Defending 4A champion knocked out of tourney

The class 4A state baseball championship game is set in Marshalltown. Marshalltown advanced to the 4A title game and got revenge in the process. Mike Mogard’s RBI single in the fifth inning gave Marshalltown the lead for good as the third ranked bobcats downed Urbandale 3-1, avenging a title game loss to the J-Hawks last year. Brett Kinning provided Urbandale’s lone run with a solo homer to left in the second. Marshalltown coach Steve Hanson gave credit to his defense.The J-Hawks close the season with a record of 24-19. The Bobcats will take a 36-8 record into the championship. In the other 4A semifinal, Brian Kline’s RBI double in the bottom of the sixth snapped a one-all tie as second ranked West Des Moines Dowling staved off the upset bid by sixth-ranked Lewis Central 3-1.The class 3A title participants were decided in Carroll. West Delaware rallied from a 5-1 deficit, scoring four runs in the bottom of the fifth inning, and then went on to down Mount Pleasant 6-5. Ninth ranked Sioux City Heelan won the other spot in today’s 3A championship game with an 8-2 win over second ranked Oelwein. Heelan pitcher Ben Giese gave up only two hits to Oelwein. Heelan coach Tim O’Neil says they’re now where they want to be.Oelwein coach Steve Sanders credit Heelan with shutting down his team, he couldn’t remember a game where they only got two hit.Sanders says his team has nothing to be ashamed of.