Season Ends for Cyclone BB w/ Tough Loss to Heelan, 4-2

Season Ends for Cyclone BB w/ Tough Loss to Heelan, 4-2 –

(7-16-25) – They were 5 outs away from a 3-peat.

Harlan Community competing in the 3A Substate 1 Championship Game against Bishop Heelan in Sioux City on Wednesday looking for a third consecutive appearance in the State Baseball Tournament.

The Cyclones trailed by one with 2 outs in the top of the 6th when back-to-back walks brought Landon Kaufman to the plate and he delivered in the big game again, dunking a single to right-center to drive in two runs and give Harlan Community the lead.

“We got a big 6th inning,” said Cyclone Coach Heath Stein. “Scrappy at-bats and base runners, and Landon was able to put a great swing on the ball and we scored two to take the lead.

“Then we just couldn't hang on to it.”

The Crusaders would battle back. Cyclone starter Jonas Reynolds struck out lead off batter Carter Beck, but a passed ball would allow Beck to reach base safely. A sacrifice by Jonathan Hope would Beck in scoring position and a single by Jack White off reliever Colton Schneider placed runners at the corners.

That’s when Schneider, who’s been amongst the save leaders in the state the past two seasons, would balk in the tying run on throw over to 1st. Two more runs would come to give Bishop Heelan a two-run lead going into the 7th.

Reynolds was brilliant, going 5 1/3 innings, giving up just two earned runs and gave up just one hit (to the first batter he faced) while striking out three to keep the Cyclones in the game.

“(Jonas) was nails again last night. He's been in a couple of big games that he pitched really well and against some good hitting teams. He's got two really good ballgames against Lewis Central and then last night he was really dialed in. He mixes his pitches. He competes and he just goes at you.”

Stein wasn’t sure what he would have from this team at the start of the season and was proud of the way the team competed all season long.

“There was quite a bit of unknown coming into this year. We graduated a lot of guys last year and then with Joseph Reisz having to depart mid-year, you kind of wondered, you know who was going to step up, who was going to grab rolls and you know a lot of guys did that.”

Harlan Community finishes their season 25-12.

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