Dyersville Beckman wins 7th state baseball championship as Luke Sigwarth steps up on the mound

CARROLL — Dyersville Beckman Coach Ryan Mabe approached Luke Sigwarth at Monday’s practice.

He shared plans to start Sigwarth on the mound if the Blazers advanced to the championship game four days later. The junior seemed like an unlikely choice since he pitched less than six innings the entire year.

Arm problems regulated him to the outfield most of the season but he was ready for the challenge.

“I wanted this game bad,” said Sigwarth, who pitched in Beckman’s state semifinal loss to eventual champion Van Meter last year. “I wanted to redeem myself and get a win for the team. It feels good to get that.”

Sigwarth allowed just one run in five innings, nearly doubling his season total, Luke Schieltz had three hits and three RBIs and No. 3 Beckman pulled away for a 7-1 victory over No. 5 Underwood for the Class 1A state championship Friday at Merchants Park. The title is Beckman’s seventh and first since 2017.

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“There’s no better ending for me,” Schieltz said. “At the end of the day, we just came together and knew what we were playing for. We were going to get it done.”

Underwood (25-4) put two on in the seventh but a flyball to Sigwarth in right field ended it. The celebration commenced.

“It’s a different feeling,” Sigwarth said about the team huddle in center field. “It’s awesome.”

The pitching decision seemed like a leap of faith, but Mabe said he had seen Sigwarth throw in practice. He was confident Sigwarth could deliver. His confidence was rewarded.

“Siggy showed a lot of guts,” Mabe said. “I know he had it in him.

“He stepped up. He wanted the ball, and I gave it to him.”

Sigwarth came in with 5 2/3 innings pitched in three appearances. He did earn a win and a save in those outings. Sigwarth was effective, scattering seven hits and striking out three.

“Five innings was a little more than expected,” Sigwarth said with a laugh. “Got the job done. My teammates made the plays. I believe we have the best defense in 2A. We’ve been playing great defense all year. I think that is what won us the game.”

The defense came up big in the fifth with Beckman clinging to a 3-1 lead. Underwood loaded the bases with none out and the middle of its order coming to the plate. Sigwarth induced a popup for the first out. Second baseman Jake Schmidt and shortstop Nate Offerman teamed for a 4-6-3 double play to end the threat.

“I just knew I had to throw strikes because my defense is amazing,” Sigwarth said. “I knew if I got the ball on the ground when I had one out it would be an instant double play. Nate and Jake up the middle is a 1-2 combo.”

Rob Kronlage, the Blazers’ No. 2 pitcher most of this season, threw in Thursday’s semifinal win over West Lyon, coming out after two innings and 24 pitches with Beckman up big. The calculated move allowed him to return a day later. He worked two innings of relief, striking out the side in the sixth.

The Blazers (25-9) scored their runs in just two innings. Schieltz had a hand in both frames. Schieltz had an RBI single to score Dylan Recker and came in on a Matt Florence RBI single after Drew Thier scored on an Offerman groundout, putting Beckman up, 3-1.

“Both Lukes are gamers,” Mabe said. “Those are the guys we rely on at the top. They’ve done it all year. The moment is never too big.”

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Photos: Dyersville Beckman vs. Underwood in Class 2A state baseball championship

Beckman pulled away in the bottom of the sixth. A walk and consecutive singles loaded the bases for Schieltz. He ripped a two-run single that all but cemented the Blazers’ title.

“I play for those moments,” Schieltz said. “They trust me. Get up there, get a good pitch to hit and let it fly.”

Beckman was an out away from elimination in the quarterfinals against Pella Christian. They forced extras and won 5-4 in eight innings. The Blazers even trailed in each of the last two games — 2-0 in the first to West Lyon in the semifinals and 1-0 in the third against Underwood — but immediately stormed back to take the lead each time, winning by 15 runs combined.

“We came back every game,” Mabe said. “We were down every single game, and they came back. They battled. Just so proud of these guys.”

Mabe became one of the few coaches to win a state title in his first season as Blazers head coach. The former Blazer played for the late Hall of Fame coach Tom Jenk Jr. and was an assistant to previous coach Fred Martin. He is the fourth Beckman coach to win a title since 1968, joining Jenk, Martin and Art Huinker.

Martin talked to Mabe and the team via speaker phone Friday morning.

“I couldn’t be more grateful to him,” Mabe said. “For some reason, he picked me out to do this job. He said I was the right guy to do it.

“I don’t deserve it but I’m so proud of the kids. I’m happy for them.”

Mabe is quick to downplay his role leading the program. Martin recognized the potential, and the players see his impact.

“He gives us all the credit it seems like but without him we wouldn’t be anything,” Thier said. “He’s done a good job in his first year. He’s just going to keep getting better.”

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