The fourth-ranked (Class 2A) St. Edmond baseball team got right back on track Monday night, cruising to a 12-2, five-inning victory over Eagle Grove at Rogers Park.
After a long weekend at the CYO, the Gaels (9-3 overall, 3-1 in North Central Conference) plated eight runs in the first in getting themselves prepared for a key showdown with No. 7 (3A) Clear Lake on the road Wednesday night.
Neil Flattery was a perfect 3-for-3 from the leadoff spot, scoring four times, driving in three runs and stealing three bases. Nick Clark, who earned the win on the mound by striking out seven over five, had a triple, a double and plated two runs.
"It was really good to see our guys taking strong, aggressive cuts at the plate," SEHS head coach Joe Shanks said. "Neil did a great job at the top of the order and that set the tone for everybody else to follow.
"Nick did a nice job of mixing his pitches even when they were hitting his fastball a little bit."
Every batter in the St. Edmond order had either a hit or scored a run against Eagles (3-6, 1-4). Tommy Setterdahl was 2-for-3 with a double and three RBI, David Flattery had two hits and two runs scored, and Cal Coleman collected two hits.
Clark (1-1) threw 105 pitches, including 64 for strikes. Only one of the two runs scored by Eagle Grove was earned, while the senior also walked three batters. He has 18 strikeouts this year in just under 16 innings pitched.
"We still have things we need to work on, but I am happy with where we are at right now," Shanks said. "We have a couple of days off this week where we don't play a game, so we have time to work on the things we need to improve upon."
Tyler Vorrie took the loss on the mound for the Eagles, striking out three and walking three. Vorrie threw 107 pitches in four innings, including 47 in the opening frame.
Clear Lake (8-2, 3-0) owns wins over No. 3 (1A) Mason City Newman, seventh-rated (1A) Bishop Garrigan and perennial state contenders Charles City and Lansing Kee on the year. The Lions have won their last seven games, including a 12-1 victory over Clarion-Goldfield last night.
"It's going to be a very big test for us (against Clear Lake)," said Shanks, who will send David Flattery to the mound. "They are going to be one of the best teams we face this year."
ST. EDMOND 12, EAGLE GROVE 2 (5 inn.)
Eagle Grove001 10 - 2 6 1
St. Edmond812 01 - 12 14 3
Tyler Vorrie (L, 4 IP, 13 H, 11 ER, 3 K, 3 BB), Dylan Thielen (5) and Kent Jorgensen; Nick Clark (W, 5 IP, 6 H, 1 ER, 7 K, 3 BB) and Brady Reiling. 3B - SE: Neil Flattery, Clark. 2B - EG: Brenton Pohlman; SE: Clark, Tommy Setterdahl, Nate Kolacia. RBI - EG: Colten Locke, Devon Omvig; SE: N. Flattery (3), Clark (2), Setterdahl (3), David Flattery, Aaron Chalstrom, Kolacia. SB - EG: Brennan Cameron, Omvig; SE: N. Flattery (3), D. Flattery, Chalstrom).