Linn-Mar Baseball

Linn-Mar sweeps Waterloo West in MVC twinbill

One squeaker, one laugher.

That was the formula for the Linn-Mar Lions Tuesday night as they swept a Mississippi Valley Conference doubleheader from Waterloo West at the Linn-Mar field.

Clutch hitting gave the Lions a 3-2 win in the opener, then Linn-Mar drubbed the Wahawks in the nightcap, 12-0, in five innings.

Waterloo West scored twice in the top of the seventh to tie the opener, 2-2, but the visitors couldn’t get anyone out in the bottom of the inning. Two walks and a Jeremy Danover single loaded the bases, then Keaton Blackford delivered a single to deep center for the game-winner.

Eric Bohr led the Linn-Mar six-hit attack with two singles and Jordan Stroschein had an RBI double in the first game.

Blackford went the distance for the Lions, striking out four while scattering six hits and not walking anyone.

“I was really disappointed to give up two runs in the top of the seventh, but it felt good to come back and win it in the bottom of the inning," he said. "I have been a little frustrated lately at the plate, so it was good to deliver a key hit for the win."

Zack Fricke picked up three hits in a losing cause for Waterloo West (6-28, 5-19).

“They put some nice hits together in the top of the seventh and I am happy that we responded in the bottom of the inning," Linn-Mar Coach Chad Lechner said.

It was all Linn-Mar in game two. Mitch Stickney led the way, going 2-for-3 with an RBI double in the five-run first inning and a grand slam in the six-run fourth.

“I feel like I am seeing the pitches better right now and I am being more aggressive early in the count,” Stickney said.

Aaron Hunter added two hits. Stroschein and Travis Kvach each drove in a pair. Sophomore Justin Wyant picked up the shutout victory on three hits and six strikeouts in five innings.

Linn-Mar (19-12, 14-10) has its final two conference games Friday at Dubuque Hempstead.

Game 1

WATERLOO WEST (2)
Brown, cf, 3 0 0 0, Vaughn, ss, 3 0 0 0, Fricke, c, 3 1 3 0, Bush, 1b, 3 0 1 0, Jenkins, pr, 0 1 0 0, Stokes, 3b, 2 0 0 1, Kullen, rf, 2 0 1 1, Trebon, dh, 3 0 0 0, Brauer, p, 0 0 0 0, Heyerhoff, 2b, 3 0 1 0, Christensen, lf, 2 0 0 0. Totals 24 2 6 1.

LINN-MAR (3)
Hunter, lf, 3 0 1 0, Larison, ss, 1 1 0 0, Redmond, cf, 3 1 0 0, J.Stroschein, rf, 2 0 1 1, Kvach, pr, 0 1 0 0, Danover, c, 3 0 1 0, Bogert, cr, 0 0 0 0, A. Stroschein, 3b, 2 0 0 0, Blackford, p, 3 0 1 1, Stolley, 1b, 2 0 0 0, Bohr, 2b, 2 0 2 0. Totals 21 3 6 2.

Waterloo West   000 000 2 - 2 6
Linn-Mar            100 100 1 – 3 6

Brauer and Fricke. Blackford and Danover. W - Blackford. L- Brauer. 2B - Fricke, Kullen, J.Stroschein. 3B - Fricke. SB - Larison.

Game 2

WATERLOO WEST (0)
Brown, cf, 3 0 0 0, Vaughn, ss, 2 0 0 0, Fricke, c, 2 0 1 0, Brauer, cr, 0 0 0 0 Bush, 1b, 2 0 1 0, Stokes, 3b, 2 0 0 0, Kullen, rf, 2 0 1 0, Jenkins, dh, 1 0 0 0, Heyerhoff, 2b, 0 0 0 0, Ruffcorn, p, 2 0 0 0, Fisher, p, 0 0 0 0, Christensen, lf, 1 0 0 0. Totals 17 0 3 0.

LINN-MAR (12)
Hunter, lf, 3 2 2 0, Larison, ss, 0 2 0 0, Sillman, ph, 0 0 0 0, Redmond, cf, 3 0 1 0, Johnson, ph, 0 0 0 0, J. Stroschein, rf, 2 2 1 2, Bogert, ph, 1 1 0 0, Danover, c, 1 0 1 0, Kvach, 2b, 2 1 1 2, Blackford, p, 2 0 0 0, Sturenfeldt, 0 2 0 0, Stickney, dh, 3 1 2 5, Wyant, p, 0 0 0 0, Prokop, 3b, 1 1 0 0. Totals 17 12 8 9.

Waterloo West   000 00 -   0 3
Linn-Mar            510 6x – 12 8

Ruffcorn, Fisher (4), Christensen(4) and Fricke. Wyant and Danover. W - Wyant. L - Ruffcorn. 2B - Hunter, Kvach, Stickney. HR - Stickney. SB Hunter, Larison.

Solid Lions sweep City High

Linn-Mar used a recipe of steady pitching, good defense and timely hitting to take a doubleheader from Iowa City High Friday night at Linn-Mar.

