Final: Ames 9, Iowa City High 7
Seventh-seeded Little Cyclones (30-13) get sixth-seeded Cedar Falls (28-14) in Thursday night's semifinals. City High done at 30-13. That was a lot of baseball, especially at the end.
City High scored five in the seventh and brought the tying run to the plate after a bases-clearing double from Max Waldschmidt.
City High gets closer ... temporarily
The Little Hawks put together a rally in the bottom of the sixth inning. A one-out error put D.J. Hodges on base, he steals second and goes to third on a balk.
Drew Carlson follows with a RBI single through the left side to cut the Ames lead to 4-2. Dominic Salibi then singles to put the tying runs on. They are bumped up a base on a wild pitch.
But Geffre gets a strikeout and groundout to shortstop on his 108th pitch of the night. He'll have one more batte if Ames choose in the seventh.
Aidan High then opens the seventh for the Little Cyclones with a solo home run just fair down the left-field line.
Ames 5, City High 2.
FINAL: Underwood 7, Williamsburg 2
Williamsburg's postseason run ends in the Class 2A state quarterfinal. Raiders end the season, 20-20. No. 5 Underwood improves to 24-3 and faces Cascade in the semifinals Thursday at 4:30 p.m.
Underwood 7, Williamsburg 2, End of 5th
O'Neil retires Underwood in order. No change. To the 6th
Ames extends lead over City High
Two more runs in the top of fifth have extended Ames' lead to 4-2.
Where it was errors that foiled City High in a two-run Ames fourth, it was walks that foiled the Little Hawks in the fifth.
That'd be five of them, to be exact, from three different pitchers. Bases-loaded walks for Carter Geffre and Braydon Beelner specifically accounted for the Little Cylones' runs.
To the bottom of the fifth we have headed.
Underwood 7, Williamsburg 2, MId 5th
The Raiders get hits from Sam Rich and Nile Sinn but they're stranded. Williamsburg has to start stringing things together.
Underwood 7, Williamsburg 2, End of 4th
Trey O'Neil retires Underwood in order. He has thrown 88 pitches. On to the 5th
Underwood 7, Williamsburg 2, Mid 4th
The Raiders get one back. Landon Jepsen's RBI double scored Rayce Heitman.
Underwood 7, Willaimsburg 1, End of 3rd
The Eagles wasted little time increasing its lead. They tallied four runs in the bottom of the third. Gus Bashore knocked in a run with a bases-loaded infield single, Nick Hackett ripped a two-run single for the Eagles.
Rough inning defensively for City High gives Ames lead
Things were not smooth in the top of the fourth for City High, which now trails Ames, 2-1.
Aidan High and Carter Geffre led off with virtually indentical singles through the left side. Austin Gabrielson then hits what appears to be a certain double-play ball to short.
City High gets the force at second easily enough, but the relay throw from second baseman Ethan Nace is low and in the fake dirt. First baseman Jaxton Schroeder can't quite pick it, and the ball trickles far enough away from him to score a run.
City High pitcher Talon Young then tries a pickoff attempt of Gabrielson at first base, but the attempt is wild and goes into foul terrirory in right field, allowing Gabrielson to get to third.
City High plays the infield in, with Brandon Beelner hitting a one-hop chopper to Little Hawks third baseman Dominic Salibi. But his throw to the plate to get Gabrielson is well wide and gets past the catcher to score a second very unearned run.
To the bottom of the fourth we go.
City High still leads 1-0 through 3
It's been a pitcher's duel thus far, as could have been expect considering the numbers of the starters in this game.
City High still leads Ames, 1-0. D.J. Hodges' inside-the-park home run in the first is still the difference.
City High starter Talon Young just gave up his first hits, a leadoff single in the fourth to Aidan High and now an ensuing single to Carter Geffre. Both were hit through the left side.
Underwood 3, Williamsburg 1, Mid 3rd
The Raiders get on the board. Cael Moore with a one-out double. He scored when Sam Rich reached on an error.
Underwood 3, Williamsburg 0, End of 2nd
Underwood starter Garrett Luett has retired the first six Raiders in order. Underwood got nothing in the third. Williamsburg catcher threw out a runner trying to steal second for the final out of the inning. On to the third...
