Prairie Baseball

Appleget shines as Cougars claim Metro title

Nick Appleget left Veterans Memorial Stadium Wednesday night with bags of ice taped to his left elbow and right shoulder, but that's nothing.

His whole body has taken a beaten during his career at Cedar Rapids Kennedy. He's had three operations on his left knee, including two for torn ACLs and one for a torn meniscus.

"All in three years," he said. "I haven't missed a baseball season yet, though. I had to give up all the other sports, so I'm banking on this one. It's the only one I've got left."

Appleget began his final prep baseball season in grand style Wednesday in the championship game of the Bob Vrbicek Metro Tournament, despite getting plunked by a pitch on his left elbow that caused numbness and left a nice little bump.

Appleget carried a no-hitter into the sixth inning as the top-ranked Cougars thumped Prairie, 9-0, to win their third straight Metro title and seventh in the last 12 years.

Jason Velvick lined a clean single to right field with two outs in the top of the sixth inning to end the no-hitter, but by then the Cougars were sitting on a fat 8-0 lead. Appleget got the final out in the sixth and retired for the night with nine strikeouts, one walk and one hit.

Zach Johnson pitched a 1-2-3 inning in the seventh with two more strikeouts, giving the Kennedy pitchers 11 for the contest.

Until recently, Appleget wasn't sure if he'd be able to pitch in the Metro tournament due to soreness in his knee.

"I've had a rough past week with my knee. I couldn't walk up the stairs last week. My bad left knee," he said ruefully.

He's also had "issues" with his right elbow this year, but looked good and felt good against the Prairie Hawks. He threw his low-80's fastball and curveball for strikes and needed only 67 pitches in six innings.

Appleget had a tough act to follow in the Metro tournament after Alex Hayden and Adam Lloyd pitched exceptional games in the first two rounds for Kennedy. Hayden struck out 14 batters and allowed only two hits in 6.1 innings when the Cougars blanked Washington 4-0 in the first round, then Lloyd allowed only two hits in a five-inning 12-2 verdict over Linn-Mar in the semifinals.

"These three seniors have been terrific," said Kennedy Coach Bret Hoyer.

Kennedy pitchers have struck out 27 batters in 19 innings this season. They've allowed only five hits, six walks and two runs (one earned). The team earned run average is a miniscule 0.37 so far.

"They're throwing good and they're hitting their spots and keeping hitters off-balance," said Kennedy catcher Chico Lizarraga, who has been a rock behind the plate. "It's fun. The umpire loves it, too, because they just throw strike after strike after strike."

Kennedy assistant coach Jake Waddle calls the pitches, Lizarraga flashes the signs and the pitchers deliver. "I think they have a high degree of confidence and comfort in Chico Lizarraga as their catcher and coach Waddle calling pitches," noted Hoyer.

The antipated showdown between the No. 1 Cougars and No. 9 Prairie Hawks got out of hand early. Kennedy scored seven unearned runs in the second inning thanks to two infield errors, three walks, a hit batter (Appleget) and a two-run single by Cody Bell against Prairie junior Mitch Adams.

Appleget kept mowing them down as the game went along, and the only question was whether the Hawks would get a base hit before it ended.

This will be Appleget's final season of organized baseball. He plans to enroll at the University of Northern Iowa and major in graphic arts and design. He's already won awards in those areas and is looking forward to college.

"No baseball," he said. "I'm giving my body a break. I love the game, but I'm not ready to have a knee replacement."

PRAIRIE (0)
Velvick, cf, 3 0 1 0, Hammer, 1b, 2 0 0 0, Carlson, 2b, 2 0 0 0, Steffens, ph, 1 0 0 0, Butz, 3b, 2 0 0 0, Swanson, ph, 1 0 0 0, Votroubek, dh/p, 2 0 0 0, Adams, p, 0 0 0 0, Henry, ph, 1 0 0 0, Alberts, lf, 2 0 0 0, Peters, rf, 2 0 0 0, Pond, c, 2 0 0 0, Mougin, ss, 2 0 0 0. Totals 22 0 1 0.

