RECAP: Scores, highlights from Iowa state baseball semifinals on Thursday

Thursday was the second to last day of the 2023 Iowa high school baseball tournament and there were spots in the state title games on the line for Class 2A and 4A.

Out at Duane Banks Baseball Stadium in Iowa City, Johnston, Dowling Catholic, Cedar Falls and Ames, competed in the Class 4A tournament.

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Over at Merchants Park in Carroll, Cascade, Underwood, Beckman Catholic and West Lyon, took the field in the Class 2A bracket.

Check out all the action and scores below to find out who punched their ticket to Friday's state title games.

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Class 4A: No. 7 Ames 4, No. 6 Cedar Falls 3

The Little Cyclones took a 4-1 lead into the seventh inning, then had to hold on for dear life as Cedar Falls plated a pair and had the tying and winning runs in scoring position with two down. But Braydon Beelner struck out Cy Anderson with the bases loaded to keep Ames' magical season alive.

It'll be the Little Cyclones and top-seeded Johnston at 7:30 p.m. Friday for the Class 4A title.

Class 2A: No. 1 Beckman Catholic 11, No. 4 West Lyon 2

The Trailblazers took down West Lyon 11-2 to clinch a spot in Friday's state title game.

Beckman Catholic was led by Drew Thier who tossed the final five frames on the hill and gave up just two hits and no runs while striking out five hitters. Shortstop Nate Offerman was 3-for-4 on the night with three RBIs. Leadoff man Luke Schieltz also racked up three hits on the night, including a triple, and he crossed the plate twice.

The top-seeded Trailblazers will face off with No. 2 Underwood on Friday afternoon for the state championship. First pitch is slated for 2:30 p.m. in Carroll.

Class 4A: No. 1 Johnston 9, No. 4 Dowling Catholic 4

The Dragons scored the game’s first seven runs, then countered a Dowling Catholic rally with more late action to cement Thursday’s win in the Class 4A semifinals at Duane Banks Field. Johnston will face either Ames or Cedar Falls in Friday’s title game.

The Dragons now have a chance to add even more to their illustrious baseball history. Johnston is in the 4A title game for a fifth consecutive season. It’ll be shooting for its sixth title since 2008 and its fourth since 2017.

That’s impressive stuff.

Class 2A: No. 2 Underwood 3, No. 3 Cascade 1

Second-seeded Underwood will move on to play for a state title on Friday after topping Cascade in the state semifinals.

Mason Boothby went 3-for-4 for the Eagles and scored two of the team's three total runs. Jack Vanfossan pitched all seven frames and allowed five hits while striking out five.

They move on to tomorrow's state title game where they'll take on either No. 1 Beckman Catholic, or No. 4 West Lyon. The first pitch of the state title game is slated to begin at 2:30 p.m. in Carroll.

Here's a look at the full slate of baseball games scheduled for Thursday.

Class 4A in Iowa City:

• 5:00 p.m.- No. 1 Johnston vs. No. 4 Dowling Catholic, 5 p.m.

• 7:30 p.m.- No. 6 Cedar Falls vs. No. 7 Ames, 7:30 p.m.

Class 2A in Carroll:

• No. 3 Cascade vs. No. 2 Underwood, 4:30 p.m.

• No. 1 Beckman Catholic, Dyersville vs. No. 4 West Lyon, Inwood, 7 p.m.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: RECAP: Scores, updates from Iowa state baseball tournament semifinals