Top ranked Sioux City Heelan has advanced to the Class 3A championship game at the state baseball tournament. The Crusaders scored an unearned run in the bottom of the sixth to edge Harlan 1-0. Heelan centerfielder Dan Meier says it was a satisfying victory since they’ve lost in the last at bat in the last two years.Meier was a big factor in the outcome. He had three shoestring catches early in the game which kept Harlan off the board. Meier says he was able to get a good break on his catches. He says he made a split second decision and got in right away.Harlan coach Steve Daeges says Meier’s catches were the difference in the game. He says if his team could’ve gotten the lead and put some pressure on them it would have been different. The teams combined for only nine hits and the only run scored on a two out error by Harlan shortstop Brad Blum. Daeges says it was very unfortunate and an unlucky break as he says Blum has “played tremendous” throughout the tournament.
