The Aplington-Parkersburg baseball team pulled off what could be considered the greatest win in program history when it stunned #1 (2A) West Marshall in Saturday’s 2A District 3 final in State Center, a game that aired on 99 The Wave. The win advanced the Falcons to their third substate final game, putting them one win away from a first-ever state tournament appearance.
Very proud of all our guys tonight and how they played. Outstanding job @devin_davis8_ on the hill!! Unsung hero: Sully Janssen behind the dish in all the gear. Thank you to AP community for your support for the boys tonight. https://t.co/E2tbK94DX7
— A-P Baseball (@APFalconBB) July 14, 2024
Pitcher Devin Davis carried a no-hitter into the seventh inning, but gave up two hits before the final out. The Falcons clicked offensively early, scoring once each in the first and second innings on an RBI fielder’s choice by Davis and an RBI groundout by Nick Neuroth. In the fourth, Tate Neymeyer singled to drive in two runs, and Sully Janssen tripled on the next pitch to extend the lead to 5-0.
In the seventh, the Trojans got two hits and runners on second and third, but a popup to left field sealed the win.
Head Coach Brett Kleespies.
“I think ‘proud’ is the biggest thing I can think of right now,” Kleespies says. “Just the way the five seniors have of stuck out their career and just hung in, put the work in in the off season and doing what they need to do, just happy for them. And the young guys, a couple of young guys had some big hits. Jackson Kleespies had a bunt and Sully Janssen with the triple out there and Preston Janssen with a hit.”
Kleespies says it was a phenomenal outing by Davis.
“Before the game, you could kind of tell how he was acting and just really locked in. In five years, that’s the best that I’d seen Devin pitch, just with movement and being able to get pitches what he needed to do. Coach Hoff and I kept looking at the scoreboard and seeing the zeros up there in the seventh, and just kind of kept looking at each other, but you try not to think too much. Those guys being here last year definitely paid off this year and being able to have some good at-bats, and just patient and doing what they needed to do.”
Davis says it was a focused approach, especially after falling to the Trojans in last year’s district final.
“The game from last year was definitely in our heads, so we came in just knowing we’ve got to stay focused the whole entire game, and that’s exactly what we did,” Davis says. “I mean, eight hits and five runs, that’s a lot. I’m proud of my team just being behind my back. It’s easier to pitch when you got a team like that, so I’m very proud of them.”
Davis recorded nine strikeouts, two walks and two hits. Neymeyer and Sully Janssen led offensively with two hits each.
AP (17-7) will take on Roland-Story in Tuesday’s substate final in Marshalltown on 99 The Wave.
Devin Davis interview:
Tate Neymeyer interview:
Brett Kleespies interview:
