Prep Softball: Three Local Teams Populate the IGHSAU’s Newest Rankings

By Slaten Swords · Wednesday, May 29th, 2024 at 1:59 pm CDT

Prep Softball- The Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union (IGHSAU) released their second round of rankings for the softball season and the Southeast conference currently tabs two teams in the top 15 and a member of the Southeast Iowa Super Conference made the list.

Class 5A

Only two teams kept their same position from the previous week’s rankings: #4 Muscatine and #14 Sioux City East. The biggest fall was Ankeny Centennial struggling out of the gate and going from #1 to #6 after a 1-2 start. Pleasant Valley is the new top team, while Cedar Rapids Kennedy, Waukee, and Cedar Rapids Jefferson are now ranked 10th, 11th, and 12th, respectively, after previously being unranked.

Class 4A

North Polk continued the trend of the top team losing their spot as the Comets and Norwalk flip-flopped the #1 and #2 positions. Maquoketa was the only team to fall out of the top 15 as Bondurant-Farrar, touting a 6-0 record, jumped up to #13 after previously being unranked.

Burlington stayed put at the #11 slot with a 2-0 start to the season. The Greyhounds had their first four games canceled due to weather, so the conference wins over Keokuk last night by scores of 7-0 and 3-0 got the season rolling. Kylee Hill leads the team with three RBIs and two doubles, while Saydee Plummer dominated in the circle, notching 24 strikeouts in 8.2 innings of work.

Class 3A

Dubuque Wahlert leapfrogged Williamsburg to take the crown, while Assumption’s early slump position them back to #6 after being ranked 3rd last week. Solon jumped four spots to be ranked 7th.

Washington fell back two spots to enter this week ranked 9th with a 4-1 record. Their 7-4 loss to Cardinal is their lone blemish with their offense doing most of the heavy lifting, averaging 11 runs per game. The Demons have four batters hitting 0.500 or better as Rylee Libe has a slash line of 0.833/0.857/1.000. Their pitching staff has a team ERA of just 1.56.

Chariton and West Liberty were knocked out of the top 15, with PCM and West Burlington/Notre Dame filling out the #14 and #15 spots, respectively. The Falcons have relied on their bats to start the season with 33 runs through the first two games, while allowing 13. Logan Kelley is batting 0.750 and slugging 1.375 with a home run and nine RBIs to lead the Falcons.

Class 2A

Van Meter stopped the curse of the #1-seed, but similar to Class 3A Regina Catholic also fell from #3 to #6 in the rankings. Louisa-Muscatine dropped to #13 after being ranked #11 last week. East Marshall experienced one of the biggest falls in the rankings, going from #8 to unranked. Osage was also kicked out of the rankings with Lisbon entering the top 15 at the #12 slot and Durant rounding out the list.

Class 1A

The top six remained unchanged with Martensdale-St. Marys leading the charge with a 3-0 record. Newman Catholic improved to 9th in the rankings after winning their first seven games of the season. Falling out of the top 15 was St. Ansgar and Central City. Akron-Westfield and Calamus-Wheatland entered the top 15 and round out the list at #14 and #15, respectively.

One Subject Suffers Gunshot Wound in Washington County

By Yorke Prough · Wednesday, May 29th, 2024 at 11:25 am CDT

At approximately 12:45 AM on May 29th, the Washington County Communications Center received a report of a disturbance at 2705 Airport Rd., Washington.

It was determined that one subject had suffered a gunshot wound to the abdomen. The subject was transported to the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City by Washington County Ambulance personnel and is in stable condition.

Personnel from Washington EMS, the Washington Police Department, Washington County Conservation, and the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation also assisted the Washington County Sheriff’s Office at the scene.

The incident is under investigation and anyone with any information concerning the incident is urged to contact the Washington County Sheriff’s Office at 319-653-2107.

