Des Moines Iowa — A five run fourth inning by Remsen St. Mary’s put them on top for good as the Hawks won the Class 1A Baseball title with an 8-5 win over the West Sioux Falcons. It’s the fourth state championship for St. Mary’s, adding to titles won in 1983, 84 and 85. It marked the first time two teams from the same conference had met in the 1A title game and only the second time it had happened in the history of the summer tournament. The only other time it had happened was in a 4A Championship Game.
West Sioux held a 4-2 advantage after three, but an error put the first batter on for the Remsen St Mary’s. Brady Portz followed with a single and both runners later scored on two more errors in the inning. The Hawks proceeded to load the bases for R.J. Staab who drove a single into right field that plated three more.
The Falcons fought back in the bottom of the frame, loading the bases with no outs to force a pitching change. Connor Clark took over and struck out two before walking in a run to make it a two-run ball game.
Another comeback attempt by West Sioux in the fifth was cut short when Clark sat down the final two batters of the inning on strikes to leave two runners stranded.
Brady Harpeanau opened the sixth inning with a double to left field. Marcus Konopasek, in as a pinch-runner, moved to third on a wild pitch before Clark drilled a single to bring in the run and give St. Mary’s some insurance.
Clark held West Sioux scoreless for the next two innings to help St. Mary’s claim the State Title.
Staab helped his team with a 3-for-4 game with three RBI and a run scored. Clark also contributed two hits, a run and an RBI.
The unranked and fourth-seeded Hawks finish at 33-5. West Sioux ranked third and seeded second, end the year at 27-3.
The two War Eagle Conference members met twice during the regular season. West Sioux had won both regular season meetings, including the season opener for both teams.
