Carroll Kuemper scored three runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to rally and beat East Marshall 3-2 in a Class 2-A rain-delayed quarterfinal matchup today (Wednesday). The game was stopped in the top of the third inning at 9:30 p-m Monday with East Marshall leading 1-0. It was moved to Tuesday, but delayed again by rain. East Marshall had two runners on base when the game was stopped and scored one when the game resumed to lead 2-0 until the Kuemper rally. Kuemper senior pitcher Tom Heitoff had 12 strikeouts and said the delay made it tough after getting ready twice and finding out the game had been postponed. Heitoff says he’s glad they won or he would’ve probably have been mad.Heitoff singled in the sixth and his pinch runner scored the go-ahead run on a botched pick-off play at third. He says he wasn’t worried about being behind late, as he says his team usually starts hitting in the 6th inning. Carroll Kuemper coach Jerry Spieler was relieved to get the win and says the delay didn’t hurt them today and he hopes it doesn’t hurt them later in the tournament. East Marshall coach Denny Allen says they let one slip away from them as they didn’t make the plays they needed to close out the game. East Marshall finishes the season at 28-9. Carroll Kuemper is 34-3 and moves on to play Cherokee Thursday evening at 8 p-m.The Class 4-A quarterfinals opened with top-ranked West Des Moines Valley downing Cedar Rapids Prairie 11-1 in five innings. Prairie made the tournament with a losing record and it looked like early on they might continue the Cinderella story, going up 1-0 in the top of the first. But Valley came back and never let them get on the board again. Valley coach Ryan Cooley was surprised with the final outcome, as he says you don’t often get an 11-1 game in the state tournament.Cooley says it was good to get the first-game jitters out of the way as Prairie was charged up to beat the top-ranked and two-time defending champ. He says that’s the way it’s been all season.Prairie Coach Terry Schneekloth is retiring and was pleased to see his team make it this far. He says it’ll be great experience for the teammebers who’re coming back.Valley moves to 36-3 and Friday night’s semifinals. Cedar Rapids Prairie finishes the season at 15-27.
