Kennedy Baseball

Jahlas, Ambrosy keep Kennedy's plate full

Josh Jahlas and Logan Ambrosy are terrific table setters for Kennedy High School, but it has nothing to do with knives, forks or silverware.

Jahlas and Ambrosy set the table for the top-ranked Cougars by getting on base at the top of the lineup and scoring runs, and they've been doing it very well.

The dynamic duo went a combined 6-for-7 Monday night and scored nine runs as Kennedy swept a Mississippi Valley Conference twinbill from Dubuque Hempstead, 11-0 and 9-0, at the Kennedy field on a gorgeous night for baseball.

Jahlas is hitting .451 in the leadoff spot. Ambrosy is batting .417 in the No. 2 hole, and between them they've scored 44 runs in 16 games.

"They've always been doing a good job of getting on base, but what I've been really pleased with the last four or five games is how well they've been striking the ball," said Kennedy Coach Bret Hoyer. "Solid contact, a lot of line drives by both of them. That's good to see."

The Cougars (14-2, 8-2) displayed all their charms Monday with solid hitting, excellent pitching and air-tight defense.

Alex Hayden (4-1, 0.52 ERA) pitched a one-hitter in the five-inning opener with seven strikeouts. Adam Lloyd (5-0, 1.35 ERA) scattered four singles in five innings in the nightcap before Alex Johnson and Devon Jacobus mopped up.

Hempstead (6-10, 5-5) did not get a runner to third base in either game of the snappy three-hour doubleheader.

Jahlas has a simple approach to hitting in the leadoff spot. "I just try to get on base," he said. "I know there are a lot of good hitters behind me."

Ambrosy's job is to move Jahlas around.

"I like it," said Ambrosy. "Josh is good at getting on base, and when my time comes, lay down the bunt or make contact. It's new for me, but I think it's setting in well."

Jahlas went 3-for-3 with three straight doubles in the nightcap. He's hitting with more power this year as a senior after batting in the No. 9 spot in 2011. "I've been in the weight room, trying to get bigger for football," he explained.

Jahlas will join the Iowa State football team this fall as a walk-on. He thought about skipping baseball to concentrate on his college football career, but didn't like the idea of leaving his friends behind.

"I thought it was a pretty good opportunity coming back this year. We have a good team," he said. "I've played with these guys since I was like 10 years old. I would have missed it so much if I would have quit. I'm glad I stayed out."

Jahlas gives Kennedy a good dose of speed in center field. Ambrosy, meanwhile, brings three gloves to the ballpark because he never knows where Hoyer might put him.

"One for first base, catching and outfield," said Ambrosy. "So wherever he puts me, I'm pretty versatile. Growing up there were a lot of different positions I could play. I like it."

You don't see too many left-handed catchers, but he's ready in a pinch. It doesn't happen too often, because Chico Lizarraga has developed into an all-conference catcher for
Kennedy.

Ambrosy went 2-for-3, drove in three runs and scored twice in the opener. Jahlas was officially 0-for-0 with two walks and a sacrifice fly, but scored three runs. Cody Bell socked a two-run homer and drove in three runs.

Jahlas went 3-for-3 with three doubles, three runs and an RBI in the nightcap. Bell collected two more RBIs in the second game. Derek Jacobus had two hits.

Devon Jacobus returned to the lineup for Kennedy after missing four games with a sore back. His younger brother, Derek, swung the bat again after not taking any cuts Friday night at Waterloo East due to a sore wrist, although he did play shortstop Friday.

GAME 1

HEMPSTEAD (0)
Stevenson, 2b, 1 0 0 0, Johnson, lf, 2 0 0 0, Bortscheller, cf, 1 0 0 0, Vanderlee, 1b, 2 0 0 0, George, 3b, 1 0 1 0, Keleher, c, 2 0 0 0, D.Fitzgerald, p, 1 0 0 0, Houselog, p, 1 0 0 0, Seymour, rf, 2 0 0 0, Boleyn, ss, 2 0 0 0. Totals 15 0 1 0.

KENNEDY (11)
Jahlas, cf, 0 3 0 1, Oltmann, ph, 1 0 0 0, Ambrosy, 1b, 3 2 2 3, Bell, 3b, 2 1 1 3, Dv Jacobus, 2b, 2 2 1 1, Lizarraga, c, 2 0 1 1, Smetzer, cr, 0 0 0 0, Lloyd, rf, 1 0 0 1, Hayden, p, 0 0 0 1, Staton, cr, 0 1 0 0, Jurgensen, ph, 1 0 0 0, Dr Jacobus, ss, 2 1 1 0, Smetzer, ph, 1 0 0 0, A.Johnson, lf, 1 1 0 0, Unash, ph, 1 0 1 0. Totals 17 11 7 11.

