South Tama’s Grant Koch takes a lead for second after landing on base on Friday, July 3. The Trojans fell to the Western Dubuque Bobcats 5-9 and 1-4 in a double header. Photo Provided by Darvin Graham

The STC baseball team knew going in that the back half of the season would be a challenge. The Trojans have now experienced the strong competition that makes up the WaMaC conference in teams like Mount Vernon, Western Dubuque, and Marion.

In early July the Trojans started on the road to Mount Vernon for a double header. The Mustangs (18-9) are third in the eastern division of the WaMaC conference.

In game one Grant Koch took the 6-0 loss to the Mustangs after allowing six runs in six innings. Koch walked four and struck out one.

From the plate, Cody Kellogg was 2-3, Grant Koch 1-3 and Mitch Thede was 1-3.

Game two had fellow senior hurler Dalton Doyle on the mound. Doyle lasted two innings, walking two, striking out one and allowed five runs. Jonah Bearden came on in relief for three innings before Lane Koch closed the game for the Trojans. Bearden allowed four runs, walked two and struck out one.

Cody Kellogg had another good game at the plate going 3-4. Lane Koch was 1-4, Grant Koch 1-3, Colson Frakes 1-4, Cael Kellogg 1-2 and Bailey Chyma was 1-3.

The Trojans fell 9-2 in game two for a Mount Vernon sweep.

Two days later the Trojans were home for a double header against Western Dubuque (18-15). South Tama found themselves on the losing end again with game one a 9-5 loss and game two 4-1.

Grant Koch got his bat swinging in game one and was 3-4 from the plate but it wasn’t enough to ward off the opposing team. Colson Frakes pitched for the Trojans, taking the loss walking three, striking out four and allowing four runs.

The Trojans scored their only run of the game in the first inning off on an RBI single by Grant Koch.

Koch continued swinging hot in game two with three RBI’s and two hits with a single in the first and double in the fourth. Doyle was 1-2, Cael Kellogg 1-4 and Chyma 1-3.

Doyle was assessed the 9-5 loss allowing nine runs, walking just one and striking out four.

On July 6 STC welcomed WaMaC west powerhouse Marion to Trojan field. The Indians are 21-14 and are second in the WaMaC west.

Despite the Trojans hitting fairly well it just wasn’t enough to keep up with Marion. Cody Kellogg was 2-3 from the plate, Frakes 2-4, Doyle 1-4, Grant Koch 1-4 and Colton Vest 1-2.

Frakes pitched five innings allowing six runs, walking three and striking out one. Bearden finished up the game allowing one run, one walk and two strikeouts.

Game two was a rough one for the Trojans. Marion’s David Kuhn pitched a five-inning shut out striking out seven, walking one and allowing three hits.

The 10 run mercy rule was applied in the fifth inning for an 11-0 loss.