Down right away, Iowa City High rallies to win Class 4A state baseball tourney quarterfinal

Editor’s note: This story was written in Cedar Rapids.

SIOUX CITY — Don’t play from behind. Especially early.

That’s how you win baseball games at the state tournament.

Or not. Iowa City High did the opposite Tuesday afternoon in their Class 4A quarterfinal at Lewis & Clark Park.

The Little Hawks gave up three runs in the top of the first inning, but scored the final five to topple Waukee, 5-3. City High (31-9) advances to Thursday’s 5 p.m. semifinals against Mississippi Valley Conference mate Cedar Rapids Prairie (30-9).

Prairie won both regular-season games between the teams.

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“Really proud of the continued fight in our kids,” said City High Coach Brian Mitchell.

A three-run bottom of the sixth put City High over the top for good. Jaxton Schroeder began the rally with a long fly ball that carried to the fence in right field for a one-out triple.

Schroeder went 2-for-2 with a walk and two runs scored in the game.

Drew Nye then reached on a fielding error on Waukee’s shortstop, tying the game at 3. Andrew Panzer pinch hit and bunted to third base, with the ensuing throw to first by Waukee well high and wide and down the right-field line.

Pinch runner Chris Davis came all the way around to score, with Panzer going to third. But after two umpire conferences, Davis was sent back to third and Panzer to second because the errant throw lodged underneath the tarp cover, which was not wrapped tightly against the tarp roll.

That ended up not mattering, as Davis scored on a wild pitch and Panzer scored on a sacrifice fly off the bat of Kendall Kurtz. Adam Bowman pitched a perfect seventh to pick up the save.

He and Nick Meredith combined for 3 2/3 shutout innings in relief of starter Schroeder.

Waukee (25-14) took an almost immediate lead, as Grant Sorensen doubled to center with one out and went to third on a Grant Johnson single to left. Will Biggs followed with a double to the fence in left field to score them, scoring himself as he stole third base and came home on a bad throw attempting to get him.

But City High got two of those runs back in the second, as Schroeder singled to center and Nye homered to left. It was his first home run this season.

“Drew Nye with a huge home run to change the momentum,” Mitchell said. “Nick Meredith on the mound held them in check with Bowman closing the door. Was a combination of big hits and a great bunt by Andrew Panzer, plus doing our jobs in situations was the difference.”

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