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Substate baseball preview
A look at each team’s first round game
The postseason is almost here. Class 1A and 2A get underway Saturday, July 6, and 3A and 4A begin Friday, July 12.
Here is a look at the Hometown Current area teams’ first round matchups.
SATURDAY JUNE 6: CLASS 1A SUBSTATE 5 DISTRICT 9
IOWA VALLEY VS. CENTRAL CITY (AT SOUTH HAMILTON)
With one conference game remaining, the Tigers sit third in the SICL standings with an 8-4 record.
The Tigers’ most impressive game so far this season may be in a 6-5 loss to ranked Sigourney. In this game, the Tigers showed they can compete and make some noise in the postseason.
The Tigers average 8.1 runs per game and allow 4.8. Both at the plate and on the mound the Tigers have been balanced — five players with double-digit RBIs and four in innings pitched.
Caleb Haack will likely be used on the mound to start and has an impressive 1.89 ERA and 62 strikeouts on the season.
Layne Peska is an impressive 28-28 in stealing bases.
The Wildcats finished in the bottom half of the Tri-Rivers West Division. They average 4.3 runs per game and allow 7.4.
Brady Wise leads the team in hits (24) and Jayden Hansen in RBIs (16) following this week’s games. The Wildcats will have several pitching options to choose. Wise leads the team in innings pitched (37).
Common opponents include Calamus-Wheatland and Sigourney. Central City split with Calamus-Wheatland and played Sigourney close as well losing 3-1.
CLASS 1A SUBSTATE 5 DISTRICT 10
MIDLAND VS. BELLE PLAINE (AT EAST BUCHANAN)
The Plainsmen will be underdogs in this one, but do not count them out. On paper, this matchup is near even in a lot of areas.
This includes runs scored (5.4, 5.9), runs allowed (5.7,6.8), runs scored (102,106) and strikeouts (156, 149) to name a few following this week’s games.
Will Sankot leads the team in hits (18) as the leadoff and Derek Kressley in RBIs (14). Balanced pitching for the Plainsmen all season gives them the opportunity to use multiple pitchers if needed.
The Eagles finished in the upper half of the Tri-Rivers East Division. Anthony Harrington leads the team in hits (22) and RBIs (19).
Harrington will most likely be pitching, providing a tough challenge for the Plainsmen with a 0.95 ERA and 73 strikeouts.
CLASS 1A SUBSTATE 6 DISTRICT 12
ENGLISH VALLEYS AT SIGOURNEY
English Valleys (0-16) will be big underdogs in this one against the10th-ranked Savages.
Sigourney finished second in the SICL with their lone loss coming to fifth-ranked Lynnville-Sully, 4-3. Sigourney defeated the Bears 22-0 in their previous meeting this season.
Sigourney is averaging 10.2 runs per game and allowing 3.4. Caden Clarahan leads the team in batting average (. 585), hits (31) and RBIs (34). The Savages have used a slew of pitchers this season combining for 160 strikeouts and a 2.61 ERA.
Ty Ayers, Luke Moore, Kane Axmear and Landen Montross all have double-digit hits for the Bears this season, while Moore leads in RBIs (10).
On the mound Myles Grove leads the team in innings pitches (24 2/3) and in strikeouts (12).
HLV AT HILLCREST ACADEMY
The Warriors’ lone win on the season came against English Valleys, but the team has lost a few close games this season, including a 4-3 loss to a good BGM team.
Hillcrest Academy remains at the top of the Southeast Iowa Super Conference after this week’s games. The Ravens average 9.3 runs per game and allow 3.9.
Rowan Miller leads the team in hits (23) and RBIs (22).
The Warriors allow 9.6 runs per game and score 4.4. Boston York leads the team in batting average (. 553) and hits (21), while Bryer Jack leads them in RBIs (10).
Max Henstorf has an impressive 31 stolen bases on 33 attempts. Henstorf also leads the team in strikeouts in 26 innings pitched.
SATURDAY JUNE 12: CLASS 3A SUBSTATE 4
WILLIAMSBURG AT CLEAR CREEK AMANA
The Raiders fell to the Clippers by scores of 10-0 and 16-5 this season, but there’s a good chance this one will end up being closer than that.
The Clippers clinched second in the WaMaC West Divisional standings with a 15-7 record and were ranked in last week’s baseball poll. Their biggest resume booster this season was a doubleheader sweep against Class 3A No. 2 Marion.
The Clippers average 7.7 runs per game and allow 5.5. As a team, the Clippers lead Class 3A in batting average (. 362) and are also top five in RBIs.
It will be key for the Raiders to limit the Clippers’ scoring opportunities.
The Raiders best win of the season came against Class 3A No. 9 Solon who recently swept the Clippers in a doubleheader.
As a team, the Raiders average 4.8 runs per game and allow 6.5. Nile Sinn leads the team in hits (33) and RBIs (20) following this week’s games and will most likely draw pitching duties in this matchup with the team’s best ERA, 1.57.
