(Sioux City, IA) — Bishop Heelan was the 3A Baseball runners up a year ago and now they will get a chance to win a state title in their own backyard as the Crusaders beat Harlan 4-2 in a Substate Final at Lewis & Clark Park on Wednesday night.
If you showed up late for this game, like in the 6th inning, you might have seen enough. Harlan took the lead in the top of the inning but the Crusaders came back in the bottom of the inning to win it.
The Crusaders struck first in the bottom of the first when Hunter Wauhob singled off of Harlan starter Jonas Reynolds. He stole 2nd, went to 3rd on a passed ball and scored on a sacrifice fly by Ethan Erickson to make it 1-0 Heelan.
Harlan had chances against Crusader starter Kaleb LaFavor — Hayden Soma singled with 2 outs in the top of the first and his courtesy runner was thrown out at the plate on a base hit from Cade Nelson. Reynolds got a leadoff walk in the 2nd but LaFavor got a pop out and 2 strikeouts. In the top of the 3rd, Harlan loaded the bases on a walk, hit by pitch and a Soma single but LaFavor got a strikeout and ground out to end the inning. Brett Heese got a one double in the top of the 5th but LaFavor got a grounder and strikeout.
Reynolds meanwhile did not allow another hit the rest of his outing. In the bottom of the 4th, Reynolds hit the first two batters but after a bunt he got a pop out and fly out to end the threat.
Neither team could score until Harlan batted in the top of the 6th. Still trailing 1-0, LaFavor gave up back to back 2 out walks to Weston Reisz and Harrison Kjergaard. Landon Kaufmann then looped one into center that Karson Fitch could not catch up to for a base hit to score two runs and the Cyclones had a 2-1 lead.
It would be short lived. In the bottom of the 6th, Reynolds got a leadoff strikeout of Carter Beck but he reached first base on a wild pitch. JJ Hope followed with a sacrifice bunt to move Beck to 2nd and Harlan Head Coach Heath Stein decided to go with his closer Colton Schneider. However, Jack White greeted him with a single but Beck was stopped at third at the last moment on a great throw from Reynolds now in right field. With runners at the corners and Charlie Vaandrager at the plate, Schneider committed a balk to force in the tying run which was Beck. Vaandrager bounced out but Peyton Ericson delivered a 2 out RBI single to right to score White and Heelan had a 3-2 lead. Ericson’s courtesy runner would score on a wild pitch for some insurance and the Crusaders took a 4-2 lead into the 7th.
LaFavor gave Cyclone fans hope when he walked Heese and Schneider to lead off the inning but Heelan went to Ethan Erickson to shut the door and he did, striking out Hayden Soma and getting two straight grounders from Nelson and Reynolds to end it.
Heelan goes to the state tournament for their 21st time with a 29-10 record and will be the #3 seed facing #6 Carlisle on Monday, July 21 at 7:30 while Harlan’s season ends at 25-12.
For the Cyclones: Hayden Soma was 2-4. Landon Kaufmann was 1-3 with 2 RBI. Brett Heese was 1-3 with a double. Jonas Reynods went 5 1/3 innings, allowed 2 earned runs on just 1 hit, walked 2, hit 2 batters and struck out 3.
Line Score
Harlan (25-12) — 2 runs, 5 hits, 0 errors, 9 LOB
Heelan (29-10) — 4 runs, 4 hits, 0 errors, 6 LOB
W: LaFavor
L: Schneider
SV: Erickson
Time: 2:01
Post Game Interview with Harlan Head Coach Heath Stein