KENNEDY (9)
Jahlas, cf, 3 1 1 0, Ambrosy, rf, 4 1 1 1, Bell, 1b, 3 1 2 3, Devon Jacobus, 2b, 1 1 0 0, Appleget, p, 2 0 0 1, A. Johnson, cr, 0 0 0 0, Oltmann, ph, 1 0 0 0, Z. Johnson, p, 0 0 0 0, Derek Jacobus, ss, 2 2 2 1, Maiers, dh, 3 0 0 0, Hayden, lf, 0 0 0 0, Skow, 3b, 3 1 1 1, Lizarraga, c, 3 2 2 1, Lloyd, cr, 0 0 0 0, Jurgensen, ph, 1 0 0 0. Totals 26 9 9 8.

Prairie        000 000 0 - 0 1 2
Kennedy    071 001 x - 9 9 0

Adams, Votroubek (3) and Pond. Appleget, Z. Johnson (7) and Lizarraga. W - Appleget. L - Adams. 2B - Derek Jacobus. SB - Derek Jacobus.

Prairie drops the Hammer on Xavier

In the first couple innings of Tuesday’s baseball game, Prairie pitcher Brennan Hammer was letting Xavier batters come and go a little too easily.

Then in the third, he slammed the door shut, and deadbolted it.

After allowing five runs in the first two innings, Hammer brought Xavier’s momentum and offense to a standstill, and helped Prairie defeat the Saints 10-5 in the semifinal round of the Bob Vrbicek Metro Tournament at Marion field.

Prairie will play Kennedy for the tournament championship Wednesday at approximately 7 p.m. at Veterans Memorial Stadium. Xavier meets Linn-Mar for third place at 5 p.m. at Vets.

Xavier started Tuesday's game swinging hot in the top half of the first inning. With the bases loaded, Tristen Scallon squeaked a grounder under third baseman Tyler Butz’s glove, scoring Corbin Woods for the game’s first run. The next pitch, Mack Mattke hustled in on a passed ball to make it 2-0 after one inning.

In the second, with two runners on base, Mattke took a 2-2 Hammer pitch and sent it packing. The ball cleared the left field fence with plenty of room to spare, and pushed the score to 5-0.

“We came out a little sluggish,” said Hammer.

But that was all Xavier got. Over the next five innings, Hammer and his Prairie friends held the Saints scoreless, and allowed only two more hits.

“I was leaving my stuff up during the first and second inning,” said Hammer.  “Then I started finding my place in the third, and started to get some pitches to work for me. I was just trying to work low and not leave my curveball up.”

He finished with seven strikeouts, and provided a much needed confidence boost for his team after the early deficit. When the Prairie Hawks saw that Hammer was going to keep them in the game with his pitching, they started hitting and manufacturing runs.

With two outs in the third inning, Bryce Alberts drew a walk and stole second. Mitch Peters lined a double down the right field line, scoring Alberts. Two passed balls later, Peters crossed home plate to pull Prairie within 5-4.

“I think a very big thing was when they got two outs on us and then we plated two runs,” said Prairie Coach Matt Thede.  “Then Hammer shuts the doors and gives us hope.

“I asked the guys if they had a heartbeat and if they had any life in them, and asked somebody to show me. And that is what they did, they made it happen.”

In the fourth inning, Ty Mougin led off with an infield single for Prairie. Jason Velvick knocked a base rip into left field, which the outfielder bobbled allowing Mougin to score. It was a tie game, and Prairie was on the attack.

Hammer followed with a base hit, advancing Velvick to second. A sacrifice bunt by Tyler Butz moved the runners over, and a sacrifice fly by Tyler Votroubek scored Velvick.  Alberts smashed the next pitch into the gap, scoring Hammer and pushing the Hawks' lead to 7-5.

“When we started getting runs across the plate and got things going everyone was a lot more confident,” said Hammer.  “The bats were just rolling.”

Mougin, Prarie’s No. 9 hitter, came up again in the fifth and smoked a line drive home run past the left field scoredboard. The two-run shot gave Prairie a 9-5 lead. The Hawks added a run in the sixth.

Spencer Dean and Connor Steffens came in to pitch for Prairie in the sixth and seventh, repectively, to solidify the victory.

“We don’t talk about winning, we talk about the process,” said Thede.  “The process of preparing in the offseason and preparing in practice, and so far the process has carried us through on the field.

