Washington Baseball

Warriors end 16-game losing streak

CEDAR FALLS - The Cedar Rapids Warriors snapped their 16-game losing streak Monday night by defeating Cedar Falls, 8-4, in the first game of a Mississippi Valley Conference baseball doubleheader in Cedar Falls.

The Tigers won the second game, 4-1.

Washington (4-25, 1-17) won its first conference game this season behind sophomore Matt Troendle in the opener. Troendle allowed one run in six innings. He collected four strikeouts and was touched for only four hits.

Robert Hogg and Johnny Dobbs had three hits for the Warriors in the opener. Hogg had three RBIs. Washington had not won a game since a 2-0 victory over Pella on June 2.

Hogg pitched a complete game for the Warriors in the nightcap. He had four strikeouts and allowed only one earned run. Grant Dostal had two hits for Washington.

GAME ONE

Washington    120 400 1 - 8 10 4
Cedar Falls      000 010 3 - 4  5  6

Troendle, Christensen (7) and Rings; Creger, Fletcher (7) and Sole. W - Troendle. L - Creger. 2B - Burdt.

GAME TWO

Washington    000 100 0 - 1 7 1
Cedar Falls       100 030 x - 4 7 1

Hogg and Metzger, Rings (6); Deines, Kuntz (7) and Sole. W - Deines. L - Hogg. 2B - Mozena.

Hayden makes pitch as Kennedy's MVP

Alex Hayden was an all-state pitcher at Cedar Rapids Kennedy last year when the Cougars won 31 games and reached the Class 4A state tournament.

This year he could be their MVP.

"He'd be in the conversation in a lot of ways," Kennedy Coach Bret Hoyer said Friday night.

Hayden tossed a complete game as the top-ranked Cougars defeated Washington, 6-1, in a Mississippi Valley Conference game that left the senior right-hander with a 6-1 record and a sparkling 0.53 earned run average.

Hayden is hitting .393 for Kennedy and stars at second base when he's not pitching. Last year, he was mostly a pitcher and got only nine at-bats all season. This year he's helping the Cougars as a pitcher, hitter and fielder.

"It's fun," he said. "I really like playing second. I like playing defense and being able to hit. So it's good to be out there."

Hayden went 8-1 with a 3.22 ERA last year, so he's compiled an overall mark of 14-2 the past two seasons with another month left in the 2012 campaign. He's allowed only three earned runs in 40 innings this year after being touched for 21 earned runs in 45 2/3 frames a year ago.

"I think he's coming along," said Hoyer. "Tonight he showed some signs of being more consistent. And he's got to continue to get even more consistent with his off-speed stuff, because they were really jumping on his fastball early in the game.

"If he can continue to locate his fastball to both sides of the plate and get his off-speed over, he's pretty tough. Eight-four (mph) isn't 94, but it's still pretty quick."

Washington grabbed a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning on a ringing double by Johnny Dobbs, an infield single by Noah Dostal and an RBI double to right-center by Noah Burdt. Hayden had allowed only two earned runs prior to Friday, so it was a little surprising to see the struggling Warriors get to him early.

They didn't get to him again, however. Hayden retired 10 straight batters at one point and allowed only harmless singles the rest of the way in the fifth, sixth and seventh innings to finish with a six-hitter.

He appeared to be throwing harder in the seventh inning than he had all night as he smelled the finish line and a complete game.

"I wanted to finish it out," he said. "This is the first time I went seven (innings) all year, so I wanted to get through that seventh without giving up too many hits and no runs."

Hayden struck out the side in the seventh and finished with eight whiffs, giving him 48 strikeouts in 40 innings this year. Opponents are batting a measley .156 against him with only 22 hits.

Hayden has signed with Iowa Central Community College in Fort Dodge, where he'll be a pitcher and possibly a position player. His ultimate goal is to play NCAA Division I college baseball after junior college.

Kennedy scored twice in the bottom of the first inning to take a 2-1 lead. The Cougars made it 3-1 in the second inning and 4-1 in the third. It stayed that way until Kennedy scored two insurance runs in the sixth inning on RBI hits by Devon Jacobus and Chico Lizarraga.

Logan Ambrosy continued his hot hitting by going 3-for-4 for the Cougars with two runs and an RBI. Cody Bell, Jacobus and Hayden were all 2-for-4 with an RBI.

The victory lifted Kennedy to 20-3 overall and 13-3 in the Mississippi Valley Conference, tied for first place in the Mississippi Division. Hoyer has been Kennedy's head coach for 20 years, and this is the 19th time in 20 years his teams have won at least 20 games.

