Class 1-A Final:  Martensdale-St Marys 8, Lansing Kee 3

The Martensdale-St. Marys Blue Devils captured their second consecutive 1A state championship with an 8-3 victory over the Kee Hawks Saturday afternoon at Principal Park. With the title game win, the Blue Devils (44-0) improved their national-best winning-streak to 87 straight.

David Walker led off the game for the Blue Devils with a single in the top of the first inning, and came in to score on a JD Nielsen RBI-single. Zeb Noel, who singled with one out in the inning, came in to score on an RBI-single by Robert Walker. The Hawks responded with a run in the home half of the first when Cole Carroll drove in Jon Heidersheit with a single.

Kee (39-8) would take the lead away from the Blue Devils in the second inning. Jason Mooney reached base safely after a dropped third strike to begin the frame. He crossed the plate to tie the game at 2-2 on a run-scoring single by Jordan Milton. The Hawks took a 3-2 lead on an RBI-groundout by Carroll.

The Blue Devils tied the game at 3-3 in the top of the fourth on an RBI-double by the number nine hitter, Brad Nauman.

Ethan Westphal (14-0) took over on the mound for the Blue Devils in the bottom of the fourth, and shut down the Kee offense. He only allowed one hit, and struck out four batters over four innings en route to the win.

The Blue Devils broke open the game with a four run fifth inning. R. Walker put the Blue Devils ahead with a two-run double, and Nauman added a two-run single.

Jon Heidersheit (14-3) was charged with the loss for the Hawks. He pitched three innings in relief and allowed five runs (two earned) on five hits. Kee made five errors in the game, and the Blue Devils committed three.

D. Walker, Westphal, Noel, and Nielsen all had two hits in the game for the Blue Devils. R. Walker and Nauman also collected two hits along with 3 RBI, while R. Walker score two runs as well.

Class 2-A Final: Davis County 2, Gilbert 0

Josh Martsching and Calvin Mathews combined on a five-hit shutout for the Davis County Mustangs as they defeated the Gilbert Tigers 2-0 to win the 2A State Championship. The Mustangs culminated a 23-game winning streak with the state title.

Davis County (33-4) got on the board in the top of the first and did not look back from there. Martsching walked to leadoff the game, and following two Mustang strikeouts Kyle Graves was hit by a pitch. Nic Johnson and Jacob Davidson connected on back-to-back RBI-singles to give the Mustangs a 2-0.

The two runs was plenty of offense for Martsching who was cruising on the mound. He set down the first nine batters he faced through three perfect innings. He did not fall behind in the count to a Tiger until Joe Goodman stepped to the plate leading off the fourth. Goodman sent a 1-0 pitch into right field for the first Gilbert hit of the game. Martsching proceeded to set down the next three Tiger hitters in order to end the frame.

Down to there last six outs, Gilbert (29-9) got to Martsching in the sixth inning. Singles by Jordan Knock, Goodman, and Walker Day loaded the bases with one out and chased Martsching from the game. Mathews pitched the Mustangs out of the jam without allowing a run by recording a fielders choice out and a strikeout.

Ben Schneider led off the bottom of the seventh inning with a double to give the Tigers some life, but Mathews struck out the side to end the game and clinch the title for Davis County.

Mack Boothe (4-3) started the game for Gilbert, but only pitched two-third of an inning before being relieved by Goodman. Boothe was charged with both earned runs and took the loss. Goodman pitched six and one-third innings of scoreless ball for Gilbert. He allowed six hits, walked one, and struck out eight.

Martshing (9-2) picked up the win on the afternoon. He went five and one-third innings and surrendered four hits. He struck out eight Tigers. Mathews earned the save pitching one and two-thirds innings. He only gave up one hit and struck out four batters.

Class 3-A Final:  Solon 6, Harlan 1

Brandon Shulista pitched a complete game for the Solon Spartans as they defeated the Harlan Cyclones 6-1 Saturday evening at Principal Park to seize the 3A State Title. The Spartans, last year’s 2A Champions, claim the 3A Title in their first year at that class.

Harlan (21-15) had the Spartans on the ropes early when they scored a first inning run. Alex Brown doubled with two outs and scored on an RBI-single by Derek Schwartz. But the Cyclones would not scratch the plate for the rest of the game.

Shulista (10-0) completed all seven innings for the Spartans. He allowed one run on four hits, walked one batter, and struck out nine.

Solon (39-4) chased Cyclones’ starting pitcher Alex Brown during a four-run third inning. Brown (5-1) pitched two and two-thirds innings and allowed four runs (two earned) on only two hits. He walked three and struck out one batter.

