Washington Baseball

Warriors moving in right direction

Washington was easily the youngest team in the Metro last year and it looks to be more experienced this season.

Coach Tony Lombardi and his staff are rebuilding a program that is rich in tradition, and they are doing it the right way. While they were young, there was not a team that competed any harder than the 2012 Warriors.

Grant Dostal and Robert Hogg, the only two players who graduated from last year's team, accounted for 61 innings on the mound. A big question mark regarding this year’s roster is A.J. Puk, who is considered one of the top prospects in the nation and has choices to make about where he wants to play ball this summer.

“We would honestly love to have A.J. playing with us. That said, I just want to support A.J.,” said Lombardi. “The decision is A.J.’s to make and I trust that he will do what is best for his development. I honestly don’t know.”

Puk began practicing with the Warriors when drills began last week.

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Puk playing baseball for Washington

A.J. Puk has decided to play baseball for Cedar Rapids Washington this season, Coach Tony Lombardi confirmed Tuesday morning.

"That is true," Lombardi responded in an e-mail.

Puk, a 6-foot-6 lefthanded pitcher and first baseman, signed a national letter-of-intent with the University of Florida last November and is considered a top prospect for the Major League draft this June.

When Puk signed with the Gators, he said he was not sure if he'd play baseball for the Warriors this season or not. He said at the time that he planned to report for summer classes at Florida in late June and wasn't sure if wanted to leave the Washington baseball team in the middle of the season.

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Metro baseball tournament pairings set

The 2013 Bob Vrbicek Metro Baseball Tournament will be held May 20-22, with the finals scheduled for Veterans Memorial Stadium.

Linn-Mar and Marion High School are the hosts.

The opening-round games at the new Linn-Mar High School field on Monday, May 20 will feature Jefferson against Xavier at 5 p.m. and Prairie against Linn-Mar at 7 p.m.

The opening-round games at Marion on Monday, May 20 will feature Washington against Mount Vernon at 5 p.m. and Marion against Kennedy at 7 p.m.

The second-round games will be played at Linn-Mar and Marion on Tuesday, May 21. The championship and third-place games will be held at Veterans Memorial Stadium on Wednesday, May 22, with the fifth-place and seventh-place games at Linn-Mar on May 22.

Wash baseball team had illegal scrimmage

The Cedar Rapids Washington sophomore baseball team held an illegal scrimmage last season in violation of IHSAA rules.

Washington self-reported the violation to the IHSAA and was not penalized, according to Washington athletic director Paul James.

Tony Lombardi is the head baseball coach at Washington. He resigned Thursday as baseball and football coach, but not until the end of the 2012-13 contract year. He plans to lead the baseball program again this season.

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