Jose Gutierrez delivered the decisive blow with a three-run double in the sixth inning, lifting the Iola-Scandinavia Thunderbirds baseball team to a 7-6 victory over the St. Mary Catholic Varsity Zephyrs on Friday at Taylor Field.
The Thunderbirds built an early lead but needed a late surge to hold off the Zephyrs, who erased deficits twice and outhit their hosts 9-8 while drawing 10 walks. Iola-Scandinavia improved its record with the win and will visit Menominee-Indian Varsity on Monday, May 18.
Iola-Scandinavia scored first in the second inning when Mason Morfey hit a sacrifice fly for a 1-0 lead. The Thunderbirds added two more runs in the third on RBI groundouts by Gutierrez and Mason Kriesel, stretching the advantage to 3-0.St.
Mary Catholic responded in the top of the sixth. A groundout by Caleb Springborn and a single by Jacob Ernsting produced two runs to tie the game at 3-3. The Thunderbirds answered immediately in the bottom half. Gutierrez doubled to plate three runs and put Iola-Scandinavia ahead 7-4. The Zephyrs pushed across two more runs later but could not complete the comeback.
Broghan Gullixon earned the win in relief for the Thunderbirds. The reliever worked two innings, allowing four hits and two runs while striking out two and walking three. Ben Kuffel took the loss for St. Mary Catholic, permitting four runs on six hits over four innings with one strikeout and three walks.
Morfey started for Iola-Scandinavia and pitched four and one-third innings, giving up four hits and two runs (both earned) with five strikeouts and five walks. Carter Nicholson started for the Zephyrs, allowing one hit and three runs (two earned) over two innings with four walks. Kriesel also appeared in relief for the Thunderbirds.
Gutierrez paced the Thunderbirds’ offense with four runs batted in. The right-handed hitter finished 1-for-3. Gullixon went 3-for-4 to lead the team in hits, while Chase Timdal collected two hits in two at-bats. Iola-Scandinavia showed patience at the plate with seven walks, two each from Ben Gruba and Timdal. The Thunderbirds also stole four bases.
The Zephyrs generated consistent pressure with nine hits. Luke Fairweather, Andrew Ernsting, and Caleb Vogel each recorded two hits, with Ernsting collecting two. Caleb Springborn drove in two runs to lead St. Mary Catholic. The Zephyrs drew 10 walks, two each from Ethan Plutz, Tarver Trinkner, and Ernsting. They were aggressive on the bases with eight stolen bases, including multiple thefts by Fairweather, Trinkner and Springborn. Defensively, St. Mary Catholic committed no errors, with Vogel handling a game-high seven chances.
The game featured 13 combined walks and 12 stolen bases, reflecting two clubs willing to attack on the basepaths. Despite the Zephyrs’ edge in hits and walks, the Thunderbirds capitalized on key extra-base opportunities and timely relief pitching to secure the one-run victory.
