(Council Bluffs, IA) — Will Underwood make it to the state baseball tournament for the third year in a row or can Tri Center do something nobody has done — beat Garrett Luett in a baseball game? The Trojans face the Eagles in the Substate Finals tonight, coverage on KSOM.
Luett is expected to get the start for the Eagles after only throwing 54 pitches in a 7-1 District Final win over Treynor on Saturday. He has never lost a game pitching in varsity high school baseball and this year has allowed just 7 earned runs with an ERA of 0.89 and has 107 strikeouts in 55 innings pitched. He faced Tri Center twice — in game one he struck out 12 in 4 2/3 innings in a 13-1 win and the 2nd game he threw 5 shutout innings allowing just 2 hits and fanned 8. Luett is known for his hard stuff but Underwood Head Coach Andy Vanfossan says he has some nasty off speed stuff too
Tri Center Head Coach Max Kozeal says they expected to see Luett a third time and he expects his hitters to compete
The Trojans are more uncertain about their starting pitcher — Cael Witt has seen the majority of starts but he threw 105 pitches against Ogden on Saturday so the pitch count rule means he cannot go. Senior Cael Corrin (2-0, 2.68 ERA) might be the 2nd option, Freshman Baker MaCarty (2-0, 1.47) has pitched primarily in relief this season, Lincoln Thomas and Carter Kunze are in the mix — Kozeal will not tip his hand. Vanfossan says most of the Trojans pitchers throw a combination of the fastball and breaking ball
Underwood has had most teams number especially in the Western Iowa Conference but Kozeal says his ball club is not afraid of them
Underwood is 23-2, Tri Center 19-4, game time tonight is 7 pm at Gabe Wickersham Athletic Complex in Council Bluffs, pre game at 6:45 on KSOM.
Complete Interview with Tri Center Head Coach Max Kozeal
Complete Interview with Underwood Head Coach Andy Vanfossan
