The Aplington-Parkersburg baseball team was defeated when New Hampton scored several sixth inning runs in an 11-1, six-inning loss in Tuesday’s Class 2A quarterfinal at Merchants Park in Carroll, as aired on 99 The Wave.
So incredibly proud of these young men. To accomplish something as a “1st” is amazing. 1 inning will not define you nor should it. You earned your right in A-P history. The standard has been set because of you. Hold your heads high gentlemen. pic.twitter.com/1843foX0V2
— A-P Baseball (@APFalconBB) July 24, 2024
The Chickasaws scored two runs in the first inning, but both teams played sound defense throughout the middle innings. In the top of the third, the Falcons nearly had a bases-loaded situation, but Cormick Steege was caught in a rundown between third and home to negate the scoring opportunity. In the sixth, Tate Neymeyer doubled to get in scoring position, and two batters later was driven home by Gabe Jacobson to cut the deficit to 2-1.
Cooper Hoff relieved Preston Janssen in the bottom of the sixth, but New Hampton busted the game open with nine runs, ending the game early due to the runs-ahead rule. The Falcons committed five errors, four of which happened in the sixth inning.
Head Coach Brett Kleespies says until the sixth inning, the defense kept the team in the game.
“I think nerves kind of got to us a little bit, and we kind of settled down and played good defense until the sixth,” Kleespies says.” “We made the pitching change and I don’t know if we made the right decision or not, and it looked like Preston was kind of just laboring a little bit, and they hit him pretty well. We brought in Cooper to maybe see a little change of pace. We started off the inning with two errors there in the sixth and it just kind of spiraled from there. Just couldn’t get an out. It’s definitely a tough way to lose. You never want to send the seniors out on a loss. Somebody’s got to lose in the state tournament and New Hampton’s a good ball club. Heart breaks for the seniors and what they’ve done for the program.”
Hoff had two hits; Neymeyer and Jacobson each had one. Janssen pitched five innings with eight hits, three strikeouts and one walk.
The Falcons finished the season 18-8 and with their first-ever state tournament appearance.
Brett Kleespies interview:
