-Messenger photo by Britt Kudla West Lyon Lucy Doorneweerd (left) react after scoring a run against Cascade on Tuesday at rogers Park

There were a few early nerves for West Lyon, and who could blame them.

The last time the Wildcats played at the state tournament was 21 years ago.

But, after falling behind early to Cascade, West Lyon roared back, advancing to the Class 2A semifinals with a 10-8 victory at Rogers Park on Tuesday. They will face Louisa-Muscatine back here on Iowa Central Field at 5:15 p.m. on Wednesday.

Freshman Jessa Ciesielski picked the perfect time for her first home run, blasting a two-run shot to complete a six-run first. And after seeing their lead fall, the Wildcats (29-1 overall) stormed back, plating the winning runs in the sixth.

Ciesielski, the No. 8 hitter, drove in two with a two-out hit, finishing 3-for-3 with four RBI and two runs scored. Braylyn Childress had three hits with two runs scored while Ella Langenhorst plated a pair.

“This group is special,” West Lyon head coach Alexis Severson said. “We set a goal in January that this is where we want to be. Our goal is just to have fun and enjoy the rest of the week.”

Jersey Hawf, an Iowa Central commit, earned the win inside the circle while going 2-for-4 at the plate with an RBI and a run scored.

“Jersey is just a competitor,” Severson said. “She got her 500th strikeout during the game and I mentioned it to her, and she didn’t even know. She’s just focused on doing whatever she can to help the team as best as she can.”

Cascade (20-10) struck first in the opening inning on a grand slam by Josie Manternach, and went up 8-6 with two runs in the third and two more in the fourth. Manternach, a senior, ow has eight homers on the year.

Ashlyn Schokemoehl had three hits with two RBI and a run scored, as they will now face West Monona (29-7) in a consolation contest at 12:15 p.m. on Yankee Field.

WEST LYON 10, CASCADE 8

Cascade 402 200 0 — 8 11 2

West Lyon 600 022 x — 10 15 1

WP–Jersey Hawf (7 IP, 11 H, 6 ER, 7 K, 3 BB). LP–Ashlyn Schokemoehl (1-plus IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 0 K, 0 BB).

HR–C: Josie Manternach; WL: Jessa Ciesielski. 2B–C: Ashlyn Schokemoehl, Ava Lawler; WL: Jessa Ciesielski, Katelyn Berentschot, Jersey Hawf. RBI–C: Ashlyn Schokemoehl (2), Josie Manternach (4), Ava Lawler (2); WL: Ella Langenhorst (2), Jersey Hawf, Braylyn Childress, Jessa Ciesielski (4). SBC: Makayla Fear; WL: Reese Kramer, Lucy Doorneweerd.