“I am very pumped for these guys to get the chance to play for a championship tomorrow night. Any time you play for any kind of championship it is fun.”

The second game at Marion also brought some exciting offense. Marion smashed Mount Vernon 15-0 in a shortened four-inning game.

Marion was the home team, so it witnessed ace pitcher Cale Cannoy take the mound for the first time in a year in the top of the first inning. He had an arm injury that limited him to 15 2/3 innings pitched last season. He mowed down Mount Vernon’s lineup, then came Marion’s first inning turn at the plate.

They scored 14 runs in the first inning, and every player had at least one RBI.

“That hitting just got contagious,” said Coach Steve Fish.  “Coupled with the way we hit and having Cale out there, it is refreshing.”

Marion finished with 19 hits. Cannoy gave up two to Mount Vernon.

“It gives us confidence and more options for these upcoming games,” said Fish.

Marion plays Washington in the fifth-place game Wednesday at approximately 7 p.m. at Marion.

Mount Vernon plays Jefferson in the seventh-place game at 5 p.m.

GAME ONE

XAVIER (5)
Grimm CF, 4 1 2 0, Woods SS, 4 1 0 0, Mattke DH, 4 2 1 3, Ratz RF, 4 0 2 0, Pick 1B, 4 0 1 0, Scallon 3B, 3 0 1 0, Tipton 3B, 1 0 0 0, Hines LF, 2 0 0 0, Brown P, 1 0 0 0, Harriot LF, 1 0 0 0, Helms C, 1 1 1 0, Hammerberg C, 2 0 0 0, St. Andrews 2B, 3 0 0 0. Totals 34 5 8 3.

PRAIRIE (10)
Velvick CF, 4 1 1 1, Hammer P, 4 1 1 0, Butz 3B, 4 1 1 0, Votroubek 1B, 4 0 0 1, Alberts LF, 4 2 3 2, Peters RF, 4 1 1 1, Pond C, 4 2 2 0, Digman 2B, 4 0 0 0, Mougin SS, 3 2 2 3, Davidson CR, 0 0 0 0. Totals 35 10 11 8. 

Xavier   230 000 0 --  5   8  1
Prairie   022 321 x -- 10  11 1

Keller, Brown (4), Hines (6) and Helms, Hammerberg (4). Hammer, Dean (6), Steffens (7) and Pond.  W - Hammer. 2B- Ratz, Butz, Alberts.  HR- Mattke, Mougin.  SB- Grimm, Alberts 2, Davidson.


GAME TWO 

MOUNT VERNON (0)
Timm P, 1 0 1 0, Eldred P, 1 0 0 0, Ryan SS, 2 0 0 0, Welch C, 2 0 0 0, Kray DH, 2 0 0 0, Drahos LF, 2 0 0 0, Younggreen 1B, 2 0 0 0, Pisarik CF, 2 0 0 0, Hanson 2B, 1 0 1 0, Dahlstrom RF, 1 0 0 0.  Totals  16 0 2 0. 

MARION (15)
Wagner 3B, 4 2 2 1, Stekl SS, 4 2 2 1, Biery 1B, 4 1 2 1, Johnson C, 4 2 2 2, Davila LF, 4 2 3 3, Cannoy P, 3 1 1 2, Charipar DH, 3 2 3 2, Fuller 2B, 0 0 0 0, McGarvey RF, 3 1 2 1, Connolly CF, 2 1 2 2, Schneiders CF, 1 1 0 0. Totals  32 12 19 15.

Mount Vernon  000 0 -- 0 2 1
Marion            (14)00 1 -- 15 19 2

Timm, Eldred (2), Kray (4) and Welch. Cannoy and Johnson. W - Cannoy. L - Timm. 2B- Biery, Davila, Charipar. SB- Timm, McGarvey.

Xavier, Prairie roll in Metro openers

Baseball season has come knocking again. The clanging of aluminum bats marks the beginning of summer, and opening day never fails to bring feelings of excitement and nervousness.

The days and hours leading up to the Bob Vrbicek Metro Tournament were filled with preparation and speculation. Come game time it was time to play baseball, and relax. The Xavier Saints were very relaxed.

Calm minds and strong bats helped the eighth-ranked Saints cruise to an 11-1 victory over the Mount Vernon Mustangs Monday in the opening round at Marion.

