(Harlan, IA) — For the 2nd straight year and for the 20th time in school history, the Harlan baseball team is going to the State Baseball Tournament. On Wednesday night, the Cyclones used a 7 run 3rd inning to beat arch rival Lewis Central 10-0.
Titans ace Aaron Kreps previously was unbeaten but he ran into trouble in the bottom of the 3rd inning as the Cyclones got 4 hits in 5 straight at bats from the bottom of the order. Weston Reisz and Foxx Argotsinger each had RBI singles and Quinn Koesters got a sacrifice fly.
Harlan broke it open in the bottom of the third. With one out, Catcher Hayden Soma put one over the left field wall for his first home run of the season. The Junior later said that it was his first home run since 8th grade. That opened the floodgates as Harlan scored 7 total runs. Kreps only faced 5 batters in the inning before being knocked out.
Reisz went 2-3 with 2 RBI and 2 runs; Landon Kaufman was 2-3 with 2 runs while Soma went 2-3 with his homer and he said it’s exciting for Harlan to get a return trip to state
Harlan starter Brayden Ernst threw a 3 hit shutout, walking 1 and striking out 5
Lewis Central’s season ends at 23-13; Harlan improves to 27-8 and will play next Monday at the 3A state baseball tournament in Cedar Rapids. The Cyclones will play North Polk (26-6) at 11:30 am.
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