Hurricanes Claim Second Championship
L to R kneeling – Lucas Bunnell, Casey Hill, Jackson Blythe, Colton Jones, Austin Hafner, & Hogan Rockhold
L to R standing – Rian Yates, Cole Henry, Nik Dykstra, Jacob Hacker, & Cole Kraber
The Oskaloosa Hurricanes 14U USSSA baseball team won their second championship of the season at the Muscatine Cardinals Classic this past weekend. Solid play in all phases of baseball propelled the ‘Canes to four victories in as many games to lock up the tournament title.
Oskaloosa’s first pool-play opponent, the Rockridge Rookies, came rolling into the tournament fresh off a championship of their own the prior weekend. Trailing 2-1 after two innings, the bats came alive for the Hurricanes as they scored 10 times over the next 3 innings pulling away to an 11-3 victory. Rian Yates led the Osky attack with 4 hits including two doubles. Cole Kraber added three hits along with two hits from Hogan Rockhold. Austin Hafner, Nik Dykstra, Casey Hill, Cole Henry, and Jackson Blythe also had base hits. Henry, Yates, Dykstra, and Blythe shared pitching duties in the victory.
Oskaloosa secured its second victory in pool play against the Barnstormer Rebels past the stroke of midnight with the game lasting in to early Sunday morning. The Hurricanes fell behind 6-4 late in the contest, but a three-run double by Dykstra pushed Osky ahead for good on the way to an 8-7 triumph. Kraber, Hill and Blythe pitched effectively for the win, and Hill supported the pitching trio with two doubles. Yates added two singles, with Colton Jones and Kraber having a base hit each.
The two pool-play wins garnered Oskaloosa the #2 seed in Sunday bracket play which included a first-round bye. Facing the North Scott Lancers in the semi-finals and clinging to a late one-run lead, Jacob Hacker executed a safety squeeze bunt to perfection scoring a much-needed insurance run in the bottom of the sixth inning. Henry pitched a gritty 5 1/3 innings in the 4-2 ‘Canes victory, with Yates finishing the game for the save. Blythe had two hits with Yates adding a double. Lucas Bunnell, Hafner, Dykstra, Kraber, Henry, and Jones all had base hits to round out the offensive attack.
The championship game was a rematch against the Barnstormer Rebels. Osky started slow, and were down 3-0 entering their half of the 3rd inning when the offense ignited. Four singles in the frame by Dykstra, Kraber, Blythe, and Yates combined with a couple of walks and an error vaulted the ‘Canes to a 7-3 lead they would never relinquish en route to an 11-3 run-rule victory. Kraber totaled three hits in the game, Yates had two hits including a double, Blythe had two hits, and Hill contributed a base hit. After struggling early with his control Yates steadied himself on the mound to earn the win with Dykstra throwing the last inning in relief.
The Hurricanes take a 19-7 overall record into the Diamond Classic Global State tournament this upcoming weekend in Des Moines, facing 19 teams from Minnesota, Nebraska, and Iowa.