The Lions (17-12, 12-10) won the opener, 5-2, and took the nightcap, 4-1.

Jake Stolley provided the steady pitching in the opener. He allowed only two hits, one run and struck out 11 in six innings of work. The 90-degree heat took its toll on Stolley and he was unable to finish. Casey Brown pitched the final inning and surrendered a run.

“Jake’s been a little up and down so far this season, so it was really good to see him come out and pitch such a good game tonight. We needed it,” said Linn-Mar Coach Chad Lechner.

Stolley, Michael Redmond and Aaron Hunter provided the timely hitting.  Each player had two hits and they combined to drive in all four of the Lions' earned runs. Put that together with a clean game in the field and you get a victory.

Brent Hamm had two of City High's three hits.

Hunter stayed hot in the second game, going 3-for-4 with two doubles, a triple and an RBI

“I’ve been working with (assistant) coach (Todd) Lane and I am seeing the ball a lot better right now.  I got lucky with a bunch of fastballs and I was able to drive them.  It’s really good to get some extra-base hits,” said Hunter.

Sophomore Mitch Stickney added a triple and his first varsity home run to the Lions' attack.

Southpaw Nate Greve provided the steady pitching in the second game, allowing only four hits while striking out eight.

“We thought (Greve) had a chance to be good, but not really this soon.  He has pitched some big games for us and it’s only his sophomore season,” said Lechner.

Iowa City (17-14, 10-12) managed just three runs on seven hits.

Linn-Mar has a pair of doubleheaders left to play.  The Lions host Waterloo West on Tuesday and at Dubuque Hempstead on Friday.

GAME 1

IOWA CITY (2)
Hamm, 1b, 4 0 2 2, Crosby, dh, 3 0 0 0, Winegarden, rf, 0 0 0 0,  Prybil, p, 1 0 0 0, Simpson, cr, 0 1 0 0, Alberhasky, ss, 3 0 1 0, Duncan, cf, 1 0 0 0, Mrstik, 3b, 3 0 0 0, Wieland, 2b, 1 0 0 0, Dildine, cr, 0 1 0 0, Stika, c, 3 1 0 0, Hartley, lf, 3 0 0 0,.  Totals 21 2 3 0

LINN-MAR (5)
Hunter, lf, 3 2 2 1, Larison, ss, 2 0 0 0, Redmond, cf, 3 0 2 2, J.Stroscheim, rf, 3 0 0 0, Danover, c, 2 0 0 0, A. Stroscheim, 3b, 1 1 0 0, Blackford, 1b, 2 1 0 0, Prokop, 2b, 3 0 1 0, Stolley, p, 3 0 2 1, Bogert, cr, 0 1 0 0, Brown, p, 0 0 0 0.  Totals 22 5 7 0

Iowa City      000 010 1 -- 2  3
Linn-Mar       102 200 X -- 5  7

Prybil, Wieland (5), and Stika.  Stolley, Brown (7), and Danover.  W - Stolley. L - Prybil. 2B - Hamm, Redmond.  SB - Stika, Hunter.

GAME 2

IOWA CITY (1)
Hamm, p, 4 0 1 0, Crosby, dh, 4 0 1 0, Wieland, 2b, 0 0 0 0,  Prybil, 1b, 4 1 1 0, , Alberhasky, ss, 2 0 1 0, Duncan, cf, 1 0 0 0, Mrstik, 3b, 2 0 0 1, Simpson, lf, 3 0 0 0, Stika, c, 2 0 0 0, Winegarden, rf, 3 0 0 0.  Totals 25 1 4 2

LINN-MAR (4)
Hunter, lf, 4 0 3 1, Larison, ss, 3 0 1 0, Redmond, cf, 2 1 0 0, J.Stroscheim, rf, 3 0 1 0, Danover, c, 3 0 1 0, Prokop, cr, 0 0 0 0,  Greve, p, 3 0 1 0, Blackford, 1b, 2 0 0 0, 0, Stolley, ph, 1 0 0 0, Stickney, dh, 3 2 2 1, A. Stroscheim, 3b, 0 0 0 0, Kvach, 2b, 1 1 0 0.  Totals 25 4 9 0.

Iowa City      000 100 0 -- 1  4
Linn-Mar       020 011 X – 4  9

Hamm, Mrstik (5), and Stika.  Greve and Danover.  W - Greve.  L - Hamm.  2B - Hunter 2.  3B - Hunter, Stickney.  HR - Stickney.  SB - Duncan.

Linn-Mar drops MVC twinbill at Cedar Falls

CEDAR FALLS - Cedar Falls came through with timely hitting to defeat Linn-Mar, 8-6 and 10-5, in a Misssissippi Valley Conference baseball doubleheader at the Robinson-Dresser Complex Wednesday.

With Cedar Falls locked in a 5-5 tie in the opener, J.T. Sole hit a three-run homer in the bottom half of the fifth inning to lift the Tigers. Jacob Gallu preserved the win by retiring Linn-Mar in the seventh.

