GRINNELL – Perry had their winless baseball season come to an end Friday at the hands of a stout Grinnell (25-9) squad Friday in their Class 3A Substate 7 First Round meeting. The hosts were 10-0 victors in five frames.
The Tigers scored once in the bottom of the second inning and six times in the third to roar to a 9-0 lead. A single run in the fourth set up an early win.
Perry (0-25) was held hitless, with Juan Hernandez being hit by a pitch and joining Drake Levan in drawing a base on balls to account for the three Bluejay base runners as the guests were held hitless.
Caden Steva started the tossed the first two innings. He surrendered four runs (two earned) on two walks and a hit batsman while striking out one. Carter Iben relieved, yielding six runs (two earned) on three hits and four walks in two frames on the bump.
Despite the struggles first-year head coach Michael Craig found positives.
“As a team we played our best two innings of baseball in the first and second innings,” the Bluejay skipper said. “I am proud of my ball players, who were always striving to compete and to win the small battles. We learned a lot from this season, and are excited for the off season so can prep for the next one to come!”
That next season will see a big change on the schedule, as Perry will begin competing in the Heart of Iowa Conference. HOIC members (with 2021 records as of July 19) are Roland-Story (30-5), West Marshall (24-12), South Hamilton (19-6), Saydel (12-23), Greene County (9-13), PCM (8-15), and Nevada (3-23).
Perry lost to R-S, 12-2, and to Saydel, 8-0, this season, while also dropping games to Greene County (13-3) and Nevada (3-8).
Dalton Scott was the lone senior for the Bluejays, who will return a team that will have only three seniors. Four sophomores, three freshmen, and two eighth graders played in more than half of Perry’s games this season.
