Hiawatha picked up their first win of the 2023 baseball season at home defeating Jackson Heights 11-1 in six innings on Thursday afternoon.

After getting swept in their opening series against Marysville last week with just six combined runs in their first two runs, they were able to get their bats going early and often against the Cobras.

First baseman Aden Grathwohl got the scoring started with an RBI groundout in the first inning followed by an RBI single from catcher Matthew Monaghan. The catcher would finish going 2-for-4 with a run and two RBI.

They got four more runs in the second inning with two coming on an infield error, one from an RBI groundout from left fielder Cooper Jacobsen and a sac fly to center field by third baseman Xavier Oldham.

Jacobsen added another run in the fourth inning with an RBI single and would end the game in the sixth inning with four more runs.

Jacobsen went 2-for-4 with two runs and two RBI.

They also got a great performance out of starting pitcher Ashton Rockey. He went four innings and struck out eight batters. Rockey didn’t give up any runs, allowed just one walk and three hits.

In the fourth inning, he allowed runners on first and second base with no one out, and Rockey didn’t allow them to score.

Rockey also helped his cause at the plate going 2-for-4 with three runs and three stolen bases.

Grathwohl came in the game and pitched two solid innings of relief giving up two hits, one run and no walks with a strikeout.

Hiawatha entered the game batting just .176 in their first two games so a performance like this was needed.

They will hope to carry this momentum into a doubleheader on Friday against the Horton Chargers.