DES MOINES – One year after a runner-up showing at the state tournament, top-seeded Mason City Newman Catholic ended its season with an even better result on Saturday afternoon. The Knights beat the third-seeded Van Buren Warriors 6-2 to win the 2013 Class 1A championship game at Principal Park.
Newman lost 1-0 to Martensdale-St. Marys in the state final last season.
The top-ranked Knights, who have made it to the 1A title game in three of the last five seasons, hoist the championship trophy for the fourth time in school history. It was their 11th state tournament appearance in the past 13 years.
The two teams matched runs in the second and seventh innings, but Newman’s four-run third was the difference in the game. The Knights used two walks, an error and two, two-run singles by Kane Louscher and Pete Lapointe to build a 5-1 advantage after three innings.
Newman jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the second and never trailed in the game. Joe Burgmeier singled to lead off the inning and quickly moved to third after an error on a pickoff attempt. Lapointe drove him home in the next at-bat on a sacrifice fly to right.
The Warriors tied the game in the second with a two-out, RBI single off the bat of Tanner Smith. Robert Barker led off the inning with a single and scored the tying run.
After the Knights’ four-run third inning, each team was held scoreless until the seventh. Newman padded its lead with one run in the top half of the inning. Burgmeier singled and stole second before denting the plate on a Lapointe RBI single, extending the lead to 6-1.
Lapointe went 2-for-3 with four RBI and Burgmeier went 2-for-4 with two runs scored to pace the Knights’ offense.
Van Buren’s Garrett Saunders recorded an RBI single in the bottom half of the seventh to cut the deficit to 6-2 before Newman reliever Casey Hall forced a game-ending groundout.
Newman starter Kaden Wadle (8-0) allowed two runs on 10 hits in six innings to earn the win. Hall came in for Wadle in the seventh and allowed just one hit in one inning of relief.
Barker (3-1) started for the Warriors and allowed five runs — one earned — on five hits in three innings. Robby Laughlin finished the game for Van Buren, allowing one run on four hits over the final four frames.
Noah Whitten, Barker, and Saunders each recorded two hits on the afternoon to lead Van Buren at the plate.
The Warriors — making their first-ever state tournament appearance — end their season at 26-6.
You are a complete idiot Mr. Anonymous…..your comment makes no sense at all !!
Outstanding job Knights! The baseball program at Newman should be a huge source of pride for our community. These young men compete at a very high level year in and year out..4 state championships in the last 15 years! Not only that, but the kids on that team are good citizens in the community, you are not going to see their name in the paper or on this site for malfeasance.
Coach Adams and his assistants demand dedication, hard work, and discipline great lessons for all kids.
@common sense man-You are correct. Good JOB Newman Baseball. Makes you wonder about Mason City High doesn’t it?
Clear Lake beat Newman 2 games to 1 this year and beat MC in 1 game. MC Mohawks beat Newman this year. That means Newman is the 3rd best team in the county. So this 4 titles in 15 years is a joke! Last time they won state they had one loss to the Mohawks! Catholic kids growing up in a 4A town playing with 4A kids during their youth years. They should win the 1A(nobody cares about) title every year. Not even the best in the county don’t go crazy bout your little school trophy!
Clear Lake, what a great job and effort this year to never give up!! True Champs!!!
So, by your logic, just because Newman is in the same town as a Public HS they should win State titles in EVERY sport EVERY year?. The classes are created by school enrollment, not WHO the teams grow up playing sports with. Wow, anything to take away from what these kids accomplished. Poor sport much?
@anonymous………your post might be the most idiotic, senseless, and mean spirited rant I have ever read on this site. As Class of 78 said it is by enrollment that they decide what class they play in. Just because they barley lost to the Mohawks, who have 50 kids to choose from and to Clear Lake who have 40 kids to choose from Newman has about 20 kids who play both varsity and jv. Don’t be a sap…just because you are Clear Lake fan and a Mohawk fan try to pull your head out of your Ass and give credit where credit is due.
WAY TO GO KNIGHTS FROM A PROUD ALUMNI CLASS OF ’63!!!