The ninth-ranked Prairie Hawks topped Marion, 8-2, in the second game.

Xavier and Prairie will meet in the semifinals Tuesday at 5 p.m. at Marion, followed by Marion against Mount Vernon at approximately 7 p.m.

The Saints rode the arm of pitcher Mack Mattke and put the mercy rule into effect during the fifth inning when Corbin Woods smashed a walk off three-run home run.

After a three-run first inning, Xavier Coach Dave Schemmel knew his team was simply playing baseball.

“There are always those first-game jitters,” said Schemmel. “But I told them in the outfield before the game that the first team to relax and put the ball in play has the advantage and I thought we did a good job with that in the first inning.”

Jordan Ratz got the Saints on the board with an RBI single in the first. Zach Brown followed Ratz with authority, roping a two-run double past the left fielder.

Three runs were more than enough for Mattke, who allowed only two hits and struck out 11. He mixed a potent slider with a quick fastball and had Mount Vernon hitters confused all evening.

“For the first time he has really thrown in a game situation (this year), I thought he did a nice job,” said Schemmel. “He has a really nice slider that is tough to hit in high school, but I want him to work in his changeup and fastball more.”

By the time the fifth inning rolled around, the Saints had a hefty lead. Woods strolled to the plate and immediately sent a pitch soaring over the unusually tall left-field fence. This plated three runs and put the Saints up 11-1, abruptly ending the game.

“My first at-bat I popped out on the first pitch so later in the game I was just trying to relax and sit back,” said Woods. “There were definitely some nerves out there, but I am glad we were able to get the win for Mack.”

Woods went 2-for-4 with four RBIs and first baseman Adam Pick went 3-for-3 with two runs scored for the Saints.

IN THE NIGHTCAP, the Marion High School baseball team got a chance to welcome Prairie to its home, but the Prairie Hawks were not good houseguests. Behind a strong performance by pitcher Bryce Alberts and a balanced offensive attack, Prairie won by six runs.

The pre-game jitters also hit home with these two teams, but Prairie was able to push them aside and come out swinging.

With the bases loaded in the first inning, Prairie’s Tyler Butz walked and sent in the game's first run. With the bases still loaded, Tyler Votroubek hit a sharp grounder to Marion’s shortstop, who had a sloppy exchange with the second baseman and failed to register the forceout at second. Two runs scored on the play.

“I think we took some pressure off of our pitcher when we were able to manufacture those three runs early,” said Prairie Coach Matt Thede.

The Indians threatened in the third inning when second baseman Mitch Wagner poked an RBI double down the right field line, making it 3-1. But Prairie pitcher Alberts proved to be too much. He got the win by going 6 1/3 innings, allowing only two runs on eight hits.

“I told him to put us on his back this year,” said Thede. “We are going to ride him and hope to keep guys off balance and throw enough strikes to give our defense a chance.”

Butz lined a two-RBI single in the bottom of the fifth to push the lead to 5-1. And in the sixth, lefty Prairie leadoff hitter Jason Velvick crushed a homer over the right field fence, scoring three more runs.

Wagner drove in another run for the Indians in the seventh, but it was too little, too late. Spencer Dean relieved Alberts and closed the game for Prairie.

Wagner went 3-for-4 with two RBIs for the Indians and Velvick was 2-for-4 with three RBIs and three runs scored for Prairie.

“Overall, I think it was a great battle between two great teams and pitchers,” said Thede. “I am excited to see what these guys are going to do this season.”

GAME 1

MOUNT VERNON (1)
Timm, 2b, 3 0 0 0, Ryan, ss, 3 0 1 0, Welch, c, 3 0 1 0, Kray, 1b, 3 0 0 0, Eldred, 3b, 2 0 0 0, Younggreen, p, 2 0 0 0, Pisarik, cf, 2 0 0 0, Durgin, lf, 2 0 0 0, Dahlstrom, rf, 2 1 0 0, Helms 0 0 0 0 Meaney 0 0 0 0. Totals 23 1 2 0.

