Metro Sports Report

Hansen hopes to connect for J-Hawks

Cedar Rapids Jefferson senior Maddie Hansen would like to get a few good pitches to hit in the Class 5A state softball tournament Thursday evening in Fort Dodge.

That's not too much to ask, but the all-state catcher did not get much a chance in the opening round Monday when the Linn-Mar Lions gave her four straight intentional walks in a 6-3 Jefferson victory.

The third-ranked J-Hawks (36-7) face second-ranked Johnston (34-4) in the semifinals at 5 p.m. Thursday at Harlan Rogers Park and Hansen is anxious to swing the bat again.

Hansen is one of the most feared hitters in the state with a .504 batting average, 11 home runs and 46 RBIs. Linn-Mar walked her six times in a Mississippi Valley Conference doubleheader this year, then walked her four more times at the state tournament.

"It puts me on base for Erin (Kuba) behind me and Kennedy Dighton behind me, and so I'll take a base," said Hansen. "If they want to put me on I'll go for it, because I know my teammates can do the job behind me.

"It doesn't really bother me any more."

Lions finish 8th at state softball

FORT DODGE - The Linn-Mar Lions came home empty-handed from the Class 5A state softball tournament Wednesday.

The Lions lost to Bettendorf, 3-1, and fell to Ankeny, 9-0, in consolation games and finished last in the eight-team field.

Linn-Mar lost to Cedar Rapids Jefferson, 6-3, in the opening round Monday.

The Lions collected only seven hits in the two games Wednesday. Morgan Braughton had two hits in the 3-1 loss to Bettendorf.

DoniRae Mayhew hit a two-run homer and tossed a four-hitter with six strikeouts for Bettendorf. Maddy Ryan pitched a complete game for Linn-Mar with five hits, five walks and two strikeouts.

Olivia Brooks went 3-for-4 with five RBIs for Ankeny in its 9-0 victory over the Lions. Brooks had a two-run double and a three-run homer in the onslaught.

Poor defense dooms Marion in playoffs

SOLON – The Marion Indians’ inexperience caught up with them when they needed it the least in a Class 3A district championship baseball game Monday.

Marion committed five errors, leading to seven unearned runs in an 8-3 loss to Duqubue Wahlert to end the season at 24-17.

The Golden Eagles (20-19) advanced to the substate final at 7 p.m. Wednesday at DeWitt Central.

“I’m not shocked, I’m disappointed,” Marion Coach Steve Fish said. “I love this team. They’re fun to coach. I think we had six sophomores out there and some quality seniors.”

The Indians started strong, taking a 3-0 lead in the second inning.

Cedar Falls ousts Lions in thriller

Long after hearing their final postgame talk of the season, the Linn-Mar baseball team was still milling around the home plate area of their home diamond.

The Lions simply did not want to leave the field Monday night.

"This is the kind of team you'd like to always have one more game with," said Linn-Mar Coach Chad Lechner. "They are such a great group to be around."

Try as they might, the Lions could not come through to earn one more game. Steven Skidmore's RBI single in the top of the 11th inning plated Dakota Schiefelbein with what proved to be the winning run as Cedar Falls ended Linn-Mar's season with a 7-6 victory in a Class 4A substate semifinal.

The victory moves the Tigers (22-13) opposite top-seed Kennedy (28-11) in Wednesday's substate final set for 7 p.m. at Kennedy's Herkelman Field.