Postseason High School Baseball
Classes 1A and 2A have their semifinal matches set after Class 2A’s quarterfinal contests yesterday. Here’s how things played out.
The bracket started with a barnburner, as #6 Unity Christian and #3 West Lyon combined for 24 runs, but it was the Knights who pulled off the 15-9 upset. Also making the trip to upset city was #7 Durant, as Colby Gast fired a nine strikeout, complete game performance to usurp #2 Roland-Story, 2-1.
On the top half of the bracket, #1 Pleasant Valley shutout #8 Ridge View, 10-0, and #4 Cascade slipped past #5 Beckman Catholic, 2-1. The Class 2A semifinals are scheduled for tomorrow, July 23rd, at 4:30 and 7 pm.
The Class 1A semifinals are scheduled for this evening with #8 Moravia tangling with #5 North Linn at 4:30 pm and #2 South Winneshiek facing off against #3 Newman Catholic at 7 pm.
Classes 3A and 4A were in catch-up mode after Monday’s postponements. The day started early with #4 North Polk outlasting #5 Western Dubuque, 7-6, after 10 innings. The Comets will square off against #1 Wahlert Catholic tonight at 4:30 pm.
#7 Assumption, led by Jack Dilulio’s double and four RBIs, upended #2 Carlisle, 11-1. In more extra innings action, #6 MOC-Floyd Valley defeated #3 Xavier, 4-2. Brooks McCarty struck out nine in seven innings of work. The Knights will meet the Dutchmen tonight at 7 pm.
For Class 4A, #5 Pleasant Valley took down #4 Johnston, 6-4. Gavin Barber slashed a triple for three RBIs in the victory. The Spartans will compete against #1 Sioux City East tomorrow at 4:30 pm after the Black Raiders hung on to beat #8 Iowa City Liberty, 6-5, for their first win in the state tournament since 2013.
#2 Indianola and #7 Southeast Polk will contend at 11 am, while #3 Waukee and #6 Valley will tangle at 1:30 pm to conclude all quarterfinal matchups.
Postseason High School Softball
Some of the semifinal matchups have been set with some teams working their way back after losing their first game of the tournament. Here’s a look at yesterday’s action.
In Class 1A, #8 Edgewood-Colesburg continued their Cinderella run after besting #5 Southeast Warren, 8-5. The Vikings will have to provide the same magic they had in game one as #1 Exira-EHK-Audubon managed to beat #4 West Monona, 11-1, and the Warhawks, 5-4, to work their way back to the semifinals set to be played today at 12:45 pm.
On the bottom half of the bracket, #2 Clarksville narrowly defeated #3 St. Edmond, 5-4. They will await the winner between the Gaels and #6 Remsen St. Mary’s, which is scheduled for 10:30 am today.
Class 2A saw Cardinal’s miraculous run fizzle out, as the Comets fell to #4 Regina Catholic, 6-2, then #1 Grand View Christian, 11-3, in the second chance bracket. The Thunder and Regals will meet today at 12:15 pm in the semifinals.
For the bottom half of the bracket, #3 Wapsie Valley managed to outrun #7 Ridge View, 11-9. The Warriors will await the winner between #6 Logan-Magnolia and the Raptors to be played at 10 am today.
Over in Class 3A, #1 Williamsburg was shocked by #4 Mt. Vernon, losing 5-4, but the Raiders jumped back into the winner’s bracket after taking down #5 PCM, 4-2, in extra innings with Taylor Sanchez launching a home run for three RBIs in the effort. The semifinal game is scheduled for 1 pm today.
#2 Wahlert Catholic strode into the semifinals after handling #6 Van Meter, 7-2. The Bulldogs will attempt to earn a rematch with a game against #3 Albia scheduled for today at 10:45 am.
#8 Burlington managed to advance in the Class 4A bracket after shutting out #5 Winterset, 1-0, but were eliminated by #4 Western Dubuque, falling 5-2. The Grayhounds finished the season with a 27-8 record.
#1 ADM and #4 Western Dubuque will run it back today at 12:30 pm.
On the bottom half of the bracket, #7 North Polk will look for revenge against #2 Carlisle, but will need to best #3 Fort Dodge today at 10:15 am, after the Wildcats beat the host 8-3, with the winner moving on to the semifinals.
Lastly, #1 Waukee Northwest took down #4 Dallas-Center Grimes, 4-1, but will have to beat them again after the Mustangs defeated #5 Cedar Rapids Kennedy, 4-2, in the second chance bracket. The semifinal game is scheduled for 1:15 pm today.
#2 Ankeny Centennial clobbered #6 Southeast Polk, 8-0. The Jaguars will play either #3 Valley, who beat #7 Dowling Catholic 6-5 , or #6 Southeast Polk at 3:30 pm this afternoon after the two duel at 11 am today.
Mt. Pleasant Cross Country
Summer runs are underway for the Mt. Pleasant Cross Country team. These runs are optional but a great way to run with others and get in shape for the fall season. The runs are available to anyone entering 7th through 12th grades. Coaches may not be present at every run, as they are often led by upperclassmen.
On Mondays, the runs will take place at 6:30 am at the Old Threshers Museum Theatre. Wednesdays will be high school speed day at 7 am at Mapleleaf and Tuesdays and Thursdays will take place at Saunders Park by the swimming pool at 7 pm.
The runs will continue through the middle of August until the Mt. Pleasant Cross County camp. If you have any questions, you can contact Coach Lyle Murray at 319-850-0867.
Local Athletic Camps
Mt. Pleasant will be hosting their volleyball camps starting in late July at the high school gym.
The middle school camp for grades 7th and 8th and the high school camp for 9th through 12th graders will run August 3rd through the 5th with the middle school going from 4 to 5:30 pm and the high school to follow from 6 to 8 pm. The cutoff date is tomorrow, July 23rd. All camps will cost $30, cash, per person with the camper getting a t-shirt.
Here is the link to sign up for the camp: Middle and High School Camp Registration
Wapello will be holding a youth football camp for students entering 3rd through 8th grade starting on August 3rd and running through the 6th from 4 to 5:30 pm. The camp will cost $25 and includes a t-shirt. If you have any questions, then email coach Tony Johnson at tony.johnson@wapellocsd.org.
Here’s the link to register: Wapello Football Camp Registration
Prospect League
The Burlington Bees hammered the Springfield Lucky Horseshoes last night, 21-2. Rowan Bergeron led the effort with six RBIs. The Bees will travel to face off against the Quincy Doggy Paddlers tonight at 6:30 pm.
The Clinton LumberKings fell to the Normal CornBelters last night, 10-4. The LumberKings will take on the Illinois Valley Pistol Shrimp tonight in a home doubleheader with game one at 5 pm.
This Day in Sports History
1923 – Washington Senators future Baseball Hall of Fame pitcher Walter Johnson becomes the first to reach the 3,000 career strikeout milestone (enroute to 3,508) with 5 K’s in 3-1 win over Cleveland.
1997 – Greg Maddux threw a complete game with just 78 pitches.
2018 – Seattle basketball guard Sue Bird plays a record 500th WNBA game as the Storm go down 87-74 to the Atlanta Dream; finishes career with 508 games for Seattle.