Top ranked West Delaware showed why it is favored to win a second straight class 3A state baseball title. B.J Hermsen tossed a three hitter while striking out 12 and also drove in five runs as the Hawks crushed Cedar Rapids Xavier 13-0 in a rematch of last year’s title contest.
Hermsen says he likes being a factor on both offense and defense. The Hawks broke the game open in the bottom of the third and finished the game with 10 hits.
Xavier coach Dave Schemmel says falling behind a pitcher like Hermsen is difficult to recover from.
Centerville pounded out 16 hits enroute to an 11-1 victory over third rated Charles City in a game that was halted in the bottom of the fifth inning. Junior shortstop Michael Kauzlarich led the way for the Big Red by going 4-for-4. Centerville is making its first state appearance in 13 years and will face West Delaware in the semifinal.
Dallas Center Grimes downed Carlisle 3-2 and Harlan shut out Estherville Lincoln Center 6-0 in the other quarterfinal games in Class 3A.