Polishville Welcoming Consul General Dr. Pawel Zyzak on Sunday

By Yorke Prough · Wednesday, May 29th, 2024 at 8:46 am CDT

The Consul General of the Polish Consulate in Chicago, Dr. Pawel Zyzak, will visit Polishville on Sunday, June 2, from 3:00-4:30 pm. Please join us at the Polishville Community Center to celebrate this very special and unique visit. The center is 10 miles northeast of Fairfield and 5 miles south of Brighton on the graveled 136th Street. Look for signs on Pleasant Plain Road or Germanville Road.

The Consul General will be in southeastern Iowa as part of a tour of Polish heritage communities in Nebraska and Iowa, in order to meet descendants of Poles whose ancestors came to Iowa and Nebraska in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, as well as more recent immigrants from Poland.

The Polish American descendants of the Poles who settled in the Polishville area and Jefferson County are honored that the Polish Consul General has chosen to visit Polishville.

The first Polish settlers in what would later become Polishville arrived in the mid-1850s. Other Poles followed and a Roman Catholic church, St. Mary’s, was built in 1882/83 to accommodate these Polish immigrants, with some Czechs joining them.

From the available data, Polishville was the sole Polish rural settlement in all of Iowa, though Sioux City saw an urban Polish community develop after 1905.

Please join us at the Polishville Community Center on June 2 at 3:00 pm to welcome the Polish Consul General in Chicago, as well as to honor Polishville’s past and to welcome Polishville into a new post-COVID era.

Light refreshments will be served.

Schedule of Events:

3:00-3:15 pm: Opening remarks.

3:15-3:35 pm: Guided tour of Polishville grounds.

3:35-4:15 pm: Comments from Consul Zyzak, questions, discussion/conversation.

4:15-4:30 pm: Photos.

There will be no cost for this event. For any additional information, please  reach out to Konrad Sadkowski, at 319-273-2765.

Sports, May 29th

By Slaten Swords · Wednesday, May 29th, 2024 at 6:30 am CDT

High School Baseball

Mt. Pleasant started conference play with a bang, sweeping Washington 4-1 in game one and 13-12 in a thrilling game two. Zach Newton collected four RBIs between the two games. The Panthers and Demons will face off against one another tomorrow, May 30th, with first pitch at 7:30 pm at Washington. KILJ 105.5 FM, kilj.com, will be on the call with the pregame show at 7:15 pm. 

New London lost to Mediapolis last night 7-1. The Tigers will travel to Lone Tree tonight at 5:30 pm, while the Bulldogs will take on Burlington at 7 pm on the road. 

Van Buren County will travel to Pekin tonight at 5:30 pm. 

Central Lee will take on Burlington Notre Dame tomorrow at 5:30 pm at home. 

Winfield-Mt. Union will take on Burlington Notre Dame tonight at 5:30 pm at home. 

West Burlington will travel to Wapello tonight for first pitch at 5:30 pm. 

High School Softball

Winfield-Mt. Union put up ten runs in the first inning against Pekin last night to run away with the victory 16-0 after three innings. Makiah Lower struck out six, allowed only one hit, and notched two hits at the plate. Josie Nelson ripped a double and a single, while tallying three steals. The Wolves will travel to WACO tomorrow, May 30th, to play at 5:30 pm. 

Mt. Pleasant took on Washington in a doubleheader last night and was swept 13-0 in game one and 13-1 in game two. Colby Greiner tallied six RBIs between the two games as her and Isabella Salazar combined for 12 strikeouts between the two contests. The Panthers will look to enact revenge tomorrow at Washington with first pitch at 7:30 pm. 

Van Buren County will stay on the road to start the season to face off against Pekin tonight at 7 pm. 

Central Lee held a one-run lead in the fifth inning before West Burlington scored 12 runs to win 18-8. Logan Kelley swatted a home run and notched a team leading six RBIs in the win. The Falcons will face off against Wapello tonight at 5:30 pm on the road. 

Central Lee will take on Highland tonight at 7 pm on the road. 

Mediapolis was led by Maddy Carter’s seven strikeout performance last night as the Bulldogs handled New London 13-1. Avery Crear, Delaney Griffith, Avalynn Prall, and Carter each tallied two RBIs in the win. 

