High School Baseball Rankings: Burlington Notre Dame Ranked 8th after 5 Weeks

By Slaten Swords · Tuesday, June 20th, 2023 at 11:33 am CDT

Prep Baseball- The Iowa High School Baseball Coaches Association released their 5th rankings of the season and southeast Iowa touts one team in the rankings.

In Class 1A, Newman Catholic holds on to the top spot with a 20-2 record followed by Kingsley-Person in 2nd and Remsen-St. Mary’s in 3rd. Lynnville-Sully is the only team in any of the rankings that is still undefeated on the season (18-0). Coming in at the 8th spot is Burlington Notre Dame with a 20-6 record.

The Nikes have had quite an impressive season with their losses coming against ranked opponents. But they have also defeated #5 North Linn, 12-2, and #7 Don Bosco, 8-5. Caden Schwenker leads the team at the plate with a 0.410 batting average, two home runs, and 30 RBIs. Hunter Shipley, Payne Prottsman, and Jaxon Sadler provide a combo on the mound that is hard to beat.

Van Meter is the king in Class 2A with Mid-Prairie right behind them with a 15-6 record. One of the Nikes’ losses comes against #7 Cascade. Anamosa rounds out the top 10. Pleasantville is also receiving votes with a 17-6 record along with West Lyon touting a 14-2 record.

Class 3A has Western Dubuque as the top dog—or cat—with a 22-6 record for the Bobcats. Lewis Central and North Polk follow in the rankings, respectively. Knoxville has just one loss on the season, but that loss occurred against unranked Gilbert, 11-2, thus locking them in the 4th position. Ballard rounds out the top 10. Benton, Bondurant-Farrar, and MOC-Floyd Valley are all receiving votes for the top 10.

Ankeny Centennial is the #1 team in Class 4A with Johnston, last year’s champion, coming into this week’s rankings at #3. Dallas Center-Grimes and Indianola round out the top 10, respectively. Bettendorf is receiving votes with a 15-6 record.

State Fair Livestock Entries Available Online

By Yorke Prough · Tuesday, June 20th, 2023 at 6:18 am CDT

State Fair Livestock Information and Entries Available Online

All 2023 Iowa State Fair 4-H livestock and horticulture entries must be completed online through Fair Entry.  Any 4-H member wishing to exhibit livestock or horticulture at the Iowa State Fair must complete the entry process online by July 1 at https://iowastatefair4hlivestock.fairentry.com .  Help sheets are available for those entries at http://www.extension.iastate.edu/4h/statefair/livestock.   These must be entered by July 1.  Payments are required online through credit card payment at time of registration.

 

Premium books and entry forms are no longer be mailed to exhibitors.  All planning to participate are responsible for reading materials on the State Fair Livestock webpage http://www.extension.iastate.edu/4h/statefair/livestock. Please contact the Washington County Extension Office, 319-653-4811, with questions.

Mark Crooks, Fire Marshal Announces Retirement

By Yorke Prough · Tuesday, June 20th, 2023 at 6:15 am CDT

Retirement is back for another round, this time taking Burlington Fire Marshal, Mark Crooks. He has spent nearly 35 years on the job with dutiful and faithful service to the citizens. June 30th is the selected date and there will be an open house at the Central Fire Station to honor his service to the community. This is from 2pm-4pm at 418 Valley Street, in Burlington. Everyone is welcome to attend.

Sports, June 20th

By Allison Jacobs · Tuesday, June 20th, 2023 at 6:07 am CDT

High School Baseball

Mt. Pleasant split their doubleheader against Fairfield last night as they lost game one 13-0 and won game two 7-6 in dramatic fashion. The Panthers walked it off in the 7th inning on a bases loaded hit by pitch taken by Carter Amos. The Panthers will host Davis County tomorrow, June 21st.

Winfield-Mt. Union will compete against Hillcrest Academy today.

New London will take on Burlington Notre Dame tonight.

Van Buren County put on the rout against Lone Tree last night 25-2. Jackson Manning led the way offensively with one of three home runs hit by the Warriors and the team leading 6 RBIs. The Warriors will host Mediapolis today.

Danville fell to Wapello 7-3. The Bears will travel to take on West Burlington tonight.

Central Lee will take on Washington tonight.

In Southeast conference (SEC) play, Fort Madison fell to Burlington in both games 16-4 in game one and 8-0 in game two. Washington and Keokuk along with Fort Madison and Burlington continue their series on June 22nd.

