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La Porte City sees early fireworks show as Union moves on to Round 2 of postseason

Knights baseball devastates Denver, 8-7

Union's Grant Behrens (third from left) celebrates with his team in La Porte City on Saturday, July 2, after knocking in the winning run against the Denver Cyclones, sending the Knights on to round two of postseason play. –Photo by Ruby F. Bodeker
Knights' pitcher Grant Behrens delivers to the plate on Saturday, July 2, in La Porte City. Behrens stepped in during the first inning to relieve starting pitcher Danny Petersen. –Photo by Ruby F. Bodeker
Sammy Fehl catches a pop fly at third base early in the game on July 2 in La Porte City. -Photo by Ruby F. Bodeker
PHOTO BY RUBY F. BODEKER
Michael Niebergall (second from right) and Seth Petersen (right) celebrate on July 2 in La Porte City after crossing home in the bottom of the 5th inning following a double by TJ Freeland which put the Knights just two runs behind the Denver Cyclones. -Photo by Ruby F. Bodeker
TJ Freeland makes contact with the ball on Saturday, July 2, against the Denver Cyclones at home in La Porte City. --Photo by Ruby F. Bodeker
TJ Freeland motions incredulously to his coaches on July 2 in La Porte City after reaching second in the bottom of the 5th, sending 2 runners home, & creeping within spitting distance (3-5) of tying the Denver Cyclones in round one of Class 2A postseason play. -Photo by Ruby F. Bodeker
Lead-off batter Michael Niebergall hits a single in the bottom of the seventh on July 2 in La Porte City – a drive to center that would advance Max Eikamp to third, drive in Mason Mullen, and tie the score with the Denver Cyclones, 7-7. –Photo by Ruby F. Bodeker
Mason Mullen (left) is congratulated by Grant Behrens (right) after making it home on July 2 in La Porte City courtesy of a single hit by Michael Niebergall, tying the Class 2A Round 1 postseason game, 7-7. Moments later while at-bat, Behrens would single sharply to left field, bringing home Max Eikamp for the walk-off win over the Denver Cyclones, 8-7, and sending the Knights on to round two of the postseason. –Photo by Ruby F. Bodeker
PHOTO BY RUBY F. BODEKER
Union will take on sixth-ranked West Marshall (26-8) this Tuesday, July 5, at State Center in Round 2 of the playoffs beginning at 7:00 p.m.-Photo by Ruby F. Bodeker
PHOTO BY RUBY F. BODEKER

Sparks were certainly flying for Union Knights’ baseball on Saturday, July 2, in La Porte City during the Class 2A round one district playoffs.

Following a rocky first inning in which Denver scored five runs to Union’s one, the Knights rallied not once but twice for the hard-earned win, 8-7, over the Cyclones.

The first rally took shape in the bottom of the fifth after Union head coach Chris Shannon could be heard telling his team to “keep hitting the ball hard, it’ll find a hole eventually!” The boys certainly took that guidance to heart with TJ Freeland driving a ball clear out to the fence for a double – sending home Seth Petersen and Michael Niebergall.

Danny Petersen then cleared the bases by hitting a triple, sending Grant Behrens & Freeland home & tying the game, 5-5.

Following a change in pitchers on Denver’s part, Sammy Fehl hit a double, knocking Danny Petersen home and pulling the Knights ahead, 6-5.

The sixth inning ended with Denver again ahead, 7-6, made possible by two Union errors. But in the seventh, the Knights dug deep to rally one final time.

Behrens then pitched a fast 1-2-3 inning – something he had been doing most of the game since stepping in for Danny Petersen in the first – includingtwo strikeouts.

At-bat in the bottom of the seventh, with runners on first and second, Niebergall singled to center – advancing Max Eikamp to third, driving in Mason Mullen, and tying the score, 7-7.

Behrens then sealed the deal by singling to left field, driving in Eikamp for the winning run and the opportunity to play No. 6 West Marshall (26-8) on Tuesday, July 5, at State Center in round two of Class 2A postseason play.

Entering the week of July 4, the Knights were 9-22 on the season.

Further coverage of the Knights’ postseason including the Tuesday, July 5 game will be available both online as it unfolds this week and in next week’s print edition of the Telegraph.