BLAIRSBURG – Northeast Hamilton called upon its rookie pitching ace to end a 16-day drought and he obliged here Wednesday evening.

Nate Rapp, a right-handed eighth-grade pitcher, sparkled on the mound in a complete-game shutout, as the Trojans stopped a six-game skid with a 7-0 win over Iowa Star Conference rival CAL.

Rapp surrendered just a pair of hits and three walks while striking out 13. It was his most dominant effort since a 17-strikeout gem in the season opener against Dunkerton on May 27.

“Nate had a great night,” NEH head coach Chace Pruismann said. “I’m very proud of what he has done for us this year.”

NEH (2-8, 2-8 ISC) won for the first time since an 11-3 victory over Tripoli on June 1. Four runs in the second inning gave Rapp a nice cushion and the Trojans added three more in the third.

“It was definitely good to get back on the winning side,” Pruismann said. “The guys played very well … if we keep doing that we are on track for a lot more wins.”

Hunter Dilley laced a two-RBI single in the second inning and Austin Smith drove in another run with a base knock. Nick Jeffers ignited the surge with a double.

Kyle Pruismann smacked a Kainan Braun pitch into the gap for a double in the third frame. Smith collected his second RBI on a sacrifice fly.

Kyle Pruismann finished 2-for-3 at the dish with a RBI.

NEH will be back on the road this evening for another conference tilt at Dunkerton. The Red Raiders won the first meeting of the season, 4-2.