Mediapolis will compete against Van Buren County tomorrow at 7 pm on the road. 

New London will take on Holy Trinity Catholic tomorrow at 7 pm at home. 

Holy Trinity Catholic dominated Danville last night, winning 12-0. The Bears will host West Burlington tomorrow at 7 pm. 

High School Soccer

The girls’ state tournament got underway yesterday and their were numerous upsets, including the elimination of a #1-seed.

Starting with Class 1A, the #8-seed Dike-New Hartford’s stingy defense executed the biggest upset of the day, knocking off #1 Assumption 1-0.

The Wolverines will take on Nevada tomorrow, May 30th, at 10 am after the Cubs defeated Hudson 2-1. Joslynn Farmer had seven saves for Nevada. 

In the bottom half of the bracket, Grace Mullihan’s two goals propelled Denver to a 3-1 victory over St. Albert and Zoey Zadalis’ 14 saves helped Treynor upset Bishop Heelan 3-1. The Cardinals and Cyclones will meet up tomorrow at 10:15 am.

Class 2A experienced just one upset with the #7-seed North Scott defeating #2 Waverly-Shell Rock 2-1 as Nora Barnett saved 15 shots. The Lancers will take on Dallas Center-Grimes in the semifinals after the Mustangs defeated Xavier 4-1. 

In the top half of the bracket, North Polk squeaked by Lewis Central 3-2 and Pella took down Iowa City Liberty 4-2 as Abby Warner tabbed a hat trick. The Comets and Dutch will meet up tomorrow at 12:30 pm.

In Class 3A, Waukee Northwest narrowly defeated Ankeny Centennial 3-2 and Valley shutout Linn-Mar 2-0. The Tigers and Wolves will meet up tomorrow at 3 pm.

In the bottom half of the bracket, Bettendorf ran away with the game, hammering Pleasant Valley 7-1 in an upset. Ankeny advanced to the semifinals after winning 3-0 over Waukee yesterday. The Bulldogs and Hawks will play tomorrow at 3:15 pm.

The boys’ state tournament will begin today with Class 3A starting off the day with Des Moines Hoover competing against Indianola.

Southeastern Community College

SCC baseball tried to rally late, but the Blackhawks were eliminated from the NJCAA tournament by East Central Community College yesterday, 2-1. SCC finished the season with a 43-19 record.  

Prospect League

The Burlington Bees and Clinton LumberKings squared off in an exhibition game last night and the LumberKings exited with the victory, 6-5. Jackson Reid and Cedric Dunnwald each tabbed two RBIs for the Bees, while Chase Womack led Clinton with three RBIs.

The Bees will host their opening night tonight against the Alton River Dragons, while the LumberKings will travel to face off against the Springfield Lucky Horseshoes. 

This Day in Sports History

1922 – The US Supreme Court rules organized baseball is a sport and not a business and thus not subject to antitrust laws.

1971 – Indianapolis 500: Defending champion Al Unser Sr. becomes the first and only driver to win the race on his birthday as he led for the final 83 laps.

1977 – Indianapolis 500: A. J. Foyt became the first driver to win the Indy 500 four times. Janet Guthrie also became the first female to qualify and compete in the race.

2nd DUI for 59-Year Old Man on Highway

By Yorke Prough · Wednesday, May 29th, 2024 at 6:24 am CDT

Deputies with the Henry County Sheriff’s Office saw some excitement on Sunday, as multiple arrests were made in separate incidents.

The Sheriff’s Office received a driving complaint from the Louisa County Sheriff’s Office.  The vehicle described was a gray Jeep Wrangler driving all over the roadway towards Henry County.

At approximately 8:06 PM, the Henry County Sheriff’s Office intercepted the vehicle within the 1900-grid of Highway 218 and initiated a traffic stop.  An investigation into the stop identified the driver as, Miguel Jaimes, 59, of Mount Pleasant.

From this incident, Miguel was arrested and charged with Operating While Under the Influence – Second Offense. He also received citations for Open Container and No Valid Driver’s License.

