STUART — The most successful postseason run in years for the Clarke baseball team came to an end here Saturday in a 14-4 loss to Des Moines Christian in the Class 2A District 12 final.
Earlier this year, the Clarke baseball team won its first South Central Conference game in three years. On July 11, the Indians picked up the school’s first postseason win in three years.
Then, with a 3-2 win over Interstate 35 on July 14, Clarke advanced to the school’s first district final game since 2010.
The Indians came out of the gate firing, as they loaded the bases and struck first when Zach Harmsen beat out an infield single to drive score Reed Kale.
But, Clarke left the bases loaded after scoring just the one run, failing to take full advantage of bases loaded situation.
“I think if we could have put three, four or five runs up there, I think the game might have been over for the guys in the other dugout, just confidence wise,” Clarke head coach Justin Stoulil said. “I know they didn’t start their best pitcher. I know if we would have put up four or five, they would have been regretting that. That definitely would have been a game changer. It would have given Zach a little more room to work.”
The 1-0 lead was short lived, though. Harmsen hit leadoff batter Luke Neumayer and then walked Grant Brockhouse. A throwing error on a double steal attempt, allowed Neumayer to score and Brockhouse was thrown out at the plate.
The two teams remained locked in a 1-1 tie until the bottom of the third inning, when Des Moines Christian scored four runs on four hits, with the big blow coming on a two-run double by Spencer Nyberg.
Clarke answered back with three runs in the top of the fourth inning, as Gordon Witt, Harmsen and Trevor Kirkpatrick all drew walks to start the inning and load the bases.
Des Moines Christian turned to its ace, Nick Fox, on the mound at that point. Fox struck out the first two batters he saw, before Dustan Van Loon ripped an RBI single to the left side and Kale smoked a two-run double to left field.
“It’s good to see them not giving up,” Stoulil said. “The program trying to build here, they haven’t had much success in the past. In previous games, even back to the middle of this year, they would have been done right there (down 5-1). But we’ve come back from behind in a few games late in the season and are starting to build our confidence. We were right back in the game after that, just couldn’t shut the door on them scoring more runs.”
Des Moines Christian tallied another run in the bottom of the fourth inning and then scored four runs in both the fifth and sixth innings, ending the game by the 10-run mercy rule at 14-4 in the bottom of the sixth.
Harmsen lasted 4 2/3 innings, striking out 10 and walking six with three hit batters, while giving up eight hits. Gable Reece pitched 2/3 of an inning, giving up four runs on four walks, one hit batter and two hits.
“He’s (Harmsen) been consistently throwing strikes pretty well,” Stoulil said. “He’s had quite a few strikeouts, especially over these last three or four games here. He’s really been finding the zone.”
The walks became too much to overcome, however. In the fifth inning, Des Moines Christian took advantage of a hit batter and two straight walks before recording back-to-back hits to drive in runs.
“They’re a pretty good team,” Stoulil said. “I think they’re hitting well over .300 on the year as a team. They put the ball in play and they’ve got some great speed, so once they get guys on base, they get them moved over without putting the ball in play. A base hit and they’re going to score two or three runs. Obviously with team speed, they can score a bunch of runs pretty quick.”
The loss ended Clarke’s season at 8-21. It marked the final game in a Clarke uniform for eight seniors.
Seniors on the team were Kale, Van Loon, RJ Sells, Witt, Trevor Kirkpatrick, Bowan Ellis, Devin Wills and Damon Helgevold.
“Definitely going to miss those guys,” Stoulil said. “Obviously having six of them in the starting lineup, a lot of those guys have been playing since they were sophomores. Damon as a senior leader behind the dish, he really knows how to control the pitchers. Most importantly, team speed and those guys really started to build some confidence toward the end of the year. We’ll definitely be missing those guys on the bases, for sure.”
Des Moines Christian 14, Clarke 4
R H E
Clarke 100 400 — 4 4 3
DMC 104 144 — 14 10 0
Cl: Zach Harmsen 10K 6BB 3HBP, Gable Reece (5) 0K 3BB 1HBP and Damon Helgevold. DMC: Cole Peterson 3K 3BB 1HBP, Nick Fox (4) 5K 1BB 1HBP and Spencer Nyberg. W — Peterson. L— Harmsen. HR — none. 3B — none. 2B — Cl: Reed Kale 1. DMC: Luke Neumayer 1, Grant Brockhouse 1, David Fellers 1, Nyberg 1. RBI — Cl: Kale 2, Dustan Van Loon 1, Harmsen 1. DMC: Neumayer 3, Brockhouse 3, Nyberg 2, Nick Friess 1, Carter Paterson 1. Multiple hitters — DMC: Neumayer 4, Brockhouse 2.
Clarke 3, Interstate 35 2
R H
Clarke 011 010 0 — 3 8
I-35 000 101 0 — 2 5
Cl: Zach Harmsen 8K 2BB and Damon Helgevold. I-35: Levi Sandquist 6K 1BB and Dominic Cresta. W — Harmsen. L— Sandquist. HR — Cl: Gable Reece 1. 3B — I-35: Brock Bush 1. 2B — Cl: Reed Kale 1, Gordon Witt 1. RBI — Cl: Dustan Van Loon 1, Reece 1, Harmsen 1. I-35: Sandquist 1. Multiple hitters — Cl: Witt 3. I-35: Sandquist 3.