High School Softball

Mt. Pleasant was swept by Fairfield last night: 16-5 in game one and 12-5 in game two. In game one, the Trojans jumped for six runs in the 2nd and 3rd innings with Lilly Bergren picking up 4 RBIs with a single and double in the innings. A solo home run by Addison Clark stopped the game from ending in a mercy rule. A 2 RBI double by Keagyn Coleman in the 4th inning cut the lead to 12 to 3. Faith Jones followed that up with a 2 RBI single in the 5th inning to up the lead to 14 to 3. Saige Burchett knocked home two runs with a single in the 5th to force one more inning with the Trojans scoring two in the 6th inning then shutting out the Panthers.

In game two, Bergren added 2 more RBIs to her total as the Trojans took a 5 to 0 lead. Nevertheless, Mt. Pleasant was ready as Burchett added 2 RBIs to her own total of 4 on the day and a Jayden Housh RBI single made the score 5 to 3. A sacrifice fly by Ella McNamee brought the game within one in the 4th inning. However, the Trojans brought in Coty Engle for relief and shut down the Panthers while the Trojans jumped for 6 more runs bringing us the final score of 12-5. The Panthers will host Cardinal tomorrow at 7:30 pm with KILJ on the call with pregame at 7:15 pm.

Central Lee will face off against Washington tonight.

New London fell to Highland last night 12-0. The Tigers will take on Holy Trinity Catholic on the road today.

Holy Trinity Catholic took down Hillcrest Academy last night 9-0.

Mediapolis handled Winfield-Mt. Union 15-3 last night. Avery Crear led the Bulldogs with 3 RBIs. Quin Smith and Ella Kann each picked up an RBI for the Wolves with Anna Anderson going 2 for 2 with a run scored. The Wolves will host Hillcrest Academy tonight for their senior night. The Bulldogs will face off against Van Buren County tonight on the road.

Danville lost to Wapello yesterday 13-1. The Bears will face off against West Burlington today on the road.

In SEC games, Burlington defeated Fort Madison in both games: 5-4 in game one and 14-6 in game two. Keokuk fell to Washington in both games 15-0 and 14-4. The series will continue on Thursday, June 22nd.

Mt. Pleasant Cross Country

On Mondays and Wednesdays, runs will begin at the Old Threshers Museum Theatre at 6:30 am.

On Tuesdays and Thursdays, runs will start at 7 pm at Saunders Park by the swimming pool.

The runs will continue throughout the summer until the middle of August. If you have any questions, reach out to Coach Murray at 319-850-0867.

Prospect League

The Burlington Bees got back in the win column against the Jackson Rockabillys 4-1. Jaden Hackbarth, Kooper Schulte, and Coy Sarsfield each picked up an RBI in the game. Aiden McGee picked up the win after 6 innings of work and 8 strikeouts. The Bees will take on the Rockabillys tonight in a rematch.

The Clinton LumberKings lost to the Mill Rats last night 8-4 after Johnstown scored all 8 runs in the 7th inning. Casen Neumann and Paul Schuyler each had an RBI in the losing effort. The LumberKings will face off against the Chillicothe Paints today on the road.

This Day in Sports History

1968 – Jim Hines becomes 1st person to run 100 meters in under 10 seconds.

1978 – First 6 teams of Women’s Pro Basketball League (WBL) is granted-Iowa, New Jersey, Milwaukee, Chicago, Minnesota, and Dayton.

2006 – NBA Finals: Miami Heat beat Dallas Mavericks, 95-92 in Game 6 for first title in franchise history; MVP: Dwyane Wade.

Henry County Fair “Open Class”

By Yorke Prough · Tuesday, June 20th, 2023 at 5:59 am CDT

The Henry County fair is excited to once again host an “open class.” This is open to all Henry County residents – kids, teens, and adults! If you love to garden, bake, can, sew, embroider, crochet, arts and crafts, even photography, you have until Thursday, July 13th to complete your project and drop it off between 8am and 11am. There are many more entry options available, so make sure to visit https://henrycountyiowafair.com/forms/2023FairBook.pdf.  for a full list, and to review the rules and guidelines. Projects will remain on display until 5pm on Sunday, July 16th. Tags and sign ups are available in the ISUEO office for those who want to complete prior to judging day.

