2022 State baseball recap

New London players celebrate following a 1A state championship game between New London and Remsen St. Mary’s at Merchants Park in Carroll, Iowa on Friday, July 22, 2022. (Nick Rohlman/The Gazette)

It was an eventful year in the state tournament across all classes of high school baseball.

Each class had its perspective dominant teams that never showed any doubt in dominance, while others had lower seeds make some noise.

With all state champions now crowned, it’s time to take a look back at the state tournament from each class.

Class 1A

In 1A, it was No. 3-seeded New London who hoisted the state championship trophy.

The Tiger’s defeated No. 1-seeded Remsen St. Mary’s 8-7 to win the school’s first ever state title.

They were the lowest seeded champion from any class.

New London’s journey started with CAM, Anita. They downed the Cougars 12-3 in the quarterfinals and followed that up with the thrashing of No. 2-seeded Newman Catholic, 16-1, in the semifinals to set up a matchup with unbeaten St. Mary’s.

Remsen St. Mary’s defeated No. 8 South Winneshiek 6-0 and then topped No. 5 Kingsley-Pierson 10-0 to advance to the final

Newman Catholic defeated No. 7 Lisbon, 3-2, in its opening round.

Kingsley-Pierson upset No. 4 North Linn, 7-4, marking the first of the tournament.

Mid-Prairie's Will Cavanagh carries a state participant trophy to his teammates following a 2A state semifinal game between Mid-Prairie and Estherville Lincoln Central at Merchants Park in Carroll, Iowa on Thursday, July 21, 2022. (Nick Rohlman/The Gazette)

Class 2A

In Class 2A, No. 1 Van Meter went unbeaten and won its fourth straight state title.

The Bulldogs defeated No. 2 Estherville-Lincoln Central 10-0 in five innings to win the championship.

Van Meter started the tournament with a 5-3 win over Kuemper Catholic.

Beckman Catholic were winners over Dike-New Hartford in the two’s first round matchup, setting up a battle with the Bulldogs.

Van Meter cruised to a 9-4 victory over Beckman to advance to the final.

On the opposite side of the bracket, the big upset came in the form of Union area No. 6-seeded Mid-Prairie. The Golden Hawks avenged a regular season loss with a 3-2 victory over No. 3 Cascade in the opening round.

Estherville defeated Interstate 35, 5-1, to advance to the semifinal.

In the semi’s, Estherville Lincoln-Central edged Mid-Prairie 7-4 to advance to the final.

Class 3A

Through Class 3A No. 1 Davenport Assumption had the most dominant run, but it was No. 2-seeded Western Dubuque sundering Assumption 7-1 in the state championship.

Western Dubuque squeaked by No. 7 Winterset in the quarterfinal round 4-3.

The Bobcats then defeated Sergeant Bluff-Luton, 9-6, to earn a spot in the final.

Sergeant Bluff-Luton upset No. 3 Lewis Central 5-4 to make the semifinal.

On the other side of the bracket, Assumption defeated No. 8 Pella 11-1 and then No. 5 Independence 13-3 before the loss Western Dubuque.

Independence were winners, 8-7, over No. 4 West Delaware in the two’s quarterfinal.

Class 4A

No. 1 Johnston was 4A’s state champion.

The Dragons defeated No. 6 Dowling Catholic 11-1 to win themselves a state title.

Johnston beat Iowa City Liberty 6-3 in the quarterfinal and then ran through No. 5 Waukee Northwest 11-3 in semifinals.

Waukee Northwest defeated No. 4 Waukee 7-2 in the quarterfinal round.

Dowling Catholic upset two higher seeds through its first two rounds.

The Maroons toppled No. 3 Prairie 8-2 and then No. 2 Iowa City High 6-4 to punch their ticket to the final.