MOUNT PLEASANT — Over the next two nights, 32 teams will secure their places in the Iowa High School State Baseball Tournament. Odds are good that a celebration will erupt on the diamond when most of those 32 tickets are punched.

But there was no eruption to be heard throughout Mount Pleasant Tuesday night resonating from the Mapleleaf Athletic Complex. In fact, Josh Martsching’s game-closing strikeout of Wapello’s Keegan Lanz was met with the same handshakes and congratulations that would accompany any anticipated victory.

For the top-ranked team in Class 2A, Tuesday’s four-inning 18-0 win over the Indians in the Substate 5 Final wasn’t so much about achieving a dream of making it to state. It was more about taking care of business for a team that will make its third straight trip to Principal Park in Des Moines looking to defend its first-ever state championship.

“Everyone knows we’re back to win state again. It’s kind of everyone’s expectation to make it there,” Martsching said after coming one hit away from a pitching a four-inning perfect game in the substate final.

Top-ranked Davis County (41-1) will not only be there at the state tournament, they’ll be in a very familiar setting. For the second straight year, the Mustangs will enter the 2A state tourney as the second seed and will play seventh-seeded Alta-Auerila (23-10) for the second straight year at 6 p.m. on Saturday, the same time and night as last year’s state quarterfinal matchup.

And just like last year, Davis County is hoping to finish their trip to Des Moines a week later with a victory in the 2A finals to clinch a second straight state championship.

“We just want a state championship. We have to get there,” Martsching said.

The Mustangs’ state-clinching win came far easier than Saturday’s victory, which came in nine innings against Eddyville-Blakesburg and featured Davis County fighting from behind throughout much of the night.

Josey Garmon promised that his team would not trail again in the postseason. The senior outfielder made sure his team had the lead immediately on Tuesday, hitting an RBI single in the opening inning to bring home Jacob Davidson with the first run for the Mustangs in this postseason.

“I came out and I was determined I was going to give my best every time up,” Garmon said. “I was going to give 100 percent with every at-bat.”

Younger brother Wyatt backed up Josey two batters later, driving a sharp grounder under drawn-in Wapello first baseman Tucker Massner to drive in two more runs. The hit was biggest run producer in a four-run opening inning as Davis County established a quick 4-0 lead.

“It makes me feel good when Josey’s up there doing well at the plate,” Wyatt said of hitting behind his older brother. “It just makes me want to go up there and match him.”

Matching Martsching on the hill proved tough for Wapello ace pitcher Gage Carpenter, who entered Tuesday leading the Indians to a solid 20-12 season. Carpenter suffered just his fourth loss of his junior campaign and was knocked out in the third inning, which began with Josey Garmon’s seventh home run leaving the park well over the fence in left center field.

“I have a lot of confidence when I’m up at the plate,” Garmon said after driving in three runs and scoring three times against Wapello. “I want to get a hit every time I’m up there right now.”

Garmon’s lead-off homer was just the start of the end for Wapello (20-13), who saw their ace allow five of the first six Mustang batters to reach base in the third, including a two-RBI single by Park Mikels and a run-scoring hit by Jacob Davidson. Relief pitcher Ruger Carpenter was even more ineffective, allowing five more hitters to reach, as a lack of control led to three walks, a hit batter, several wild pitches and five more runs. Davis County opened a 15-0 lead to secure a chance to end the game in the fourth.

“We talked about the guys jumping on them early and staying on them. I think we were able to do that,” Davis County head coach Todd White said.

White also took advantage of a long inning in which the Mustangs batted around twice. Nine different players drove in a run while 11 players scored at least once, several of which came in the 14-run third.

“That could really pay dividends down the road for us,” White said.

Martsching finished off the substate victory in style, overcoming a two-out double by Gage Carpenter to strike out the side to clinch his team-best 13th win in a row.

“My fastball wasn’t quite as good as it’s been all year, but I was able to throw it for strikes,” Martsching said. “I know I have to throw strikes and trust my defense. They’ve been good all year.”

CLASS 2A, SUBSTATE 5 FINALS

No. 1 Davis County 18, Wapello 0 (4)

Wapello    000        0    —    18    8    0         

Davis Co.     40(14)    x    —    0    1    5

Wapello battery — Gage Carpenter (L, 9-4) (2 1/3IP, 7H, 10R, 10ER, K, 3BB), Ruger Carpenter (5R, 3BB, HBP) and David Brokert (2/3IP, H, 3R), Brandon Lincoln catching.

2B — G. Carpenter.

Hits — G. Carpenter 1-2.

Davis County battery — Josh Martsching (W, 13-0) (4IP, H, 9K), Calvin Utt catching.

HR — Josey Garmon.

Hits — Jacob Davidson 2-3, J. Garmon 2-3, Wyatt Garmon 1-1, Clint Foster 1-2, Park Mikels 1-2, Austin Roberts 1-2.

RBI — J. Garmon 3, W. Garmon 2, Martsching 2, Mikels 2, Mason Altide, Davidson, Hunter McClure, Roberts, Utt.

Runs — Foster 3, J. Garmon 3, Jacob Jones 2, Calvin Mathews 2, Roberts 2, Davidson, Austin Erwine, W. Garmon, McClure, Mikels, Connor Young.