XAVIER (11)
Grimm, cf, 4 1 0 0, Woods, ss, 4 1 2 4, Mattke, p, 3 1 1 1, Meaney, cr, 0 0 0 0, Ratz, rf, 3 1 1 1, Pick, 1b, 3 2 3 0, Brown, 3b, 3 1 1 2, Hammerberg, dh, 3 1 2 1, Helms, c, 0 0 0 0, Harriot, lf, 3 1 1 0, St. Andrews, 2b, 3 2 1 0. Totals 32 11 12 9.

Mount Vernon  001 00 -   1   2 1
Xavier              300 35 - 11 12 2

Younggreen, Eldred (5) and Welch. Mattke and Helms. W- Mattke  L- Younggreen.
2B-Woods, Mattke, Brown. HR-Woods (1). SB- Woods.

GAME 2

MARION (2)
Wagner, 2b, 4 0 3 2, Stekl, ss, 4 0 1 0, Biery 1b, 4 0 0 0, Johnson, c, 4 0 0 0, Davila, 3b, 3 0 0 0, Hedtke, p, 2 0 1 0, Schnieders, ph-lf, 1 0 0 0, Charipar, dh, 3 1 0 0, McGarvey, rf, 3 0 0 0, Cannoy, cf, 3 1 3 0. Totals 31 2 8 2.

PRAIRIE (8)
Velvick, cf, 4 3 2 3, Hammer, rf, 4 1 1 0, Carlson, 2b, 4 1 1 0, Butz, 3b, 3 0 1 3, Votroubek, 1b, 3 0 2 0, Peters, lf, 3 0 0 0, Alberts, p, 3 1 2 0, Steffens, dh, 3 0 0 0, Mougin, ss, 3 2 2 0, Pond, c, 0 0 0 0. Totals 30 8 11 6.

Marion    001 000 1 - 2  8 2
Prairie     300 023 x - 8 11 0

Hedtke, Lockner (6) and Johnson. Alberts, Dean (7) and Pond. W- Alberts. L- Hedtke.
2B-Wagner, Mougin. HR-Velvick (1). SB-Velvick, Stekl 2.

Experienced Hawks look to step to next level

Prairie ended the 2011 baseball season with a 26-16 record and was taken out of the tournament by an excellent Mason City team.

The Hawks have a starter or part-time starter returning at seven of the 10 positions. They have experience and they have hitting, led by second team all-state second baseman Brayton Carlson (.429, 8 homers, 36 RBI), first baseman Brennan Hammer (.367, 36 RBI) and third baseman Tyler Butz (.364, 3 homers, 21 RBI).

Prairie also returns Bryce Alberts (5-2, 3.94 ERA), who will provide experience and leadership to an otherwise inexperienced pitching staff. They have some quality pitching prospects that only lack varsity experience.

Key Losses:

Leading the list of losses due to graduation is Mississippi Valley Conference MVP D.J. Utley (.441, 15 homers, 50 RBI). Also gone are three-year starters Anthony Gagliardi, Dustin Carlson and Chaz Boots. Those three players combined for 109 runs, 126 hits, 84 runs batted in and 15 pitching victories.

Despite losing all that offensive productivity, the toughest hole to fill may be the catching position that iron man Carlson and utility player Nate Meyer filled at a quality level.

Key Returning Players:

The entire infield of Hammer, Carlson, Butz and Ty Mougin returns from last year and all but Carlson are juniors. They also return junior outfielder Tyler Votroubek who hit .347 in 49 varsity at-bats last season.

Another player back for his senior season is outfielder Jason Velvick, who missed most of his junior season recovering from a car accident. As a sophomore at the varsity level, he hit .407 with five homers.

Alberts will be the most experienced pitcher, but they have players to fill out the rotation. Senior pitcher Connor Steffens needs to have a healthy summer and could make an important contribution, as will hard-throwing Trent Schulte with improved consistency.

Hammer, Butz and Votroubek all have pitched, but only Hammer has any varsity experience. Juniors Cam Rathje, Blake Stallman, Spencer Dean and Mitch Adams all had successful seasons last year at the sophomore level and will bring serious competition for the starting rotation.

Outlook:

“We need to throw strikes and get good defense,” said Coach Matt Thede. Of course, that is what everybody needs.

I think the Hawks will make the next step in the program's development. They will have good pitching. Maybe not great pitching, but they will have great defense and excellent offense.

They will be a tough team. They have enough to get to Des Moines. It’s all about matchups.