High School Postseason Baseball
The Class 1A and Class 3A state championship matchups are now set after a trio of upsets and an epic extra innings thriller. Here’s how the semifinals played out.
Class 1A kicked off with #2 Newman Catholic facing off against #3 Remsen St. Mary’s and the scoring was identical with the Hawks and Knights each scoring a run in the 5th inning, two runs in the 6th inning, and a run in the 7th inning. The game was tied at four and heading to extras.
Newman Catholic’s best chance to score was in the bottom of the 9th inning when a couple of singles led to runners on second and third base with two outs, but both were stranded, while Remsen St. Mary’s replicated that same scenario in the top of the 10th inning with similar results.
Eventually, in the top of the 14th inning, the Hawks found their bats after an error by the defense started off the inning. Brady Koenck had a two RBI single and another run scored unearned, leading to a 7-4 victory for the Hawks. It was the longest game in Iowa State Tournament history.
#4 Lynnville-Sully took care of business efficiently, scoring a run in the first inning and never looking back, defeating #1 Akron-Westfield 4-0. Carson Maston pitched the complete game shutout for the Hawks, allowing only five hits and striking out 12.
Remsen St. Mary’s will look to repeat as the Class 1A state champions tomorrow, July 26th, at noon against Lynnville-Sully.
Class 3A also saw their top seed eliminated after #4 Bishop Heelan put on three runs in the top of the 7th inning to take down #1 Wahlert Catholic 6-3. #3 North Polk followed suit, eliminating #2 Marion 2-1. Hunter Cook pitched six innings, allowing one run on four hits and tabbing six strikeouts.
#4 Bishop Heelan will face off against #3 North Polk at 5 pm tomorrow for the championship.
Classes 2A and 4A will have their semifinal matchups today. For Class 2A, #1 Underwood will take on #4 Chariton at 4:30 pm and #2 New Hampton will compete against #3 Sumner-Fredericksburg at 7 pm. For Class 4A, #1 Cedar Rapids Kennedy will face off against #4 Johnston at 5 pm and #7 Dowling Catholic will play at 7:30 pm against #3 Iowa City High.
High School Postseason Softball
A full day of softball has set the stage for each championship game for the five classes and their third place matchups as well. Here’s how yesterday’s semifinals played out.
Starting with Class 5A, #1 Valley had little issue with #5 Ankeny, surrendering only one run on an Abby Rusher solo shot in the fourth inning to win 8-1. Ireland Broderick was a triple away from the cycle for the Tigers with her solo home run being her lone RBI. Mackenzie Mohler tabbed five RBIs and also crushed a home run.
#2 Pleasant Valley handled #6 Urbandale, taking the contest 4-2. Mary Paige Withers and Sarah Rigdon tallied two RBIs apiece in the win. The championship game will take place tonight at 5 pm, while #5 Ankeny and #6 Urbandale will compete for 3rd place in the late afternoon.
Class 4A is an underdog’s paradise with #7 Carlisle defeating #6 North Scott 6-2 with Natalie Ramsey leading the offense with two RBIs and #4 ADM crushing #1 North Polk 7-2 as Lauren Hagedorn tossed 10 strikeouts in the complete game win.
The Tigers and Wildcats will play for the championship tonight at 7:30 pm with the 3rd place matchup between #6 North Scott and #1 North Polk taking place at 6 pm tonight.
For Class 3A, #2 Williamsburg held off #3 Wahlert Catholic to win 3-2, while #4 Assumption could not stop scoring against #1 Benton as the Knights usurped the top seed 10-7.
#2 Williamsburg will compete against #4 Assumption for the championship tomorrow, July 26th, at 2:30 pm. The 3rd place game will start at 1 pm tomorrow.
Class 2A had no upsets despite the close contests. #1 Van Meter defeated #4 East Marshall 4-3 and #3 Audubon took down #7 Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont 3-2. The championship game will have their first pitch tomorrow at 5 pm, while the 3rd place game will be at 3:30 pm tomorrow.
Lastly, #6 Sigourney continued their Cinderella story with a 6-1 victory over #7 Southeast Warren. They will be pinned against #1 Martensdale-St Marys after the Blue Devils defeated St. Edmond 2-1. The Class 1A championship game will be tomorrow night at 7:30 pm.
The 3rd place game between St. Edmond and Southeast Warren will take place at 6 pm tomorrow.
Prospect League
The Burlington Bees were stomped by the Thrillville Thrillbillies last night 13-1. Cedric Dunnwald and Skyler Agnew each clocked doubles for the Bees. Their rematch will take place at 7 pm tonight on the road.
The Clinton LumberKings had their offense working late, scoring six runs between the 7th and 8th inning to down the Alton River Dragons 8-2. Bryan Belo clobbered a grand slam for the LumberKings. Clinton will travel to compete against the Normal CornBelters tonight in a doubleheader with game one at 5 pm.
This Day in Sports History
1940 – John Sigmund begins swimming for 89 hours and 46 minutes from St. Louis to Caruthersville, Missouri in the Mississippi River, a total distance of 292 miles.
1956 – Pittsburgh Pirate Roberto Clemente hits MLB’s first (and only) walk-off inside-the-park grand slam for 9-8 win over visiting Chicago Cubs at Forbes Field.
1999 – 86th Tour de France: Lance Armstrong wins first of seven consecutive Tour de France titles but is later disqualified for doping.