Thirteen is a number that most people shy away from because of it’s supposed unlucky history.

In a superstitious sport like baseball it’s rarely mentioned at all. Don’t tell that to the Iowa Mennonite School baseball team. On the strength of 13 strikeouts recorded by IMS starter Drake Brezina, IMS grabbed their 13th win of the season Thursday night 4-3 in the district semifinal round of the class 1A tournament over BGM.

Things didn’t start smoothly for Iowa Mennonite as the Bears put the first five batters of the game on base and scored twice in the first frame to take an early lead. Brezina was able to limit the damage. With two already in, and the bases loaded with nobody out he went on to strike out the side to end the frame, the start of a streak that would see him strike out seven consecutive batters and record 11 of the first 12 IMS defensive outs via the punch out.

IMS came back in the bottom of the first to cut the lead in half when Blake Bontrager singled to drive in Brezina. IMS took the lead for good in the bottom of the second when Reggie Borntrager doubled down the left field line with the bases loaded and two outs. The ball rolled into the corner, clearing the bases and giving IMS a 4-2 lead. Borntrager led the IMS offense with a pair of hits and those three RBI.

Brezina was masterful through five, striking out a bakers dozen and allowing six hits in recording the win.

Nick Yutzy came on in relief and recorded a six out save. It was not without drama as BGM scored once in their final at bat to pull within one and had the tying and go ahead runs on base before Yutzy ended the game with a comebacker that he flipped to first base.

With the win, IMS is now 13-9 on the year, BGM ends their season at 12-15. IMS will face off with Sigourney Saturday night at Keota High School in the class 1A district eight title game. You can hear all of the action between IMS and the Savages on FM 106.1 Saturday, beginning with the Washington HyVee pregame show at 6:30 and first pitch at 7PM.