Prairie High School - Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Busy J-Hawks sweep Prairie in showdown

Jefferson baseball coach Kyle Rodenkirk calls it a "big league schedule," but not even Major Leaguers play seven games in four days.

The fourth-ranked J-Hawks did it this week and went home Friday night tired but happy.

Jefferson swept a Mississippi Valley Conference twinbill from No.8 Prairie, 5-2 and 5-3, at the Jefferson field Friday to finish the busy week with a flashy 6-1 record.

"I'm real proud of every single one of the guys," said Rodenkirk. "I told the guys in the preseason: We've got a big-league schedule, and how many of you guys like to practice? Not many rose their hand.

"I said, 'Hey, what better way to do it? Let's go out and play ball.'"

Jefferson beat Des Moines East in a single game Tuesday, swept Dubuque Wahlert on Wednesday, split with Xavier on Thursday and swept Prairie on Friday.

The J-Hawks raised their overall record to 16-4, solidifying their claim as one of the top teams in the state.

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Lions, Hawks trade 1-run victories

The Linn-Mar Lions and Prairie Hawks swapped a pair of one-run victories Thursday night in a Mississippi Valley Conference softball twinbill at Prairie.

Linn-Mar won the first game, 5-4. Prairie took the nightcap, 3-2.

The split left the Lions at 12-5 overall and 9-3 in the MVC. The Hawks are 14-7 overall and 10-4 in the league.

Maddy Ryan collected her 10th victory of the season for Linn-Mar in the first game. Elison Ollinger was 2-for-3 with a triple.

Neila Bell went 2-for-3 for Prairie in the opener. Gabi Carter had two RBIs.

Taylor Moenk went 2-for-3 with a double, RBI and two runs for Prairie in the second game. Anne Cerveny was 2-for-3 for the Hawks.

Natalie Halvorson got the victory in relief for Prairie in the nightcap. She was the losing pitcher in the opener.

Prairie sweeps Xavier in softball

The Cedar Rapids Prairie softball team swept a Mississippi Valley Conference doubleheader from Xavier, 3-1 and 7-4, at Prairie Tuesday night.

Natalie Halvorson pitched a four-hitter with six strikeouts for Prairie in the 3-1 victory. Kristin Wahlert was 2-for-2 with a run scored and Taylor Moenk hit a sacrifice fly.

Moenk went 2-for-2 with a home run, three RBIs, two walks and three stolen bases in the second game. Morgan Lewis was 2-for-3 and scored twice. Neila Bell went 2-for-3 with two doubles and two RBIs. The Hawks stole seven bases in the game.

Shelby Frederick pitched the first four innings for the victory. Halvorson tossed the last three innings for a save.

Prairie raised its record to 12-5 overall. Xavier fell to 6-8.

No. 8 Prairie sweeps No. 9 IC West

The Cedar Rapids Prairie baseball team celebrated its climb into the rankings Monday by sweeping a doubleheader from ninth-ranked Iowa City West.

The eighth-ranked Hawks nipped the Trojans, 2-1, in eight innings in the first game at Prairie on a game-winning single by Nic Mougin.

Prairie took the nightcap, 6-3.

Trey Beckman led off the bottom of the eighth inning in the opener with a double. Mougin collected his walk-off single with one out.

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