3-A semifinal ends on controversial call

Sixth ranked Cedar Rapids Xavier held off a furious rally by number-five Mount Pleasant for an 11-10 victory in a class 3A semifinal. The game ended in controversy when Mount Pleasant’s Bryn Henderson was thrown out at home trying to score from second on a single. The call enraged Panther coach Mike Henderson who twice bumped into the home plate umpire while arguing his case. Henderson says, “Good thing there’s a jumbotron, because I’m more sure of what I saw. That the feet were well in. The tag was up around the shoulders. It was a very poor call.” Xavier appeared in control of the game in the fourth inning when the Saints led 11-3. Xavier coach Dave Schemmel says he doesn’t think his team sat back and thought they would coast. He says they walked a few and Xavier took advantage of it. West Des Moines Valley would become the first class 4A school to win three consecutive state titles with a victory tonight. The top rated Tigers earned a spot in the title game with a 13-0 win over Iowa City West.First baseman Cole McClelland is one of 15 seniors who are hoping to go out on top. He says that’s what they work for from the start of the season. McClelland says they are not focused on the record, they just want another state title for their class. Iowa City West coach Charlie Stumpff says Valley got early momentum and they could not stop it. He says they’re such a talented team and they’re relentless.