NEWTON — It was a night that blended celebration with gritty baseball, and the Newton Varsity Eagles delivered on both fronts Friday, holding off West Vigo for a 2-1 victory at home.
Before the first pitch, longtime head coach Jason Fulton was recognized for reaching an impressive milestone earlier in the week — his 250th career win, which came in a victory over Altamont. The brief ceremony set the tone for a night that reflected the consistency and competitiveness that have defined Fulton’s program.
Once the game began, it quickly turned into a pitcher’s duel.
Newton’s Eli Wolf was dominant on the mound, tossing a complete game while allowing just one run on five hits. He struck out six and did not issue a walk, keeping West Vigo off balance all evening and in control of the strike zone.
The Eagles broke through first in the fourth inning. Drake Wolf delivered a key double that brought home the game’s first run, giving Newton a 1-0 lead.
Newton added what proved to be the decisive run in the sixth when David Ferguson launched a solo home run to right field, extending the lead to 2-0. Ferguson had a big night at the plate, finishing 2-for-3 with both runs scored and an RBI.
West Vigo made things interesting in the top of the seventh, getting a solo home run from Colton Enyeart to cut the lead in half, but Eli Wolf shut the door from there to secure the win.
Newton out-hit West Vigo 8-5 on the night. Dominic Baltzell added a strong performance at the plate with two hits, while Drake Wolf and Ryan Tharp also contributed offensively.
Defensively, both teams turned a double play, but Newton played clean baseball when it mattered most, committing just one error.
West Vigo’s Alan Ramirez pitched well in the loss, striking out seven over six innings, but the Eagles were able to capitalize on timely hits to come away with the victory.
With the win, Newton not only picked up a solid non-conference victory, but did so on a night that honored a major milestone for their head coach — a fitting combination of past success and present performance for the Eagles program.