Underwood 3, Williamsburg 0, End of 1st
Undrwood with a strong start, getting three quick runs. Mason boothby walked and scored on a Jack Vanfossan single. Starting pitcher Garrett Luett followed with a single to score Vanfossan. Easton Robertson reached on a fielder's choice and later scored on a wild pitch when Gus Bashore reached on a dropped third strike.
Inside-the-park home run gives City High early lead
One thing about playing on the artificial turf at Banks Field is that you'd better not miss a diving catch attempt in the outfield because the ball is going to roll a long way.
That's exactly what happened in the bottom of the first.
With two outs, City High's D.J. Hodges lined a pitch from Ames starting pitcher Carter Geffre to center field. Ames center fielder Logan Bjerke tried to make a head-long diving catch but missed the ball, which rolled behind him all the way to the fence.
Hodges circled the bases and scored easily for an inside-the-park home run that gives the Little Hawks an early 1-0 lead.
We are in the top of the second now.
City High and Ames about to begin
The Class 4A state tournament quarterfinal between Iowa City High and Ames is about to begin.
City High (30-12) is the second seed, Ames (29-13) the seventh. City High is seeking its second straight trip to the state semifinals. Ames is at the state baseball tournament for the first time since 1995.
The pitching matchup is Carter Geffre (5-0, 1.05 earned run average) for Ames and sophomore Talon Young (7-0, 0.68) for City High.
Let's baseball!
FINAL: Cascade 7, Woodward-Granger 6
The Hawks had a mini-rally with two in the sixth but Cade Rausch closed out the complete game, getting a highlight-reel catch from shortstop Mason Otting for the second out in the seventh. Jack Menster had a big game with three hits and four RBIs. Cascade (25-8) advances to the state semifinal for the second time in school history and first time since 2015.
Cascade's Jack Menster hit like a monster against Woodward-Granger
Jack Menster had three hits and four RBIs, ripping a three-run triple in the third inning. Cascade never trailed after that and beat Woodward-Granger, 7-6, in a Class 2A state baseball quarterfinal Tuesday at Merchants Park in Carroll.
MVC has at least one semifinalist
Cedar Falls ends its Class 4A quarterfinal early, knocking off Southeast Polk 11-1 in 6 innings. Iowa City High and Ames up next in the nightcap.
Cascade 7, Woodward-Granger 4, End of 5th
Nothing for the cougars other than a base hit from Jack Menster, who was thrown out attempting to steal second to end the inning.
Menster is 3-for-3 with a walk and four RBIs.
Cascade 7, Woodward-Granger 4, Mid 5th
Rausch retires the Hawks in order. He has settled in and he is at 86 pitches, meaning he could still complete this.
Cascade 7, Woodward-Granger 4, End of 4th
Rausch struck out three around a walk for a scoreless top of fourth.
Cascade tacks on another run on Ty Frasher's leadoff triple and Mason Otting's sacrifice fly.
Cascade 6, Woodward-Granger 4, End of 3rd
The Cougars erupt for four in the bottom of the third. Middle of the order comes through with three singles, including bunt singles from Cass Hoffman and Will Hosch. Mich Hoffman's sac fly brought in Mason Otting. Nardini recorded a strikeout for the secon out and after an intentional walk to Cade Rausch, Jack Menster burned the Hawks. Menster belted a bases-clearing triple to center. He has 4 RBIs and Cougars are now in control.
Woodward-Granger 4, Cascade 2, Mid 3rd
Hawks leave a runner on and Rausch throws his first scoreless inning. Cougars look to shrink the deficit.
Woodward-Granger 4, Cascade 2, End of 2nd
The Cougars answer with two of their own. Mick Hoffman reached on an error and scored on Cade Rausch's second hit of the game. Jack Menster followed with an RBI single to score Nathan Schockemoehl, who also singled.
Pitch count will be important to watch. Rausch was at 44 through two innings, while Nardini had thrown 50.
Woodward-Granger 4, Cascade 0, Mid 2nd
Woodward-Granger doubled its lead. Landon Chambers with a leadoff walk, sacrificed to second and reached third on a wild pitch. Ethan Moats, who bats ninth for the Hawks, hit an RBI single to RF. Moats stole second and later scored on a Brody Nardini infield single (a fluky dribbler between 3B and P).
