DONNELLSON- The Keokuk Chiefs went into Wednesday nights game against the Central Lee Hawks hoping to spoil their Senior Night at Central Lee High School. They couldn’t hold onto the lead halfway through the game losing 10-4.

KHS found themselves in a jam in the bottom of the first. With one out, Central Lee’s Caedon Newton reached on an error and Blake Davis drew a walk. However, Keokuk starter Micah Haage was able to get out of the jam when Kellen Weber grounded out and Gage Van Ausdall flied out ending the threat.

In the top of the second the Chiefs took advantage of a mistake by Central Lee. Zach Nemecek walked, Evan Bierwirth singled, Landen O’Shea reached on an error loading the bases. With two outs, Justin Clifford and Memphis Anderson drew walks forcing in a pair of runs for a 2-0 KHS lead. Haage singled to left extending the lead to 4-0 scoring Clifford. Keokuk head coach Ryan Bell liked his team’s aggressive yet discipline approach at the plate.

“We had a couple of hits and took advantage of the error,” Bell said. We were right there and did a good job forcing them to make plays.”

Unfortunately, Central Lee was able to get one run back in the bottom of the second. Mason Sanders led off with a double. Carter Ellingboe walked. After a passed ball moved runners up to second and third, Brett Cook hit a sacrifice fly to center scoring Sanders cutting the Chiefs lead to 4-1.

In the bottom of the third Central lead cut their deficit. With one out, Davis singled and Weber walked putting runners at first and second. Van Ausdall grounded out advancing runners to second and third. Sanders, who reached base in all three plate appearances singled to right scoring Davis and Weber trimming the Keokuk lead to 4-3.

Central Lee head coach Shane Weirather has noticed how well Sanders is seeing the ball.

“Sanders has been hot,” Weirather said. “It’s nice to have a lineup where I’m a big believer in everybody up and down the lineup. If somebody struggles you have a guy like Sanders that can carry the offense for us. I’m happy with our lineup and we don’t rely on a few guys to carry the offense. That is a good problem to have.”

In the bottom of the fourth the KHS defense let them down. Back-to-back errors on the same play put Central Lee runners at first and third. The Hawks tied the game 4-4 when Ward Fraise grounded out to the shortstop. Newton grounded out to first giving Central Lee their first lead of the night 5-4. Bell knows they can win a lot of games if they can show consistency throughout all seven.

“We always have that one inning that hurts us,” he said. “Unfortunately, we can’t put a complete game together right now. If we do that, I know we would be in better shape.”

In the bottom of the fifth Central Lee added to their lead. Van Ausdall walked, Sanders and Carter Ellingboe singled loading the bases. Wyatt Day grounded out to short scoring Van Ausdall making it 6-4 Hawks.

Central Lee scored four runs in the bottom of the sixth. With one out Davis and Newton singled. Weber loaded the bases with a walk. Van Ausdall was hit by a pitch and Sanders received a walk making it 8-4 CLHS. Ellingboe hit a sacrifice fly making it 9-4. Later in the inning David White walked with the bases loaded extending the lead to 10-4.

Haage pitched five innings for the Chiefs allowing five hits, six runs, (three earned), four walks, while striking out three.

The Chiefs were outhit 7-3. They had four errors compared to one for the Hawks.

Haage was 1-4 with two RBIs. Clifford had a walk, an RBI, and a run scored. Bierwirth went 1-3 scoring one run. Blaze Barnes had one hit in his lone plate appearance.

KHS drops to (1-21) on the season. They travel to Washington Friday for a game at 5:30 p.m.