(Harlan) Jonas Reynolds’ sacrifice fly in the bottom of the seventh drove home the winning run for a 2-1 win over Atlantic in a Class 3A Substate Baseball game at Harlan on Friday night.
The Cyclones scored two runs on three hits. Jacob Spangenburg drilled an RBI double, Foxx Argotsinger belted a double, and Joseph Gross added a single.
The Trojans scored one run on three hits. Senior Kale Jensen contributed on both offense and the mound in a strong all-around performance. At the plate, Jensen went 1-for-3 with a double and drove in the team’s lone RBI. He also pitched four scoreless innings, allowing no runs on no hits, one strikeout, two hit batters, and a pair of walks. Senior Jack Muller provided solid relief, striking out four batters over 2 2/3 innings. Sawyer Tarrell stroked a single and scored the Trojans’ one run. Zayden Parker accounted for Atlantic’s third hit.
Jonas Reynolds turned in a dominant start for the Cyclones, tossing five scoreless innings while allowing just one hit, striking out three, and walking two. The game developed into a pitching duel through the first five innings, despite the Cyclones threatening with the bases loaded in one inning and leaving two runners stranded in both the fourth and fifth. Reynolds retired nine consecutive Atlantic batters before issuing a pair of walks in the fifth. Colton Schneider took over in relief and escaped a jam after the Trojans left two runners on base, then later surrendered one run on two hits and one walk.
Atlantic broke the scoreless tie in the top of the sixth inning when Sawyer Tarrell led off with a single, and Hudson McLaren followed with a walk, putting runners on first and second. With the Trojans’ leading hitter at the plate, senior Kale Jensen delivered his eighth double of the season, driving in Tarrell to give Atlantic a 1-0 lead. Cyclones reliever Colton Schneider limited the damage by striking out the next three batters, stranding the remaining runners.
Harlan answered in the bottom of the sixth inning as Cade Nelson drew a walk and Jacob Spangenberg delivered a one-out RBI double to score Nelson and tie the game at 1-1. Colton Schneider kept the momentum going by striking out the side in the top of the seventh, giving the Cyclones a chance to win in their final at-bat.
In the bottom of the inning, Schneider led off with a walk, stole second, and advanced to third on an errant pickoff throw. Jonas Reynolds then lifted a sacrifice fly to bring Schneider home with the game-winning run, giving Harlan the victory.
The Cyclones improved to 24-8 and will host Denison-Schleswig on Monday, while Atlantic finished its season with an 8-19 record.
