Kirkwood Coach Todd Rima has looked at seven different outfielders this season, trying to find the right combination of offense, defense and overall talent.

Based on what happened during Tuesday's doubleheader against Marshalltown, freshman Bryce Grimm of Xavier High School could be moving toward the front of the pack.

Grimm played a key role as the Eagles defeated Marshalltown, 16-7, in the second game of their non-conference doubleheader on a gorgeous 70-degree afternoon at the Kirkwood Field.

Kirkwood also won the first game, 10-0, in five innings.

Grimm went 2-for-3 in the nightcap with four RBIs, a stolen base and two excellent catches in center field. He raised his batting average to .311 and continued to impress Rima with his versatility.

"He's had a very good freshman year. I think he's been one of our best guys," Rima said after the sweep lifted Kirkwood to 16-11 for the season.

"Bryce can be a great player for us. We feel he's going to play a huge role in what we do the rest of the year.

"When he's on the field, he's one of our best defenders and he can do so much with the bat that we love it when he's out there. It's just a matter of being consistent.

"He's an incredible outfielder," the coach said. "He doesn't miss a cutoff, he's in the right spot at all times, he gets great reads on balls."

Grimm had four quality at-bats in the nightcap after not playing in the opener. In his first at-bat, he did his job by delivering an RBI grounder with a runner at third base and one out for a 5-0 lead.

He walked in the second inning and scored a run, hit a two-run single to left field in the third inning, and pulled a single to right field in the fifth inning and stole a base. On defense, he raced toward the fence and pulled in a long drive in the fifth inning and ended the game by making a diving catch of a sinking line drive.

"It felt good," Grimm said of his performance. "It just feels good to help the team any way you can to win. That's the main goal, to win a ballgame.

And any way I can contribute, I'm happy to do that."

Grimm distinguished himself at Xavier in baseball and football. He decided to play baseball in college and elected to stay in town and play for the Eagles.

"Kirkwood gave me an opportunity that I'm thankful for," he remarked. "It's been a blast. I like it."

Grimm has played in 16 of 27 games so far.

'We've got a lot of great outfielders," he said. "Every chance you get, you just have to go out and play the way you've played your whole life and help the team all you can to win. And when your name is called, just do your job.

"Everyone is pulling for each other, so it makes it pretty easy that way."

Ethan Howard (1-0) pitched well for 4 1/3 innings for Kirkwood in the opener and got his first victory. Adam Marra faced one batter in the top of the fifth and got a double play, then Kirkwood finished the game in the bottom of the fifth by the 10-run mercy rule.

Sulliam Rios Reyes hit a home run and went 2-for-3 with two RBIs in the first game,. Randy Perez was 2-for-2 with two RBIs. Brandon Brittain went 2-for-4 with three RBIs. Adam Barbarich was 3-for-3 with two RBIs. Jack Fitzgerald was 2-for-2.

The Eagles jumped to an unusual 10-0 lead after two innings of the nightcap, scoring all 10 of those runs on just one hit. Marshalltown's starting pitcher plunked the first three batters he faced in the first inning and then walked a guy. He was yanked and the next pitcher plunked another batter.

Kirkwood's first four batters in the second inning all drew a base on balls, then Hayden Sloane blasted a grand slam for the 10-0 bulge with Kirkwood's first hit in the ballgame.

Marshalltown fell to 9-13 for the season.

Game 1

Marshalltown    000 00 - 0 6 2
Kirkwood        111 16 - 10 13 1

W - Howard (1-0). L - Michael (1-1).

Game 2

Marshalltown    006 010 0 - 7 6 3
Kirkwood        553 003 x - 16 6 4

W - 1-0). L - Barr (1-3).