Woodward-Granger 2, Cascade 0, End of 1st
Cascade threatened in the bottom of the first. Cade Rausch single and Jack Menster walked. Ty Frasher reached on an error when his flyball was dropped in left field, loading the bases with one out. Brody Nardini got a strikeout and flyout to CF to end the inning.
Woodward-Granger 2, Cascade 0, Mid 1st
After the throwing error allowed Sejnoha to score. Tanner Ramsey added an RBI single to CF that scored Brody Nardini. Hawks up 2 with Cascade coming up for its first crack at Nardini
Woodward-Granger 1, Cascade 0, Top of 1st
The Hawks get back-to-back singles to start the game. A pickoff throw from the catcher scoots into RF, allowing Sam Sejnoha to score from second and Brody Nardini to advance.
WOODWARD-GRANGER STARTING LINEUP
1. Sam Sejnoha CF
2. Brody Nardini (7-1, 1.12 ERA) P
3. Collin Nardini C
4. Tanner Ramsey RF
5. Nick Rees 3B
6. Shaefer Hanson SS
7. Landon Chambers 1B
8. Kaden Seeman DH
(Hitting for Brody Worley 2B)
9. Ethan Moats LF
CASCADE STARTING LINEUP
1. Cade Rausch (5-0, 1.68 ERA) P
2. Jack Menster RF
3. Cooper Hummel 1B
4. Ty Frasher 3B
5. Mason Otting SS
6. Cass Hoffman LF
7. Will Hosch CF
8. Mick Hoffman 2B
9. Nathan Schockemoehl DH
(Hitting for Tyler Smith C)
WOODWARD-GRANGER (20-5) VS. CASCADE (24-8)
No. 7 Cascade is making its sixth state appearance and seconds straight. The Cougars are ranked seventh and seeded No. 3.
Van Buren battles, but West Lyon moves on
Izaak Loeffler gets to 2nd with 2 outs after a blooper down the RF line skims off the fielder's glove. Dominic Meierotto sends a grounder up the middle but a great play by the West Lyon shortstop. Wildcats had a lot of those late. What a battle, but Warriors fall 6-5.
After fighting back from 6-0 down, Van Buren County came within inches of tying it if that ball would have slipped through. A lot of those 50/50 plays just didn't go the Warriors' way. 6 hits 0 errors for the Wildcats. 5 hits 3 errors for Van Buren County.
Dowling advances
West Des Moines Dowling survives Dallas Center-Grimes rally, 4-3, in a 4A quarterfinal. DC-G had tying run at 2B in the 6th and guys at 2B and 3B with one out in the seventh, but couldn't get the clutch hit.
Liberty plays top-seeded Johnston tough again before falling in the 4A quarterfinals
For the second year in a row, Iowa City Liberty’s baseball team Cinderella-ed its way to the state baseball tournament, once again playing top-seeded Johnston in the Class 4A quarterfinals. As it was a year ago, the Lightning hung tough before falling, this time 9-3.
FINAL: BECKMAN 5, PELLA CHRISTIAN 4 (8)
Beckman finally puts it away in the bottom of the 8th. Oberbroeckling leads off with a base hit. High throw on Kluesner's sac bunt pulls defender off the bag. Schmidt's sac bunt was misplayed, if the pitcher looking at third for force before throwing to first and Schmidt beat it out. After a strikeout, Drew Thier hits a grounder to third. Eagles get force out at home. Throw to first goes off the defender's glove and into the dirt behind first base, allowing Kluesner to score the winning run.
Top-seeded Johnston ends Liberty's season
The Dragons scored four go-ahead runs in the fourth inning and won this Class 4A state baseball tournament quarterfinal, 9-3, at Banks Field in Iowa City.
Sam Hesselman and Will Nuss each went 3-for-3 for the Dragons (34-8). Sam Kemmer drove in three runs.
Carter Woollums went six innings to get the pitching win. He allowed five hits and struck out 10.
Luke Mayer went 2-for-3 with a pair of doubles and RBI for Liberty (23-18).
