Linn-Mar Baseball

Linn-Mar earns exciting split at Wahlert

DUBUQUE - Jake Stolley saved the Linn-Mar Lions in the second game of their Mississippi Valley Conference doubleheader at Dubuque Wahlert on Friday.

Stolley recorded the final out of the game on a strikeout with the bases loaded as the Lions trimmed Wahlert, 7-5, to salvage a split of their twinbill.

Wahlert won the first game, 9-6.

Linn-Mar Coach Chad Lechner used five pitchers in the nightcap before Stolley got the crucial out for the Lions (12-9, 7-7).

Jordan Stroschein hit a two-run homer for Linn-Mar in the top of the sixth inning of the nightcap to snap a 4-4 tie. Ben Larison scored three runs in the victory and Michael Redmond went 2-for-2 with two runs.

Larison went 3-for-4 with two runs and two RBIs in the opener. Redmond was 2-for-2 with two RBIs and Jeremy Danover was 2-for-3.

Wahlert, which is ranked No.3 in Class 3A, fell to 21-5 overall and 13-3 in the conference.

Linn-Mar hosts Kennedy in a makeup doubleheader Saturday at 11 a.m.

Lions top Warriors in suspended game, 8-4

It took 11 days, but the Linn-Mar Lions finally beat the Washington Warriors in a prep baseball game.

The game began on June 10, but was suspended in the top of the second inning due to rain, lightning and wet grounds with Linn-Mar holding a 5-0 lead.

They picked up Tuesday where they left off 11 days ago and the Lions posted an 8-4 victory in the Mississippi Valley Conference game at Washington.

Jeremy Danover slugged a solo homer Tuesday off the scoreboard in left-center field, giving the Lions a 6-1 lead in the top of the third inning.

Washington pulled within 6-4 in the fifth inning, but the Lions scored runs in the sixth and seventh innings to secure the victory.

Michael Redmond went 2-for-4 for Linn-Mar (11-8, 6-6) with three RBIs. Aaron Hunter was 2-for-3 and scored twice.

Justin Wyant, who was Linn-Mar's starting pitcher when the game began 11 days ago, was back on the mound Tuesday when the game resumed. He pitched a total of four innings and got the victory.

Jordy Brown and A.J. Puk had two hits for Washington (8-12, 3-9).

In a statistical oddity, Dakota Freese officially played for Washington on Tuesday even though he has left the squad to play for a travel team in Chicago. Freese was in the starting lineup for the Warriors when the game began June 10 but never came to bat. Robert Hogg took his spot in the batting order Tuesday.

LINN-MAR (8)
Hunter, lf, 3 2 2 1, Larison, ss, 4 0 1 1, Redmond, cf, 4 0 2 3, J.Stroschein, 1b, 2 1 1 0, Danover, c, 4 1 1 1, A.Stroschein, 3b, 3 1 1 1, Stickney, dh, 4 0 0 0, Wyant, p, 0 0 0 0, Stolley, p, 0 0 0 0, Greve, p, 0 0 0 0, Prokop, 2b, 4 1 1 0, Blackford, 1b, 1 2 1 0. Totals 29 8 10 7.

WASHINGTON (4)
Brown, lf/p, 4 2 2 1, N. Dostal, 3b/2b, 3 0 0 1, White, ss, 3 0 0 0, Puk, p/1b, 3 1 2 1, Kacena, c, 3 0 0 0, Freese, dh, 0 0 0 0, Hogg, rf/lf, 3 0 0 0, G. Dostal, 1b/rf, 2 0 1 0, Rhatigan, ph/3b, 1 0 0 0, Zingula, 2b, 3 0 1 1, Troendle, cf, 3 1 1 0. Totals 28 4 7 4.

