitcher Nick Vilims (Evergreen, Colo.) tossed 5.1 innings on the mound for the Hawks. The Bears scored two runs in the sixth inning and one run in the seventh inning to force extra innings and then scored two runs in the extra frame to down Northeast.
Carter Noakes (Dannebrog, Neb.) had a huge performance in Game 2 as he tallied two hits and three RBIs. The Hawks trailed 5-3 entering the seventh and final inning before Noakes singled to get things going for Northeast. Cade Grevengoed (West Des Moines, Iowa) and Kale Jensen (Central City, Neb.) were both then hit by pitches before Trenton Barry (Wahoo, Neb.) hit a chopper that Grevengoed was able to score on in what was an excellent piece of base running. Jack Borgmann (Norfolk, Neb.) stepped to the plate and singled on a line drive to center field to score Barry and walk off DMACC to secure a split of the afternoon.
STAT SHEET GAME 1:
Trenton Barry (Wahoo, Neb.): 1-3, 2B
Jack Borgmann (Norfolk, Neb.): 0-3, R, 2 RBI
Nick Vilims (Evergreen, Colo.): 5.1 IP, 7 H, 2 ER, 2 K
STAT SHEET GAME 2:
Carter Noakes (Dannebrog, Neb.): 2-4, 2B, R, 3 RBI
Trenton Barry (Wahoo, Neb.): 0-1, R, 2 RBI
Braden Cork (Omaha, Neb.): 2.1 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, K
HEAR FROM THE HAWKS COACH:
Head Baseball Coach Marcus Clapp on today’s split and the rally in Game 2:
“I felt like we kind of gave the first game away,” Clapp said. “I feel like both teams probably got one that they shouldn’t have. We got some guys on at the end and that’s what it took. The only way we were going to come back was to get those guys on. I kind of had my mind made up that if it was a double-play ball that they were going to turn, I was sending Cade no matter what. It obviously worked out and that was a big play. Jack came in during a big situation and was able to get the win for us.”
Clapp on what 200 career wins means to him and the program:
“I think it shows that we have a good program here,” Clapp said. “We are going to win ballgames. It’s a testament to the student-athletes that we bring in. I’m not winning games. They are. Getting the right players and buying into what to do and we are able to accomplish that.”
UP NEXT:
The Hawks will hit the road and will battle Marshalltown Community College at 3 p.m. Friday in Marshalltown, Iowa.
