Storm Lake batter awaits pitch in game against Charles City

High school baseball teams playing in the state tournament this week are forced to adjust to the more spacious conditions at Principal Park. Center field measures 400 feet and it is 335 feet down the first and third base lines. That means there are fewer home runs and more ground to cover for outfielders.

Martensdale-St. Mary’s, the top-ranked team in Class 1A, has hit 51 home runs this season but had none in a first round victory against AR-WE-VA (Westside). 

“We just go up there with the mindset of trying to get a good pitch to drive,” Martensdale-St. Mary’s coach Justin Dehmer says.  “Some of the home runs we hit certainly wouldn’t go out at Principal Park, but there were others that probably would have…Doubles, triples — we’ll take those, too.”

Dehmer says it’s worth it to have the state tournament in the stadium, even if it changes the game a little bit.  “What else could you want?  It’s the best place to play in Iowa as far as I’m concerned,” Dehmer says. “It’s second to none.  It’s awesome.  They take great care of it and they treat it well.”

Remsen St. Mary’s opened the Class 1A tournament with a victory over Southeast Warren and coach Jim Klein says the surrondings seem “massive” to the players as there’s a bigger field, bigger stands and larger crowds — .    “You probably get a lot less home runs, which is fine with me.  I don’t have a problem with that,” Klein says.  “It’s just the euphoria of everything going on.”

Class 2A third ranked Davis County has 47 home runs this season, but did not have one in Monday night’s quarterfinal round victory over PCM (Monroe). Davis County coach Todd White says the dimension are not all that much different from what his team experienced during the regular season.  “In our conference we play in a couple of parks of very similar size to what Principal Park is, so our kids are kind of used to it,” White says.

Carroll Kuemper pitcher Chris Halbur did not pertform like a freshman. Halbur tossed a complete game shutout as the Knights blanked Cherokee 3-0 in a 2A opening round game. 

Kuemper coach Randy Snyder says most kids would be so nervous, they wouldn’t be able to throw strikes.  “He goes out there and throws strikes right off the bat,” Snyder says.  “He thinks he should be able to make every play…Chris is a great kid and he works very hard.  He deserves this kind of success.” 

Halbur out-dueled Cherokee standout Cody Ege and benefited from a fifth-inning triple play after the Braves first two batters of the inning reached base.

“We just couldn’t get the hit when we needed it,” Ege says.  “…Things just weren’t falling in place for us today.”

Ege gave up only five hits and struck out nine as the Braves end the seasdon with a record of 17-14.

Coleton Mathew’s bases loaded single into right field in the bottom of the seventh scored the game winner as third-ranked Davis County edged PCM (Monroe) 2-1 in a class 2A quarterfinal round game. 

“We’ve had some timely hits all year and got a senior in a pressure situation.  Couldn’t ask for a better person to be at the plate,” Davis County coach Todd White says.  “A real, big time hit.” 

White’s team rallied from a 1-0 deficit in the sixth inning.  “Our kids were a little nervous and we didn’t capitalize on a few things early,” White says.  “It was a tight ballgame, all the way through the end.” 

PCM broke a scoreless tie in the top of the sixth by scoring a run on a throwing error, but the Mustangs could only manage one hit off Davis County starting pitcher Calvin Mathews. 

“We thought we had to hold them down to a low-scoring game and we were able to do that,” says PCM coach Shaun Hudnut. “…They’re a great team and we’re happy with what we did tonight — making it one heck of a ballgame.”