Linn-Mar        141 001 1 - 8 10 3
Washington   012 010 0 - 4   7 0

Wyant, Stolley (5), Greve (7) and Danover. Puk, Brown (2), Zingula (7) and Kacena. W - Wyant. L - Puk. 2B - J. Stroschein, A. Stroschein, Prokop, Brown. HR - Danover. SB - Hunter, Redmond 2, J. Stroschein, A. Stroschein.

Carlson is 'Iron Hawk' as Prairie sweeps Linn-Mar

Dustin Carlson probably didn't need any lullabies to fall asleep Friday night after Cedar Rapids Prairie swept a doubleheader from the Linn-Mar Lions at Prairie.

Carlson pitched the first five innings of the opener, then caught the final two frames as the Hawks collected a 5-4 victory.

He took some nourishment between games of the twinbill, then caught all seven innings of the nightcap as the Hawks posted an 8-7 victory in a sloppy affair.

All that came 24 hours after he caught both ends of a doubleheader against Dubuque Wahlert Thursday night.

His secret?

"I guess getting a lot of sleep the next night and eating healthy," he said. "I've been doing a lot of yoga, too. It kind of helps."

The Iron Hawk helped Prairie square its records at 9-9 overall and 6-6 in the Mississippi Valley Conference. Linn-Mar fell to 10-8 overall and 5-6 in the league.

Carlson said his arm feels fine, and he was still firing rockets to second base in the final stages of Game 2.

"It's just my legs that get tired. No, my arm is fine," he said.

Prairie Coach Matt Thede said he's not worried about Carlson getting worn out this season as a pitcher and catcher.

"He's a competitor," Thede said. "I did the same thing when I was in high school. I think a lot of people shy away from that - pitching and catching.

"I loved to compete, and I loved to have that ball in my hands. He does too," Thede said. "He's exactly like I was and I see no problem with him. He's got a rubber arm."

Carlson was touched for a three-run homer by Jordan Stroschein in the top of the first inning of the opener, but he settled down and allowed only one more run in five innings.

Ty Mougin snapped a 4-4 tie in the bottom of the fourth with an RBI double, giving the Hawks a 5-4 advantage and making Carlson the winning pitcher. Brennan Hammer tossed two scoreless innings for Prairie to get the save in Game 1.

The Hawks carried an 8-2 lead into the top of the seventh inning of the nightcap, then had to hold their breath as Linn-Mar scored five runs and had the bases loaded with two outs. Hammer, pitching in relief again, got the final out on a comebacker after a shaky inning that included four hits, three walks and his own throwing error.

Linn-Mar committed 10 errors in the doubleheader - five in each game - and paid the price. Prairie committed five errors in the nightcap and survived. Barely.

"It was quite nerve-wracking," Thede remarked.

Anthony Gagliardi struck out 11 batters in 5 2/3 innings for Prairie in the second game with a swift fastball and nasty curve. He allowed two runs on six hits.

Prairie hosts Davenport Central Saturday at 3 p.m.

Game 1

LINN-MAR (4)
Hunter, cf, 4 0 1 1, Prokop, 2b, 2 1 0 0, Larison, ss, 4 1 2 0, J. Stroschein, rf, 3 1 1 3, Danover, c, 2 0 0 0, Kvach, ph, 1 0 0 0, A. Stroschein, 3b, 3 0 0 0, Blackford, p, 2 0 1 0, Kvach, cr, 0 1 0 0, Greve, p, 0 0 0 0, Bogert, lf, 3 0 2 0, Stolley, 1b, 2 0 1 0, Sturenfeldt, pr, 0 0 0 0. Totals 26 4 8 4.

PRAIRIE (5)
Mougin, ss, 4 0 2 1, Hammer, dh/p, 2 1 0 0, Meyer, c, 0 0 0 0, Utley, 1b, 4 1 1 0, Gagliardi, rf, 4 0 0 0, B.Carlson, 2b, 3 1 2 1, Butz, 3b, 4 1 1 0, D. Carlson, p/c, 4 0 0 0, Allard, cr, 0 0 0 0, Joens, cf, 3 0 1 1, Boots, lf, 3 1 1 0. Totals 31 5 8 3.

