Heelan takes advantage of second chance, edges Williamsburg, 1-0

DES MOINES - It was a bizarre, delayed-reaction ending.Tyler Cropley fanned the final batter to assure Sioux City Heelan's 1-0 win over Williamsburg in a Class 3A state baseball tournament quarterfinal Tuesday at Principal Park. His catcher, Jake Nelson, rolled the ball back to the mound and started sprinting toward his dugout.It seemed to take a good couple of seconds for any of the Crusaders to react and start celebrating. Perhaps it was just that they, more than anyone, know a game sometimes really isn't over even when the final out is recorded.Heelan was awarded a substate final forfeit win over LeMars last week because LeMars used a pitcher in an extra-inning victory that wasn't eligible to throw due to state innings-limitation rules. At least through one round, the top-seeded, top-ranked Crusaders (35-4) have taken advantage of their second chance."We talked about that game Friday morning and had a little lapse in practice that day," Cropley said. "But after that, we were fine.""We had a great practice the next day after that and didn't talk about it," said Heelan Coach Andy Osborne. "The kids turned the page and got ready to focus on Williamsburg."Williamsburg (20-19) had to wish Cropley wouldn't have been eligible to pitch, as the right-hander was on his game, retiring the first 14 Raiders and finishing with a one-hitter. Payton Kauzlarich reached second with two outs in the fifth after Cropley fumbled his easy comebacker, then rushed a throw past first base for an error.Aaron Schultz broke up his no-hit bit by lining a single to right-center to lead off the bottom of the seventh, but leading hitter Cody Marine struck out swinging, Schultz was gunned down trying to steal second and Chance Wetjen struck out to end the game."He just went out and threw strikes," Schultz said. "He had a good fastball-curveball mix. Threw his changeup well. He never kept it the same. He just always changed it up on you.""We've got to put the ball in play more often, and we weren't able to do that," said Williamsburg Coach Ben Grier. "Tyler pitched a heck of a game. I thought he did a great job commanding the strike zone ... Hats off to that kid. That's a great job."What had to gall Williamsburg was how well it played other than the lack of hitting. The Raiders gave themselves a legit shot at an upset by playing flawless defense that included Schultz recording a pair of neat unassisted shortstop-to-first double plays and catcher Nick Spratt throwing out three Heelan runners trying to steal second. "I felt we did everything we could," said Wetjen, who threw a complete-game four-hitter. "They had a good pitcher on the mound. If you're going to win games, you're going to have to get more than one hit."The game lasted all of an hour and 13 minutes. Heelan plays Davenport Assumption in a 3A semifinal Friday afternoon.