Cyclone BB Reaches Substate Championship for 3rd Straight Year, Beat Clarke, 12-2

Harlan Community's Brett Heese (7-14-25)

Cyclone BB Reaches Substate Championship for 3rd Straight Year, Beat Clarke, 12-2 –

(7-14-25) - The “Hitman” go a chance to shine in a big spot Monday.

Brett Heese’s bases loaded single would give Harlan Community a run-rule walk off win over Clarke by a final of 12-2.

“(I) just wanted to end the game early,” said Heese following the victory. “I just got a little antsy on that first pitch and then got a little jammed up, but got through the six hole and made it through.”

It was just a 4-2 game entering that half inning with stellar defense keeping the score that way. With the tying run at 1st and 1 out, a bunt by the Indians Joey Turpin is popped up and relief pitcher Colton Schneider made a diving catch then threw to Heese at 1st for the unorthodox double play that ended the threat.

“You see some goofy things in the postseason,” said Cyclone Coach Heath Stein.” Calls or bounces or stuff that is pretty uncharacteristic and for him to make that play and, you know, big momentum shift and then we came to the bat and scored a bunch of runs after that.”

“I saw Colton lay out for it. I didn't know if he caught it, caught it or not, but if he didn’t, I just knew the guy at 2nd would have been safe so I think I screamed ‘1’ like 8 times as loud as possible.”

Weston Reisz went 5 innings and gave up 2 runs on 3 hits while striking out 7. Stein liked how his veteran starter battled in this one.

“He did a good job battling. (We had) a couple miscues on our end too to allow some base runners and, I think he hit the 8 hole hitter or 9 hole hitter to start one of the innings to kind of start a little rally for them. But he made pitches when he had to and really grinded it out.”

The Cyclones Cade Nelson and Jonas Reynolds each had 2 RBI.

Heese says this run in his senior season has a different feel for him.

“The first two seasons as a sophomore and junior wasn't really nervous at all. I was just ready to play ball, do my thing. The Atlantic game, I was a little scared. Senior year. You never know what's going to happen, but once we got to rolling and play in a few innings, I was ready to roll.

“And this game, I felt fine. No butterflies. Nothing. Just wanted to play.”

Harlan Community will face Bishop Heelan in the 3A-1 Substate Championship game on Wednesday.

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or Iowa Quik Stats