116 3rd St SE
Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52401
Chase Fjelland’s game-winner lifts North Polk over Harlan in 3A state baseball quarterfinals
Sophomore produces 2-out hit in final at-bat to propel Comets into Wednesday’s semifinal against Marion-CPU winner
Jul. 22, 2024 4:20 pm, Updated: Jul. 22, 2024 11:55 pm
CEDAR RAPIDS — North Polk is either clutch or charmed.
Maybe the Comets are both.
Sophomore Chase Fjelland delivered a two-out, two-run hit, helping No. 3 North Polk conjure up its third-straight postseason comeback with a 5-4 victory over Harlan in a Class 3A state baseball quarterfinal Monday at Memorial Stadium.
“We always clawed back and won,” Fjelland said about the last three games. “So, pretty much the same this game. Just do what we’ve been doing and it worked.”
The Comets (27-8) scored four in the bottom of the seventh to beat Adel ADM by one in the substate semifinals. They overcame a three-run deficit for their one-run substate final win against Algona.
“We’ve had to win a lot of games like that recently,” North Polk senior Reece Wrage said. “Been down late and you just can’t lose fight, otherwise that’s when things go downhill.”
Fjelland stepped to the plate after Harlan’s Josef Reisz made a running, over-the-shoulder catch on a Hunter Cook flyball, spoiling the Comets’ first chance to tie the game when runners failed to tag up.
As the last hope, Fjelland smacked a 1-2 offering to the base of the left-field wall, chasing home Drew Owen and Bryce Burke, who singled and walked. He was sitting dead-red and connected on the pitch he expected.
“I was just sitting on that fastball,” Fjelland said. “That’s what he threw me. I just hit it.”
The celebration ensued. The Comets are back in the semifinals after a runner-up finish last season. They will face the winner of Marion and Center Point-Urbana at 5 p.m. Wednesday.
“It was awesome,” Wrage said. “All the adversity this team has gone through this year. All the tough games we’ve had to win. That one felt better than every one, so far. I’m really hoping we can keep it going. I know we can.”
As exciting as the end was, the start was just as notable. Wrage started on the mound and opened with an “immaculate inning,” striking out three batters in order on nine total pitches.
Wrage said he he accomplished the feat before but said it is the first time this season.
“That felt really good,” Wrage said. “I needed that. I think that set the tone for us. It brought the energy out in the dugout.”
Wrage threw 11 straight strikes to open the game and struck out Cyclones for the first seven outs. He fanned eight total.
North Polk broke open a scoreless game with a three-run fifth. Brayden Foster singled and scored the first run on an error. Wrage and Cook added back-to-back RBI singles to score Owen and Burke.
Harlan (27-9) battled back with two in each of the final two innings. Weston Reisz hit a two-run double to score Josef Reisz and Landen Kaufman. Josef Reisz put the Cyclones ahead, 4-3, with a two-run single to left in the seventh.
Cook and Fjelland had two hits apiece to lead the Comets. Weston Reisz had two hits for the Cyclones.
Fjelland conducted interviews while holding a toy stick horse. The horse is a good-luck charm named “Randall.” Wrage named it the same as Zoske’s middle name.
“It’s with us every game,” Fjelland said. “It helped us win.
“The boys gave it to me. It feels good.”
North Polk 5, Harlan 4
CLASS 3A QUARTERFINAL
Harlan 000-002-2 - - 4-5-1
North Polk 000-030-2 -- 5-12-1
Braydon Ernst, Brock Lemerick (5), Colton Schneider (7) and Hayden Soma. Reece Wrage, Drew Owen (6), Cook (7) and Isaac Zoske. W - Cook (5-3). L - Lemerick (7-1). 2B - H: Weston Reisz.
Comments: kj.pilcher@thegazette.com
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