The defending state champion Harlan Cyclones defeated the Bishop Heelan Catholic Crusaders 6-3 in a Class 3A semifinal game Friday at Principal Park. The Cyclones held on late to capture the victory after Heelan made a ferocious comeback late in the game.

Harlan got the scoring started early, notching an unearned run in the second and two earned runs in the third. Ryan Doran and Nick Foss led the offensive charge for the Cyclones, with each recording two hits and scoring a run. Doran also recorded two RBIs and Foss added one RBI.

Josh Cheek was outstanding for the Cyclones en route to the win. He threw five shutout innings before surrendering three runs in the sixth. He allowed eight hits and three runs, while walking one and striking out one.

Despite outhitting the Cyclones, Heelan could not string enough hits together to capture the win. Matt Nelson and Brenden Roder provided most of the offense for Heelan, recording two hits apiece.

TJ Chamberlain threw well for the Crusaders, going five innings and allowing five hits and three runs, only two of which were earned. Colin Kasperbauer took the loss for Heelan. He pitched the sixth inning and allowed just one hit and one walk, but the defense faltered, allowing three unearned runs to score.

Bishop Heelan finishes its season at 32-13, while Harlan improves to 36-2. Harlan advances to the Class 3A Championship Game, Saturday at 5 p.m. They will play the winner of Assumption Davenport and Wahlert

Class 3-A Semi-finals

Harlan 6, Bishop Heelan Catholic, Sioux City 3

Davenport, Assumption 12, Dubuque Wahlert 2 (5 innings)

Class 4-A Semi-finals

Dowling Catholic, West Des Moines 8, Iowa City, West 1

Johnston 7, Waukee 1

Today’s (Saturday’s) Championship Schedule

11:00-a.m. Mason City/Newman Catholic vs. Martensdale/St. Mary’s, in Class 1A

1:30-p.m. Dyersville, Beckman Catholic vs. Carroll/Kuemper Catholic, in Class 2A

5:00-p.m. Davenport, Assumption vs. Harlan in Class 3A

7:30-p.m. Johnston vs. Dowling Catholic in Class 4A

RENTON, Wash. (AP) – Kansas City and Seattle have swapped linebackers, with D.J. Alexander joining the Seahawks and Kevin Pierre-Louis being sent to the Chiefs.  The clubs made the trade Friday on the cusp of training camp for both teams. Alexander was a Pro Bowl selection last season as a special teams player for the Chiefs and played sparingly on defense. He had 16 total tackles in the regular season on defense and made one start.

Pierre-Louis never matched his potential with the Seahawks. An exceptional athlete, Pierre-Louis struggled with injuries and with inconsistent performance when he got on the field. Pierre-Louis appeared in 34 regular-season games with one start. He had 43 total tackles playing outside linebacker for the Seahawks.

The Iowa Girls Coaches Association released their All-State Softball Selections for the 2017 season early Friday. Local selections are listed below and you can follow the links to see the full statewide teams.

2017 Softball All State teams: –1A | 2A | 3A | 4A | 5A

Class 1A

First Team

• Jade Hays, JR, Coon Rapids-Bayard
• Sophia Peppers, JR, Exira/EHK
• Madison Whitver, SR, Glidden-Ralston

Second Team

• Mandy Meseck, SR, Charter Oak-Ute
• Maryn Phillips, SR, Sidney
• Maggie Rasmussen, SR, Exira/EHK
• Talia Schon, FR, Glidden-Ralston

Third Team

• Holly Handlos, SR, Glidden-Ralston
• Caroline McAlexander, SO, Mount Ayr
• Cheyanne Rife, SO, West Harrison
• Rachel Riker, SR, CAM

Honorable Mention

• Audubon: Kaitlin Schultes
• Bedford: Makinna Russell
• Boyer Valley: Grace Reineke, Brittany Shumate
• East Mills: Zena Courtier, Emmy Duysen
• Essex: Daiton Martin, Jescenia Mosley, Kelsi Leininger
• Exira/EHK: Kealey Nelson, Rachel Walker
• Fremont-Mills: Clara Schaaf
• Lenox: Shantelle Brown, Makinna Fitzgerald
• Mount Ayr: Macy Larsen
• Riverside: Allison Reicks
• Sidney: Camryn McClintock, Olivia Larsen
• Stanton: Chelsea Weis, Ally Focht
• Woodbine: Cheyenne Watkins

Class 2A

First Team

• Kylan Straight, JR, Logan-Magnolia

Second Team

• Madelyn Deitchler, JR, Treynor
• Peyton Gross, JR, IKM-Manning
• Sydni Huisman, SO, Treynor
• Jenna Peschel, SR, Logan-Magnolia

Third Team

• Abbie Carlson, JR, Logan-Magnolia
• Paige McElfish, SR, Nodaway Valley
• Payton Sporrer, JR, IKM-Manning
• Megan Wilson, JR, Logan-Magnolia

Honorable Mention

• AHSTW: Katie Anzalone
• IKM-Manning: Paige Gaskill, Taylor Croghan
• Logan-Magnolia: Kenzie Cunard, Dani Gochenour
• Missouri Valley: Paige Livermore, Hannah Collins
• Treynor: Kaylee Finnegan, McKenna Waffle
• Tri-Center: Jill Manhart
• Underwood: Lauren Shapcott, Emma Bonnet

Class 3A

First Team

• Ally Anderson, JR, Atlantic
• Alexis Handel, JR, Atlantic

Second Team

• Baylee Newell, SO, Atlantic

Third Team

• Kamryn Buntrock, SO, Red Oak
• Kalee Peters, JR, Kuemper Catholic
• Kayla Venner, SO, Kuemper Catholic

Class 4A

Second Team

• Sarea Heilesen, SO, Denison-Schleswig
• Sara Ingoldsby, SR, Glenwood
• Josie Shudak, JR, Lewis Central

Third Team

• Ashtyn Miller, JR, Lewis Central
• Alex Mohr, SO, Denison-Schleswig

Class 5A

Third Team

• Teayanna Leytham, SR, Thomas Jefferson

The picture of a Newton teenager, who died four years ago when he was hit by a vehicle, will be featured on the hood a race car in tomorrow’s (Saturday) XFinity Series race at the Iowa Speedway. The car’s driver, Joey Gase, and the Iowa Donor Network are behind the effort. Iowa Donor Network spokesperson Tony Hakes says 14-year-old Brendan O’Brien’s organs were donated after his life was cut short.

Race car driver Joey Gase

“It’s a complete honor for us to be featuring Brendan O’Brien on Joey’s car,” Hakes said. “Brendan was a donor in 2013 and we’ve been working with Bob O’Brien and his family for the last few years. They’ve done a lot of great things to promote donation.”

The race car was on display Thursday outside the Newton Fire Department, where Gase encouraged supporters of organ donation to put their handprints – in paint – on the hood of the car. “It gets a lot of people involved and it turns a lot of heads at the racetrack,” Gase said. “On Saturday, when you see this car on TV, it’ll be pretty cool to say ‘hey, that’s my handprint on there.'”

In addition to O’Brien’s picture, a picture of Gase’s mother is featured on the hood of the car. Mary Gase died suddenly of a brain aneurysm in 2011 and her organs were donated. Joey Gase, a Cedar Rapids native, has since been a leading advocate for organ donation. Tomorrow’s (Saturday) XFinity Series Race will be televised nationally on NBC.

(Radio Iowa)