Sometimes the road to state baseball is paved with potholes.

Mount Vernon’s road had a sinkhole. That was top-ranked Dubuque Wahlert. The Golden Eagles beat the Mustangs, 7-5, in the Class 3A substate semifinals Tuesday, July 16, at the McAleece Park and Recreation Complex in Dubuque.

“The team we were playing against was formidable,” Mount Vernon coach Charles Chatman said. “We had a pretty good plan. We felt we could score some runs on them. But how well could we hold them at bay?”

Mount Vernon got out to a quick 2-0 lead, and also led 4-3 after the top of the fifth inning. But like any top team, Wahlert had the answers.

Sophomore Michael Ryan had two hits and two RBIs. Juniors Colin Bentley, Cole Thurn and Eric Lamb each also had two hits.

Sophomore Cael Foreman started on the bump, and pitched four-plus innings, giving up just three hits and five runs. Junior AJ McDermott finished the game, giving up no hits, but two runs.

“They just put together some good two-strike at-bats,” Chatman said. “They didn’t chase very much and won a couple of at-bats. Really good on their part.”

Wahlert (33-9) went on to beat Clear Creek Amana 7-0 in the substate final, and are the top seed for this week’s 3A state tournament in Cedar Rapids.

Mount Vernon closed its season 19-18, its firsts winning record in six years. It was Chapman’s fourth year as head coach, and he can see the improvement.

“Last year we won 13 games and were one run away from getting to state,” he said. “We were really young last year. This year we got over .500 and put ourselves in a favorable position. We got to host a substate game.

“It was a step in the right direction for the program and I feel like we accomplished that this year. I feel good about where we are and where we’re going.”

Next season the Mustangs will have “my largest senior class since my first year here,” Chatman said. “We’ve been knocking on the door the last two years. Hopefully we can knock it open.”