Prairie Baseball

Prairie falls at No. 7 Iowa City West

IOWA CITY - The Prairie Hawks faced an uphill battle in their Mississippi Valley Conference baseball game at seventh-ranked Iowa City West Thursday night.

They never reached the top.

Iowa City West scored six runs in the second inning and defeated the Hawks, 9-6.

Prairie scored three runs in the fourth inning and scored two more runs in the seventh, but the Hawks fell short in their comeback bid.

Jason Velvick, Ty Mougin and Tyler Votroubek had two hits apiece for Prairie (13-12, 8-7). Reid Bonner went 3-for-3, hit a home run and drove in three runs for Iowa City West (19-7, 11-4).

PRAIRIE (6)
Velvick, cf, 3 1 2 1, Mougin, ss, 4 1 2 1, Carlson, 2b, 4 0 0 0, Butz, 3b, 3 1 1 1, Votroubek, 1b, 3 2 2 1, Beckman, rf, 4 0 1 1, Pond, c, 3 0 1 0, Alberts, p, 3 0 1 1, Davison, cr, 0 1 0 0, Peters, lf, 3 0 0 0. Totals 30 6 10 6.

IOWA CITY WEST (9)
Reiners 2 2 1 1, Wilson 3 1 1 1, Verry 1 0 0 0, Bonner 3 1 3 3, Doyle 4 0 1 1, Raffensperger 3 0 0 0, Crimmons 3 1 1 0, Baker 3 0 1 0, Adkins 3 2 2 1, Nash 2 1 1 1, Harder 0 1 0 0. Totals 27 9 11 8.

Prairie               010 300 2 - 6 10 0
Iowa City West  160 101 x - 9 11 1

Alberts and Pond; Grimsman, Searls (6) and Baker. W - Grimsman. L - Alberts. 2B - Beckman, Reiners, Crimmons, Bonner. HR - Bonner. SB - Reiners.

Carlson makes pitch for new role at Prairie

The Cedar Rapids Prairie baseball team found a new pitcher Wednesday night. As it turned out, he's been standing just a few feet away as their all-state second baseman.

Brayton Carlson allowed only a scratch single in five innings as the Hawks defeated Davenport West, 11-1, in a six-inning affair at Prairie.

Carlson had an arm injury and did not pitch for the Hawks as a sophomore and junior, and he'd thrown only a single inning in relief this season before getting the start Wednesday.

He walked four batters, hit three others and relied exclusively on his fastball, but he gave Coach Matt Thede a quality start.

"I've been heckling Coach a little bit all year, trying to get me to pitch. And he gave me a chance," said Carlson, who will play at Southeastern Community College in West Burlington next season. "We're a little short on pitching, but mostly it's to see what I can do."

Brennan Hammer, Prairie's No. 1 pitcher, is currently sidelined with a knee injury. Thede decided to give Carlson a shot after the right-hander tossed an inning in relief against Davenport Central last Saturday.

"He looked good in a jayvee situation and he looked good in a closing role against Davenport Central," said Thede. "I wanted him to show me first before I put him out there.

"I think he's better in a closing type of role, but it was a non-conference game and we had nothing to lose right now and everything to gain by adding an extra arm to our staff. He went out and battled."

Carlson has a live arm, but had control issues.

"I have to cut out the walks and the hit-by-pitches and throw more strikes," he said. "But the defense played good and backed me and got me out of a few jams."

Carlson received a Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) injection in the fall of 2009 when he was sophomore to treat an injury to his right elbow. "It's an alternative to Tommy John surgery," he explained.

He was able to play as a sophomore and junior and made all-state last year as a second baseman, but he stayed away from the mound for two straight seasons. "I didn't pitch because my arm was hurting," he said.

Carlson did not feel any pain Wednesday night.

"It feels good right now," he said. "Obviously it's a little tired because I haven't thrown that many pitches in awhile. I had a good time out there pitching."

Prairie played good defense behind Carlson to help him work around the walks and hit batters.

Tyler Butz made a terrific play at third base, back-handing a ball behind the bag and making a strong throw across the diamond for an out. And freshman right fielder Trey Beckman made an excellent running catch in deep right-center to rob a Davenport West batter of an extra-base hit for the second out in the fifth inning.

Carlson was pitching a no-hitter at that point, but Alex Riessen hit a hard grounder between third base and shortstop that glanced off Butz's glove and into left field for a clean single. Butz ranged far to his left for the ball, but couldn't get there in time.

That base hit did not do Davenport West (13-12) any good, because Prairie left fielder Mitchell Peters fielded the ball cleanly and fired a strike to home plate to nail Adam Scheffert trying to score from second base with his team trailing 9-1 to end the inning.

"Credit to our defense for picking him up and making plays behind him when guys got on base," said Thede. "We didn't let him bleed."

