Underwood’s Jack Vanfossan pitches gem to upend Cascade in Class 2A state baseball semifinal

CARROLL — Cascade Coach Roamn Hummel’s message was clear. Same with the words from his assistant Eric Desousa.

One game doesn’t define a player or a team. The Cougars have nothing to hang their heads about, even if it wasn’t the ending they imagined.

“I told them all that I was proud of what they have accomplished,” Hummel said. “To get here in back-to-back years is always a tough thing to do no matter what. Getting here once is tough and doing it back-to-back years a great achievement.”

Underwood’s Jack Vanfossan scattered five hits in a complete game performance, leading the No. 5 Eagles to a 3-1 victory over No. 7 Cascade in the Class 2A state baseball semifinals Thursday at Merchants Park. The Eagles (25-3) reached the finals for the first time in the school history, facing either No. 3 Dyersville Beckman or West Lyon for the championship Friday at 2:30 p.m.

“To not ever winning in the first round to now being in the state championship, I don’t know how to explain it,” Vanfossan said. “I have tingles all over my body. I just keep smiling. it’s a great feeling.”

The Cougars met behind the dugout for one last post-game huddle. Hummel hugged and thanked players, including a group of seniors that were key in reaching the state tournament two straight seasons and earning the school’s second semifinal appearance.

Senior Cade Rausch had mixed emotions.

“It sucks,” Rausch said. “We lost our last game with Cascade.

“It still feels great. We made it to the semifinals and it’s only the second to do it. We played really good up until now. We didn’t get the hits we wanted.”

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A clash of styles worked in favor of the Eagles. Cascade’s potent offense entered the game hitting .340, but struggled against breaking pitches, according to Hummel. it played into Vanfossan’s strength.

Vanfossan only gave up two hits through the first four innings and didn’t allow a Cougar to reach second until Will Hosch walked in the fifth. He scored on Nathan Schoeckemoehl’s single to center.

“He threw his breaking ball down in the zone with two strikes and got us to chase,” Hummel said. “He threw it for strikes when he needed. He kept our guys off balance.”

The Cougars failed to get the leadoff batter on base in every inning. They were forced to work from behind and prevented them from playing small ball and manufacturing runs.

“We never had that in any inning,” Hummel said. “It put us in a tough spot. When you don’t get that done, it makes it hard to string together stuff.”

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Photos: Cascade vs. Underwood in state baseball semifinals

Mason Boothby helped provide Vanfossan and the Eagles the offense needed. He led off the first and third with base hits, scoring each time. Garrett Luett had an RBI groundout in the first, while Ryker Adair had an RBI single in the third. Adair scored on Gus Bashore’s two-out single to cap the scoring in the fifth.

Cascade’s only real threat came in the sixth. The Cougars loaded the bases on consecutive singles from Ty Frasher and Mason Otting. Cass Hoffman reached on a fielder’s choice when his batted ball struck Frasher running to third for the second out. Hosch, who reached base all three at-bats, walked. Vanfossan caught a pop out to end the rally.

“I wouldn’t have thought we would have scored one run,” Hummel said. “I thought for sure our bats would continue to be hot and we would just come through like we did in the MFL MarMac (substate) game in the fifth inning. That’s when we started to roll in the fifth and sixth inning.”

Will Hosch is among the 15 players that return for next year. The torch has been passed to their hands.

“Obviously, it’s not how we wanted it to end,” Hosch said. “It is tough losing our seniors. Hopefully, we’re back here next year to do some more damage.”

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