GMG head coach Mick Long, left, greets Kaleb Gill at third base during the third inning of the Friday, May 24 game in Green Mountain. PHOTO BY JAKE RYDER

GREEN MOUNTAIN — Kaleb Gill is the only senior on this year’s GMG baseball team, and he’s embracing the challenge.

GMG came up short on Friday, May 24 against Baxter, 11-6, but Gill said it’s a work in progress coming off last year’s substate final run.

“It’s a struggle being the only senior,” Gill said, “but I’m just trying to help everyone as much as I can to try and improve their game as well.”

The Wolverines were too often a step behind the Bolts on Friday at the GMG baseball field.

Baxter jumped up 4-0 after the first inning, but an RBI groundout from Rider Kupka and an RBI hit from Gill helped GMG get back within 4-3 after three innings.

Baxter’s Cael Wishman (9) slides safely into second base as GMG shortstop Colin Teske reaches to field the throw during the May 24 Iowa Star Conference South Division baseball game in Green Mountain. The visiting Bolts beat the Wolverines 11-6. PHOTO BY JAKE RYDER

In the fourth, an RBI triple for Colin Teske preceded a Kupka RBI single as GMG took its first lead of the game at 5-4.

The Bolts (6-4) found consistent scoring the rest of the way, though, scoring three in the fifth inning, one in the sixth and three in the seventh.

Kupka finished 2-for-4 at the plate with three runs batted in, adding an RBI double in the sixth for the Wolverines.

“We started off kind of slow,” Gill said. “And then we finally got the bats going and started playing a lot better, making more plays. But in the end [Baxter] just hit better.”

GMG starter Grady Dieleman pitched four and one-third innings with six walks and four strikeouts, allowing eight total hits.

PHOTO BY JAKE RYDER

Moving along the basepaths has been a point of focus for Gill and the Wolverines in the early going.

“We definitely struggled with baserunning at the beginning of the year, and we’re definitely improving,” Gill said.

GMG graduated four starters from last year’s team. Teske is among the returning leaders, averaging .545 coming into Friday’s game.

The Wolverines (3-6) were scheduled to travel to Beaman this past Monday to take on BCLUW (1-7) followed by a non-conference road game with Grand View Christian (10-2) on Tuesday which was canceled due to weather and then back at the home plate for a Tama County dust up with the North Tama Redhawks (8-3) on Friday. The Redhawks were leading the Iowa Star South heading into the week.

PHOTO BY JAKE RYDER