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Harlan advances to 3-A State Baseball Championship round

Sports

July 29th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

The second-ranked Harlan Cyclones defeated the Solon Spartans 7-5 Friday afternoon at Principal Park to advance to the Class 3A championship game. It was a tough game for the defense as both teams combined to tally seven errors.

It was a pitcher’s duel between the two teams as the game remained scoreless until Nolan Hesse single to left field in the bottom of the third. Hesse eventually scored on a wild pitch by Luke Ira, putting Harlan up 1-0. Josh Cheek got the ball for Harlan, throwing a complete game giving up three earned runs on three hits and two walks while striking out two.

A pair of walks and a sacrifice bunt put runners on the corners for Solon in the top of the fourth. Zach Wegmann ignited the Spartans offense, drilling a two-out double to center field to give Solon the 2-1 lead. Harlan started a rally in the bottom of the frame as a walk and back-to-back hit batters juiced the bases for the Cyclones. Nick Foss knocked the tying run home, making the game two all but Harlan wasn’t done yet. Two runs scored on a fielder’s choice by Dillon Sears followed by a RBI-double to right-center by Kyle Juhl.

The Spartans were not going down without a fight as Ira led off the sixth with a single to left field. A sacrifice fly off the bat of Dillon Drake and a couple of errors by the Cyclones scored three for Solon making the score 6-5, Harlan. The Cyclones responded with an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth thanks three errors by the Spartan defense that allowed Hesse to score.

Ira was tagged with the loss for Solon giving up seven runs – four earned – on seven hits in five innings of work. He added three walks and three strikeouts to his stat line before exiting in the top of the sixth. Harlan (29-5) advances to the 3A championship game and will face Carlisle at 5:00 p.m. on Saturday at Principal Park. Solon ends at 22-21.

Friday’s 3A semifinals scores
Carlisle 5, Pella 3
*Harlan 7, Solon 5

Friday’s 4A semifinals scores

Cedar Rapids Prairie 4, Waukee 3
Iowa City West 6, Des Moines Roosevelt 5