17 Year Old Charged With Theft After Traffic Stop

By Yorke Prough · Wednesday, May 29th, 2024 at 6:22 am CDT

Deputies with the Henry County Sheriff’s Office saw some excitement on Sunday, as multiple arrests were made in separate incidents. At 9:00pm, the Sheriff’s Office received a driving complaint of a grey sedan driving erratically, speeding up and slowing down, and running of the shoulder northbound near mile marker 39 U.S. Highway 218.

A Henry County Deputy located the vehicle, and after checking the license plates, found the vehicle was listed as stolen before 5:00am in Mount Pleasant that day. A traffic stop was performed at mile marker 47 by Henry County Deputies, Mount Pleasant Police Department and Winfield Police Department.

The driver, Trystine Pace, 17, of Wayland was charged with Theft 2nd Degree, Driving Under Suspension, and Failure to Maintain Control. An Operating While Impaired investigation is ongoing for Trystine.

Ashley Knuz, 20, of Mount Pleasant was arrested by Mount Pleasant Police Officers on other charges related to this incident.

Elevated Chances of Warmer Temperatures This Week – Crop Progress and Condition Report

By Yorke Prough · Wednesday, May 29th, 2024 at 6:04 am CDT

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig commented on the Iowa Crop Progress and Condition Report released by the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service. The report is released weekly April through November. Additionally, the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship provides a weather summary each week during this time.

“Our hearts go out to all the Iowans and communities who have been affected by the recent rounds of devastating severe weather. The outpouring of support for those affected highlights the remarkable strength of our state and its people. Iowans are resilient and we will get through this together,” said Secretary Naig. “Planting progresses as conditions allow, but many farmers continue to face delays. Outlooks into the first week of June show elevated chances of warmer temperatures and near-normal rainfall chances, which hopefully will lead to conditions more favorable for field work.”

The weekly report is also available on the USDA’s website at nass.usda.gov.

Crop Report

Severe weather including heavy rains, tornadoes, and derecho conditions limited Iowa farmers to 2.3 days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending May 26, 2024, according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service. Planting corn and soybeans, and cutting hay was limited. Topsoil moisture condition rated 0 percent very short, 3 percent short, 71 percent adequate and 26 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture condition rated 2 percent very short, 9 percent short, 72 percent adequate and 17 percent surplus. Corn planted reached 88 percent. Sixty-six percent of the corn crop has emerged. The first corn condition rating of the season was 1 percent very poor, 4 percent poor, 22 percent fair, 54 good and 19 percent excellent. Seventy-three percent of Iowa’s expected soybean crop has been planted, 10 days behind last year and 3 days behind the normal. Soybeans emerged reached 42 percent, 5 days behind last year. Ninety-five percent of the expected oat crop has emerged. Oats headed reached 31 percent, 6 days ahead of last year and almost 2 weeks ahead of the average. Oat condition improved 5 percentage points to 81 percent good to excellent. Alfalfa hay reached 20 percent complete. Hay condition rated 78 percent good to excellent.  Pasture condition rated 72 percent good to excellent. Reports of flooded fields were received throughout the State.  

Lee County Sheriff’s Office Reports of County Wide Sex Offender Compliance Check Sweep

By Yorke Prough · Tuesday, May 28th, 2024 at 4:26 pm CDT

On May 15th, The Lee County Sheriff’s Office hosted a county wide sex offender compliance check sweep.  The Keokuk Police Department, Fort Madison Police Department, Montrose Police Department, Donnellson/West Point Police Departments, and the Iowa Department of Criminal Investigation (DCI) assisted with this project.

Through coordination with all Lee County law enforcement agencies and DCI, all compliance checks were completed in one day with some follow-up needed.  The Lee County Sheriff’s Office Sex Offender Registry Compliance Officer reported the following stats from the sweep:

(91) registered sex offenders

(2) absconded/wanted, not living in Iowa

(7) incarcerated (6 in the Lee County Jail)

(2) registry violation investigations initiated

(82) residential compliance checks