Top stars, best performances on Day 2 of the Iowa high school baseball state tournaments
By Barry Poe
During the Iowa State Baseball Tournaments, SBLive will list the top performances of each day.
The second installment is from quarterfinal action Tuesday in Class 2A at Carroll and 4A at Iowa City.
Owen Larson, Estherville-Lincoln Central
The sophomore picked up a complete-game pitching win, improving his record to 9-0, and also drove in a run in the Midgets’ 5-1 win over Interstate 35 in a Class 2A quarterfinal. Estherville-LC (32-2) won its 23rd game in a row and advanced to a semifinal against Mid-Prairie.
Collin Miller, Mid-Prairie
The junior struck out 10 in six innings of work and the sixth-seeded Hawks generated just enough offense to clip third seed Cascade 3-2 in a Class 2A quarterfinal. Miller, who also knocked in a run, allowed five hits before giving way to Cain Brown in the seventh. Mid-Prairie plays second seed Estherville-Lincoln Central in a semifinal.
Nate Offerman, Dyersville Beckman
The junior scored twice, drove in a run and was the winning pitcher in relief as Beckman downed Dike-New Hartford 7-4 in a Class 2A semifinal. Beckman, which will play Van Meter in a semifinal, never trailed but pulled away from ties in the first and third innings.
Ganon Archer, Van Meter
The senior was 2-for-3 with a triple and an RBI-single and the three-time defending champions advanced with a 5-3 win over Carroll Kuemper in a 2A quarterfinal. Archer started on the mound but left after giving up a two-run homer to Benicio Lujano in the third inning. Van Meter takes a 37-0 record into a semifinal against Dyersville Beckman.
Tyne Weeden, Johnston
The sophomore designated hitter slugged a two-run homer as the top-ranked and top-seeded Dragons beat Iowa City Liberty 6-3 in a Class 4A quarterfinal. Jack Emmanuel added two hits for Johnston, which moved into a semifinal against Waukee Northwest. Iowa City Liberty was making its state tournament debut.
Ben Burkle, Waukee Northwest
The senior first baseman delivered a single and triple, driving in two runs as Waukee Northwest picked up a 7-2 win over city rival Waukee in a Class 4A quarterfinal at Duane Banks Field. Northwest is making its first appearance ever in a state tournament and will play top seed Johnston in a semifinal.
Devin Doyle, Waukee Northwest
The senior shortstop had a two-run triple for the Wolves in their state tournament debut, a 7-4 win over Waukee in a 4A quarterfinal.
Evan Curran, W.D.M. Dowling
The senior pitched 5.1 innings of scoreless relief as the sixth-seeded Maroons advanced with an 8-2 win over third-seeded Cedar Rapids Prairie in a Class 4A quarterfinal. Cooper Nicholson and Beau Gamble each homered for Dowling, which moved into a semifinal.
Cade Obermueller, Iowa City High
The senior and University of Iowa commit drove in three runs and picked up the pitching win in the Little Hawks’ 10-0 Class 4A quarterfinal win over Indianola in five innings. Obermueller, a lefthander, gave up one hit and struck out five in 3.2 innings pitched. City High, playing in its hometown, will face Dowling in a semifinal.
