Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

OTTUMWA – What was billed as a great pitching matchup on paper quickly materialized into the low-scoring duel many expected in the Class 4A, Substate 6 title game.

Eventually it was Ottumwa that managed to scratch out enough offensive production to advance.

Ottumwa scored a pair of runs on three hits in the sixth inning to rally past Class 4A No. 10 City High 2-1 at Legion Memorial Field in Ottumwa.

Colton McKinnon and Tyler Schark combined on a one-hitter as Ottumwa (30-9) returned to the state tournament for the first time since 2006.

“It was a weird game I really don’t know how to describe it we really didn’t get our offense going at all, I don’t know why,” City High coach Brian Mitchell said. “The pitching wasn’t so dominant that we shouldn’t have had more success offensively.”

City High (29-14) got its own stellar pitching effort from junior Cade Obermueller who struck out 10 in 5 1/3 innings but the Little Hawks could muster just one hit while having its bid for a second consecutive state tournament appearance fall short.

Starter Colton McKinnon didn’t allow a hit in four innings and Schark tossed three innings of shutout relief to earn the win as City High was held to fewer than two runs for the first time since a 2-1 loss to West High on July 2.

“We weren’t overwhelmed I guess he did a good job of just missing barrels,” Mitchell said. “It wasn’t what I expected that way.”

Despite the lack of offensive production City High took control of the game in the fourth when it scored a run without a hit.

Carter Seaton and Gable Mitchell coaxed back-to-back walks from McKinnon to open the inning.

Seaton moved up to second on a wild pitch, stole third and scored on an Obermueller sacrifice fly to left field that gave City High a 1-0 lead.

City High had a chance to add to its lead in the fifth when Jacob Means walked with one out and Ben Kueter lined a single to right field for what would prove to be the Little Hawks’ only hit.

Schark escaped the jam and wouldn’t allow another baserunner the rest of the way.

It appeared that the 1-0 lead could be enough for Obermueller who cruised through the first five innings.

Making his first start since June 21, Obermueller struck out 10 in the first fiving innings, fanning the side in the second and third innings.

The junior left-hander struck out nine of the first 13 batters he faced.

“He was outstanding,” Mitchell said of Obermueller. “He was locating really well. Obviously, his fastball was good, he had great velo and he did more than what we could have hoped for.”

Obermueller appeared to have dodged a bullet when Cedric Dunnwald tracked down a deep fly ball off the bat of Ottumwa shortstop Mitch Wood near the left field fence leading off the sixth.

However, Jesus Jaime followed by chopping a one-out single to right field and Adam Greiner lined a single to right center that moved Jaime to third and chased Obermueller after 5 1/3.

Three pitches later Jaime scored on a passed ball to tie the game at 1-1.

Greiner scored the go-ahead run two batters later on an infield single by Adam Denniston.

“Of course are guys are disappointed, they are bummed out and I’m bummed out,” Mitchell said. “I’m as disappointed as them because I love being around them.”

City High had one final chance but Schark retired the side in order in the seventh.

The loss ends an impressive season in which City High posted its highest win total since going 31-11 in 2017.

“It was a very similar team to what we had last year and obviously we had a lot of the same players but we had guys like Cedric Dunnwald and other guys that stepped up from where they were last year when they didn’t get a lot of time,” Mitchell said. “It’s absolutely a great group.”

City High                   000  100  0  –  1  1  0

Ottumwa                    000  002  x  –  2  4  0

W – Tyler Schark                   L – Cade Obermueller

Did you enjoy this subscription free article? Help keep Your Prep Sports free by donating.