By: Nathan Bloechl — sports@kilj.com
Prep Softball: Instant Classic Leads to Highland Win:
Highland 1, No. 15 (1A) Winfield-Mount Union 0
It took 14 innings, but Highland scratched the lone run across as the Huskies prevailed for a thrilling 1-0 win over No. 15 (1A) Winfield-Mount Union last night in Winfield.
The game was resumed after being rained out on Friday and Saturday.
Freshman shortstop Sarah Burton had three hits and scored the lone run via pass ball after starting the 14th with a bunt single that turned into a three-bagger after a throwing error.
Payton Brun had two hits for Highland as well.
The real story, however, was the pitching performance from both teams.
Of course the terrific Madie Anderson was dynamite for the Lady Wolves, throwing 14 innings allowing just the one run while striking out 20 hitters.
Grace Batcheller and Jessica Kraus combined for the shutout for Highland.
Batcheller pitched 7.1 innings allowing nine hits while striking out three.
Kraus threw 6.2 without allowing a hit, walking two and striking out six.
The win propelled Highland to tonight’s region final where they’ll meet with No. 4 Lisbon.
Winfield closes their season at 17-6.
No. 14 Regina 8 , No. 3 Louisa-Muscatine 7
Iowa City Regina scratched a run across late in the game as the Regals upset Louisa-Muscatine last night.
The win moves Regina to tonight’s region final where they’ll take on upstart Cardinal.
Kylee Sanders had two hits to pace the Falcons.
Louisa-Muscatine closes their season at 20-9.
Prep Baseball: New London, Danville Win, Other Prep Finals:
Danville 6, Keota 0
Danville pitcher Sawyer Nelson struck out 14 hitters over 6.1 hitless innings as Danville upset Keota yesterday 6-0 in a Class 1A District Quarterfinal.
Nelson gave way to Grifen Molle in the 7th, who recorded the final two outs of the game to preserve the no-no.
Tyler Hartman had two hits including a double and drove in one.
Danville’s win improved the Bears to 6-14, Keota ends their season 15-8.
No. 7 (1A) New London 17, Tri-County 1
New London peppered the score board early and often needing just four innings to rip Tri-County 17-1.
The win advanced the Tigers to tonight’s district semifinal against Danville, a game you can hear on FM 105.5.
New London saw the Trojans score the game’s first run — but slugged back with nine of their own in the bottom of the 1st then six in the bottom of the 2nd.
All told, the Tigers pounded out 14 hits, six of which went for extra bases.
Kooper Schulte homered and drove in four while scoring three runs to ignite the attack, while Tucker Gibbar and Carter Allen each tripled.
Brendan Richey earned the win for New London.
The freshman threw four inning allowing five hits and one earned run while striking out six.
New London improved to 23-1.
Solon 8, Mount Pleasant 2
Solon got the fireworks started early as the Spartans rolled to an 8-2 win over Mount Pleasant last night in a nonconference tune up.
Will Edeker took the loss for Mount Pleasant, allowing five runs, four earned over 1.2 innings.
Jacob Ensminger and Jack Johnson came out of the bullpen to supply quality middle relief.
Carter Amos doubled and drove in one.
Trevor Wellington, Chase Williamson and Colten Hutson all had singles.
Mount Pleasant will now turn their focus to Friday’s 3A District Quarterfinal, where they will take on No. 9 (3A) Fort Madison.
First pitch is set for 7:00 p.m. and you can listen on FM 105.5.
Other area finals last night:
Notre Dame 7, Moravia 3
Mediapolis 8, Louisa-Muscatine 0
Sigourney 11, Winfield-Mount Union 1
Regina 6, West Burlington 2
College Football: UNI Announces Kickoff Times:
UNI football will kick off four of five home games at 4 p.m., the lone exception being the season finale against Western Illinois, which will kick off at 1 p.m.
The kickoff for the season opener against Iowa State was also moved back an hour to 3:30 p.m.
The Panthers open the home schedule with DI newcomer St. Thomas (MN) on Sept. 18 at 4 p.m. before beginning Valley play with Youngstown State on Oct. 2.
The Panthers host South Dakota on Oct. 16 and Southern Illinois on Oct. 30 before closing the regular season at home on Nov. 20 against WIU.
UNI was picked 15th in the FCS in the Athlon Preseason Rankings.
The Panthers return several players that were injured during the spring season along with MVFC Defensive Player of the Year Jared Brinkman.
UNI finished 3-4 during the spring season. Each loss came to a team the advanced to the FCS Playoffs and all four losses came by a combined 15 points.
MLB Draft: Ankeny’s Brecht Stays Solid with Iowa Commitment:
Iowa recruit and Ankeny star Brody Brecht will not renege his commitment to Iowa to turn pro in baseball, the fireballing righty announced yesterday.
Brecht was tabbed by MLB Pipeline as the No. 77 prospect in this year’s draft cycle but did not hear his name called in the first 10 rounds of the Major League Baseball Draft this week.
Taking to social media yesterday, Brecht announced he will remain steadfast in his commitment to Iowa where he will play both football and baseball.
This year Brecht is 7-0 on the bump, punching out 89 in 41.1 innings for the 28-6 Hawks.
He’s expected to compete for snaps early on on the gridiron, where he was a three-star wide receiver recruit.
