In a tightly contested matchup on Monday, the Newton Eagles Varsity 2025 team secured a gritty 3-2 victory over the Casey-Westfield Varsity Warriors (’25), thanks to a complete-game effort from Carson Barthelme and timely plays on both sides of the ball.
Both teams leaned heavily on strong pitching throughout the game. Barthelme commanded the mound for Newton, going the full seven innings while allowing just two runs (one earned) on six hits. The right-hander struck out two and walked two en route to the win, recording all 21 outs and keeping the Warriors off balance when it mattered most.
The Eagles struck first in the bottom of the opening frame, capitalizing on an unusual break. With two outs and runners in scoring position, a dropped third strike led to chaos behind the plate, allowing two Newton runners to score and put the Eagles on top early.
Casey-Westfield responded in the third. A clean single to center by Hayden Lovell brought in the tying run, knotting the game at 2-2 and shifting momentum toward the visitors.
But Newton regained the lead in the fourth with classic small-ball execution. Dominic Baltzell laid down a textbook sacrifice bunt that brought home the go-ahead run, giving the Eagles a 3-2 edge they wouldn’t relinquish.
Rylie Hines-Gilbert took the tough-luck loss for the Warriors, tossing six innings and striking out seven while allowing just three hits and three runs. He walked two.
Offensively, the Eagles were efficient with their chances. Quincy Fulton, David Ferguson, and Gavin Meinhart each notched a hit, while Drake Wolf and Baltzell each drove in a run. Newton made their opportunities count despite being held to just three hits.
Casey-Westfield put six hits on the board, led by Lovell and Mitchell Wilson, who both drove in runs. The Warriors also turned in a flawless defensive effort, committing no errors behind Hines-Gilbert. Jackson Maulding led the defense with six chances in the field.
With the win, Newton continues to show its resilience and ability to perform in close contests, powered by steady pitching, heads-up baserunning, and strong team fundamentals.
