DES MOINES — No one knows what will become of this partnership between Farragut and Hamburg.

But if first impressions count for anything, the first Nishnabotna baseball team this season left a lasting one.

The Blue Devils on Saturday ran into a more experienced — let’s face it, more talented — Mason City Newman squad. The Knights eliminated Nishnabotna 9-1 in a Class 1-A state quarterfinal at Principal Park.

The blue-clad Nishnabotna fans stood and cheered as their players received their participation trophy at game’s end. It was the first state baseball appearance for either community.

“We’re setting the steppingstones for the next guys coming up,’’ Nishnabotna senior Russell Hemeter said. “We had a lot of fans up here, a lot of young kids watching. Hopefully them coming up here and watching us makes them want to work hard and get themselves up here.’’

Eighth-seeded Nishnabotna, the combined effort of Farragut and Hamburg, finished 19-6. Defending champion Newman improved its record to 35-2 and 72-3 in the past two years. The Knights haven’t lost to a 1-A, 2-A or 3-A program since 2008.

“Against a very quality team, I thought the kids performed well,’’ Nishnabotna coach Luke Stockstell said. “A couple breaks here or there, and it could have been a lot closer. But it’s big for both towns, to make it as far as we did.’’

The game was scheduled for Friday night, but severe storms delayed the contest 17½ hours to Saturday afternoon.

Under the sunlight, the Blue Devils pitching staff issued too many free passes to remain in contention. Starter Kaleb Kahue, Carroll Heitshusen and Hemeter combined to walk 11 and hit two batters. On seven of the 11 walks, Newman batters patiently worked a full count before being put aboard.

Newman coach Tony Adams said in the scouting report he worked up on the Blue Devils, he felt it was important to get deep into the count and not swing at too many borderline offerings early in the count.

“We just knew we had to come in and be disciplined at the plate,’’ Adams said. “That’s been one of our strengths. We don’t swing at a lot of bad pitches.’’

Newman jumped out to a 6-0 lead after two innings. Andrew Burgmeier and Josh Luecht opened the game with walks, took second and third on a wild pitch, and scored on Isaac Gribben’s two-run single. Jacob Blevins made a diving attempt at the ball in left field but couldn’t hang on.

In the second, Newman’s Blake Louscher opened with a triple off the right-field fence. Kahue walked two more in the inning, and two runs scored on wild pitches. Drew Verstegen’s two-run double made it a 6-0 game.

The Knights had chances to break the game open even more, stranding 13 runners.

Meanwhile, Nishnabotna didn’t get its first hit until Kahue opened the fourth with a solid single to left. He took second when Heitshusen walked, and they were at second and third after a double steal. Manny Martinez drove in Kahue with a groundout to short.

With a 9-1 lead, the left-handed Verstegen (8-1) was cruising with a one-hitter with two outs in the seventh. But then pinch-hitter Colin Nahkunst walked and pinch-hitter Riley Scroggie beat out an infield hit. Nahkunst tried to score on Hemeter’s single to right but wasn’t close to reaching home when the throw came in, and catcher Robbie Quintero tagged him near third to end the game.

The Blue Devils had two defensive highlights. Doug Raymond made a great diving catch in right field to end the fifth inning with the bases loaded, preventing at least two runs from scoring. And Nishnabotna closed the fourth inning with a nifty double play, as Heitshusen struck out Jake Adams and then Kahue fired to Martinez at third, who tagged out Hunter King trying to steal.

Stockstell said it was an invaluable experience to play in the Class AAA home of the Iowa Cubs.

“This is a huge thing for them,’’ he said. “They were a little overwhelmed at first. But they kind of settled into things.

“Next year, we’ll go back to battle and make it back here next year and have a state-experienced team.’’

The Blue Devils graduate six seniors: Hemeter, Heitshusen, Martinez, Blevins, Blain Lang and Brandon Pabst.

“Great leadership, great athleticism, great on-the-field presence,’’ Stockstell said. “They started something here and we’re going to try to keep it rolling for a long time.’’

Mason City Newman (35-2)...............240 100 2—9 8 1
Nishnabotna (19-6).......................000 100 0—1 3 3
W: Drew Verstegen (8-1). L: Kaleb Kahue (5-2). 2B: MCN, Verstegen. 3B: MCN, Blake Louscher.

Contact the writer:

444-1055, kevin.white@owh.com

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