VAN HORNE -- There is probably no more dramatic sport than baseball, and for fans that can be pretty exciting. For coaches, not so much.

"No," said Benton baseballl coach Seth Patterson, "I really could do without the drama...but it worked out OK."

Yeah, it did.

Monday night, with one out in the bottom of the eighth inning of the 3A Substate semifinal at Anderson Ballpark against Oskaloosa, Bobcat junior Kale Gallagher lofted a fly ball to left field as Eli Patterson tags up at third base. The ball was caught, Patterson (yeah, the coach's kid) took off from third and sailed home, into the arms of teammate Grant Volesky with the winning run. The Bobcat bench came flying out of the dugout to chase down and joyfully pummel Gallagher who appeared to be headed for Garrison. 

Oh, and Benton won the game, 4-3, and will play Wednesday at 7 p.m. at Saydel High School on the north side of Des Moines for the Substate title and a trip to the State tournament next week in Sioux City.

The Bobcats took a quick 1-0 lead in the first as VJ Schulte's single drove home Kaleb Hupke. But from there Bobcat starter Drew Fillensworth and Indian lefty Linus Morrison settled into a pitched (get it?) battle.

In the top of the fourth, Indian right fielder Tyler Edger worked Fillensworth for a walk, then went to second on a sacrifice. On a steal attempt to second, Patterson's (the catcher, not the coach) throw high and into left field. Edger scored and the game was tied.

But in the bottom of the sixth, Morrison tired. Carson Nolan led off with a double and one out later, the lefty began a streak of three straight walks, the last one bringing home Nolte with the go-ahead run, three outs from a trip to State.

But (you knew there had to be a but in there, right?), Osky used a leadoff double, a couple of walks and a couple of fielder's choices to plate two runs and a 3-2 lead.

But (there's a pattern developing here),with one out and two on, Schulte's ground ball is booted, allowing Hupke to score, sending the game into extra innings.

Schulte came into the game to pitch the eighth and after surrendering a lead-off single he retired the Indians in order to set up the wild finish.

Patterson led off the 8th with a walk and advances to second on Grady Frese's sacrifice bunt. But first baseman Caden Johnson's throw back to the pitcher sailed past third base, allowing Patterson to reach third, setting up Gallagher's sacrifice fly, the run, the hug, the posse hunting down Gallagher on the way to Garrison and the Bobcats were heading to Saydel.

Fillensworth went six innings, scattering five hits whlle striking out out three. Grant Frese and Adam Roos relieved through the seventh, setting the table for Schulte for the win.

So what do you say after a game like that?

"Resiliency," Patterson said. "I think the first word that comes to mind. I'm glad we we scratched one out in the first inning, but Morrison really kept us at bay."

"It was seesaw and back and forth," he added, "and I'm just happy the Bobcats came out on the on the winning end; it's a good day."

See you at Saydel!