The Hawk Eye, Burlington, Iowa –
DES MOINES – J.D. Nielsen fired a no-hitter to guide Martensdale-St. Marys to a 1-0 victory over top-ranked Mason City Newman as the Blue Devils captured their third straight Class 1A state high school baseball tournament championship at Principal Park Saturday afternoon.
It was the fourth no-hitter in state finals history and the first in 20 years.
Nielsen improved to 8-3, allowing just one base on balls. He retired the first 13 batters he faced, then put himself in trouble in the fifth inning.
With one out in the fifth, Nielsen hit Gabe Dunn with a pitch for the first Newman base runner of the game. Joe Burgmeier bunted and Nielsen misplayed the ball, Burgmeier reaching first on the error and Dunn racing to third. Joey Verstegen sacrifice bunted back to the mound and Nielsen fielded and underhanded a throw to put Dunn out at home. A wild Nielsen pitch moved the runners to second and third, but Nielsen then fanned John Waters to end the inning and the threat.
Newman’s only other base runner was Alex Weber, who coaxed a base on balls to lead off the seventh. Weber advanced to second and third on sacrifice bunts by Kane Louscher and Dunn. He was left stranded when Nielsen fanned Burgmeier to preserve the no-hitter and the shutout victory.
The Blue Devils scored their lone run in the first inning. Trent Dooley drew a one-out walk, stole second, scampered to third on a wild pitch, and crossed the plate via Zeb Noel’s fielder’s choice grounder.
Phillip LaPointe (8-2) suffered the loss, despite giving up just two hits and three walks. He struck out four.
It was Martensdale-St. Marys’ 40th victory against five losses. Newman, which won the 2009 title, slipped to 35-5.