BECKMAN 4, PELLA CHRISTIAN 4, Mid 8th
Another big play for Beckman. Eagles with a couple of 1-out hits. After a strikeout, Collin Vander Wal hits a ball in the 5/6 hole. Diving Schmidt gets a glove on it but it deflects away. LF Luke Sigwarth picks it up and throws a strike to home plate to throw out the runner at the plate to end the inning. Offerman has reached his pitch limit so that makes it even more huge, if Beckman wins it here.
As I'm typing, Jackson Oberbroeckling leads off bottom of 8th with a base hit.
Johnston gets runs right back
The Dragons get those two Liberty runs in the top of the sixth right back in the seventh. Plus one.
Blake Lundholm tripled to the right-field corner to score the first one. He came home on Tyne Weeden's line-drive single to center.
A Carter Bryan sacrifice fly to center scored a third run.
Johnston 9, Liberty 3 as we head to the 7th.
BECKMAN 4, PELLA CHRISTIAN 4, End 7th
Beckman rallied for one in the seventh. Jake Schmidt led off with an infield single and was bunted to second. After a flyout, leadoff batter Luke Schieltz delivered a line-drive double down the right field line to score Schmidt to tie the game. Luke Sigwarth was intentionally walked to create a force at any base. Offerman loaded the bases with two outs, reaching on a error. Flyout ended the 7th and we head to extras.
Liberty pulls closer late
Iowa City Liberty isn't going away quietly. The Lightning scored a pair of runs in the top of the sixth inning to pull within 6-3 of Johnston.
Mason Gardner was hit by a pitch leading off. Luke Mayer then lined a ball that a diving Johnston left fielder couldn't quite come up with, the ball scooting slightly behind him for a double.
Braden O'Connor followed with a two-run single over the second baseman's head and into right-center field. Johnston pitcher Woollums then retired the next three hitter, the last two pinch hitters.
PELLA CHRISTIAN 4, BECKMAN 3, Mid of 7th
Offerman gives up a 2-out double to Vander Molen but leaves him there with a strikeout to end the inning.
Beckman has 7-8-9 up in the 7th. Schmidt-Recker-Thier. They have been on base a total of 5 times and Recker has a hit with 2 RBIs. Get to the top and I like Beckman's chances.
PELLA CHRISTIAN 4, BECKMAN 3, End of 6th
Pella Christian's Lincoln Vander Molen pitches out of a jam that seemed to be almost automatic tie or Blazers lead. Luke Schieltz leads off with a triple. A shallow flyball to RF is dropped but Schieltz holds. A walk to Offerman loads the bases with none out. Grounder to second gets force at home (close play that could have been called either way) and the threat ends on a strikeout and flyout.
Huge bullet dodged by the Eagles. Missed opportunity for Blazers.
Dragons continue breathing fire
Johnston gets another run in the bottom of the fifth to increase its lead over Liberty to 6-1.
Tyne Tweeden was hit by a pitch leading off. Johnston had 115 of those this season coming into the game and annually leads the state in that category.
A sacrifice bunt and wild pitch moved the runner ahead to third. He scored on San Hesselman's seeing-eye single up the middle.
Hesselman is 3-for-3 in this game with two runs and two RBIs.
Johnston's top four hitters in the lineup are a combined 1-for-9 in this game. It's bottom five are 8-for-12.
Johnston 6, Iowa City Liberty 1 as we meander to the 6th.
PELLA CHRISTIAN 4, BECKMAN 3, Mid 6th
Offerman settles back in with a 5-pitch inning, giving up a 2-out ducksnort for a base hit. Beckman gets right back in to try and regain the lead.
PELLA CHRISTIAN 4, DYERSVILLE BECKMAN 3, End 5th
Beckman answers with two in the bottom of the fifth. Florence's leadoff double ignites the inning. Eluenser with an RBI single. He scored on Dylan Recker's sac fly to RF. Recker has two RBIs for the Blazers.
Johnston taking over
A four-spot in the bottom of the fourth has given Johnston a 5-1 lead on Liberty.
Adam Kayko began the rally with a double over the right fielder's head, scoring on Sam Hesselman's ensuing double down the third-base line. A Will Nuss single moved Hesselman to third and prompted a Liberty pitching change Jackson Tubbs for Mason Waterbury.
Sam Kemmer greeted reliever Jackson Tubbs by blooping an oppo double just fair inside the right-field line, his double scoring two. Kemmer has three RBIs in this game.
