Harlan Community BB Grinds Out Substate Win Over Atlantic, 7-1

Harlan Community's Hayden Soma (7-11-25)

Harlan Community BB Grinds Out Substate Win Over Atlantic, 7-1 -

(7-11-25) - The game was close… until Hayden landed a haymaker.

Hayden Soma’s 2 RBI double gave Harlan Community the insurance they needed as they would come away with a 7-1 victory.

The Cyclones used a 4-run 6th to get the breathing room they needed against the Trojans who kept the game close up to that point. Soma talked about the rivalry with their Hawkeye Ten counterparts.

“I think the history behind it and just being able to play in the playoffs is so much bigger for both teams. So, I think we both bring our A-game and that's what we did tonight.”

The turning point of the game was the top of the 5th. With Harlan Community leading 3-0, Atlantic got their first four batters of the inning on base, capped by a bases-loaded walk to Gavin McLaren to bring the Trojans only run. Starter Jonas Reynolds then struck out Zayden Parker before a wild play would end the inning.

Keston Schmitt lofted a fly ball to right that was caught by Joseph Gross. But McLaren must have lost track of the outs and ran too far from 1st base. Gross, thinking the runner at 3rd was tagging, threw home to Soma but the catcher, realizing where McLaren immediately threw the ball to Brett Heese at 1st to double him off and get the Cyclones out of a bases-loaded jam.

Reynolds grinded through 6 innings work, giving up just the one run and striking out 6. Soma knows what he needed to do to get Reynolds though tough situations.

“Whenever I notice him getting worked up a little bit or trying to do too much, I always go out there and say, ‘Hey, calm down. You're not gonna get three outs in one pitch. So just go out there and throw strikes and let your defense do what they do.’”

Cade Nelson drove in 3 runs and Weston Reisz had an RBI infield single for the Cyclones. Colton Schneider struck out the side in the 7th to close it out.

Harlan Community improves to 24- 11 on the year and will face Clarke Community on Monday.

View past scores by visiting the Iowa High School Athletic Association's website, Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union website,
or Iowa Quik Stats