An 11-run fifth inning helped Martensdale St. Marys cruise past Hillcrest Academy and into the Class 1A Iowa high school state baseball title game.
A six-run deficit was no problem for Martensdale St. Marys in the Class 1A semifinals of the Iowa high school baseball state tournament on July 23.
The No. 4 seed Blue Devils used an 11-run fifth inning to cruise to an 18-8 victory over No. 8 seed Hillcrest Academy in six innings to advance to the title game with a 32-5 record.
Eighth-grader Owen Fitzpatrick played a big role in MSM's huge fifth inning. He drove in the first run of the inning on an RBI groundout and then later added a two-run single to left field.
Travis White also had a two-run single in the inning, and Trey Wight capped off the explosive outburst with a two-run double to right field.
The huge fifth inning followed a three-run fourth inning. The Blue Devils scored two more runs in the sixth to end the game early on account of the 10-run mercy rule.
MSM ended the game with 16 consecutive runs to easily erase an early 8-2 deficit.
Wight went 4-for-5 with three runs and three RBIs, Colton Wight was 3-for-4 with a run and three RBIs. Brady Baker finished 2-for-4 with two runs and three RBIs, Jason Fugate was 2-for-3 with three runs and an RBI and Fitzpatrick drove in three runs for MSM. Cale Morrow also collected two hits. White, Jack Gavin and Cooper Hamilton each had one as part of the Blue Devils' 17-hit attack.
MSM was also aided by five Hillcrest Academy errors.
Morrow was the winning pitcher for the Blue Devils. He threw 3 2/3 scoreless innings, giving up one hit and two walks with three strikeouts.
Hillcrest Academy saw its Cinderella season end at 18-8.
Seth Ours went 2-for-3 with three RBIs and Mason Helmuth went 2-for-4 with a double, two runs and an RBI to lead the Raven offense against MSM.
Rowan Miller was the losing pitcher after giving up nine runs — just three earned — on seven hits and one walk in one inning.
MSM will take on either No. 7 East Buchanan or No. 3 Saint Ansgar in the state title game on July 25 at 5 p.m. in Carroll.
Joe Randleman covers high school sports for the Ames Tribune. Contact him at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter at @JoeRandleman
This article originally appeared on Ames Tribune: MSM rallies past Hillcrest Academy in Iowa state baseball semifinals
Category: General Sports
