(Harlan, IA) – The Harlan Cyclones are coming off an 11-3 win against Carroll in the first round of tournament action. Harlan took the lead early with a two-run first inning and then piled on four in the third inning and five in the fourth inning, giving them an 11-2 lead through four innings. Junior Landen Kaufman was the lead catalyst for the Cyclones with a three-run home run in the fourth. In the fifth, junior Weston Reisz added three more with a base-clearing double. Senior Brayden Ernst threw all seven innings, allowing two earned on eight hits.
Head coach Heath Stein believed getting ahead early was the key to victory.
The Cyclones will get prepped for their third game of the season against the Creston Panthers. The two teams split the season series in a doubleheader on May 28th. Creston won the first game 2-1 with senior Cael Turner allowing one earned run on seven innings pitched. The second game was an entirely different story as the Cyclones defeated the Panthers 12-1 in five innings.
Creston ranks among the top ten in 3A for team batting average, batting .308 as a team. For Harlan, their strength is on the mound with a great pitching staff. Stein knows it will be a battle of each team’s strengths.
These two teams have had different success in baseball with Harlan making it to the state tournament a year ago and having had a winning season all but once in the last 20 years. For Creston however, it is their first 20-win season in the last 20 years.
Stein hopes postseason success for Harlan will help them calm the nerves faster.
Harlan will take on Creston in Harlan tonight starting at 7:00 p.m.
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