Des Moines Iowa — Akron Westfield started their first-ever Iowa State Baseball Tournament appearance with a thriller Saturday afternoon. Despite committing seven errors in the game, the Westerners came back from two separate deficits to defeat the Lisbon Lions 5-4 in 11 innings in the Class 1A state quarterfinals at Principal Park.
Austin Allard dominated on the mound for Akron Westfield but due to the pitch count rule did not get the win. He finished with a no-decision after reaching the maximum pitch count in his 7 2/3 innings of work. He struck out 11 batters and allowed three runs — two earned — on five hits. Dylan Irizarry earned the win in relief.
Lisbon starter Brett Givens left the game after 4 2/3 innings with a no-decision. He allowed three runs on five hits and struck out one while walking three. Ryley Scott was pinned with the loss.
The Lions jumped on the board first in the third inning, but it came with some help from Akron Westfield. Lisbon had three hits in the frame, and scored two runs on two separate plays after a pair of Akron Westfield errors.
Lisbon scored in the fifth inning with some more help from Akron Westfield. Jake Jennett laced a ball into right field that bounced against the wall for a triple, but the throw to the cut-off man was under-thrown allowing Jennett to score. Lisbon led 3-0 after five innings.
Kyle Johnson made up for a pair of errors earlier in the game. In the fifth inning with a run already on the board and two runners on base for the Westerners, Johnson roped a single into right-center field, scoring two runners and tying the game at three. The game remained tied 3-3 after seven innings and went to extra innings.
The Lions got a runner on in the top of the 11th inning after Hagen Waters singled. Bryce Werderman bunted Waters over, and Waters advanced to third after a ground out. Waters eventually scored on a passed ball to put Lisbon up 4-3 going into the bottom of the 11th.
Akron Westfield came through one more time. The Westerners loaded the bases in the bottom of the 11th. With two outs, Johnson, who already had two RBIs in the game, drove in the game winner after the Westerners had tied it earlier at 4-4. He finished the day 3-for-5 with 3 RBIs.
Akron-Westfield (32-2) will play Martensdale-St. Marys, which beat Hudson earlier Saturday, in the Class 1A state semifinals at 1:30 p.m. Thursday at Principal Park.
The other semifinal has defending Champion (28-7) Remsen St Mary’s also out of the War Eagle Conference squaring off against (33-3) Newman Catholic at 11 a.m. Thursday. Lisbon finishes the season with a 31-6 record. It was the Lions’ first state tournament appearance since 2012.
