By Erik Buchinger
The Clintonville Diamond Cats came back from an early four-run deficit to beat Iola 8-5 to advance in the Legion Class A State Tournament at Don Jirschele Stadium on Friday, July 28.
Iola rallied for four runs in the top of the first inning and held the lead until Clintonville grabbed the lead with six runs in the bottom of the fourth.
After giving up four runs in the first, Clintonville pitcher Logan Liesenfelder settled in and allowed just one run the rest of the game.
Iola cut the lead to 6-5 with a run in the top of the sixth, but Clintonville added two insurance runs in the sixth to make it an 8-5 advantage.
Iola threatened in the top of the seventh but failed to score, as Clintonville advanced to play on Saturday.
Liesenfelder threw 6 1/3 innings and allowed five runs on eight hits and walked seven batters with eight strikeouts.
After Liesenfelder went past the pitch count limit of 120, Chad Bork came on in relief and got the final two outs.
Bork also had two hits at the plate and scored a run.
Clintonville outhit Iola 11-9, and eight of the nine batters in the Diamond Cats’ lineup recorded at least one hit.
Colton Kluth hit 2-for-4 with two doubles, two RBIs and scored a run. Liesenfelder finished 2-for-2 with a double, walk, RBI and run scored.
Clintonville will play Prairie Du Chien on Saturday, July 29 at 1 p.m. at Don Jirschele Stadium.
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