Carlson was nicked for an unearned run in the first inning, but that was it. Tyler Votroubek relieved Carlson and pitched a scoreless sixth inning to finish the one-hitter.

Prairie scored twice in the bottom of the sixth on a two-run single by Bryce Alberts to make it 11-1 and end the game by the 10-run mercy rule.

The Hawks (13-11) sent 14 batters to the plate and scored nine runs in the first inning to take command from the start. Dylan Pond collected a two-run single in the inning and Carlson hit a two-run double.

Jason Velvick went 3-for-4 for the Hawks with two doubles and two runs scored. Butz went 2-for-3 and scored twice.

Prairie visits Iowa City West for a single game Thursday night and is scheduled to host the Trojans Friday night.

DAVENPORT WEST (1)
Clark, 2b, 1 1 0 0, Rodriguez, ss, 2 0 0 0, Wiese, 1b, 3 0 0 0, Riessen,cf, 2 0 1 0, Simmons, dh, 2 0 0 0, Dorton, lf, 0 0 0 0, Latham, p, 3 0 0 0, Thiessen, rf, 2 0 0 0, Cannavo, 3b, 1 0 0 0, Hoth, c, 1 0 0 0, Scheffert, cr, 0 0 0 0. Totals 17 1 1 0.

PRAIRIE (11)
Velvick, cf, 4 2 3 0, Mougin, ss, 3 1 1 1, Carlson, p/2b, 3 0 1 2, Butz, 3b/c, 3 2 2 1, Votroubek, 1b/p, 4 2 0 0, Beckman, rf, 3 1 1 0, Alberts, 2b/3b, 3 1 1 3, Pond, c/1b, 3 0 1 2, Davison, cr, 0 1 0 0, Peters, lf, 3 1 1 1. Totals 29 11 11 11.

Davenport West   100 000 -   1   1 3
Prairie                 900 002 - 11 11 2

Latham and Hoth; Carlson, Votroubek (6) and Pond, Butz (6). W - Carlson (1-0). L - Latham. 2B - Velvick 2, Carlson. SB - Carlson.

Puk, Hammer sit as Prairie sweeps Wash

The buzz at Washington High School prior to a pair of Mississippi Valley Conference games against Prairie Monday night was about A.J. Puk and Brennan Hammer, a couple of star players who were not in uniform due to injuries.

Prairie swept the twinbill from the struggling Warriors, 15-5 and 12-0.

Washington star Puk has been sidelined with a broken thumb, but he did manage to go to a showcase event in Minneapolis last week to show the scouts his pitching skills. It was feasible because he's left-handed and the broken thumb is on his right hand.

“I had a good first inning (at the showcase),” said Puk, “but I was a little rusty so I was a little inconsistent.”

“I just feel so disappointed and frustrated for A.J.,” said Washington Coach Tony Lombardi. “I know how hard he works and to be taken down by an injury can be a trying experience.”

The timeline on Puk is three to four more weeks of recovery. He may be able to participate in the substate tournament that begins the second week in July.

Hammer did not play due to a knee injury. He is Prairie's top pitcher and No. 3 hitter in the lineup.

“Brennan hurt himself going after a fly ball on Friday night against Linn-Mar,” explained Prairie Coach Matt Thede. “He’s been to the doctor and is to have an MRI on Wednesday to determine the extent of his injury, so he will not be playing tonight for sure and we don’t know yet about the rest of the season.”

A preliminary medical report indicated Hammer may have suffered structural damage to his knee, but that is unconfirmed at this point.

The Prairie Hawks (12-11, 8-6) cruised in both games, but had to rally in the opener. Trailing 5-3 in the fourth inning, the Hawks scored eight runs to take command and grab the 15-5 victory in six innings.

Tyler Votroubek and Trey Beckman led the way for Prairie with three hits and three RBIs. Mitch Peters also collected three RBIs with two doubles. Trevor Thulin, a graduated eighth grader, picked up two hits for the Warriors (3-21, 0-14).

“It is the first time that I have had two hits in a varsity game, so it was exciting,” said Thulin. “I am getting used to playing varsity, so I guess I’m a little more relaxed.”

The headliner for game two was Connor Steffens, who pitched a one-hit shutout in the five inning contest. The oft-injured Steffens missed much of his sophomore and junior seasons due to arm issues.

“The injuries have been frustrating, so on a night like tonight, it is so good to be able to contribute,” said Steffens. “I just have to throw strikes and let the defense take care of the ball.”

Brayton Carlson, Tyler Butz and Votroubek collected two hits in the nightcap for the Hawks and Butz drove in five runs. Votroubek ended the night with five hits and five RBIs.

“I’ve been in kind of a slump,” said Votroubek, “but the extra time that I have been putting in at the batting cage is beginning to pay off.”

Prairie had lost eight of 11 games before Monday. “We had kind of a slow start last season and at about this time we turned it on,” said Thede. “Now we need to do it again.”