Hempstead    000 00 -  0 1 2
Kennedy       263 0x - 11 7 0

D.Fitzgerald, Houselog (2) and Keleher. Hayden and Lizarraga. W - Hayden (4-1). L - D.Fitzerald. 2B - George, Ambrosy, Dv Jacobus. HR - Bell.

GAME 2

HEMPSTEAD (0)
Stevenson, 2b, 2 0 1 0, Vanderlee, 1b, 3 0 0 0, Bortscheller, cf, 3 0 1 0, George, 3b, 3 0 1 0, Wilgenbusch, c, 3 0 0 0, Oberbroeckling, dh, 2 0 0 0, Johnson, p, 0 0 0 0, Stumpf, p, 0 0 0 0, D.Fitzgerald, rf, 3 0 1 0, C.Fitzgerald, lf, 3 0 1 0, Boleyn, ss, 2 0 0 0. Totals 24 0 5 0.

KENNEDY (9)
Jahlas, cf, 3 3 3 1, Solorio, ph, 1 0 0 0, Ambrosy, rf/1b, 1 1 1 1, Appleget, ph, 1 0 0 0, Bell, 1b/3b, 3 0 1 2, Staton, ph, 1 0 0 0, Dv Jacobus, 3b/p, 1 0 0 0, Skow, 3b, 1 0 0 0, Lizarraga, c, 3 0 1 1, Lloyd, p/rf, 3 0 0 0, Z.Johnson, p, 0 0 0 0, Hayden, 2b, 2 2 1 0, Dr Jacobus, ss, 3 1 2 1, A.Johnson, lf, 2 2 1 0, Maiers, ph, 1 0 0 0. Totals 26 9 10 6.

Johnson, Stumpf (6) and Wilgenbusch. Lloyd, Z.Johnson (6), Dv Jacobus (7) and Lizarraga. W - Lloyd (5-0). L - Johnson. 2B - Jahlas (3), Dr Jacobus.

No. 1 Cougars blast Waterloo East

WATERLOO - The top-ranked Kennedy baseball team had an easy time with Waterloo East Friday in a Mississippi Valley Conference twinbill in Waterloo.

The Cougars swept the Trojans, 15-0 and 13-0, with both games lasting only five innings.

Kennedy pitchers limited Waterloo East to one hit in each game. Meanwhile, the Cougars (12-2, 6-2) collected 28 hits in 10 innings of baseball.

Cody Bell pitched four innings in the opener and allowed a harmless single. He struck out four batters and did not walk anyone.

Nick Appleget tossed four innings in the second game and did not allow any hits, although he walked two batters. Zach Johnson pitched the fifth inning for Kennedy and was nicked for a single.

Logan Ambrosy went 3-for-3 in the opener and scored three runs. Bell was 3-for-4 and drove in two runs. Tony Maiers was 2-for-3 and drove in three runs. Adam Lloyd was 2-for-3 and scored three runs. Alex Hayden was 2-for-2. Bell and Lloyd had two doubles apiece.

Andrew Johnson was 2-for-2 in the nightcap with three RBIs and two runs. Appleget went 2-for-3 with three RBIs. Hayden was 2-for-2 again, Ambrosy was 2-for-3 with two RBIs and Josh Jahlas was 2-for-4. Ambrosy hit two doubles.

GAME 1

KENNEDY (15)
Jahlas, cf, 3 0 0 0, Ambrosy, 1b, 3 3 3 0, Bell, p/ss, 4 0 3 2, Henry, cr, 0 3 0 0, Lizarraga, c, 2 0 1 0, Smetzer, cr, 0 2 0 0, Lloyd, rf, 3 3 2 1, Skow, 3b, 3 2 1 2, Jurgensen, ph, 0 1 0 0, Hayden, 2b, 2 1 2 1, Unash, ph, 0 0 0 1, Maiers, dh/p, 3 0 2 3, A.Johnson, lf, 2 0 1 1, Moorman, ph, 1 0 0 0, Dk Jacobus, ss/dh, 0 0 0 0. Totals 26 15 15 11.

WATERLOO EAST (0)
Magnuson, p/ss, 2 0 0 0, Faith, lf, 2 0 0 0, Billings, ss/cf, 2 0 0 0, Mnayer, 3b, 2 0 0 0, Sahr, c, 2 0 0 0, Frost, cf/rf, 2 0 0 0, Schutte, rf/p, 2 0 1 0, Scribener, 2b, 0 0 0 0, Howard, dh, 1 0 0 0, McCann, 1b, 0 0 0 0. Totals 15 0 1 0.

