(Underwood, IA) — Two teams with state tournament aspirations will tune up for the post season as Harlan visits Underwood in baseball action tonight; coverage on KSOM and Western Iowa Today TV.
The Cyclones are led by dynamic two way star Colton Schneider — the Junior is Harlan’s shut down reliever with 9 appearances, a 3-0 record, 3 saves, 0.86 ERA with only two earned runs allowed this season and 28 strikeouts in 16 1/3 innings pitched. Plus, he’s batting .458 with 7 HR and 40 RBI. The Cyclones lost to Lewis Central 12-0 on June 18 and since then have won 7 in a row including a game on Monday against Red Oak where Schneider hit 2 HR. He says they are playing Harlan baseball
Before the season, Head Coach Heath Stein was asked whether he would turn Schneider into a starter but he has thrived in the relief role which he is the best thing he loves about baseball
He has touched 90 miles per hour on the gun and recently hit 89 in a game. Schneider thanks his father Mike for instilling in him his passion for baseball who used to play for a Harlan town team in a league that no longer exists. Schneider says his Dad has taught him to be one thing in particular
It will be a tough game with Underwood tonight who is ranked 8th in Class 2A; Harlan is not in the top ten in 3A but in the others receiving votes. The Eagles are led by an offense that is batting .344 with Senior Ryker Adair leading with a .452 average and 22 RBI. The pitching staff has a team ERA of 2.35 and they do not have a fireballer like Garrett Luett — it is off speed that keeps the hitters off balanced but Schneider says he is used to facing that kind of pitching
Schneider does intend to play college baseball; he has been in contact with about six schools including Division I South Dakota St.
Harlan is 19-7, Underwood 19-3; game time tonight is at 7:00 pm, coverage on 96.5 FM KSOM and video at Western Iowa Today TV.
Complete Interview with Junior Colton Schneider
