Behind Schneider’s Big Night, HC Baseball Thumps Red Oak in DH Sweep

Harlan Community's Cade Nelson & Gavin Eck (6-29-26)

Behind Schneider’s Big Night, HC Baseball Thumps Red Oak in DH Sweep –

(6-29-26) – You can only hope to contain him… but he was unleashed Monday night.

On a day when the breeze was blowing out at Jim Goeser Field, Colton Schneider took advantage, pounding two home runs and driving in 6 runs while going 5 for 5 in Harlan Community’s doubleheader sweep of Red Oak, 11-1 and 18-0.

Schneider couldn’t be slowed down, even after being intentionally walked three times in Game 2. His final at bat turned into an RBI single.

Game 1 was close to start as the Cyclones got a 1st inning RBI single from Harrison Kjergaard, who returned from injury as the DH. The lead would increase on Schneider’s first 2-run homer of the game in what would become a three-run 3rd.

Starter Gavin Eck gave up an unearned run in the 4th, but additional support from Schneider would get an RBI single in bottom of the inning, before capping off a 5-run 5th with his 2nd homer of the game to give Harlan Community a run-rule walk-off.

Eck, who struck out five batters in a row at one point and gave up just 3 hits over 5 innings, talked about how having a lead on the mound allows him to relax.

“Right away, I was kind of struggling with my off speed, trying to locate it. So, I just went in there with the fastball and trying to get ground outs early and then later in the game I just was using my stuff and being confident on the mound.”

Eck also contributed at the plate, getting 3 hits and driving 3 runs in the doubleheader.

Game 2 was decided almost before it really started as the Cyclones sent 14 batters to the plate and scored 10 runs. Cade Nelson went 2 for 2 with 4 RBI in his two at-bats of the inning.

“There's a lot of runners that can score easily and I just put the barrel to the ball and it just dropped tonight,” said Nelson, after going 4 for 6 with 4 RBI in the doubleheader.

Harlan Community wasn’t done as they batted around in 2nd and had a 16-0 lead after two innings.

Cole Koesters and Mike Hoffman would each throw two no-hit innings in the win for the Cyclones.

This team seems different to Nelson from previous seasons.

“I think it's a lot different because we have a bunch of different guys that are stepping up and we need them to step up.”

For Eck, the atmosphere in clubhouse has been positive and helps motivate them to excel.

“We're all lifting each other up even when we're doing bad and we just stay confident even when we're having a bad night.”

Harlan Community will next face Underwood in an interconference road contest on Wednesday.

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or Iowa Quik Stats