3A State Baseball First Round Preview: Harlan v. North Polk

(Cedar Rapids, IA) — The state baseball tournament begins today with 1A games in Carroll and 3A games in Cedar Rapids. Harlan will take on North Polk in the first contest at Veterans Memorial Stadium, home of the Cedar Rapids Kernels. Coverage of this game on 96.5 FM KSOM with an 11:30 first pitch.

The Comets come in with a record of 26-6 and have an impressive pitching duo. Senior Reece Wrage (10-1, 1.05 ERA) is the expected starter but if he runs into trouble Hunter Cook (3-3, 1.57) is a future Minnesota Golden Gopher and waiting in the wings. Offensively, the Comets do not have much power, just 6 HR, but they are hitting over 300 as a club. This team relies on pitching and defense to win games.

Harlan Head Coach Heath Stein is real impressed with their hurlers

Stein admits his team was a little nervous before last year’s state tournament game, a 10-0 loss to Western Dubuque. He hopes things will be somewhat different this year

Game time is 11:30, coverage on 96.5 KSOM.

2024 STATE TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE

Carroll: 1A & 2A

Monday, July 22

Class 1A Quarterfinals

11:00—#1 Akron-Westfield vs. #8 Bedford

1:30—#4 Lynnville-Sully vs. #5 Sigourney

4:30—#2 Newman Catholic vs. #7 South Winneshiek

7:00—#3 St. Mary’s, Remsen vs. #6 North Linn

Tuesday, July 23

Class 2A Quarterfinals

11:00—#1 Underwood vs. #8 Unity Christian, Orange City

1:30—#4 Chariton vs. #5 Pleasantville

4:30—#3 Sumner-Fredericksburg vs. #6 Wilton

7:00—#2 New Hampton vs. #7 Aplington-Parkersburg

Wednesday, July 24

Class 1A Semifinals

Thursday, July 25

Class 2A Semifinals

Friday, July 26

Class 1A Championship

Class 2A Championship

Cedar Rapids: 3A & 4A

Monday, July 22

Class 3A Quarterfinals

11:30—#3 North Polk, Alleman vs. #6 Harlan Community

2:00—#2 Marion vs. #7 Center Point-Urbana

5:00—#4 Bishop Heelan, Sioux City vs. #5 Pella

7:30—#1 Wahlert Catholic, Dubuque vs. #8 Central DeWitt

Tuesday, July 23

Class 4A Quarterfinals

11:30—#1 Cedar Rapids Kennedy vs. #8 Pleasant Valley

2:00—#4 Johnston vs. #5 Waukee NW

5:00—#2 Dallas Center-Grimes vs. #7 Dowling Catholic, W.D.M.

7:30—#3 Iowa City, City High vs. #6 Waukee

Wednesday, July 24

Class 3A Semifinals

Thursday, July 25

Class 4A Semifinals

Friday, July 26

Class 3A Championship

Class 4A Championship