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Jaron Bleeker excels on the mound, at the plate in Sioux City Heelan’s 3-1 win over Pella in 3A state baseball quarterfinals
Senior right-hander pitches complete-game 5-hitter, drives in 2 to move Crusaders into Wednesday’s semifinals
Jul. 23, 2024 12:20 am, Updated: Jul. 23, 2024 9:33 am
CEDAR RAPIDS — Jaron Bleeker isn’t superstitious.
The Sioux City Heelan right-hander does, however, have one quirky habit when he takes the field.
“The only thing I really do is I tuck my laces into my shoes,” Bleeker said. “I’ve been doing that since I was a freshman. I don’t know if it’s superstitious. It’s just something I’ve always done.”
Bleeker stuck to his routine and parlayed it into an outstanding performance on the mound and at the plate. He pitched a complete game and accounted for all three runs in No. 4 Sioux City Heelan’s 3-1 victory over No. 9 Pella in a Class 3A state baseball quarterfinal Monday night at Veterans Memorial Stadium.
“I went on the mound and gave a one-run game, which is what I needed to do,” Bleeker said. “I needed to keep it low-scoring.
“At the plate, I just found barrels. Found some way to score some runs and that’s what we needed to win that game.”
Pella took a 1-0 advantage in the first. Samuel Carlson singled to lead off the game, scoring when Nathan Carey reached on an error.
Heelan (33-10) answered in its half of the inning. Bleeker hit a single and was replaced by courtesy runner Drew Uhl, who scored on Brady Baker’s double.
Bleeker did the driving in for the next two runs. He smacked an RBI single in the second for a 2-1 lead. Bleeker’s RBI single in the sixth added an insurance run.
“It gets to me and my job is to drive in the runs,” said Bleeker, who finished 3-for-4. “I do what I have to do.”
Bleeker only allowed five hits but neutralized two Pella threats with impressive pick-off moves. Bleeker picked off runners on second base in the third and fourth innings. He even picked off a runner at first for the final out in the fourth.
Bleeker earned his eighth win of the season, striking out 11 batters with just three walks. He allowed an unearned run and threw 102 pitches.
“Just really mixing up my stuff,” Bleeker said. “My four-pitch mix, changing their looks, changing their eyesight and making sure they didn’t know what was coming next.
“No hard contact. No barrels in the gap and knowing that if I got soft contact I have a really good defense behind me to make plays.”
Carlson had two hits and starter Teagan Hoekstra provided a quality start for Pella (27-10). Hoekstra gave up two runs on seven hits over 5 1/3 innings.
Heelan advances to the semifinals against the winner of Tuesday’s quarterfinal between No. 1 Dubuque Wahlert and DeWitt Central. That game was postponed due to an almost three-hour rain delay that pushed back the evening start times.
The Crusaders have their sights set on a state title. They feel they have something to prove.
“We’ve come down here as an underdog,” Bleeker said. “Kind of knowing that we’re going to have to impress some people. I thought we definitely turned some heads and we’re going to turn some heads on Wednesday as well.”
Sioux City Heelan 3, Pella 1
CLASS 3A QUARTERFINAL
Pella 100-000-0 - - 1-5-0
S.C. Heelan 110-001-x -- 3-9-2
Teagan Hoekstra, Hayes Lautenbach (6), Isaiah Kettler (6) and Anderson Schirm. Jaron Bleeker and Raiden Ericson. W - Bleeker (8-3). L - Hoekstra (9-3). 2B - Brady Baker, Raiden Ericson.
Comments: kj.pilcher@thegazette.com
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