Kennedy          015 54 - 15 15 1
Waterloo East  000 00 -   0   1 3

Bell, Maiers (5) and Lizarraga. Magnuson, Schutte (4) and Sahr. W - Bell (1-1). L - Magnuson (0-1). 2B - Ambrosy, Bell 2, Lloyd 2. SB - Ambrosy.

GAME 2

KENNEDY (13)
Jahlas, cf, 4 1 2 1, Ambrosy, 1b, 3 0 2 2, Bell, 3b, 3 1 0 0, Lizarraga, c, 3 0 0 0, Henry, cr, 0 1 0 0, Maiers, c, 1 0 1 0, Lloyd, rf, 2 1 1 0, Solorio, ph, 0 0 0 0, Skow, dh, 2 3 1 1, King, ph, 1 0 0 0, Appleget, p, 3 0 2 3, Smetzer, cr/2b, 0 2 0 0, Staton, ph, 1 0 0 0, Z.Johnson, p, 0 0 0 0, Hayden, 2b, 2 2 2 1, Oltmann, ph, 0 0 0 0, A.Johnson, lf, 2 2 2 3,
Moorman, ph, 1 0 0 0, Dk Jacobus, ss, 0 0 0 0. Totals 28 13 13 11.

WATERLOO EAST (0)
Magnuson, ss, 1 0 0 0, Faith, lf, 2 0 0 0, Billings, p/cf, 2 0 0 0, Mnayer, 3b, 2 0 0 0, Sahr, c, 1 0 1 0, Pietro, cr, 0 0 0 0, Frost, cf/p, 2 0 0 0, Howard, rf, 2 0 0 0, Schutte, 1b, 1 0 0 0, Scribner, 2b, 1 0 0 0. Totals 14 0 1 0.

Kennedy           033 70 - 13 13 1
Waterloo East   000 00 -   0   1 3

Appleget, Z.Johnson (5) and Lizarraga, Maiers. Billings, Frost (5) and Sahr. W - Appleget (2-1). L - Billings. 2B - Ambrosy 2, Maiers, Appleget, Hayden, A.Johnson. SB - Jahlas, Skow 2, Hayden, Pietro.

No. 1 Cougars edge Ottumwa, 4-3

OTTUMWA - Josh Jahlas and Logan Ambrosy delivered clutch hits Wednesday night as No. 1 Kennedy trimmed Ottumwa, 4-3, in a non-conference baseball game at Ottumwa.

Kennedy (10-2) scored two runs in the top of the seventh inning to snap a 2-2 tie on two-out RBI doubles by Jahlas and Ambrosy for a 4-2 lead.

Ottumwa (6-5) scored in the bottom of the seventh to pull within 4-3, but the game ended when Kennedy catcher Chico Lizarraga threw out Collin Schulz trying to steal second base.

Adam Lloyd (4-0) allowed two runs in six-plus innings for the victory. Zach Johnson survived the precarious seventh inning for the save.

Jahlas went 3-for-4 for the Cougars with a double and triple and scored two runs. Derek Jacobus was 2-for-3 with an RBI. Devon Jacobus missed his second straight game with
a sore back.

KENNEDY (4)
Jahlas, cf, 4 2 3 1, Ambrosy, rf, 4 0 1 1, Bell, 3b, 3 1 1 1, Seubert, pr, 0 0 0 0, Lizarraga, c, 2 0 0 0, Dk Jacobus, ss, 3 0 2 1, Skow, dh, 3 0 1 0, Hayden, 2b, 3 0 1 0, Lloyd, p, 3 0 1 0, Henry, pr, 0 1 0 0, Z.Johnson, p, 0 0 0 0, A.Johnson, lf, 3 0 0 0, Staton, 1b, 0 0 0 0. Totals 28 4 10 4.

OTTUMWA (3)
Griffiths, cf, 3 1 2 0, Schulz, ss, 4 0 1 0, Keck, lf, 2 0 1 2, McIntosh, c, 3 0 0 0, Collins, 1b, 3 0 1 0, Ollum, 3b, 2 0 0 0, Mooney, p, 2 0 0 0, Craff, p, 1 0 0 0, Stuchel, rf, 3 0 0 0, Johns, 2b, 2 2 1 0. Totals 25 3 6 2.

