REMINGTON — The Class 1A, No. 5-ranked Caston baseball team defeated South Newton 6-1 in the first round of the Tri-County Sectional at Remington Town Park on June 7, 2026. Caston will play Tri-County in the sectional semifinal at 1 p.m. Saturday.

Logan Mollenkopf started on the mound for Caston and pitched two scoreless innings, allowing no hits and three walks while striking out four. Carson Harness earned the win in relief, throwing three hitless innings with one walk, one hit batter, and eight strikeouts. Brodie Howard closed the final two innings, surrendering one run in the bottom of the seventh on three hits and a walk while striking out three.

Caston scored its first run in the fourth inning when London Herd drew a leadoff walk, moved to second on a passed ball, advanced to third on a catcher's error, and scored on a wild pitch. Later in the inning, Parker Zimpleman walked, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Carson Harness, and scored on three consecutive walks to Tucker Woolever, Lucius Edson, and Logan Mollenkopf.

The Comets extended their lead with four runs in the fifth inning. Gavin Mollenkopf and London Herd opened with back-to-back singles, and Gavin scored on a wild pitch. Brodie Howard followed with an RBI single, Tucker Woolever added another RBI single, and Eli Holloway reached on a two-out error to make it 6-0. Howard went 3-for-4 at the plate to lead Caston’s offense, while Gavin Mollenkopf and Logan Mollenkopf each recorded two hits.

"We wanted to get everybody on the mound about 40, 50 pitches just to get on the mound at the sectional, get comfortable and we’ll build from there," said Caston coach Blake Mollenkopf. "They’re a different type team this year. This year on the mound they’re more right-hand oriented. They’re a very good small ball team. They’ll bunt you to death, they run well."

Caston and Tri-County did not meet during the 2026 regular season. Tri-County advanced by defeating North Newton 16-6 in five innings behind a 96-pitch performance by junior Ian Houser.