Warriors stampede Bison in baseball opener, 16-1

BANCROFT, Iowa -- The North Union Warriors baseball team started its summer high school season Wednesday night with a 16-1, four-inning, run-rule Top of Iowa Conference win over the North Iowa Bison at Bancroft Memorial Park.

"We played good defense and made the plays when we needed to," North Union head coach Royce Byrnes said. "It wasn't easy for our outfielders to track fly balls in the overcast sky, but they did a great job."

The Warriors scored their 16 runs on seven hits, plus benefitted from 13 walks and were hit by five pitches.

Caden Walders collected three of the Warriors' seven hits, while Carter Morphew supplied two.

Talan Priester and Logan Odegaard chipped in with a hit apiece and each walked three times.

The Warriors scored three runs in the first inning, three more in the second, two in the third and ended the game by the run-rule by scoring eight times in the fourth.

Cadin Fleener had two hits to pace the Bison and Charlie Schaefer had the other hit for the visitors.

Morphew won on the mound, throwing all four innings for the Warriors. Morphew gave up one run, three hits, two walks and struck out six en route to earning the complete-game victory.

The Bison threatened when they had runners on second and third base with no outs in the top of the first inning, but Morphew struck out the next three batters to strand the runners.

Each of the Warriors' starting nine had at least one RBI, as well as scored at least one run.

North Union improves to 1-0 overall. The Warriors didn't win their first game last year until a few weeks were in the books.

Next for North Union is a game at 5:30 p.m. tonight against Emmetsburg back at Bancroft Memorial Park.

NI 001 0 -- 1 3 2

NU 332 8 -- 16 7 0

Game-winning run scored with two outs in the bottom of the fourth inning.

Grant Walsh (LP), Cadin Fleener (2), Jamison Kramersmeier (4) and Charlie Schaefer. Carter Morphew (WP) and Caden Walders.

LOB--North Iowa 3, North Union 8. 2B--Talan Priester (NU).