"We should finish above .500 and it kept us in first place, so that's a good deal," he said. "I'm happy for them, proud of them. We grinded out another win."

Washington fell to 3-24 overall and 0-16 in the MVC with its 16th straight defeat.

WASHINGTON (1)
Hogg, ss/cf, 3 0 1 0, Dobbs, 3b, 3 1 1 0, N.Dostal, p/ss, 3 0 1 0, Burdt, rf, 2 0 1 1, G.Dostal, 1b, 2 0 1 1, Rings, c, 3 0 1 0, Harrington, cr, 0 0 0 0, Metzger, dh, 3 0 0 0, Hand, lf, 0 0 0 0, Troendle, cf/p, 3 0 1 0, Thulin, 2b, 3 0 0 0. Totals 26 1 6 1.

KENNEDY (6)
Jahlas, cf, 4 1 0 0, Ambrosy, 1b, 4 2 3 1, Bell, 3b, 4 0 2 1, Dv Jacobus, 2b, 4 1 2 1, Staton, pr, 0 1 0 0, Lizarraga, c, 3 0 1 1, Smetzer, cr, 0 0 0 0, Lloyd, rf, 3 0 1 0, Hayden, p, 4 0 2 1, Staton, cr, 0 1 0 0, Dk Jacobus, ss, 2 0 0 0, A.Johnson, lf, 2 0 0 0. Totals 30 6 11 5.

Washington    100 000 0 - 1  6 3
Kennedy        211 002 x - 6 11 0

N.Dostal, Troendle (4) and Rings; Hayden and Lizarraga. W - Hayden (6-1). L - N.Dostal. 2B - Dobbs, Burdt, Dv Jacobus. SB - Hogg, Jahlas, Ambrosy.

No. 1 Cougars spoil Washington's upset bid

It's been a rough season for the Cedar Rapids Washington baseball team, with 15 straight losses and a key injury to A.J. Puk, but for a shining moment Thursday night it looked like the Warriors would wipe away their frustration and grab a big victory over the No. 1 team in the state.

The Warriors led 4-0 after four innings and southpaw Grant Dostal was cruising with a no-hitter, keeping the Kennedy hitters off-balance with his assortment of tantalizing pitches that had the Cougars hitting the ball in the air for outs.

It looked like it might be Washington's night, finally, after all the losing and all the disappointment. "No question," said Wash Coach Tony Lombardi.

But Kennedy is ranked No. 1 in the state for a reason. And the Warriors have a 3-and-23 record for a reason. And a high school baseball game lasts seven innings for a reason.

The Cougars broke through with two runs in the fifth inning to get back in the game and make the Warriors nervous, and they plated five more runs in the sixth inning to complete the rally for a 7-5 victory in a Mississippi Valley Conference game at Washington.

"One inning put us behind and we couldn't come back from there," said Dostal, a competitive senior who went the entire game and threw 127 pitches.

Lombardi visited the mound in the fifth inning, trying to settle his team after Kennedy scored two runs. He had a brief conversation with Dostal before leaving.

"I said, 'How do you feel?' and he said, 'I'm not coming out of this game.'"

This was probably the last time Dostal will ever pitch against the Cougars and he wanted something to remember. Besides, he's a trouper.

"When I get the ball, I usually try and pitch the whole game," he remarked.

Noah Dostal hit a long, towering two-run homer to give Washington a 2-0 lead in the first inning against Adam Lloyd. The Warriors scored two more runs in the third for a 4-0 edge on an RBI triple by eighth grader Johnny Dobbs and an RBI double by Noah Dostal.

Meanwhile, the Cougars hit fly ball after fly ball, some of them hard and deep, but all within range of the Washington outfielders. Grant Dostal can sneak a fastball by you, but usually it's slow, slower and slowest, a series of pitches that look hittable until you swing too hard or swing at something out of the strike zone.

"That's what he's real good at," observed Kennedy Coach Bret Hoyer. "He stays within himself, he changes speeds and he gives the hitters an opportunity to get themselves out.

"We were doing that, and we weren't doing a very good job of making adjustments and letting the ball get deep on us. We talked about it."

Dostal tried everything he could on the mound.

"I was changing my fastball speed, I was throwing changeups, I was throwing curveballs," he said. "I was just trying to keep them off-balance and get outs."

It worked for four innings, but then things changed.

