CEDAR RAPIDS — A blowout. An extra-inning thriller.
A double-header split.
Class 4A third-ranked Cedar Rapids Jefferson exploded for 15 hits in a 13-3 laugher in the opener, then Susanne Scieszinski handcuffed the J-Hawks as No. 14 Cedar Rapids Xavier claimed the nightcap, 2-1, in eight innings in a Mississippi Valley Conference softball double-header last night at Bob Erusha Field.
Jim White isn’t a big fan of QuikStats Iowa.
He isn’t wild about the public seeing his team’s statistics on the Internet. And he certainly isn’t crazy about his players viewing them.
“I’m a team-first guy,” said White, head softball coach at Clear Creek Amana. “I’m just kind of concerned about kids being too concerned about their batting averages.”
Here, in a nutshell, is what viewers will find: The Clippers can hit. A lot.
It was getting toward late summer a year ago, and Nick McCool hadn’t received a job offer.
Finally, a call came from Iowa Valley. An elementary PE job. And a varsity head-coaching job.
Just what he wanted. Plus a bonus — the softball team is quite good.
If Jenny Drahozal and Cedar Rapids Xavier are going to advance to state in their first year as a 4A softball school, they'll probably have to get past Cedar Rapids Jefferson in the regional finals. (Photo by Liz Martin)
The Metro is guaranteed a Class 4A team in the state softball tournament next month.
One. And one only.
Iowa City High shortstop Molly Prybil (right) tags out Cedar Rapids Xavier baserunner Kelsey Kuba-Tresnak in a softball game Tuesday at Bob Erusha Field. The Saints swept the MVC double-header, 2-1 and 5-1. (Photo by Liz Martin)
CEDAR RAPIDS — When Tyler Sampson came to the plate at the pivotal moment, one thought ruled her mind:
Don’t strand them.
Instead, she cleared them.
Sampson’s first career home run was a grand slam, a tie-breaking poke to left-center field that completed Class 4A 12th-ranked Cedar Rapids Xavier’s 2-1, 5-1 Mississippi Valley Conference softball sweep of No. 11 Iowa City High Tuesday night at Bob Erusha Field.
The Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union will release its postseason softball pairings Tuesday.
Regionals begins July 8 in Class 1A, July 9 in Class 2A and July 11 in 3A and 4A. Regional finals are July 15 in all classes.
The state tournament is July 20-24 at the Rogers Sports Complex near Fort Dodge.
According to Quik Stats Iowa, Clear Creek Amana’s Ashley Akers and Katy Sexton rank 1-2 in the state in runs scored.
Akers has scored 21 runs, Sexton 20.
Clear Creek Amana's Melissa Walls takes a cut in a scrimmage last week at Oxford. (Photo by Liz Martin)
OXFORD — The most key component to Clear Creek Amana’s offseason softball workouts hasn’t been pitching.
Or hitting. Or fielding.
It has been the constuction of a team. A true team.
EIGHT GAZETTE-AREA TEAMS TO WATCH FOR 2009:
Abby Bedard fields a ground ball during the opening day of softball practice Monday at Cedar Rapids Xavier. (Photo by Jim Slosiarek)
CEDAR RAPIDS — Caitlin Kray’s countdown has reached zero.
“I’ve been counting down the days,” said the all-state outfielder from Cedar Rapids Xavier. “I’m really excited to get going again.”
Prep softball teams across Iowa opened practice Monday. For Xavier Coach Brian Erbe, it was a welcome distraction for a few hours.
