The Area Game of the Week spotlight shines on the South Iowa Cedar League tonight when the Keota baseball team hosts the Lynnville-Sully Hawks. The Eagles are 2-2 overall this year, 1-2 in league play after splitting four games in their first week, knocking off Montezuma and Twin Cedars and falling to HLV and North Mahaska. This year the Eagles hit .350 as a team, with a .448OBP, and .450 slug, scoring 37 runs on 42 hits, 32RBI, 19 walks and 28 strikeouts. Three Eagles are hitting .500 or better, led by Jackson Vittetoe at .538 with seven hits, eight driven in and four runs scored. Blake Baker also has seven hits and eight runs scored. The Keota staff has a 5.12 ERA with a 1.35WHIP, on a .115 opponent average with 14 hits, 19 earned runs, 21 walks and 23 strikeouts. Brennan McGuire is 1-0 with a 0.70ERA. This week, Eagle head coach Austin Waterhouse joined the KCII Radio Coaches Corner to talk about what he has seen from his team early.

Waterhouse said, “We’re throwing strikes, and that’s giving us a chance to make plays on defense. On offense, we’re looking to steal more bases, which will help us score even more runs.”

Lynnville-Sully is 5-0 this year, 3-0 in the SICL after wins over Ankeny Christian, Colfax-Mingo, North Mahaska, Montezuma and Collins-Maxwell by a combined 61-10 score. The Hawks are ranked No. 8 in Class 1A in the latest poll from the Iowa High School Baseball Coaches Association. They hit .358 as a team with a .520OBP, and .415 slug for 61 runs on 44 hits with 50RBI, 34 walks and 20 strikeouts. Individually, three Hawks are at .400 or better, led by Lannon Montgomery’s .615 with eight hits, 10 runs and 14RBI. Lynnville-Sully’s pitching staff has a 1.87ERA with a 0.80WHIP and .112 opponent average for 13 hits, eight earned runs, 11 walks and 62 strikeouts. Carson Maston is 3-0 with a 0.44ERA. The Hawks have won 13 of the last 20 in the series including five straight with a 10-0 victory last season. Keota’s last win in the series came in 2019. You can hear all of the action between the Eagles and Hawks live tonight from Keota High School on AM 1380, FM 102.5, the KCII2 App and KCIIradio.com, beginning with the Area Game of the Week Pregame Show at 5p.m. And first pitch at 5:30.