Cyclone BB Season Ends with Heartbreaking Loss to North Polk at State, 5-4

Harlan Community Coach Heath Stein (7-22-24)

Harlan Community's Weston Reisz (7-22-24)

Cyclone BB Season Ends with Heartbreaking Loss to North Polk at State, 5-4 -

(7-22-24) – One… strike… away.

That’s how close Harlan Community was to moving on in the Class 3A State Baseball Tournament. But North Polk would get a 2-out, 2 RBI single from Chase Fjelland to walk it off and the Cyclones drop a 5-4 decision to the Comets in the 3A State Quarterfinals Monday.

After falling behind 3-0 in the 5th, the Cyclones would get a 2-run double from Weston Reisz in the 6th and a 2-run single from Jozef Reisz in the 7th to take a one-run lead going into the bottom of the 7th.

Cyclone Coach Heath Stein was proud of how his team rallied.

“Our guys showed their toughness, showed their fight. We could have rolled over. We were down 3-0 and we found a way to scrap into it, take the lead and we were one out, one pitch away (from winning). And I couldn't be prouder of the guys. They competed the whole time. They've done this all year and came a little short tonight.”

Weston Reisz, who was 2 for 2, with those 2 RBI, said his teammates were determined to get back into it after falling behind.

“I was just trying to get him deep in the count and got him in that full count. And I knew I knew exactly where he's gonna throw it. Outside fastball and just barreled it up.”

Stein like how both Weston and Jozef Reisz helped the team with their batting this postseason.

“They both put really good swings in the ball in key spots on the bottom of the order has been doing a great job all season and postseason, especially so big time at bats, head of them, proud of them for coming through in the clutch, not getting too big for the moment and then yeah, and then like I said, Joseph made a heck of a catch to keep the game going and left as well and I thought we're gonna get out the door, but it didn't happen.

The Cyclone defense kept them in the game early on. Hayden Soma threw out Drew Owen trying to steal after he led off the bottom of the 1st with a single for the Comets.

Then in the 4th, North Polk had the bases loaded with nobody out, when pitcher Brayden Ernst picked off Hunter Cook at 2nd and then caught a popped-up bunt from Charlie Bunkers that turned into an inning-ending double play when courtesy runner Jackson Halverson ran too far down the 3rd base line and couldn’t get back to the bag in time before shortstop Colton Schneider was able to get there for the final out.

Jozef Reisz also made a season saving catch in the 7th when he grabbed a hard liner in the left-centerfield gap that prevented the tying run from scoring at the time.

Schneider then got two strikes on Fjelland and seeming had the game won with a pitch that hit the outside corner that was called a ball by the home plate umpire.

The next pitch would bound off the wall in left to give North Polk the victory.

Harlan Community was honored to have 9 seniors participate this season: Quinn Koesters, Caleb Schleis, Brock Lemerick, Braydon Ernst, Keegan Ring, Cade Sears, Gavin Bruck, Franz Reisz, and Matthew Sorfonden.

Stein was grateful for the efforts by his seniors this season.

“We had nine seniors to start and two guys had to do what they had to do for college football and the seven that stayed with us did nothing but work hard, be great leaders, great teammates and I'm proud of them.”

Reisz will miss those seniors and encouragement they gave him and his returning teammates.

“I've had a blast playing with them and really going to miss next year.”

And memories for Reisz won’t fade.

“Just everything from going out to eat with the guys. Showing up to practice every day. Every little bit of it.”

Harlan Community finishes their season 27-9.

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