A groundout moved Kemmer to third base, and he scored on Gage Mollendor's two-out swinging-bunt single down the third-base line.
Johnston 5, Iowa City Liberty 1 to the fifth.
PELLA CHRISTIAN 4, BECKMAN 2, Bottom of 5th
Beckman responds to the Eagles' rally with a leadoff double by Matt Florence and a walk to Jackson Oberbroeckling. Pella Christian brings in Lincoln Vander Molen to relieve Westerkamp, who went 4+ allowing one run on 4 hits, 4 striekouts and 7 walks.
Eli Kluesner with a base hit on Vander Molen's first batter faced. Florence scored. Two on and none out for Beckman
PELLA CHRISTIAN 4, BECKMAN 1, Mid 5th
Crazy top of the 5th. Eagles bottom half of the order comes through for four runs. Bloop hit for Kelderman to lead off. Belzer inside-outs one for single to RF. Vander Wal base hit just past second baseman to score one. Throw home goes off runner's leg and to the back stop bringing in a second run. Morgan reaches on a bunt single when fielder slips trying to go for it. Westerkamp with an RBI groundout and Vander Molen adds an RBI single.
Pella Christian up, 4-1.
BECKMAN 1, PELLA CHRISTIAN 0, End of 4th
Beckman leaves the bases loaded but get that run from Kluesner/Florence. Right now, that might be enough with the way Offerman has stymied the Eagles.
Liberty threatens in 3rd but don't dent the plate
Luke Ramsey was hit by a pitch, with Cooper Hughes reaching on a shortstop fielding error with one out in the top of the third for Liberty.
But Johnston pitcher Woollums gets a strikeout swinging and flyout to center to keep the Bolts from scoring.
To B3: Johnston 1, Liberty 1.
BECKMAN 1, PELLA CHRISTIAN 0, Bottom of 4th
Designated hitter Eli Kluesner leads off with a base hit. Moves to second on a wild pitch. Jake Schmidt's sacrifice bunt puts him on third. PC brings in the infield. No. 8 hitter Dylan Recker delivers an RBI single through the 5/6 hole. Gives the Blazers the led.
Dragons fire back.
Johnston responds to Liberty's run in the top of the second inning with one of its own in the bottom half.
Sam Hesselman doubled to the gap in left-center field leading off. Will Nuss then followed with an infield single to deep short, moving Hesselman to third.
He scored on a Sam Kemmer sacrifice fly to center field.
We head to the third: Liberty 1, Johnston 1.
PELLA CHRISTIAN 0, BECKMAN 0, Mid 4th
Nate Offerman is dealing on the mound. He has sliced through the Eagles order. Another 1-2-3 inning and he has retired 10 straight batters.
Liberty bolts to the lead
Iowa City Liberty takes the first lead of this 4A quarterfinal.
Mason Gardner led off with a walk against Johnston pitcher Carter Woollums. Luke Mayer then followed by pulling a line drive into the left-field corner for a double that scored Gardner sliding.
Mayer was sacrifice bunted to third, but Woollums got a pair of strikeouts to limit the Liberty damage.
Lightning 1, Johnston 0 to B2.
PELLA CHRISTIAN 0, BECKMAN 0, ENd of 3rd
Beckman gets a 2-out walk to Matt Florence, who steals second. Eagles starter Westerkamp with a strikeout to end the inning, giving him 4 total. Good thing for the Blazers, who have been patient and taken pitches, Westerkamp has thrown 60 pitches through 3 innings. Offerman is in mid-30s.
Liberty and Johnston underway in Class 4A
Iowa City Liberty and Johnston have begun their Class 4A state baseball tournament quarterfinal at Banks Field in Iowa City.
Liberty is the eighth seed with a 23-17 record. The Lightning upset second-ranked Cedar Rapids Prairie in a substate final last week.
Top-seeded Johnston is 33-8. The Dragons are starting Carter Woollums (7-2, 1.34 earned run average) on the mound.
For Liberty, it's left Mason Waterbury (5-1, 2.47).
There is no score after an inning.
