Waterloo Columbus Catholic is making the most of its trip to the Iowa High School state baseball tournament. The Sailors will play for the Class-2A championship after upsetting top-seeded Cascade, 5-3, in the semifinals Thursday afternoon (July 30, 2015).

Fourth-seeded Columbus (32-5) scored two runs in the top of the seventh inning to break a 3-all tie and complete the rally at Principal Park in Des Moines. The comeback ended Cascade's 20-game winning streak and sent the Sailors to their first state title game. For all tournament results, CLICK HERE.

The Cougars (38-4) cruised through the first five innings with a 1-0 lead over Columbus, riding the wings of right-handed starter Trace Hoffman who had allowed only one hit through five innings.

The Sailors got to Hoffman in the sixth though, scoring three runs on three hits and two errors to claim a 3-1 lead.

A leadoff single from Luke Farley was followed up by a single and a throwing error by Reis Rausch at third base, putting runners at second and third base. Francis Hart delivered a two-RBI single that rolled into centerfield, putting the Sailors up 2-1. Henry Dropps tacked on another run with an RBI single to score Hart, completing the three-run inning.

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The top-seeded Cougars didn’t relent, responding with two runs in the bottom of the sixth to tie the game at 3-3. Derek Lieurance was hit by a Henry Walters pitch with the bases loaded, bringing in the first run before Walters uncorked a wild pitch to plate another.

Hoffman struck out the first batter he faced in the seventh before allowing a single to Greg Glass. Hoffman then struck out Hart, but walked Lucas Benda. Glass, who stole second and third base, came around to score the winning run as Dropps singled through the right side. Lee Hansen put down the exclamation point with a line-drive, RBI double to left field making it 5-3 Sailors.

Farley, who pitched a complete-game shutuout over Hinton in the quarterfinals, came in to close out the seventh, striking out two in a perfect frame as he earned his fifth save.

Benda started the game for Columbus, allowing one unearned run on one hit and four walks. Walters (3-0) earned the win in relief. Pitching from the fourth to the sixth inning, the right-hander allowing two earned runs on two hits and one walk.

On the losing side was Hoffman (8-1), who was on a 41.2 scoreless-inning streak coming into the game and surrendered his first runs of the season. He pitched 6.2 innings, allowing five runs -- all earned -- on eight hits and four walks while striking out seven.

The Sailors out-hit the Cougars 9-3. Glass, Hart and Hansen each had two hits apiece. Glass scored twice, while Hart and Hansen both drove in two runs.

Bryce Simon reached base three times for Cascade, recording a single and drawing two walks. He also scored a run.

Columbus, ranked third by the Iowa Baseball Coach Association (IBCA), earns a spot in the Class-2A title game against third-seeded Clear Lake. The Lions defeated Davis County, 20-1, in four innings in Thursday's other semifinal.

The championship game is scheduled for Saturday at 1:30 p.m. at Principal Park in Des Moines.

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