South Winneshiek back in state baseball tournament

CHARLES CITY — It’s 227 miles from Calmar to Carroll.

That’s not exactly an easy or short trip. But by now, many in the South Winneshiek school district know the way.

For the third straight year and the fifth time in six years, the Warriors earned a trip to the Iowa high school state baseball tournament with a 5-3 win over Don Bosco in a substate game on Tuesday night.

“We certainly know how to get there,” said South Winn Coach Alex Smith. “Now we have to figure out a way to go down there and get a game. I think our guys will be in the right mindset to do so.”

The Warriors will be looking for their first state tournament win next week.

After Don Bosco put three runners on base in the top of the first inning, South Winn pitcher Braiden Todd was able to limit the damage to one run. The Warriors scored two runs in the bottom of the first on a Kole Hageman RBI single and a throwing error.

It was a lead they wouldn’t relinquish.

Hageman and Parker Timp added solo home runs for South Winn.

Todd threw the first five innings to earn the win, giving up five hits and striking out four. Hageman retired the final six batters and was credited with the save.

“I think this group, just like our other groups, have jelled together well,” Smith said. “They know how to have a good time but they also have a high baseball IQ”