Keokuk boys upset No. 9 Bloodhounds

PCC SPORTS

KEOKUK - It's not clear if the Fort Madison Bloodhounds were looking up at the sky for turning weather, or looking ahead to a doubleheader with Muscatine, but whatever it was the Class 3A No. 9 Bloodhounds got shut out by the 4-27 Keokuk Chiefs Wednesday night at Joyce Park in Keokuk.

The second game of the doubleheader was called due to weather. The Hounds had rallied for three runs in the top of the fifth before the game was called with Fort Madison up 8-7. The remainder of that game was still in question as of 10 a.m. Thursday.

In the opener, Keokuk got the only two runs they would need when Nick Profeta singled off Vasin Thurman and then moved to second when Thurman issued a walk to Jordan Sisk. Colton Atterberg then singled on a liner to center loading the bases.

Miller Giesler then ripped a grounder to short that was too deep for Thurman to make a play. Profeta scored on the ball and the bases remained loaded. Aden Whittaker then grounded back to the pitcher who went to first for the second out. Sisk would score on the play to make it a 2-0 game. A fly out to center ended the inning and set the final score.

Fort Madison would only get two more base runners in the game one reached on an error and the other via a walk.

Landes Williams, Colton Engeman and Tanner Settles had the hits for Fort Madison. Vasin Thurman threw 4 1/3 giving up six hits and two runs both earned while striking out one and walking one in getting the loss. Jason Thurman finished the final 1 2/3 striking out one.

In the night cap, Fort Madison Jason Thurman got touched for five runs in the bottom of the first putting the Hounds in a hole.

Keokuk led off with three straight hits to score a run. After a sac fly scored another, Josh Wills and Andrew Seabold each doubled to center plating two more. Bryor Lindner singled to second scoring Seabold for a 5-0 lead.

Fort Madison would then get the bats going with a run in the second, two in the third and the fourth, and then three in the fifth before the game was delayed and then called. IHSAA rules state that a game is not official until the completion of the fifth inning.

The Hounds got all eight runs on just five hits and 4 RBI. Thurman got an RBI on a bases loaded walk in the top of the second. In the third inning, Kane Williams and Engeman drew walks and then stole second and third with one out. Aidan Pennock put down the squeeze scoring Williams from third and moving Engeman to third. Settles walked to load things up and then Williams lined into a double play for the second and third outs, but Engeman scored before Pennock was called out at third to make the score 5-3 Keokuk.

After putting up two more in the fourth, Keokuk responded with two runs to take the lead back 7-5 on a two-run double by Giesler to center field. But Engeman gunned down Atterberg at home after he tagged at third trying to score for a double play to end the 4th.

Pennock got beaned to start the fifth and the Chiefs got the next two Fort Madison hitters. Then an error in right allowed Pennock to come around to score and left Jason Thurman at first. Vasin Thurman then reached on an error by Giesler in center. With Jason Thurman running on contact, he was able to get all the way around and score on the play. Vasin would swipe and 2nd and 3rd base and then score the go-ahead run on a wild pitch before a strike out ended the inning.

Keokuk had the bases loaded with one out and Blake Chase was up with a 1-2 count before the game was called.