Dyersville Beckman tops Dike-New Hartford in Class 2A state baseball quarterfinals

CARROLL — The temperatures were hot.

But, Dyersville Beckman’s bats were hotter.

The fourth-seeded Blazers scorched No. 5 Dike-New Hartford for 13 hits, claiming a 7-4 victory in the Class 2A state baseball quarterfinals Tuesday at Merchants Park. Beckman won its first state game since winning the 2017 2A title.

Every Blazer starter reached base. Matthew Florence led the way with three, while Luke Schieltz, Luke Sigwarth, Owen Huehnergarth and Lane Kramer had two apiece.

» State baseball photos: Dyersville Beckman vs. Dike-New Hartford

Beckman got on the board early, capitalizing on a Wolverine miscue. Nate Offerman hustled down the line on a grounder to third and reached when the throw pulled the first baseman off the bag.

The Blazers (25-13) were rewarded for the effort. Sigwarth followed with a double and Offerman scored on Nick Schmidt’s sacrifice fly.

Dike-New Hartford answered the next inning. Colin Meester led off with a single and advanced on a Micah Walston single. Cale McCumber’s RBI groundout tied the game, 1-1.

Beckman didn’t waste time to regain the lead, scoring two in its half of the second.

Kramer provided an instant boost with a leadoff double. Florence followed with a base hit and Kramer scored when Eli Kluesner reached on a fielder’s choice. Kluesner scored on a wild pitch for a 3-1 edge.

The Wolverines (26-4) clawed back in the fourth, loading the bases with two outs against Schmidt, who started the game. Offerman came in to relieve Schmdit and was greeted by Gus Varney’s RBI single to right, chasing home McCumber and Devon Kollasch and knotting the game at four apiece.

Kollasch also singled and scored on a wild pitch in the sixth.

The Blazers smacked nine hits through the first four innings, including three straight in the two-run fourth.

Schieltz was plunked. Offerman and Sigwarth followed with line-drive singles. Sigwarth’s hit to right drove in Schieltz. Huehnergarth added a flare base hit just beyond the shortstop’s glove to load the bases. Schmidt beat out a double-play attempt to extend the inning and score Offerman. Beckman led 5-3 after four.

The Blazers extended their lead with a two-run fifth. Eli Kluesner doubled and scored on an Offerman fielder’s choice. Huehnergarth’s RBI single drove in Kluesner, who walked.

Sigwarth earned his fifth save in relief.

Beckman advances to Thursday’s semifinals to face the winner between top-seeded and defending state champion Van Meter and Carroll Kuemper.