Wednesday night was a busy night for many area summer sports teams, and the Mahaska Zone Network listening area had teams representing all four boys classes looking to get to the State Baseball Tournament at Principal Park in Des Moines.
The first game took place in the early evening and saw the Fairfield Trojans face Solon in the Class 3A Substate 5 Final. Fairfield was the solid favorite, but fell by a final of 6-4. Solon is a surprising team to head to the state baseball tournament with a record of 21-20. Fairfield’s season comes to a close at 27-8.
In the later games, all of the Mahaska Zone Network listening area was focused on the Class 3A Substate 6 Final between Pella and Oskaloosa. The game was a tight one all the way, with Pella scratching across a run in the middle innings to take a 1-0 lead. They would extend that lead to 2-0 late, and Osky would be unable to score against Iowa commit Grant Judkins, who held Osky scoreless throughout the ballgame.
Sophomore Nick Harrington kept Osky in the game after drawing the start, throwing five solid innings of five-hit ball. Unfortunately, it wasn’t enough, as the Indians could not figure out Judkins, and only logged two hits in the game offensively.
Oskaloosa finishes the 2016 season with a record of 24-11, and the loss ends the baseball career of Joe Sterner, who was instrumental in the success the Indians had this year.
Pella goes back to the state tournament, and should be rewarded with a high seed in the Class 3A bracket.
In Class 1A, BGM fell to #2 Don Bosco of Gilbertville, 3-0, in the Substate 6 Final. BGM’s season comes to an end at 23-8. Don Bosco enters state at 34-4.
In Class 2A, Pleasantville surprised Van Meter with a 1-0 win in a thriller to get to state for the second straight year. Pleasantville enters state with a 28-9 record as a longshot contender for the Class 2A title.
In Class 4A, Ottumwa lost in heartbreaking fashion to top-seed Urbandale in the Substate 6 Final, 2-1. Ottumwa scored late to take a 1-0 lead over the hosts from Urbandale, but gave up the tying run on a wild pitch and allowed a walk-off single with two outs to end the ballgame. If the Bulldogs would have won, it would have been their third road upset to get to state. Unfortunately, it wasn’t meant to be, as Ottumwa finishes their season at 22-19. Urbandale enters state at 29-10.
We will follow the progress of Pella and Pleasantville at the State Baseball Tournament at Principal Park in Des Moines. You can see all the stories and scores on our website,radiokmzn.com.