Austin Dall led off that fourth frame with a single, and Travis Brimeyer reached on an error. Marshall Koehn drove both runners home with a two-run triple. Derrick Loveless knocked in Koehn when he beat out an infield single. Loveless came in to score on a Shulista RBI-single to put the Spartans up 4-1.

Koehn recorded another RBI-knock in the fourth when he drove in Dall who had reached on a leadoff double. Koehn finished 2-for-4 in the game with a run scored and 3 RBI. Shulista added his second RBI of the game on a seventh inning single.

Class 4-A Final: WDM Dowling Catholic 6, Mason City 1

The Dowling Catholic Maroons pounded out 14 hits as they cruised to 6-1 victory over the Mason City Mohawks and walked away with the 4A State Title Saturday night at Principal Park.

Jason McMurray and Zach Coppola set the tone for the Dowling (36-7) offense on the night when they reached on back-to-back singles in the top of the first inning. McMurray crossed home plate on a Jake Yacinich sac fly, and Coppola came in to score on an RBI-single by Connor Bravard to put the Maroons up 2-0.

Mason City (35-10) looked poised to respond in the second when they loaded the bases with only one out on walks to Aaron Overbeck and Wes King, and a single by Jacob Weiss. But, Maroons‘ starter Joe Erickson got out of the jam with back-to-back strikeouts.

The Maroons added to their lead in the fourth inning. Tommy Miller singled to start the frame and advance to third on a sacrifice bunt. Eric Lee singled to put runners on the corners for Dowling. McMurray then launched a two-run double to plate both runners. Yacinich added an RBI-single to drive in McMurray and put the Maroons up 5-0.

Both teams traded a run in the fifth. Miller doubled to score McMurray, who reached on a error to start the inning for Dowling. Consecutive singles by Bradon Platts and Robert Swenson to begin the home half of the frame looked to be the start of a rally for the Mohawks. However, they were limited to just one run on an RBI sac fly by Ryan Voves.

In the sixth, Mason City again started the inning with singles from Overbeck and AJ Hrubetz with nobody out. Again, they were shutdown as Brad Chelleen recorded three straight strikeouts to escape with no damage done.

Chelleen struck out nine Mohawks in four and two-thirds innings pitched. He allowed one run on four hits and earned his second save of the season. Erickson (7-1) picked up the win for the Maroons. He pitched two and one-third innings. He allowed only one hit, walked three, and struck out three.

Jake Peter (8-3) was charged with the loss for Mason City. He completed two and one-third innings and allowed two runs on seven hits. Hrubetz pitched well in relief for the Mohawks allowing an unearned run on three hits in three innings pitched.

Bravard led the way for Dowling with a 3-for-4 night at the plate including a double and an RBI. McMurray, Coppola, Yacinich, Dalton Parrott, and Miller all had two hits in the game for Dowling.

ST. LOUIS, Mo., July 31, 2011 – The St. Louis Cardinals announced today that they have acquired shortstop Rafael Furcal from the Los Angeles Dodgers in exchange for minor league outfielder Alex Castellanos who was playing at Springfield (AA).

“We feel that Furcal will give us added veteran experience when it comes to a pennant race,” said Cardinals’ Senior Vice President/General Manager John Mozeliak.  “Rafael has been an excellent top of the order hitter and he brings plenty of athleticism and defense.”

Furcal, 33, is veteran of 11-plus seasons with the Atlanta Braves and Los Angeles Dodgers.  He was named to the National League All-Star team last season when he batted .300 for the 3rd time in five seasons with the Dodgers.   The Dominican native was also named an N.L. All-Star in 2003 as a member of the Braves.

The switch-hitting Furcal owns a career batting mark of .283 with 101 home runs and 298 stolen bases.  He was batting .197 in 37 games this season, but was hitting .364 over the past week with three multi-hit games.  He’d missed 63 games this season with a strained left oblique and a fractured left thumb.

Furcal has been considered to be one of the games’ top leadoff batters since breaking in with Atlanta in 2000 as the National League’s Rookie of the Year.  He has hit 26 career leadoff homers and ranks 2nd among the Dodgers’ all-time leaders in leadoff homers with 14.  Furcal owned the majors’ best on-base pct. (.370) among leadoff hitters last season.

Furcal has been to the postseason eight times in his career (five times with the Braves and three times with the Dodgers).  He batted ,500 (6-for-12) for the Dodgers during their 2009 Division Series sweep of the Cardinals.

The deal was the second in less than a year’s time between the two National League clubs, with the Cardinals having acquired infielder Ryan Theriot from the Dodgers last November.

Furcal will wear uniform #15 and Jon Jay will switch to uniform #19.