Prep Softball: Mount Pleasant Swept, Playoffs Begin in 1A on FM 105.5

By Nathan Bloechl · Tuesday, July 6th, 2021 at 11:57 am CDT

By: Nathan Bloechl — sports@kilj.com

Washington 10, Mount Pleasant 0

Washington 10, Mount Pleasant 0 

The Mount Pleasant softball team was beaten in both ends of a varsity doubleheader yesterday, falling 10-0 in both legs.

In game one Ella McNamee was the losing pitcher.

Jersey Beachy registered a hit.

In game two, Ella McNamee was again the losing pitcher.

She did have two hits as did Beachy.

Grace Kelley went 1-for-2.

Mount Pleasant is now 1-35.

In Class 1A, area teams will begin their playoff push tonight which means the KILJ Tournament Trail kicks off.

Tonight the trail is blazed in New London, where the Tigers (6-22) will open their playoff push against Hillcrest Academy.

The Ravens are 0-22.

The winner will advance to tomorrow’s second round where they will play No. 13 Winfield-Mount Union.

You can listen to New London-Hillcrest Academy on FM 105.5 this evening.

First pitch is set for 7:00 p.m.

College Sports: Two Former Mount Pleasant Standouts Named Heart of America Scholar Athletes

By Nathan Bloechl · Tuesday, July 6th, 2021 at 11:56 am CDT

By: Nathan Bloechl — sports@kilj.com

Des Moines — Two former Mount Pleasant standouts have been named Heart of America Scholar Athletes, the league announced.

Brady Sartorius of men’s basketball and Pat Canby of football were honored.

In order to qualify for the honor, a student-athlete must have a cumulative GPA of 3.40 or higher (on a 4.0 scale) and must have accumulated a minimum of 60 credit hours and completed at least 5 semesters.

Grand View’s men’s basketball team finished 11-12, while the football team finished 7-1.

Sports, Tuesday, July 6th

By Nathan Bloechl · Tuesday, July 6th, 2021 at 11:43 am CDT

By: Nathan Bloechl — sports@kilj.com 

Prep Baseball: Mount Pleasant Splits, New London Holds On, Other Area Finals:

Washington 15, Mount Pleasant 3

Mount Pleasant 10, Washington 0 

The Mount Pleasant split a conference doubleheader yesterday against Washington, losing game one 15-3, while coming back for a 10-0 shutout win in game two.

Will Edeker took the loss in game one. Edeker was snakebit by errors, allowing five runs, none earned over 3.2 innings.

He walked two and struck out five.

Trevor Wellington, Dalton Gardner, Colten Hutson and Zerek Venghaus each had two hit performances.

Carter Amos and Edeker each had an RBI.

In game two, Jacob Ensminger pitched his best game of the year, throwing five shutout frames as the Panthers blanked Washington 10-0.

Ensminger scattered six hits and two walks while striking out three.

Will Edeker was 2-for-2 with a RBI.

Trevor Wellington also had two hits, while Chase Williamson drove in two.

Mount Pleasant moved to 6-20 with the split.

Washington fell to 15-10.

No. 7 (1A) New London 5, BGM 4 

Kooper Schulte had three hits in four trips as Class 1A’s No. 7 ranked New London held on for a 5-4 win over BGM-Brooklyn last night in a nonconference affair.

Hecniel Rodriguez aided the offensive firepower with a home run, driving in three as the New London improved to 20-1.

Camden Kasel also had two hits.

Brendan Richey was the winning pitcher, he tossed five solid frames while striking out four.

Schulte was called upon to protect the one run lead in the 7th and did, earning the save.

The Tigers will hook up with Keota tonight in New London.

West Branch 8, Mediapolis 3 

West Branch scored early and often as they upset Mediapolis 8-3 last night in a nonconference tilt.

West Branch got two hits from Gavin Hiersman and three runs batted in from Brady Knoop.

The Bears improved to 5-22 with the win.

Stats were not made available for Mediapolis.

The Bulldogs fell to 17-9.

Sigourney 16, Winfield-Mount Union 4 

Sigourney took an early lead and never looked back as they rolled to a 16-4 win over Winfield-Mount Union last night.

Cade Molyneaux had a big day at the plate for the Savages, while Bo Schmidt provided the ancillary offense.

The win moved Sigourney to 17-4.

Winfield-Mount Union fell to 2-21.

