MANAWA — Ben Gruba drove in five runs on three hits to lead the Iola-Scandinavia Thunderbirds to a 14-2 victory over the Manawa Wolves on Saturday, April 25.
The Thunderbirds broke the game open with nine runs in the third inning and added five more in the fourth. Gruba tripled in the third, scoring three runs, and singled in the fourth, scoring two.
Iola-Scandinavia scored its first nine runs of the game in the third. Wyatt Wolberg doubled, scoring two runs. Mason Morfey drew a walk and scored. A passed ball allowed another run. Dane Desrochers singled, scoring two runs. Gruba’s triple then scored three.
The Wolves scored first in the second inning when a wild pitch allowed one run. They added one more run later in the contest.
The Thunderbirds pushed across five runs on two hits in the fourth. Mason Kriesel hit a sacrifice fly, scoring one run. Broghan Gullixon singled, scoring two runs. Gruba followed with a single that scored two more.
Kriesel earned the win for Iola-Scandinavia. The right-hander pitched one inning, allowing no hits and no runs with one strikeout and one walk. Desrochers started and worked two innings, surrendering one hit and one run while striking out four and walking one. Timdal pitched one inning of relief, allowing no hits with two strikeouts.
Carson Stroud took the loss for Manawa. The starting pitcher went four innings, giving up 14 runs (13 earned) on nine hits with four strikeouts and seven walks.
Iola-Scandinavia collected nine hits. Gullixon went 2-for-3. Timdal drew three walks to pace the Thunderbirds, who worked seven walks total and stole six bases.
Oden Strosenruether drove in one run for the Wolves. Reed Schleuter led Manawa with one hit in two at-bats.
The Thunderbirds improved to 14-2 with the win. They are scheduled to play at the Rosholt Hornets on Tuesday, April 28.
Helping Shiocton baseball
This message was posted on the Thunderbirds baseball team’s Facebook page.
Today was about more than baseball.
As a program and community, we’re proud to share that we were able to raise $650 for Shiocton Baseball to help support them during the unprecedented flooding their community has experienced. We had the opportunity to present the donation between games at the CWC-East Tournament in Green Bay this afternoon (4/27).
High school sports are always competitive, but moments like this remind us that it’s really about something bigger-supporting one another, building relationships, and showing what our communities stand for.
We have a ton of respect for Shiocton Baseball, their players, coaches, and community and we’re glad we could come together in a meaningful way today.
Thank you to everyone in the Iola-Scandinavia community who helped make this possible.