Logan Ambrosy knocked a two-run double off the right-field fence to pull the Cougars within 4-2 in the top of the fifth and break the ice. Washington countered with an RBI double by Zach Gillis to give the Warriors a 5-2 lead in the bottom of the fifth.

Dostal nearly escaped the pivotal sixth inning unscathed. It was still a 5-2 ballgame with two outs and two runners on base, but he couldn't get in the dugout with that third out for a long time.

Derek Jacobus laid down a perfect bunt for an infield single to load the bases. Andrew Johnson drew a walk on a 3-2 pitch to force in a run, making it 5-3, and then came the biggest play of the night.

Josh Jahlas ripped a single to right field, driving in two runs and tying the game at 5-5, and another run scored on the play when the throw from right field skipped by Washington catcher Will Rings for a hard-luck error for the Warriors. With one swing of the bat, Kennedy erased a 5-3 deficit and took a 6-5 lead. Ambrosy walked and Cody Bell singled to right, driving in Jahlas for an insurance run and a 7-5 edge.

Jahlas had big base hits in the fifth and sixth innings after struggling with the rest of the Cougars in the first four frames.

"We didn't start off very well," said Jahlas. "We hit a lot of popups, he got us out a lot. We adjusted. Eventually the whole team adjusted."

Lloyd had a 1-2-3 inning in the bottom of the sixth to preserve the 7-5 lead while Nick Appleget warmed up in the bullpen, but Appleget wasn't needed.

The Warriors brought the tying run to the plate in the bottom of the seventh, but Noah Dostal bounced into a controversial 4-6-3 double play to end the game. The Warriors thought Dostal beat the relay to first base, but the field umpire did not see it that way.

"I was really proud of our kids," said Lombardi after the near-miss. "We're learning a lot, mostly about ourselves and how to play seven innings. And probably tonight we didn't do that, but we came close.

"I just thought we came out and played baseball. It wasn't good enough tonight, but I'd like to think that some day, if we continue to grow, it will be good enough."

Lombardi had only two seniors in his starting lineup. Puk, his top hitter and top pitcher, is sidelined with a broken thumb, and the Warriors had two graduated eighth graders in the infield with Dobbs at third base and Trevor Thulin at second base.

"We're a work in progress," said Lombardi, in his first year as the varsity baseball coach. "We're very young.

"We're trying to build a culture," he said. "We're trying to build a baseball culture, someplace where our kids take pride and want to be part of a quality baseball program. Maybe that's why we're not quitting."

Washington has lost 15 straight games since its last victory on June 2, a 2-0 verdict over Pella nearly three weeks ago. The Warriors are 0-and-15 in the Mississippi Valley Conference, yet they had the fortitude to give top-ranked Kennedy a tough battle.

"It's been tough, but we just have to keep fighting," said Grant Dostal. "It's my senior year, the last year I'm ever going to play baseball possibly. I don't know. I just keep trying, I guess."

Lloyd allowed seven hits and four earned runs, but raised his record to 7-0 by tossing a complete with 95 pitches and six strikeouts.

Washington and Kennedy (19-3, 12-3) tangle again Friday night at Kennedy.

KENNEDY (7)
Jahlas, cf, 4 2 2 2, Ambrosy, rf, 3 0 1 2, Bell, 1b, 4 0 1 1, Oltmann, pr, 0 0 0 0, Dv Jacobus, 3b, 3 0 0 0, Lizarraga, c, 3 0 1 0, Smetzer, cr, 0 1 0 0, Lloyd, p, 3 1 1 0, Staton, cr, 0 1 0 0, Hayden, 2b, 3 1 0 0, Dr Jacobus, ss, 4 1 2 0, A.Johnson, lf, 2 1 0 1. Totals 29 7 8 6.

WASHINGTON (5)
Burdt, rf, 2 2 0 0, Dobbs, 3b, 4 2 2 1, N.Dostal, ss, 4 1 2 3, Gillis, 1b, 2 0 1 1, Metzger, pr, 0 0 0 0, G.Dostal, p, 3 0 2 0, Rings, c, 3 0 0 0, Troendle, cf, 3 0 0 0, Hogg, lf, 3 0 0 0, Thulin, 2b, 3 0 0 0. Totals 27 5 7 5.

Kennedy      000 025 0 - 7 8 1
Washington   202 010 0 - 5 7 1

Lloyd and Lizarraga; G.Dostal and Rings. W - Lloyd (7-0). L - G.Dostal. 2B - Ambrosy, N.Dostal, Gillis. 3B - Dobbs. HR - N.Dostal.

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.