For the first time in six years, the Le Mars Community baseball team got out of the first round of the postseason. The Bulldogs defeated Sioux Center in a substate quarterfinal at home on Friday night by a score of 6-1.
The last postseason win for Le Mars baseball came in the opening round in 2018 meaning no one on the roster currently had gotten a win in the postseason. Head coach Trent Eckstaine says he was happy for the guys to get to enjoy it.
Le Mars got some stellar pitching on the mound from Ayden Hoag who allowed just two hits and a run in five-and-one-third innings on the mound. Throughout the game, Coach Eckstaine was battling two thoughts in his head of letting Hoag finish the game or save his pitch count for a semifinal contest on Monday night.
On the scoreboard, the Bulldogs got their first run in the second inning, and Sioux Center got their first run in the fourth. In the bottom of the fourth, the Bulldogs blew it open with five runs after getting the first three hitters to reach. Sy Bixenman came up with the bases loaded, two outs, and drove a double to the gap that scored three and blew the game open. Coach Eckstaine says he and the bottom part of the order came up huge in the win.
The Bulldogs improved to 16-18 with the win and now have the tough task of rematching with Bishop Heelan. Everything leans the way of the Crusaders who are the top seed in the substate, ranked fourth in the state, and have beaten Le Mars four times this season. Coach Eckstaine says the one thing that is even on both sides is that both teams are comprised of high school kids.
The Bulldogs will face off with the Crusaders on Monday night at 7:00 PM. You will be able to listen to the contest on KLEM Radio.
