Postseason High School Baseball
Class 1A held their semifinal games last night and the top teams continued to fall at Merchants Park with a pair of upsets.
To start the evening, #8 Moravia used a four-run 3rd inning to take down #4 North Linn, 5-2. Blake Ewing struck out four in two innings of work and slashed a double for an RBI in the winning effort.
Meeting the Mohawks in the finals will be #3 Newman Catholic after outpacing #2 South Winneshiek in the nightcap, 10-6. The Class 1A championship is scheduled for tomorrow, July 24th, at noon.
The Class 2A semifinals are scheduled for today with #1 Pleasant Valley taking on #4 Cascade at 4:30 pm and #6 Unity Christian facing off against #7 Durant at 7 pm.
Classes 3A and 4A finally got caught back up with the Class 3A championship game determined and Class 4A’s semifinals set for today.
In Class 3A, #1 Wahlert Catholic was able to walk-off #4 North Polk yesterday for a 3-2 victory. Quinn Flanagan went the distance on the mound, tallying nine strikeouts for the Golden Eagles.
#7 Assumption is looking to add on to their state best 11 state championships after bumping off #6 MOC-Floyd Valley, 5-1. Eli Egger knocked two doubles, while Greyson Ballinger fanned seven in five innings. The Knights will take on Wahlert Catholic tomorrow at 5 pm for the championship.
For Class 4A, #2 Indinola handled #7 Southeast Polk in their quarterfinal matchup, 8-1. George Blake picked up the complete game, as he struck out five from the bump.
#6 Valley defeated #3 Waukee, 2-1, behind Ryan Stedman’s nine strikeouts in a complete game two-hitter. Indianola and Valley will meet tonight at 7 pm in the semifinals with #1 Sioux City East and #5 Pleasant Valley to play at 4:30 pm.
Postseason High School Softball
We got to see the double-elimination bracket in action yesterday, as teams eyed revenge and championship matchups were set.
In Class 1A, #1 Exira-EHK-Audubon worked their way back into the winner’s bracket after narrowly passing #5 Southeast Warren, 5-4, but #8 Edgewood-Colesburg again slammed the door on the Spartans, winning 5-0. On the bottom half of the bracket, #3 St. Edmond got their rematch with #2 Clarksville, winning 13-12, but in a winner-takes-all showdown, Clarksville answered back with a 6-5 victory to eliminate the Gaels.
The Class 1A championship is scheduled for tomorrow, July 24th, at 2:30 pm between #2 Clarksville and #8 Edgewood-Colesburg.
In Class 2A, #1 Grand View Christian has redeemed their quarterfinal loss by taking down Regina Catholic twice in the semifinals, 11-8 and 4-2, to punch their ticket to the Class 2A title game. The Thunder will clash with #3 Wapsie Valley at 5 pm tonight for the championship after the Warriors handled #6 Logan-Magnolia, 5-1.
For Class 3A, #1 Williamsburg’s four-peat is still alive after sweeping #4 Mt. Vernon, 6-0 and 9-1, in their semifinal rematch. Taylor Sanchez grabbed five RBIs between the two games. On the bottom half of the bracket, #2 Wahlert Catholic soared past #6 Van Meter, 13-3, to advance to the championship game scheduled for 5 pm tomorrow.
#1 ADM has kept their path in the Class 4A bracket clean after shutting out #4 Western Dubuque, 7-0. #3 Fort Dodge knocked off #2 Carlisle, 7-3, but #2 Carlisle answered back with a 2-0 win over the Dodgers to advance to the championship match set for 7:30 pm tonight.
Lastly, #1 Waukee Northwest shutout #4 Dallas Center-Grimes, 4-0, and #2 Ankeny Centennial clobbered #6 Southeast Polk, 10-3, to set up the Class 5A championship game scheduled for 7:30 pm tomorrow night.
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 today. 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
New London will host their youth football camp from August 3rd through the 5th from 5 to 7 pm at the high school football field for 1st through 6th graders. The camp is free and participants can sign-up for a t-shirt on the first day of the camp.
Southeastern Community College
The Blackhawks have a new head wrestling coach, hiring Kolton Kersten to lead the burgeoning program. Kersten has been assistant coach at Iowa Central Community College the past three years with stints at Midland University and Northwestern College. Kersten earned All-America honors during his collegiate wrestling career at Midland University.
“It is clear he has a vision for where he wants this program to go,” said John McVey, athletic director. “He’s competitive, disciplined, and understands that building a successful program starts with developing the right habits every day.”
Kersten said his priority is building a program that challenges student-athletes to grow both as wrestlers and as people. As head coach, Kersten will oversee all aspects of the wrestling program, including recruiting, practice planning, competition strategy, player development, and academic success.
Prospect League
The Burlington Bees held off a late rally by the Quincy Doggy Paddlers last night, winning 7-6. Juan Fernandez led the effort with three RBIs. The Bees will travel to play the Clinton LumberKings tonight at 6:30 pm.
The LumberKings swept the Illinois Valley Pistol Shrimp last night, 11-5 and 7-2, in a home doubleheader. Gavin Awbrey slammed two home runs for four RBIs between the two games.
This Day in Sports History
1866 – Cincinnati Baseball club, also known as the Cincinnati Red Stockings, forms.
1931 – France announces it can’t afford to send a team to the 1932 Los Angeles Olympics due to the Great Depression. They eventually manage to send a team.
2009 – Mark Buehrle of the Chicago White Sox becomes the 18th pitcher to throw a perfect game in MLB history, defeating the Tampa Bay Rays 5-0.