Linn-Mar    300 100 0 - 4 8 5
Prairie       103 010 x - 5 8 0

Blackford, Greve (5) and Danover. D.Carlson, Hammer (6) and Meyer, D.Carlson (6). W - D. Carlson. L - Greve. S - Hammer. 2B - Bogert, Mougin. HR - J. Stroschein. SB - Gagliardi, B.Carlson.

Game 2

LINN-MAR (7)
Hunter, cf, 4 1 1 1, Prokup, dh/2b/3b, 5 0 1 1, Wyant, p, 0 0 0 0, Larison, ss/p, 5 1 3 2, J. Stroschein, rf, 3 2 2 0, Blackford, 1b, 4 0 0 0, A. Stroschein, 3b, 4 0 0 1, Sturenfeldt, pr, 0 1 0 0, Stickney, lf, 4 0 1 1, Bohr, 2b, 2 0 0 0, Stolley, p, 1 0 0 0, Kvach, 2b, 1 1 1 0, Sillman, c, 1 0 0 0, Danover, c, 1 0 1 0, Bogert, ph, 0 1 0 0. Totals 35 7 10 6.

PRAIRIE (8)
Whitters, dh, 3 0 0 0, Allard, lf, 0 0 0 0, Mougin, ss, 4 1 1 1, Utley, 1b, 3 1 1 0, Gagliardi, p, 3 1 0 0, Hammer, p, 0 1 0 0, B.Carlson, 2b, 2 3 1 1, Butz, 3b, 2 0 1 0, D.Carlson, c, 2 0 1 2, Alberts, cf, 0 0 0 0, Pond, ph, 1 0 0 0, Joens, cf, 3 0 0 0, Boots, rf, 1 1 0 0. Totals 24 8 5 4.

Linn-Mar   002 000 5 - 7 10 5
Prairie    301 004 x - 8 5 5

Wyant, Stolley (5), Larison (6) and Sillman, Danover (5). Gagliardi, Hammer (6) and D. Carlson. W - Gagliardi. L - Wyant. S - Hammer. 2B - Kvach, Butz. 3B - B.Carlson. SB - Larison, Stolley, Danover, Utley, Gagliardi, B.Carlson 3, D.Carlson, Boots.

Lions hunt down a win against J-Hawks

Aaron Hunter was the right guy at the right time for Linn-Mar on Thursday night.

Hunter's bases-loaded double in the top of the sixth inning plated two runs, erased a one-run deficit and sent the Lions past Jefferson, 5-3, at the J-Hawks baseball field.

The win was the third of the week for Linn-Mar (10-6) against the J-Hawks (5-11). The Lions swept a Mississippi Valley Conference doubleheader from Jefferson, 3-1 and 8-7 in 10 innings, Monday at Linn-Mar. Thursday's game was a nonconference tilt set up because both teams had a pair of games rained out in the season-opening Bob Vrbicek Metro Tournament.

Hunter said the intensity may not have been at the same level as the conference games, but getting a win was still important.

"It affects (the intensity) a little bit, but we still have to get the win to get points for seeding at substate," said Hunter, a senior outfielder. "Every point makes a difference."

Linn-Mar picked up four points for the win. The points decide the seedings for next month's substate tournaments.

"We treated it like any other nonconference game," Linn-Mar Coach Chad Lechner said. "We didn't want to put any more pressure on it. We just wanted to come out and see what happened."

Linn-Mar trailed 3-2 in the top of the sixth inning when Christian Knox came on in relief for the J-Hawks. A hit batsman, walk, sacrifice bunt, and walk loaded the bases for Hunter, the Lions' leadoff batter. He fell behind in the count, no balls and two strikes, then got a curveball that hung over the middle of the plate. He smoked it over the head of Jefferson left fielder Jake Schmidt.

"I'm thinking I got to protect the plate. Anything close and I just have to get good barrel on the ball," Hunter said. "They'd been throwing me a lot of curveballs, so I was looking off-speed and I got it.