In the second game, Cedar Falls called up freshman Chris Balthazor to take the mound and he earned his first varsity win. Cedar Falls broke open a tight game with four runs in the bottom of the fifth.

Linn-Mar fell to 15-12 overall and 10-10 in the conference. Cedar Falls jumped to 14-13 overall and 13-7.

Game 1

Linn-Mar    000 050 1 - 6 10 3
Cedar Falls    320 030 x - 8 6 3

Blackford, Johnson (4) and Danover. Kloos, Gallu (7) and Sole. WP - Kloos. LP - Blackford. 2B - Gallu (CF), Zwanziger (CF). HR - Sole (CF).

Game 2

Linn-Mar     001 220 0 - 5 7 1
Cedar Falls  210 340 x - 10 8 5

Wyant, Stroschein (5) and Danover. Balthazor, Gallu (7) and Sole. W - Balthazor. L - Wyant. 2B - Hagarty (CF), Krieger (CF), Sole (CF).

Linn-Mar sweeps Waterloo East in MVC twinbill

WATERLOO - The Linn-Mar Lions lived dangerously Monday but managed to sweep a Mississippi Valley Conference baseball doubleheader at Waterloo East.

The Lions won the first game, 10-3, after falling behind 2-0 in the first inning. They won the nightcap, 13-9, despite trailing 9-4 after two innings.

Jordan Stroschein went 3-for-4 with a triple and drove in three runs for Linn-Mar in the opener. Ben Larison and Austin Stroschein had two hits.

Larison went 4-for-5 in the second game and drove in three runs. Michael Redmond was 2-for-5 with three RBIs. Jordan Stroschein, Jeremy Danover and Travis Kvach had two hits.

Larison went 6-for-9 in the doubleheader with four runs, four RBIs and three stolen bases.

Linn-Mar raised its records to 15-10 overall and 10-8 in the conference. Waterloo East fell to 5-24 and 2-16.

Game 1

LINN-MAR (10)
Hunter, lf, 3 2 1 1, Larison, ss, 4 2 2 1, Redmond, cf, 4 0 0 1, J. Stroschein, rf/p, 4 1 3 3, Danover, c, 4 0 0 0, Sturenfeldt, cr, 0 2 0 0, Greve, dh, 1 0 0 0, Brown, 0 0 0 0, Bogert, rf, 1 1 1 0, Blackford, 1b, 3 1 1 1, Prokop, 2b, 4 1 1 1, A. Stroschein, 3b, 4 0 2 1. Totals 32 10 11 9.

WATERLOO EAST (3)
Frost, lf/p, 3 0 0 0, Wilson, 2b, 2 1 1 0, Rathe, 3b, 2 1 1 0, Sahr, c, 2 0 0 1, Magnuson, ss, 3 1 2 0, Billings, cf, 3 0 1 0, Johnson, rf, 2 0 0 0, Berry, dh, 2 0 1 1, Boehmer, p, 0 0 0 0. Totals 19 3 6 2.

Linn-Mar            012 007 0 – 10 11 0
Waterloo East    200 000 1 – 3 6 3

Brown, J. Stroschein (5) and Danover. Boehmer, Frost (7) and Sahr. W – Brown. L – Boehmer. 2B – Magnuson 2. 3B – J. Stroschein. SB – Hunter, Larison, Wilson, Rathe.

Game 2

LINN-MAR (13)
Hunter, lf, 5 0 1 0, Larison, ss/p, 5 2 4 3, Redmond, cf, 5 1 2 3, J. Stroschein, rf, 5 0 2 1, Danover, c, 4 0 2 0, Sturenfeldt, cr, 0 2 0 0, Kvach, 2b, 3 3 2 0, Stickney, dh, 2 2 1 0, Johnson, p, 0 0 0 0, Prokop, 3b, 0 0 0 0, A. Stroschein, 3b/p, 2 0 1 1, Bogert, cr, 0 1 0 0, Stolley, 1b, 3 1 0 0. Totals 34 13 15 8.

WATERLOO EAST (9)
Frost, lf, 4 1 1 1, Wilson, 2b/p, 2 1 0 0, Rathe, dh, 2 1 1 0, Andreason, p, 0 0 0 0, Sahr, c, 3 1 2 2, Magnuson, ss, 4 0 1 0, Mayer, 1b, 4 0 2 3, Billings, cf/p, 4 0 0 0, Johnson, rf, 2 1 0 0, Boehmer, 3b, 3 0 1 0. Totals 28 9 8 6.

Linn-Mar            042 140 2 – 13 15 2
Waterloo East    360 000 0 –  9   8 5

Johnson, Larison (2), A. Stroschein (3) and Danover. Andreason, Wilson (2), Billings (5) and Sahr. W – A. Stroschein. L – Billings. 2B – Larison, Danover, Sahr, Mayer. HR – Mayer. SB – Larison 2, Kvach, Johnson.