GAME ONE

PRAIRIE (15)
Velvick, cf, 4 1 2 0, Mougin, ss, 1 3 1 2, Carlson, 2b, 5 1 2 0, Butz, 3b, 5 0 1 0, Votroubek, 1b, 5 3 3 3, Beckman lf/p, 4 2 3 3, Wagner, dh, 4 2 1 1, Dean, p, 0 0 0 0, Davison, lf, 0 0 0 0, Schulte, p, 0 0 0 0, Pond, c, 2 0 0 0, Alberts, cr, 0 2 0 0, Peters, rf, 3 1 2 3. Totals 35 15 15 12.

WASHINGTON (5)
Burdt, lf, 4 0 1 1, Dobbs, 3b, 1 1 0 0, N.Dostal, p/ss, 2 2 1 0, Gillis, 1b, 2 1 1 0, G.Dostal, rf, 3 0 0 0, Rings, c, 2 0 0 0, Metzger, cr 0 0 0 0, Troendle, cf, 3 0 0 1, Thulin, 2b, 3 1 2 0, Christensen, ss/p, 2 0 0 0, Hand, p, 1 0 0 0. Totals 22 5 5 2.

Prairie              012 831 - 15 15 2
Washington     212 000 -   5   5 2

Dean, Beckman (4), Schulte (6) and Pond. N.Dostal, Hand (4), Christensen (5) and Rings. W - Dean. L – Dostal. 2B – Beckman 2, Peters 2, Burdt. SB – Carlson, Votroubek 2, Beckman, Alberts.

GAME TWO

PRAIRIE (12)
Velvick, cf, 2 2 0 0, Mougin, ss, 1 3 1 0, Carlson, 2b, 3 3 2 1, Butz, 3b, 4 0 2 5, Votroubek, 1b, 3 2 2 2, Beckman lf, 3 0 0 0, Alberts, dh, 3 0 0 0, Steffens, p, 0 0 0 0, Pond, c, 2 0 1 0, Peters, cr, 0 1 0 0, Schulte, rf, 2 0 0 0, Davison, lf, 1 1 1 1. Totals 24 12 9 9.

WASHINGTON (0)
Burdt, lf, 2 0 0 0, Dobbs, p/3b, 2 0 0 0, N.Dostal, ss, 2 0 0 0, Gillis, 1b, 0 0 0 0, G.Dostal, rf, 2 0 1 0, Metzger, c 2 0 0 0, Troendle, cf/p, 2 0 0 0, Thulin, 2b, 1 0 0 0, Harrington, ph, 1 0 0 0, Rogers, 2b 1 0 0 0. Totals 15 0 1 0.

Prairie          104 25 - 12 9  1
Washington  000 00 -  0  1 4

Steffens and Pond. Dobbs, Troendel (4) and Metzger. W – Steffens. L – Dobbs. 2B- Butz, Votroubek, G.Dostal. SB - Velvick.

Prairie clipped by Davenport Central

DAVENPORT - The Cedar Rapids Prairie baseball team fell below the .500 mark Saturday with a 6-5 loss at Davenport Central.

Tyler Butz went 3-for-3 for the Hawks (10-11) with two RBIs. Brayton Carlson hit a solo home run. Ty Mougin drove in two runs for Prairie, but was charged with two errors.

PRAIRIE (5)
Mougin, ss, 3 1 1 2, Beckman, lf, 4 1 1 0, Carlson, 2b/p, 3 1 1 1, Butz, p, 3b, 3 0 3 2, Votroubek, 1b, 1 0 0 0, Adams, 1b, 1 0 0 0, Hammer, 1b, 1 0 0 0, Schulte, rf, 4 1 1 0, Pond, c, 3 0 0 0, Alberts, 3b/lf, 3 0 1 0, Davison, p, 0 1 0 0, Peters, cf, 1 0 0 0, Velvick, cf, 1 0 0 0. Totals 28
5 8 5.

DAVENPORT CENTRAL (6)
Cartee, ss, 2 1 1 2, Betsworth, lf/3b, 4 0 0 0, Corbin, p, 2 2 0 2, Mampre, c, 4 0 1 1, Light, 1b, 4 0 0 1, Waterman, cf, 3 0 1 0, Pethoud, rf, 3 1 0 0, Hoeksema, 2b, 2 1 1 0, Styvaert, 3b, 0 0 0 0, Burke, lf, 1 1 1 0. Totals 25 6 5 6.

Prairie                   200 111 0 - 5 8 4
Davenport Central  011 400 x - 6 5 3

Butz, Davison (4), Carlson (6) and Pond; Corbin and Mampre. W - Corbin. L - Butz. 2B - Beckman, Alberts, Butz, Mampre, HR - Carlson. SB - Betsworth, Corbin 2.