The field will be set for the class 1A state baseball tournament following tonight’s sub-state finals. Top ranked Mason City Newman can wrap up another trip to state with a victory tonight over East Buchanan. The Knights advanced after they sidelined second ranked and defending state champ Lansing Kee over the weekend.
Coach Tony Adams says they need to put that win behind them. Adams says they stopped to eat after the game and all the fans clapped and congratulated them. Adams says he took the team aside and told them it was a nice win, but they have to play again and if they don’t play well, they’re going to get beat.
East Buchanan is 13-18 on the season but Adams says they have a lot of momentum right now. Adams says East Buchanan has found ways to win in all of their games.
Adams says they need another strong effort, and have to guard against a letdown after the big win.
Second-ranked Center Point-Urbana can earn a spot in the class 2A state baseball tournament with a victory over Conrad BCLUW tonight in a sub-state final. The Pointers improved to 32-6 with a 4-1 victory over Waterloo Columbus in Saturday’s district championship.
Pointer’s coach Randy Chamberlin says they got to the substate game last year and lost, so they know what it takes. He says the experience has been a big part of their success. Chamberlin says the kids are playing confident right now and are able to pick each other up and they’re able to get hits throughout the lineup.
BCLUW opened the season with a 2-14 record but Chamberlin says his team will not be over-confident. Chamberlin says they’ve lost games before when they’ve been the favorites, so they won’t take this game lightly.