Prep baseball is in full swing. Teams are busy, attempting to squeeze in as many games as possible in a compact season that is already less than a month away from postseason play for Classes 1A and 2A. From pitching performances to team triumphs, here are a few of The Gazette-area highlights for the week of June 3-9 and a look at the upcoming schedule in “Covering the Bases.”
Kennedy grounds Jefferson
Cedar Rapids Kennedy may have posted the biggest upset to date.
The Cougars have struggled at times this season, but they notched a notable victory over crosstown rival and Class 4A fourth-ranked Cedar Rapids Jefferson on Thursday.
Kennedy received two RBIs from Zak Packingham, another from Nolan Behn and a strong start from Austin Burkhart in a 3-2 victory at Jefferson.
The J-Hawks did rebound with a more decisive 9-3 win Friday at Kennedy.
Hagen Waters drives Lisbon
Lisbon junior Hagen Waters had a career night Wednesday in a 21-6 victory over Bellevue Marquette. Waters drove in 10 runs, which is good for the best single-game RBI performance this season.
Waters had three hits, including a grand slam. He also had a single and double.
Waters is second on the team with 21 RBIs, tailing Austin Krob’s 35. Krob also has eight home runs.
Maquoketa Valley snaps Jake Hilmer's shutout streak
North Linn all-stater Jake Hilmer had a 31-inning shutout streak snapped Monday.
The Lynx junior earned the win, throwing three innings of a 14-4 victory in five innings over the Wildcats. Maquoketa Valley scored two unearned runs against Hilmer in the third.
Hilmer had thrown four straight complete-game shutouts and hadn’t given up a run since the sixth inning of a 5-3 win over Hudson on July 5, 2017.
Hilmer started a new streak with five shutout innings in a win Thursday over Springville, improving to 4-0.
Western Dubuque's K combo
Western Dubuque pitchers Sam Goodman and Calvin Harris combined for 30 strikeouts in a doubleheader sweep at DeWitt Central on Monday.
Goodman struck out 15 in the opener, throwing 7 2/3 innings in the Bobcats’ 8-4 victory in eight innings.
Harris, who threw six innings of relief, also fanned 15. Western Dubuque won the nightcap, 6-4.
Triple doubles/doubled triples
Cedar Rapids Washington’s Nick Nading, Highland’s Brody Burton and BGM’s Kyle Doty each had three doubles in a game, matching the second best single-game total in the state this season.
Nading and Burton did it Monday against Dubuque Hempstead and Winfield-Mount Union, respectively. Doty achieved it Wednesday at Sigourney.
Cedar Rapids Prairie’s Levi Usher had three hits, including two triples, in an 8-7 victory over Dubuque Senior Friday.
Tri-Rivers showdown
Two of the three area unbeaten teams will face off Monday when North Linn (16-0) hosts Lisbon (13-0). The Lynx are ranked second, while the Lions are third.
Both teams were state qualifiers last season. North Linn swept Lisbon last season and has won the last three meetings between the two Tri-Rivers Conference teams.
Beckman honors Tom Jenk Jr.
Dyersville Beckman will honor late coach Tom Jenk Jr., retiring his No. 11 jersey before its annual rivalry game with Cascade.
Class 2A seventh-ranked Blazers will host the No. 2 Cougars (13-0) on Friday at Commercial Club Park’s Jenk Field.
Beckman was 8-6 after Friday’s doubleheader sweep of Independence.
Prairie hosts top-10 battle
Cedar Rapids Prairie will host a battle of Class 4A top-10 ranked teams Tuesday against Davenport West.
The Hawks (11-3) are ranked sixth by the IHSBCA. The Falcons (8-3) are ranked eighth with wins over ranked teams No. 4 Jefferson and No. 9 Iowa City West.
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