Spangenberg Walk-Off Helps Cyclone Baseball Split DH with Glenwood

Harlan Community's Jacob Spangenberg & Colton Schneider (6-8-26)

Spangenberg Walk-Off Helps Cyclone Baseball Split DH with Glenwood –

(6-8-26) – It took a late rally to salvage a split against a Hawkeye Ten opponent Monday.

Jacob Spangenberg’s 2 RBI single in the 7th, would finish off an improbable comeback in Game 1 of the doubleheader as the Cyclones would grind to a 7-6 victory over the Rams. Game 2 was different as Glenwood would dominate at the plate, taking advantage of miscues and free passes to beat Harlan Community in the nightcap, 13-3.

Spangenberg talked about his approach to his game-winning at-bat in Game 1.

“Trying to keep it simple as well. There's a lot going on. Just trying to slow them down and find a gap.”

Cyclone Coach Heath Stein felt they were lucky to win Game 1.

“We dug ourselves a couple of holes and we probably deserve to lose both of them but we were able to scrap back and steal that first game from them.”

Trailing 6-1 going into the bottom of the 6th, the Cyclones got the first two batters of inning on base before Colton Schneider slugged a 3-run homer and cut the deficit to two.

“I was trying not to do too much,” said Schneider about his 2nd home run of the season. “Just looking for a fastball. I mean, trying to stay with my approach and it ended up going good.”

In the 7th, Harlan Community got a one-out double by Gavin Eck, who would score on a wild pitch, followed by back-to-back walks to Barrett Kaufman and Foxx Argotsinger, before Spangenberg’s walk-off hit.

Game 2, however, the Rams take advantage of three 3rd inning errors to increase their lead to 5-1. Glenwood would then score four runs in each of the next two innings to solidify win and earn a doubleheader split.

The big issue with Harlan Community has been a common theme this season… free bases. Coming into the game, the Cyclones had allowed 50 walks and 24 hit batsman in 10 games. They added 11 more walks and 7 more hit batters to those total in the doubleheader with the Rams, as well as five errors.

“Issuing a million free bases again,” said Stein. “The guys know it. I mean, they're trying. Nobody's trying to walk anybody, but holy moly, we need to get a lot better about throwing the ball over the plate.”

Stein says his pitchers are getting the reps. It’s now a matter making them efficient in live games.

“We talk about catch play and the importance of that and being able to throw it where you want it and we'll just continue to try to talk to the guys and figure out what's going to work for them.”

Schneider, meanwhile, feels the team needs to stay positive as the season goes on.

“We just got to keep our heads up and forget about the last play and get ready for the next play and, for moving forward, just keep our heads up.”

Harlan Community will have a couple of days to work on their game before heading to Denison-Schleswig for another Hawkeye 10 contest on Thursday.

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or Iowa Quik Stats