Mason City Newmans’ Kyle McCann tossed a four-hitter and the Knights put the game away with two runs in the top of the seventh in a 4-0 victory over fifth ranked Alta in the Class 1A state baseball tourney. McCann says he had trouble getting the change-up and curve to work, but he got some runs behind him and says he was able to "float everything in."
It is the first time this post season that the Knights did not end a game early via the ten-run rule. They also took advantage of five errors by the Cyclones. Alta coach Dan Wendel says it was a great season for a program that was making its first appearance at the state tournament.
Wendel says it was a great first year coaching for him with a bunch of seniors and a handful of underclassmen, he hopes they keep going.
Alta finishes the season 31-4.
Lenox scored four runs in the second inning and the eighth rated Tigers rolled to an 11-3 win over fourth rated Lansing Kee. Catcher Tyler Peterson had three of the 12 hits for Lenox. Peterson says they took a lot of batting practice and cranked the pitching machine up so that it was faster than Randy Johnson, knowing they would face the hardest throwing pitcher they have seen this year.
Despite being on the short end of a lopsided score Kee High coach Gene Schultz says it was a great season for his team. Schultz says to get to state has been amazing. He says they didn’t play well and you can’t win at state by doing that. Schultz says Lenox deserves credit for playing very well.
Fort Dodge St. Edmond erupted for four runs in the top of the ninth inning as the second rated Gaels beat number-seven Solon 8-4 to earn a spot in the 2A championship game. St. Edmond catcher Patrick Flannery says the quarterfinal game got them ready as they had to come back in the 7th inning.
Flannery snapped the tie with a run scoring single in the top of the ninth. The loss ended Solon’s bid to become the first high school to win football, boy’s basketball and baseball titles in the same school year. The Spartans end the season with a record of 37-6.
Solon coach Keith McSweeney says "it burns right now," but he says it will get better as they reflect on what they accomplished.