Kennedy Baseball

Hoyer nets No. 650 as Cougars sweep

There were no brass bands, no parades, no big celebration.

Even if Kennedy baseball coach Bret Hoyer had known about his latest milestones, he'd want to keep it as quiet as possible anyway.

There have been thousands of high school baseball coaches in Iowa over the years and Hoyer is now solidly in the top-25 of all time.

The third-ranked Cougars swept Waterloo West, 10-0 and 4-0, Friday night to give Hoyer his 650th victory in 25 years as a head coach.

He's tied for 23rd all-time with Dick Core and Terry Heald with those 650 victories as he continues to roll along.

"It's very cool," Hoyer said when informed of his place on the all-time list. "I've had some pretty talented players and coaches to work with."

Read more...

Larson's bat sends J-Hawks past Kennedy

Jefferson’s Lucas Larson and Kennedy’s Zach Daniels played for years on the same youth league baseball team from the time they were little kids.

But until Tuesday night, the J-Hawk junior had never batted against the Cougars' ace pitcher.

And he wasn’t very nice to his childhood pal.

Larson’s doubles in the first and fifth innings served as a warm-up for his dramatic last at bat:

Score tied 5-5 with two outs and the bases empty in the bottom of the seventh inning. With one strike against him, Larson is looking for another fast ball, but instead Daniels dishes up a change-up.

Read more...

Lizarraga shines as Cougars dump J-Hawks

Sammy Lizarraga could have a big decision to make when it comes time for him to play college baseball in two years.

He's been an outstanding catcher since he was a little kid, but now he's developed into one of the top pitchers in the state as well.

Lizarraga tossed a two-hitter Monday and collected five RBIs as No. 3 Kennedy thumped Jefferson, 11-1, in five innings at Bill Herkelman Field.

A scout from Northern Illinois University clocked Lizarraga's fastball at 87 mph early in the game, a significant jump from his best heater last year as a sophomore. He struck out three straight batters in the fifth inning to end the game.

Lizarraga, a lanky 6-foot-4 right-hander, isn't sure what he'll do in college.

Read more...

Cougars stay No. 3 in baseball poll

The Kennedy Cougars remained in the No.3 spot in the Class 4A high school baseball rankings Monday, according to the Iowa High School Baseball Coaches Association.

Kennedy took a 24-3 record into Monday night's home game against Jefferson.

Dubuque Hempstead is ranked No. 1 in Class 4A again this week and Waukee is No. 2. Kennedy and Hempstead are scheduled to meet July 14 at Kennedy in a makeup doubleheader.

CLASS 4A

1. Dubuque Hempstead, 2. Waukee, 3. Kennedy, 4. Iowa City West, 5. Des Moines East, 6. Urbandale, 7. Dowling Catholic, 8. Sioux City North, 9. Fort Dodge, 10. Cedar Falls.

CLASS 3A

1. Clear Lake, 2. Waverly-Shell Rock, 3. Sioux City Heelan, 4. West Delaware, 5. Fairfield, 6. Harlan, 7. Davenport Assumption, 8. Centerville, 9. Perry, 10. Williamsburg.