Other prep finals:

Van Buren County 12, Danville 2

North Mahaska 5, Cardinal 3 

Lone Tree 16, Hillcrest Academy 10 

Keota 3, Highland 2 

Prep Baseball: Final Radio Iowa Baseball Poll Announced:

Class 1A

1. Newman Catholic (28-1)
2. North Linn (28-4)
3. Remsen St. Mary’s (20-3)
4. St. Albert (24-8)
5. Kingsley-Pierson (22-3)
6. Don Bosco (19-4)
7. New London (19-1)
8. Coon Rapids-Bayard (20-8)
9. CAM (Anita) (21-4)
10.Tri-Center (23-1)

Class 2A 

1. Roland-Story (23-5)
2. Van Meter (22-7)
3. Panorama (19-4)
4. Mid-Prairie (16-6)
5. Des Moines Christian (22-6)
6. Underwood (19-3)
7. Estherville Lincoln Central (17-4)
8. Jesup (20-3)
9. Dike-New Hartford (22-6)
10.Dyersville Beckman (16-14)

Class 3A

1. Marion (24-4)
2. Grinnell (24-5)
3. Gilbert (18-7)
4. Solon (22-8)
5. Cedar Rapids Xavier (20-11)
6. Dubuque Wahlert (23-9)
7. Davenport Assumption (19-12)
8. Webster City (20-1)
9. Fort Madison (21-4)
10.Boone (16-9)

Class 4A

1. Pleasant Valley (23-2)
2. Ankeny (23-6)
3. Johnston (27-5)
4. Dowling Catholic (24-6)
5. Sioux City East (29-4)
6. Cedar Rapids Prairie (26-6)
7. Dubuque Hempstead (22-7)
8. Norwalk (26-3)
9. Ottumwa (27-5)
10.Iowa City High (24-10)

Prep Softball: Mount Pleasant Swept, Playoffs Begin in 1A:

Washington 10, Mount Pleasant 0

Washington 10, Mount Pleasant 0 

The Mount Pleasant softball team was beaten in both ends of a varsity doubleheader yesterday, falling 10-0 in both legs.

In game one Ella McNamee was the losing pitcher.

Jersey Beachy registered a hit.

In game two, Ella McNamee was again the losing pitcher.

She did have two hits as did Beachy.

Grace Kelley went 1-for-2.

Mount Pleasant is now 1-35.

In Class 1A, area teams will begin their playoff push tonight which means the KILJ Tournament Trail kicks off.

Tonight the trail is blazed in New London, where the Tigers (6-22) will open their playoff push against Hillcrest Academy.

The Ravens are 0-22.

The winner will advance to tomorrow’s second round where they will play No. 13 Winfield-Mount Union.

You can listen to New London-Hillcrest Academy on FM 105.5 this evening.

First pitch is set for 7:00 p.m.

College Sports: Two Former Mount Pleasant Standouts Named Heart of America Scholar Athletes:

Two former Mount Pleasant standouts have been named Heart of America Scholar Athletes, the league announced.

Brady Sartorius of men’s basketball and Pat Canby of football were honored.

In order to qualify for the honor, a student-athlete must have a cumulative GPA of 3.40 or higher (on a 4.0 scale) and must have accumulated a minimum of 60 credit hours and completed at least 5 semesters.

Grand View’s men’s basketball team finished 11-12, while the football team finished 7-1.

Sports, Satuday, July 3rd

By Nathan Bloechl · Saturday, July 3rd, 2021 at 5:30 am CDT

By: Nathan Bloechl — sports@kilj.com 

Prep Softball: IGCA Announces 2021 All-Stars:

The Iowa Girls’ Coaches Association has released their 2021 All-Stars and two local talents have been selected.

Competing for the Red All-Stars will be Winfield-Mount Union ace Madie Anderson.

Anderson, an Indian Hills recruit, has been dominate and borderline unhittable all season for the Lady Wolves — who enter postseason play ranked No. 13 in Class 1A.

The fireballing right-hander pitched her capstone performance just two nights ago throwing a perfect game against Lone Tree, where she struck out 20 of 21 hitters.

She has pitched every inning for Winfield-Mount Union this year, a true workhorse.

The other area selection is Louisa-Muscatine superstar Kylee Sanders.

Sanders, who will join her older sister on the UNI softball team, has been equally as dominant in her senior campaign.

The left-handed slugger is hitting an almost unthinkable .658 this year with three home runs and 25 runs batted in.

She has seven doubles, five triples and is getting on base at a .716 clip.

Sanders has also taken up the mantle of the club ace.

This year in 11 starts, Sanders is 6-4 with an 0.79 ERA.

The All-Star games will be played July 24th at Waukee High School.

Prep Baseball: Class 1A, 2A Pairings Released:

Area teams now their first round matchups for the upcoming Iowa High School baseball playoffs.

First round action will get underway on Saturday, July 10th.

In Class 1A, District 9, New London is the top-seed.

The 18-0 Tigers will await the winner of Tri-County and Moulton-Udell who are a combined 1-31.

That game will be aired on FM 105.5.

Danville will begin against Keota, while Winfield-Mount Union will get the Savages of Sigourney, who are 14-4.

Last year’s area state qualifier, Notre Dame will open their 2021 postseason on the road against Moravia.

