The Indianola baseball team secured a spot in the Class 4A State Championship after an 8‑1 victory over West Des Moines Valley on Tuesday night, a win that will see them face Pleasant Valley in the title game.
Bryant Ritchie anchored the pitching staff, throwing a complete game that yielded just one run while keeping the Valley lineup in check.
The offense exploded early when George Blake led off with a triple and scored on Zach Benge’s RBI single, establishing a quick 1‑0 lead.
Asher Brueck followed with a double, and both he and Benge crossed the plate on a Dax Heimbaugh base hit, pushing the advantage to 3‑0.
In the third inning the rally continued as Benge and Brueck scored again on an RBI groundout and a subsequent base hit, extending the lead to 5‑0.
Mid‑game and late‑inning action
Valley managed a single run in the fifth inning when Ryan Stedman delivered a hit that brought home a run, narrowing the gap but not threatening the lead.
The sixth inning added two more runs as Brody Merema and George Blake contributed key hits, and Brueck capped the scoring with a sacrifice fly.
Trent Grevengoed sealed the game with the final out, ensuring the 8‑1 final margin.
This victory marks the first time in program history that Indianola has reached the state championship game, a milestone that has the community buzzing ahead of the matchup with Pleasant Valley.