(Carroll, IA) — Moravia’s new nickname should be the giant killers. After knocking off #2 ranked Martensdale St. Mary’s in the Substate Finals, the Mohawks beat #1 Coon Rapids Bayard 4-2 in the first round of the Class 1A State Baseball Tournament on Monday.
Both teams went 1-2-3 in the first inning. In the bottom of the 2nd, Blake Heydon for CRB got a leadoff walk against Moravia starter Kale Moore. Jace Baker bunted him to 2nd and Caden Oswald hit win to the wall in left for a RBI double to make it 1-0.
CRB starter Ty Heydon had gotten out of a bases loaded jam in the 2nd; gave up a one out single in the third and a leadoff walk in the 4th but the Mohawks stranded 5. However in the top of the 5th, Heydon hit Moore with a pitch with one out. The came the biggest moment of the game — Casen Woodward lifted a bloop to shallow center, Baker came on and it appeared he made the catch. All of the Crusader players thought he caught it — Head Coach John Waddle thought he caught it — but the umpires ruled he trapped it. Moore would have surely been doubled off to end the inning but instead Blake Ewing stepped up with runners on first and second and hit a 2 run double to give the Mohawks a 2-1 lead. Carson Seals added a RBI base hit to make it 3-1.
The Crusaders got one back in the 5th — Cole Cretsinger got hit by a pitch to lead it off. His runner Andrew McAlister stole 2nd and after Cal Heydon grounded out, Ty Heydon brought home the run to make it 3-2 Moravia.
Moravia got the run back in the top of the 6th on a RBI single from Woodward and it was 4-2.
Moore struck out the final two batters he faced and Moravia went with their ace reliever Ewing who retired the Crusaders in order in the 6th. In the 7th, Ewing struck out the first two batters but Cal Heydon doubled to right. Ty Heydon was the batter but he popped out to 2nd to end the game.
Line Score
Moravia (28-4) 4 Runs, 8 Hits, 1 Error, 13 LOB
Coon Rapids Bayard (28-4) 2 Runs, 4 Hits, 1 Error, 6 LOB
W: Moore
L: T Heydon
Sv: Ewing
Time: 2:22
Box Score, Click HERE
Post Game Interview with CRB Head Coach John Waddle
