DES MOINES, Iowa - Ethan Westphal was dominant on the mound yet again in this tournament as he led the Martensdale-St. Marys Blue Devils past the Remsen St. Mary’s Hawks 3-0 to win the Class 1A state championship. It was the second state championship for the Blue Devils as they took home the 1A crown back in 2004.

Westphal started and won all three games in the state tournament for the Blue Devils, finishing the season with a perfect 16-0 record. On this day, Westphal shut out the Hawks, while tossing a complete game. Westphal yielded six hits, three walks and struck out 11 batters, as Martensdale-St. Marys completed their perfect season at 43-0.

Remsen St. Mary’s did not go down easily though. They threatened in the bottom of the fourth and bottom of the seventh innings. The Hawks collected three hits in the bottom of the fourth, but after a confusing strikeout, caught stealing double play, Westphal was able to strikeout Cody Colling to end the threat. In the seventh, the Hawks picked up two hits, but Westphal recorded all three outs as strikeouts, punching out Mike Wesselmann to end the ball game.

Martensdale-St. Marys put up all three of their runs in the top of the first inning. David Walker was hit by a pitch to start the game and was sacrificed to second base by westphal. Jake Defenbaugh walked and Dillon Coates singled to load the bases with only one out. Hayden Van Hoose drew a bases loaded walk to score walker and put the Blue Devils on the board. Zeb Noel then stepped in and ripped a two-run double, giving the Blue Devils the 3-0 lead after one-half inning. The final six frames of the ball game would be scoreless.

Remsen St. Mary’s came back from a 7-1 defecit to defeat Newman in the semi-final but just did not have enough magic on this afternoon as their threats were stifled by Westphal on the mound. After a rocky start, Hawks’ starting pitcher Andrew Portz settled in and pitched a good ball game. In six and one-third innings he surrendered seven hits, three runs, four walks and struck out one. Remsen St. Mary’s season came to a close with a 26-9 record.