Janet Ditzman

By Yorke Prough · Monday, June 19th, 2023 at 4:41 pm CDT

Janet Holterhaus Ditzman, 69, of Burlington, formerly West Point, died Monday, June 19, 2023 at the Southeast Iowa Regional Hospice House, West Burlington. She was born September 14, 1953 at Ft. Madison Sacred Heart Hospital to Raymond Donald and Goldie Belle Anderson McGregor.  She married Warren Blint; they later divorced.  She was then married to Edwin H. Menke and Larry J. Holterhaus who both preceded her in death.  On June 28, 2021 she married Ken Ditzman who survives.

Janet was a 1971 graduate of Ft. Madison High School and worked thirty years for Sheaffer Pen Co.  She loved working with her hands doing crocheting, quilting, crafting, and card making; fishing, gardening, yard work, doing things with her kids, and baking cookies with her sister.  She was a member of Harmony Bible Church and was very active working in the HBC prison ministry in Mt. Pleasant, and loved working with the children’s Christian Bible Study.  She and her husband, Ken, were leaders of a Grief Share group and she was a member of the Optimist Club serving as President and Chairman at the district level.

Survivors include her husband, Ken and grandson Hayden William Ditzman who lived with them in Burlington; one daughter Lori (Mike) Hasenclever of Ft. Madison; one son Michael W. Blint of West Point; five step-daughters; Sandra Houk of Soddy-Daisy Tennessee, Lisa Wingler of Wayne, Michigan, Jessica Brinkman of Dyersville, Dartania Ditzman of Burlington, and Erica Ditzman of Ottumwa; three stepsons; Jon Ditzman of Osco, Illinois, Stephen Ditzman of Bettendorf, and Thaddeus Ditzman of Burlington; seven grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; nineteen step-grandchildren; and one step-great-grandchild; five brothers; David (Charlotte) of New London, Marvin of West Point, Dennis (Cathy) of West Point, Carl (Mary) of Lake Villa, Illinois, and Donald of Burlington; one sister Sandra M. (Bill) Klesner of West Point; nieces, nephews, and a host of friends.  She was preceded in death by her parents; two husbands; one brother Michael McGregor; one grandson Jacob Michael Hasenclever; and one sister-in-law Janet McGregor.

Funeral services for Mrs. Ditzman will be held at 11:00 am Saturday, June 24, 2023 at Harmony Bible Church, Danville, with Pastor Chris Carr officiating.  Burial will be held at Fairview Cemetery, rural Ft. Madison following the service.  Visitation with the family will be from 9:00 until 11:00 Saturday at the church.  In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Harmony Bible Church Missions or Southeast Iowa Regional Hospice House.  Elliott Chapel, New London, is assisting the family with arrangements and online condolences may be left at www.elliottfuneralchapel.com.

Joe Krouse

By Yorke Prough · Monday, June 19th, 2023 at 1:12 pm CDT

Richard Joe Krouse, 73, of Farmington, Iowa, passed away at 4:27 a.m. Monday, June 19, 2023, at Van Buren County Hospital in Keosauqua, Iowa.

Born on January 21, 1950, in Cantril, Iowa, the son of Roy Joseph and Vera Naomi (Cole) Krouse. On May 31, 1970, in Mount Sterling, Iowa he married Susan Cochran.

He is survived by his wife: Susan; children: Rowdy (Amanda) Krouse, Adam (Gena) Krouse and Jennifer (Justin) Phillips; grandchildren: Seth, LyRick, Lucan, Natalie, Lydia, Clayton, Owen and Jakson; sister: Ann Mercer; brothers: Jim (Shirley) Krouse, Donald (Rachel) Krouse and Junior Krouse. Also surviving are several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; grandson: Landon; brother: Jack; sister-in-law: Beverly Krouse and brother-in-law: George Mercer.

Joe was a graduate of Wyaconda High School. He was a United States Army veteran during the Vietnam Era. Joe was a member of the Union Local #125 where he retired from as a pipefitter and welder. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, riding his side by side, gardening and fast pitch softball. Joe especially enjoyed being with his family.

His body has been entrusted to the crematory of Schmitz Funeral Home for cremation.

Services will be held at a later date.

A memorial has been established in his memory and can be mailed to the family at 502 Maiden Lane, Farmington, Iowa 52626.

On-line condolences may be made to the family at www.schmitzfuneralhomes.com. Schmitz Funeral Home of Farmington is assisting the family with arrangements.