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IOWA CITY – Jaxton Schroeder and Talon Young have shared a long-time connection.
Their synergy showed up in a big way Wednesday as Class 4A No. 4 Iowa City High (30-9) punched its ticket to the state baseball tournament for the fourth straight season, defeating No. 7 Indianola (32-6), 1-0, in a substate final at the University of Iowa’s Duane Banks Field.
Schroeder threw seven shoutout innings with Young behind the plate.
“We grew up playing together since we were like eight, so the chemistry is great there — he’s one of my best friends,” Young said. “We talked through the scouting report, and we knew what to throw. We were right on the same level the whole game.”
Schroeder, a Kirkwood Community College commit, allowed just three hits while striking out nine.
“His framing is unbelievable,” Schroeder said. “Just having him back there and trusting what he calls … I think I shook one pitch the whole night. He’s one of the best in the state. He has a great baseball mind that works out perfectly with pitch sequences.”
Young wasn’t just sharp behind the dish — his bat put City High on the board.
Young’s two-out RBI single in the fifth inning scored Paxton Bell for what turned out to be the game-winning run.
“Talon Young came through with a huge hit — that was outstanding,” City High Coach Brian Mitchell said. “After having maybe some not good at bats before that, we just talked to him about getting after it, swinging hard and that’s what he did on that pitch.”
“It feels great,” Young said. “I’m usually a pitcher. I tore my UCL this year, but I’m still catching, trying to do the most I can to help our team win. So, it feels great that I’m still able to contribute and help our team win.”
Things got dicey for City High in the sixth, as Indianola loaded the bases with one out. Schroeder came up big, striking out the next two batters.
“Bases loaded, one out, I mean that’s the biggest spot of the year right there,” Schroeder said. “We have one run to give … I was just trusting my stuff, working and knowing that I have amazing guys behind me.”
“He (Schroeder) was a man out there today,” Mitchell said. “He stepped up on the mound, took that thing, and he wasn’t going to let it go.”
City High will play in the state quarterfinals on Tuesday in Sioux City.
After reaching the semifinals in 2024, the Little Hawks feel confident entering this year’s tournament.
“We have the experience being in that in that tournament,” Mitchell said. “I have no idea how the other games are going to shake out, but we certainly know how to go about our preparation.”
“I don’t know if I’ll be throwing the first round of state, but we’ve got the best arsenal in the state,” Schroeder said. “I think anybody that’s out there is going to do an amazing job.”
