4A teams take the diamond at state

The class 4A quarterfinals are underway in Marshalltown. West Des Moines Dowling made sure there would be no repeat of last year’s upset loss in the opening round. The Maroons scored eight runs in the second inning, including a pair off homers from first baseman Josh Potthoff to cruise past Davenport West 13-1. Dowling coach Eddie Mauro says they learned a valuable lesson last year about being ready.Dowling takes a 40-3 record into Friday night’s semifinal round. The loss ended the 20-year head coaching career of Davenport West’s Tom Sourhada who announced recently he would retire at the end of the season. Sourada guided five teams to the state tournament, including the state championship back in 1987. Davenport West won just eight games this season but coach Tom Souhrada says his young team made strides as the season progressed.In a Class 3-A quarterfinal, Oelwein beat Winterset 5-0 this afternoon in Carroll. Oelwein scored three runs in the first inning and was never challenged. It was Winterset’s first-ever appearance in the tourney.