Dexter Niekamp capped a seven-run fifth inning with a grand slam that broke up a Normal Community victory over Peoria Notre Dame 10-3 in Big 12 Conference high school baseball in Peoria Friday afternoon.
The Ironmen led 2-0 going to the top of the fifth inning. Ryan Thiele brought in a run with a single then Owen Cavanaugh and Anthony Gura were hit by a pitch with the bases loaded in back-to-back at-bats to set up Niekamp's big hit.
Cavanaugh was 2-for-2 with a pair of doubles and a pair of RBIs. Thiele finished 3-for-4 for Normal. Luke Drengwitz added an RBI while Brady Burkhart doubled.
Ethan Eberle tossed five innings of shutout ball for the Ironmen. The Louisville-commit struck out 11, walked three, and permitted just one hit.
Parker Michels permitted three unearned runs in an inning of relief and Cavanaugh finished out the victory with a scoreless inning of relief with a walk and a strikeout.
The Ironmen go to 29-3 overall and 17-0 in the Big 12. They travel to take on Mahomet-Seymour Monday night.
