Des Moines Iowa — Sophomore Zach Pleggenkuhle struck out 17 and allowed just two hits as second-seed Van Meter defeated sixth-seeded West Sioux 3-0 in the Class 2A semifinals Thursday at Principal Park.
The Bulldogs (33-3) advance to the 2A championship game on Saturday, when they will seek to add to the 1A state title they won in 2003.
After a ground out to start the game, Pleggenkuhle (7-1) retired the next 13 via strikeout. West Sioux broke up the no-hitter in the fifth inning with two-out back-to-back singles, and then a walk loaded the bases before a pop fly ended the inning.
Van Meter scored in the second on a single by Spencer Lamb, two walks, a sacrifice bunt and a sacrifice fly.
It was 2-0 in the third after a walk, stolen base and an RBI single by Brett Berg.
The Bulldogs scored in the sixth for a 3-0 edge on a single by Berg, a sac bunt and an RBI single by Jacob Blomgren.
The 17 strikeouts by Pleggenkuhle are tied for the third-most in state tournament history. Tom Mullen of Davenport Central (22; 1976), Eric Wordekemper of Storm Lake St. Mary’s (18; 2002) and Cal Eldred of Urbana (17; 1986) top the list.
West Sioux pitcher Seth Salker allowed just three hits in 5.0 innings. Reliever Hunter Dekkers gave up one hit in relief pitching the sixth inning. West Sioux ends the year at 22-6.
