Panthers allow just one run in three games

Cheyenne Roche, The Creston News Advertiser, IowaTue, Jun 30, 2026·2 min read

Jun. 30—Last week, Creston won two shut outs and allowed just one run to Chariton in a home win. On a four-game win streak, the Panthers sit at 16-11 with a 10-7 Hawkeye 10 record.

After shutting out Shenandoah in a low scoring 2-0 game Tuesday, the Panthers hosted Clarinda Thursday.

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Sophomore Landyn Scherer was on the mound for most of the game, and the team capitalized

on his fast start. Scherer's first six pitches were all strikes, resulting in strikeouts by the top two batters in Clarinda's lineup. On the seventh pitch, Warner Schmitt grounded out, first baseman Rhett Driskell fielding the ball and throwing to Scherer who moved to cover first.

The Cardinals didn't get their first hit until the sixth inning, but they left two runners stranded after a fly ball to first ended the inning. Scherer struck out 10 batters out of 22 faced.

Clarinda's Jordan Butt also threw 10 strikeouts, but Creston was able to find a way to score despite the strong pitching. The Panthers earned three hits off of Butt, Brady McDonald scoring in the second and Tanner Ray scoring on a passed ball in the third. Dax Thompson came in as relief in the sixth after Butt reached 100 pitches.

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The Panthers performed better with Thompson, scoring four in a row on him with runs by Mark Kasha, Mason Wilson, Logan Stehr and Rhett Driskell.

Friday it was a quick five-inning game as the Panthers defeated Chariton 13-1, led by Tom Mikkelsen on the mound who allowed just one hit.

Wilson led scoring with three runs. Driskell, Scherer and Mikkelsen each logged two while Ray, Gabe Blazek, Mark Kasha and Logan Stehr had one apiece. Though Brady McDonald didn't score, he was 2-for-3 at bat for three RBIs.

Chariton's only score came in the fifth inning on an error, but the game ended with two runners stranded as Gavin Byers hit a deep fly ball caught by Blazek in right field.

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Creston returned to action Monday in Council Bluffs in a doubleheader with St. Albert (5-25, 1-15). Wednesday, the Panthers will host Van Meter (17-10) for senior night. The regular season comes to an end Thursday at Clarinda.

Story byCreston News Advertiser, Iowa