Friday's state baseball tournament games

ALL STATE TOURNAMENT BASEBALL GAMES TELEVISED ON KCRG 9.2

CLASS 3A SEMIFINALS

Western Dubuque (35-9) vs. Dallas Center-Grimes (34-2)

When: Noon

Where: Principal Park, Des Moines

Scouting Report: WD was oh, so impressive in a 12-1, five-inning win over Harlan in Tuesday's quarterfinals. The Bobcats pounded out 14 hits, scoring seven runs in the first inning. Five players had two hits, with Tyson Massey, Logan Pitz and Hunter Westhoff each driving in two runs. Top-seeded DC-G has won 21 games in a row, including a hard-fought 3-2 quarterfinal win over Washington (Iowa). Tyler Peyton is the Mustangs' top hitter and pitcher, though Peyton threw a lot of pitches against Washington and will have just two days rest.

Decorah (27-10) vs. Sioux City Heelan (35-10)

When: 2 p.m.

Where: Principal Park, Des Moines

Scouting Report: Decorah outlasted Benton Community in nine innings in Tuesday's quarterfinals, 5-3. Heelan brushed past Adel-DeSoto-Minburn, 5-3, beating Philadelphia Phillies' second-round draft pick Alec Rash. Decorah has gotten strong pitching by committee in the second half of the season, including an outstanding relief performance against BC by Landon Ashbacher. The Vikings' top hitters are James Ostlie (.417 coming into this tournament) and Josey Jewell (.413, seven home runs). Heelan has the 3A field's top team batting average at .376, and that's playing a heavy 4A schedule. Senior outfielder Paul Jacobson came into the tourney with a team-best .489 average, six homers and six triples.

CLASS 4A SEMIFINAL

Cedar Rapids Kennedy (33-6) vs. Fort Dodge (35-7)

When: 8 p.m.

Where: Principal Park, Des Moines

Scouting Report: The Cougars have advantages here. Fort Dodge had all but one inning of its quarterfinal against West Des Moines Dowling postponed by weather Wednesday night, so the Dodgers had to play Thursday morning and won't have fresh pitching. They scored twice in the seventh inning to win, 5-4. Kennedy played a nearly flawless game Wednesday night in pounding Linn-Mar, 13-1. These teams met in last year's tourney quarterfinals, with Fort Dodge winning, 2-1, so there's a revenge factor as well. It'll be interesting to see who Kennedy's starting pitcher will be. There are two good candidates in left-hander Adam Lloyd (9-1, 2.43 ERA) and righty Nick Appleget (8-0, 1.89 ERA).