"We're getting a lot of good pitching and we're doing enough at the plate to get wins."

Linn-Mar had seven hits to 11 for the J-Hawks. Five of Linn-Mar's hits were for extra bases. Jordan Stroschein had a pair of doubles and an RBI, and Ben Larison and Jeremy Danover hit solo home runs.

The Lions also got some clutch pitching from starter Nate Johnson and reliever Casey Brown. Johnson worked three batters into the fifth inning and was lifted after surrendering an RBI single to Alex Larson that tied the game. Brown came on and gave up an RBI double to Jordan McCormick that put the J-Hawks ahead, 3-2. He got a huge lift when the next batter, Drew Striegel hit a fly ball to medium center field and Larson, tagging up at third base, was thrown out at the plate.

"I thought Nate Johnson Casey Brown did a nice job on the mound," Lechner said. "That was the key tonight, to keep their bats under control because they can come out at any time and score 10 runs in a hurry. I thought those guys did a nice job keeping us in the game."

The loss was Jefferson's fourth straight and seventh in eight games. Four of the losses have been by two runs or less.

"I know we really wanted that one because of what happened on Monday," said McCormick, who pitched the first five innings for the J-Hawks and allowed five hits and two runs. McCormick also had two hits and drove in two runs. "I think we're starting to hit. We had 11 hits tonight. That's good to see.

"We just have to keep playing hard, stay after practice and take extra cuts, and cut down on our errors."

Jefferson hosts Dubuque Wahlert in a doubleheader Friday. The Golden Eagles went in to Thursday night's doubleheader at Prairie tied with Kennedy for the top spot in the Mississippi Division.

"We have to do the little things right for seven innings," Jefferson Coach Mike Kuba said. "We have to execute flawlessly. We have to have our pitchers come in and keep the ball down low because they are a power-hitting team."

Linn-Mar plays a doubleheader at Prairie on Friday.

Jefferson won the JV game, 8-6.

LINN-MAR (5)
Aaron Hunter, lf-cf, 5 0 1 2, Ben Larison, ss, 3 2 2 1, Michael Redmond, cf, 1 0 0 0, Kevin Bogert, lf-rf, 3 0 1 0, Jordan Stroschein, rf-p, 4 0 2 1, Jeremy Danover, c, 4 1 1 1, Ryan Sturenfeldt, cr, 0 0 0 0, Corey Prokop, 3b, 2 1 0 0, Keaton Blackford, dh, 2 1 0 0, Nate Johnson, p, 0 0 0 0, Casey Brown, p, 0 0 0 0, Mitch Stickney, lf, 0 0 0 0, Travis Kvach, 2b, 1 0 0 0, Jake Stolley, 1b, 2 0 0 0. Totals 27 5 7 5.

JEFFERSON (3)
Tanner Unkel, 2b, 3 2 2 0, Michael Rooney, cf, 4 1 2 0, Alex Larson, 3b, 4 0 2 1, Jordan McCormick, p-1b, 4 0 2 2, Drake Vanous, cr, 0 0 0 0, Drew Striegel, c, 3 0 1 0, Jordan Dee, 1b, 3 0 1 0, Christian Knox, p, 0 0 0 0, Colten Jourdan, p, 0 0 0 0, Bailey Hollingsworth, rf, 3 0 0 0, Jake Schmidt, lf, 3 0 1 0, Ky Kramer, ss, 3 0 0 0. Totals 30 3 11 3.

Linn-Mar     100 012 1 - 5   7 2
Jefferson    001 020 0 - 3 11 1

Johnson, Brown (5), J.Stroschein (7) and Danover. McCormick, Knox (6), Jourdan (6) and Striegel. W-Brown. L-Knox. Sv-J.Stroschein. 2B-Hunter, J.Stroschein 2, Unkel, McCormick, Striegel. HR-Larison, Danover.