SLATER — A trying season ended for Perry in the heat and humidity Friday against host and 10th-ranked Ballard in the Class 3A District 3 semifinals.
Ballard (24-8) put eight runs on the board before Perry (0-24) could answer, and finished the game an inning early with three runs in the bottom of the sixth to claim a 12-2 win.
A Monday date against Webster City (20-9) awaits the Bombers after the Lynx rallied for a 5-4 win over Humboldt (21-12).
The path to their first state tournament appearance since 1989 would be capped in Slater should Ballard win Monday, as Wednesday’s Substate 3 Final would then be played at Night Hawk field thanks to Saturday results in District 4. Host Boone (18-12) blew by Algona (10-17), 12-1, in five innings after Greene County (10-22) scored twice in the top of the seventh to stun No. 6 Gilbert (24-7), 2-1. The winners meet Monday in Boone.
Saturday’s loss ends a difficult campaign for Perry and for seniors Kaleb Olejniczak, Conner Kenyon, Quinn Helmers, Alex Morales and Carlos Calderon.
Ballard jumped out early by loading the bases in the first inning, with a Kyler Watson double plating two runs, but Perry starter Avery Meister limited the damage by ending the frame with a strikeout and a ground out.
Ballard added a run in the second, two in the third and then three in the fourth before Perry moved the scoreboard.
Kaden Boyer walked with two outs, with Olejniczak lacing a triple to right field. Kato Dougan was hit by a pitch to keep the inning alive, but was promptly picked off first base.
Ballard countered the Perry tally with a run of their own in the bottom of the fifth, with three walks helping the Bluejays make the score 9-2 in the sixth.
Unfortunately a walk, two singles, a double and a final base hit chased home three runs in the home half of the stanza to end the game.
Meister went three innings, allowing six runs (four earned) on eight hits and a walk. He finished with five strikeouts. Keghan West threw two frames of relief, yielding six runs on six hits and four walks while fanning three.
Olejniczak had the only hits for Perry, ending an excellent athletic career in multiple sports by driving in a run, stealing a base and hitting a triple and two singles.
Kenyon scored and walked twice, with Dougan and Helmers also drawing a walk while Morales and Dougan were each hit with a pitch.
Nic Edwards pitched 4-2/3 scoreless innings, allowing two hits and two walks while striking out four in gaining the win. Cody Wolfe surrendered two runs on a hit, three walks and two hit batsmen while striking out three.
Sam Petersen had a single, double, triple and three runs scored while walking once and stealing a base, with Logan Harmeyer adding two RBIs with a double and a base hit. Watson provided a two-run double, with Jack Luster also adding a two-base hit.
After four decades of tutelage under Mike Long, his replacement in the dugout, Austin Daniels, will be departing after one season. Daniels has accepted a teaching position in another city, an arrangement known before the season, which he agreed to stay on to coach. He was assisted this year by Tony Oros and Michael Craig.
