Hempstead starts fast, then holds off Xavier

By Ryan Pleggenkuhle, The Gazette

CEDAR RAPIDS - Dubuque Hempstead wasted little time jumping on Cedar Rapids Xavier pitching in last night's Class 4A substate semifinal at Xavier.

The Mustangs build a 7-0 lead, saw Xavier tie the game at 8-8 before scoring the winning run in the top of the seventh when Sean Fitzgerald drove in Ben George with what proved to be the winning run in a 9-8 victory.

Hempstead (21-18) advances to the substate final on Wednesday at No. 6-ranked Cedar Rapids Kennedy. Xavier closes its season at 26-11.

The Mustangs scored three runs in the first inning off Xavier starter, Dane Mehring.

After Hempstead's first two batters reached base, Adam Kennedy drove in the first run of the game with an RBI double. Following Kennedy was Cody Leach who hit a sacrifice fly to right field scoring another run. Then Hempstead pitcher Brad Duwe drove in the third run with an RBI single giving the Mustangs an early 3-0 lead.

Hempstead was at it again in the third. After back-to-back singles, Ben George drove in a run on a hotshot to the shortstop. Aaron Collins followed with an RBI single. And two batters later, Duwe drove in two more runs with a single giving the Mustangs a 7-0 cushion.

Xavier scored a run in the third inning, and each team tallied a run in the fourth making it an 8-2 game.

The Saints then got to Hempstead's relief pitching in the fifth, scoring six runs on four hits, two walks and one hit batsman. The big blow was delivered by Xavier leadoff hitter, Blake Helms, who smashed an RBI double, driving in three runs to tie the game 8-8, setting the stage for Fitzgerals in the top of the seventh.

“The momentum certainly shifted there,” said Hempstead Coach Jeff Rapp. “But our guys came back in the dugout confident after that inning. We were still very confident the way we were hitting the ball and we battled back.”

Rapp said the run in the seventh turned things back Hemstead's way.

“It was a huge momentum shift again and we gained it back there,” said Rapp.

Despite the loss, Xavier Coach, Dave Schemmel was pleased with his team's resiliency. “They could've hung their heads and called it a game,” he said. “It could've been a 10-run game as easy as anything. But, I give them a lot of credit for sticking with it.”

Rapp said the Mustangs are excited about getting a shot at Kennedy.

“We're very confident no matter who were playing in a one and done game. We're just going to prepare and give it our best shot,” he said.