Kennedy     200 000 2 - 4 10 3
Ottumwa    100 010 1 - 3  6 0

Lloyd, A.Johnson (7) and Lizarraga. Mooney, Craff (5) and McIntosh. W - Lloyd (4-0). L - Mooney (0-1). 2B - Jahlas, Ambrosy, Bell. 3B - Jahlas.

Hammer sparkles as Hawks top No. 1 Cougars

Cedar Rapids Prairie dropped out of the Class 4A baseball rankings this week, but the Hawks don't care a whole lot about that.

They know they have the ingredients for a good club this year and they proved it Tuesday night.

Brennan Hammer carried a shutout into the seventh inning and Prairie beat top-ranked Kennedy, 3-1, in a crisp Mississippi Valley Conference game at Prairie.

Hammer went the distance and handcuffed the Cougars most of the night with 11 strikeouts, but it got a little dicey in the seventh inning when Kennedy plated its only run and had runners at second and third with only one out.

Josh Jahlas, who had struck out three straight times against Hammer, walloped a line drive to deep center field that would have scored both runs and tied the game with two outs, but Jason Velvick reacted quickly and made a leaping catch to end the contest.

Hammer's immediate thought when Jahlas hit that ball was, "Oh, crap."

"When I saw it off the bat I got worried," said Hammer, a talented lefthander, "but thank god I have a good center fielder."

Hammer effectively mixed his fastball, curveball and changeup all night. The Cougars had particular trouble with his late-breaking curveball, which would approach the plate at the knees and drop to the batter's ankles at the last second.

"The umpire was commenting how much his ball was moving," said Prairie Coach Matt Thede. "Every single pitch had movement on it. And frankly against one of the top programs in the state, you're going to have to be like that."

Kennedy (9-2, 4-2) managed only two opposite-field hits in the first six innings, but the Cougars battled to the end.

Derek Jacobus led off the seventh with a triple down the right-field line and scored on a base hit by Brock Skow. Alex Hayden singled to left and Jared Staton bunted the runners to second and third with one out, but the rally ended there.

Hammer fanned Andrew Johnson for his 11th and final strikeout, then Jahlas hit his rocket to center field that looked like a two-run double when it left the bat.

"It was exciting to beat the No. 1 team in the state, but we respect them," said Hammer, who is already one of the Metro's top pitchers as a junior. "They're a great ball team. They do things right."

The Hawks beat Kennedy ace Hayden, an all-state pitcher last year as a junior. Hayden had mild control problems in the first inning when he walked the leadoff batter and hit the next man in the helmet with a breaking ball that didn't break.

Hammer hit a sacrifice fly to make it 1-0, Tyler Votroubek hit an RBI double to make it 2-0 and a Kennedy throwing error made it 3-0. Hayden needed 35 pitches to escape the first inning, but he found his groove and pitched a complete game.

"We got three runs in the first inning and that gave us some confidence," said Hammer.

Prairie (8-5, 4-2) gave Kennedy a tough game Monday night before falling 5-4 at Kennedy, then the Hawks finished the job Tuesday night. Thede said he enjoys playing the Cougars and matching wits with Kennedy Coach Bret Hoyer.

"You have to bring your best," said Thede. "You have to play the best to be the best."

Kennedy played without cleanup hitter Devon Jacobus, who missed the game with a sore back.

KENNEDY (1)
Jahlas, cf, 4 0 0 0, Ambrosy, rf, 3 0 0 0, Bell, 1b, 3 0 1 0, Lizarraga,c, 3 0 0 0, Dk Jacobus, ss, 2 1 2 0, Skow, 3b, 2 0 1 1, Oltmann, pr, 0 0 0 0, Hayden, p, 3 0 1 0, Lloyd, cr, 0 0 0 0, Staton, dh, 2 0 0 0, A.Johnson, lf, 3 0 0 0. Totals 25 1 5 1.

PRAIRIE (3)
Velvick, cf, 2 1 0 0, Mougin, ss, 2 1 0 0, Hammer, p, 2 0 0 1, Carlson, 2b, 3 0 1 0, Votroubek, 1b, 3 1 2 1, Butz, 3b, 3 0 1 0, Alberts, lf, 3 0 0 0, Pond, c, 3 0 1 0, Davison, cr, 0 0 0 0, Schulte, rf, 2 0 1 0. Totals 23 3 6 2.

Kennedy    000 000 1 - 1 5 1
Prairie        300 000 x - 3 6 0

Hayden and Lizarraga. Hammer and Pond. W - Hammer. L - Hayden. 2B - Carlson, Votroubek. 3B - Dk Jacobus. SB - Dk Jacobus (2).