New London topples unbeaten Remsen St. Mary’s in thrilling Class 1A state baseball title game

CARROLL — New London spoiled Remsen St. Mary’s quest for perfection.

The New London baseball team captured its first state baseball championship on Friday with a thrilling 8-7 victory over the Hawks in the Class 1A state title game here at Merchants Park on Friday.

The Tigers cap their summer with a 31-1 overall record, and claim their first state baseball crown in just their third state tournament appearance. Remsen, just one win away from a perfect summer, ends the year 35-1.

An exciting back-and-forth contest ended on a 1-2-3 double-play. Remsen loaded the bases with just one out in the bottom of the seventh. Up came Alex Schroeder with an opportunity for a walk-off winner.

Instead, Schroeder slapped an 0-2 pitch back to New London pitcher Kooper Schulte, who tossed the ball back to catcher Tucker Gibbar for the force-out at home, who then sent the ball to Carter Allen at first for another force-out at home, ending the game.

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Remsen, the 1-seed in Class 1A this week, sought to become just the 12th baseball team in state history to complete an undefeated summer season with a state title. The last team to do it was Twin Cedars, who went 36-0 and won 1A in 2014.

The Hawks raced out to a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning. Carter Schorg led off with a triple. Jaxon Bunkers followed with a double to score Schorg, then Cael Ortmann hit his own triple to score Bunkers. Ortmann then scored on a wild pitch.

But New London’s ferocious offense would not be held down. The Tigers outscored their first two state tournament opponents 28-4 — 12-3 over CAM, Anita in Monday’s quarterfinals, then 16-1 over Newman Catholic in Wednesday’s semifinals.

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The Tigers responded to Remsen’s early lead with two runs in the second to come within 3-2, two more in the third to tie the game at 4-4, then a 4-run fourth inning to seize an 8-4 lead. Remsen hadn’t allowed eight runs in any game all season, and had only allowed three in six postseason games entering Friday’s championship game.

Gibbar hit a solo home run in the second and finished 1-for-2 with two RBI. Carter Allen also knocked in two runs and scored another. Brendan Richey went 2-for-3 and two RBI, too.

The Hawks muscled their way back. They were held hitless in both the third and fourth innings, then put two runners on with one out in the fifth. New London’s infield forced a 5-3 double-play to escape trouble. Tiger starter Dereck Santiago allowed just the three runs, six hits and struck out five over five innings.

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In the sixth, Remsen finally converted, scoring three runs to come within 8-7. They began the bottom of the seventh with the top of their batting order. Bunkers walked, then Ortmann hit an infield single, and after they advanced to second and third, respectively, New London walked Pick to load the bases with one out.

It was perhaps the perfect setting to put a bow on a perfect season, but Schroeder slapped the 0-2 pitch right back Schulte, who tossed it to Gibbar, who then threw it to Allen, ending Remsen’s bid for perfection, and winning their own title in the process.

Cody Goodwin covers wrestling and high school sports for the Des Moines Register. Follow him on Twitter at @codygoodwin.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: New London beats Remsen St. Mary's, wins Class 1A state baseball title