In Class 2A, area teams are competing in District 11.

Mediapolis will begin at home against Louisa-Muscatine on Saturday, July 10th.

Meanwhile West Burlington will play Regina Catholic.

The winner of Mediapolis-Louisa Muscatine will get Williamsburg on July 13th, while the victor of Regina-West Burlington will play top-seeded Mid-Prairie.

In District 12, Central Lee will play Davis County in their first round matchup.

The Hawks are 8-8.

Should they advance they’ll get a second round date with conference foe Van Buren County, who is currently 10-9.

Second round action will be July 13th.t

College Basketball: Iowa State Announces Non-Con Schedule:

Iowa State has announced its men’s basketball nonconference schedule for the 2021-22 season, head coach T.J Otzelberger’s first season leading the program.

The schedule features 10 home games and is highlighted by games against Iowa in the Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Series, Missouri in the Big 12/SEC Challenge and 2021 Elite Eight participant Oregon State.

Otzelberger’s debut comes on Tuesday, Nov. 9 against Kennesaw State at Hilton Coliseum. The Cyclones then host Oregon State on Friday, Nov. 12.

The annual game against Iowa will return to Hilton Coliseum on Thursday, Dec. 9.

College Basketball: Drake To Play in Holiday Hoopsgiving Tournament:

After advancing to to the NCAA Tournament last year, Darian Devries’ Drake Bulldog men’s basketball team will compete in this year’s quadruple header tournament at Atlanta’s State Farm Arena.

The tournament is being dubbed as Holiday Hoopsgiving.

Drake will battle against Clemson with tip time undisclosed as of now.

Other matchups include Auburn-Nebraska, LSU-Georgia Tech and Ole Miss-Western Kentucky.

 

HCHC Readies for 2021 Grant Program

By Nathan Bloechl · Friday, July 2nd, 2021 at 12:05 pm CDT

Mount Pleasant — Henry County Health Center Foundation is pleased to announce its 2021 Grant Program.

The HCHC Foundation seeks to enhance the health and well-being of Henry County individuals and families by generating financial resources to groups and organizations with a specific health related project.

The Foundation will fund projects in six health related priority areas: 1) Science and Technology, 2) Health Education, 3) Health Programming, 4) Workforce Development, 5) Workforce Recruitment and 6) Capacity Building.

Those seeking funds should submit Letters of Intent to HCHC Foundation by August 15, 2021.

Letters of Intent should include organization information, project information and dollar amount requested.

If the Foundation determines the program or project meets eligibility requirements, the applicant will receive an invitation to submit a full grant application.

Full applications will be due September 30, 2021.

Gas Prices Rise Again Says AAA Iowa

By Nathan Bloechl · Friday, July 2nd, 2021 at 12:04 pm CDT

KILJ — Natural gas prices rose 29 cents at the Henry Hub reporting site, Iowa Ag Secretary Mike Naig has announced.

As of Thursday, July 1, the price of regular unleaded gasoline averaged $2.96 across Iowa according to AAA.  Prices were up 7 cents from last week’s price and $.86 higher than one year ago.

The national average on Wednesday was $3.12, up 5 cents from last week’s price.

Retail diesel prices in Iowa were up 4 cents this week with a statewide average of $3.10.

One year ago, diesel prices averaged $2.22 in Iowa.

The current Iowa diesel price is 15 cents less than the national average of $3.25.

Kids Day Announced at Washington County Fair

By Nathan Bloechl · Friday, July 2nd, 2021 at 12:04 pm CDT

KILJ — Kids Day at the Washington County Fair has been selected for July 21st, Washington County Extension Services have announced.

The morning will kick off at 9:30 a.m. with a variety of hands-on activities all over the fairgrounds. All kids, aged pre-school through fifth grade, are welcome to come, learn, and have fun.

Kids attending will have the option to engage with pony rides, assembly of a first aid kit and story time.

The Washington County Fair kicks off July 18th.

Surplus Above Collections Highlights Fiscal Year 2020 Report for Iowa

By Nathan Bloechl · Friday, July 2nd, 2021 at 12:03 pm CDT

KILJ — In the last 12 months, state tax revenue was $1.4 billion above collections in the previous fiscal year.

The state fiscal year ended June 30. According to the Legislative Services Agency, there was an 18.6% increase in state tax revenue during that 12-month period compared to the previous fiscal year.

The state ended the fiscal year on June 30 with a surplus of about half a billion dollars. Last month, as she signed a series of tax cuts into law, Republican Governor Kim Reynolds announced she will be proposing more cuts to personal income taxes next year.

In this just-concluded fiscal year, Iowans paid nearly 17% more in personal income taxes to the state, corporate taxes grew nearly 52% and sales and use tax payments grew by 10.6% compared to Fiscal Year 2020.