SULPHUR — Iowa hasn't felt this way in a long time.
The current Iowa Yellow Jackets have never experienced the feeling.
It's a berth in the Class 3A state championship game, which No. 5 Iowa earned by eliminating Loranger 3-0 Friday afternoon at McMurry Park.
No. 5 Iowa (23-9) won a state title in 2007 but hasn't been to the state tourney since 2008.
Iowa senior Phillip LeBleu (10-4) tossed a five-hitter, including no-hit ball through 4 2/3 innings, and the Yellow Jackets offense produced just enough to get the job done. Iowa will face No. 11 North DeSoto at 1 p.m. Saturday in the title game. The Griffins edged E.D. White 2-1 in the other semifinal game.
"Words can’t explain how it felt," LeBleu said. "Coach (Sean Richard) asked me to get us to the next day, and that’s what I did. This was a big win for us; we have to take the momentum and come back (today) and win it all."
Sean Richard manned the 2006-07 Iowa squad that won the team's last championship, and he said it gets better and better every time.
For more on this and other breaking stories, check back at www.americanpress.com or pick up your copy of the print edition of the American Press.