PELLA CHRISTIAN 0, BECKMAN 0, Mid of 3rd
Another 1-2-3 inning for Offerman. Interesting occurrence, he jams Corbin Westerkamp and it busts his aluminum bat at the handle. Barrel floats toward SS and third baseman Dylan Recker fields the ball for the second out. Crazy seeing that with an aluminum bat. Not the first time but definitely rare.
PELLA CHRISTIAN 0, BECKMAN 0, End of 2nd
Westerkamp showed some inconsistency with control, walking the bases loaded. He is able to get a groundout to second to end the threat. Scoreless through 2 complete.
PELLA CHRISTIAN 0, BECKMAN 0, Mid 2nd
Efficient inning for Beckman pitcher Offerman. Two groundouts and a finished with a strikeout to retire the Eagles in order.
PELLA CHRISTIAN 0, BECKMAN 0, End of 1st
Beckman pitcher Nate Offerman with a 2-out single but his courtesy runner left on first. Interestingly, each team had one hit in the first inning and it was each starting pitcher. Westerkamp had bookend strikeouts.
PELLA CHRISTIAN 0, BECKMAN 0, Mid of 1st
PC strands Westerkamp on third after his leadoff single, stolen base and a groundout to move him there with one out. Offerman with a strikeout (a favorable punch out on an appeal to 1B ump). Beckman walked Van Arendonk intentionally. Flyiout to RF ends it.
BECKMAN VS. PELLA CHRISTIAN
Both teams led by first-year head coaches, including the Blazers' Ryan Mabe, a former Beckman player and assistant.
Nice and cool. 69 degrees and a nice breeze blowing out to LF. Partly cloudy. Time to play ball.
DYERSVILLE BECKMAN STARTERS
1. Luke Schieltz CF
2. Luke Sigwarth LF
3. Nate Offerman (9-0, 0.74 ERA) P
4. Matt Florence C
5. Jackson Oberbroeckling 1B
6. Eli Kluesner DH (Hitting for Spencer Rea RF)
7. Jake Schmidt SS
8. Dylan Recker 3B
9. Drew Thier 2B
PELLA CHRISTIAN STARTERS
1. Corbin Westerkamp (8-3, 2.09 ERA) P
2. Lincoln Vander Molen SS
3. Eliot Menninga C
4. Caleb Van Arendonk 2B
5. Luke Fynaardt 1B
6. Grant Kelderman 3B
7. Simon Belzer LF
8. Collin Vander Wal CF
9. Johnson Morgan RF
Class 2A Quarterfinal: Dyersville Beckman (22-9) vs. Pella Christian (18-16)
Beckman is the top seed and one of just three teams that ended the regular season in the IHSBCA rankings. The Blazers were third in the final poll. Pella Christian qualified by beating top-ranked and defending champion Van Meter.
The game will feature two top starters. Nate Offerman, "The Champ" as he's called by his teammates, will start for the Blazers. He is 9-0 with a save in 11 appearances. He has a 0.74 ERA and has 59 strikeouts in 56 2/3 innings. Pella Christian counters with Corbin Westerkamp, who is 8-3 with a 2.09 ERA. Westerkamp has struck out 104 batters in 60 1/3 innings. He threw 7 2/3 innings of no-hit ball against Van Meter. A game Pella Christian won, 2-1, in 10.
Tuesday's state baseball schedule
Class 2A quarterfinals (at Carroll)
No. 3 Dyersville Beckman (22-9) vs. Pella Christian (18-16), 11 a.m.
West Lyon (24-2) vs. Van Buren County (26-3), 1:30 p.m.
No. 7 Cascade (24-8) vs. Woodward-Granger (20-5), 4:30 p.m.
No. 5 Underwood (23-3) vs. Williamsburg (20-19), 7 p.m.
Class 4A quarterfinals (at Iowa City)
No. 3 Johnston (33-8) vs. Iowa City Liberty (23-17), 11:30 a.m.
No. 7 West Des Moines Dowling (26-11) vs. No. 8 Dallas Center-Grimes (30-6), 2 p.m.
No. 5 Southeast Polk (28-14) vs. No. 10 Cedar Falls (27-14), 5 p.m.
No. 4 Iowa City High (30-12) vs. Ames (29-13), 7:30 p.m.
Monday's state baseball recap
Catch up on Monday's state baseball scores and coverage.