One more loud bus ride awaits West

CEDAR RAPIDS - Iowa City West Coach Charlie Stumpff has experienced some louder bus trips this season.

A younger Trojans team has been a bit more loose and rambunctious on rides compared to last season's senior-dominated squad that reached the Class 4A state final.

Stumpff will gladly suffer through at least one more trip.

Eighth-ranked West will return to the state tournament, knocking off No. 5 Cedar Rapids Prairie, 5-2, in a Class 4A substate final Wednesday night at Prairie. The victory secured a second straight state berth and sixth in the last seven years.

The third-seeded Trojans will roll across I-80 next Wednesday to face Des Moines East (23-20) at 7:30 p.m.

'It's going to be crazy,” West senior Kevin DeLaney said. 'We're so excited right now. We're on a high.”

The Trojans (32-11) overcame early-season injuries that led to a 13-9 start. They have been a different team in the second half of the season, dropping only two games since June 25.

'It's such a young team,” West junior Spencer Wiskus said. 'Everyone came together, playing together since freshman year and have just gelled.”

West hasn't been mentioned in the same breath as some other Eastern Iowa teams. The Trojans graduated quite a few key players from last year's team, but players have filled their shoes well.

'I think a lot of people underestimated us, losing a lot of starters last year,” DeLaney said. 'We had something to prove this year and I think we did that.”

One big inning propelled West to its ninth overall state appearance. The Trojans placed five straight batters on base, including three hits in the stretch that broke open a 1-1 tie in the top of the sixth.

Izaya Ono-Fullard singled and Wiskus followed with his second double of the game, chasing home pinch-runner Dane Randall, who side-stepped the tag when the throw force the catcher up the line, for a 2-1 edge. Oliver Martin added an RBI single before Tanner Lohaus delivered a crucial two-run single with two out for a 5-1 lead.

'One big hit did it and everyone started lighting it up,” Wiskus said. 'It was awesome.”

West jumped to a lead. DeLaney stroked the first pitch of the game to right field for a single and scored on Connor McCaffery's base hit for a 1-0 lead. DeLaney, Ono-Fullard and Wiskus lead West with two hits apiece.

'Kevin has been leading us all year,” Stumpff said. 'We just came up with some timely hits. Usually that is how it's going to happen in games like this.”

Prairie evened the game in the third. Cal Clark's base hit scored Ethan Copeland from second. Clark was thrown out trying to take second on the throw, which was one of a few instances Prairie's aggressive base running prevented more runs.

Corbin Day led off that inning with a double, but was thrown out at third by a good relay from Delay to Lohaus to Ono-Fullard. Trey Beckman was also tagged out at third in the sixth, trying to grab an extra base after Clark scored to cut the deficit to 5-2.

'That's who we are,” Prairie Coach Todd Rima said about the aggressive running style. 'I'm going to sleep a little easier knowing we played Prairie baseball.”

The Hawks battled to the final out, facing their final strike three times and bringing the tying run to the plate. Ono-Fullard notched his second strikeout in relief of winning-pitcher Austin Miller, ending a spectacular Prairie season.

The Hawks (31-8) finished with a school record in wins, drawing more than 900 fans to the final game.

'Our guys fought hard,” Rima said. 'I wouldn't expect anything less. I couldn't be more proud of them.

'It hurts right now. It hurts so much because they put so much into it.”

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