Metro Sports Report

Linn-Mar's Austin Stroschein made the big pitches when he had to Friday night and tossed a shutout against Washington in a Class 4A substate quarterfinal baseball game at Linn-Mar. The Lions won, 5-0, and will host Kennedy on Monday. (Photo by Justin Tedford)

Lions knock out Warriors, 5-0

Fri - 19 Jul Written by Mike Condon

One got the feeling the baseball team to score first would keep its season alive.

Both Linn-Mar and Cedar Rapids Washington had chances through the first four innings of Friday night's Class 4A substate quarterfinal at Linn-Mar.

It was the Lions finally breaking through in the top of the fifth. Kyle Mortensen's RBI single to center plated Caleb Reimer with that all-important first run. Linn-Mar added another in the inning, two more in the sixth and one in the seventh en route to a 5-0 victory.

The win lifts Coach Chad Lechner's team to 25-15 and into Monday night's substate semifinal against Cedar Rapids Kennedy. The Cougars advanced with a 7-6 win Friday night over Iowa City High. Monday's game will be at Linn-Mar, beginning at 7 p.m.

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Xavier's Corbin Woods doubles home the first run of the game in the third inning of Friday's Class 4A substate quarterfinal game against Waterloo East at Xavier. The Saints scored four runs in the seventh inning to pull away for an 8-3 win. (Photo by Margaret O'Banion)

No.10 Saints escape mighty scare

Fri - 19 Jul Written by Don Taylor

The 10th-ranked Xavier Saints were supposed to have a "laugher" against lowly Waterloo East in the opening round of the Class 4A substate baseball tournament Friday night.

The Trojans almost made the Saints cry instead.

Xavier needed a four-run outburst in the top of the seventh inning to break away from Waterloo East for an 8-3 victory at Ken Charipar Field.

Waterloo East entered the game with an ugly 2-36 record, but the Trojans gave the Saints all they could handle.

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Kennedy catcher Tony Maiers (left) eyes Iowa City High runner Grant Simpson as he races to the plate during the fourth inning of Friday night's Class 4A substate quarterfinal at Kennedy. Simpson was safe on the play, but the Cougars went on to win, 7-6. (Photo by Joe Bishop)

Jacobus helps Cougars nip City High

Fri - 19 Jul Written by Tom Fruehling

Kennedy’s young pitchers were roughed up a bit by Iowa City High Friday night.

Luckily, they had the steady hands and clutch hitting of veteran shortstop Derek Jacobus to bail them out at Kennedy.

The Cougars squandered a 6-1 lead against the Little Hawks in the opening round of the Class 4A substate tournament, but they eked out a run in the sixth inning to advance 7-6.

Kennedy (22-18) will face Linn-Mar (25-15) in the substate semifinals Monday night at Linn-Mar, with the winner playing Iowa City West in the substate finals on Wednesday.

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Prairie senior Brennan Hammer struck out eight Waterloo West batters in 4 2/3 innings Friday night and the Hawks beat the Wahawks, 9-2, in a Class 4A substate quarterfinal. Prairie hosts Marshalltown in a substate semifinal Monday. (Photo by Ken Gilchrist)

Prairie slams 'Hammer' on Wahawks

Fri - 19 Jul Written by Jim Ecker

Brennan Hammer is still waiting to pitch his best game of the season for the Cedar Rapids Prairie baseball team.

It could come in the Class 4A substate finals against Xavier next week, if the Hawks continue to take care of business.

Hammer struck out eight batters in 4 2/3 innings Friday night as Prairie spanked Waterloo West, 9-2, in the substate opener at Prairie.

The sixth-ranked Hawks (26-12) will host Marshalltown (17-24) in the substate semifinals Monday at 7 p.m., with the winner meeting the 10th-ranked Xavier Saints in the substate finals Wednesday at Xavier.

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Alex Charipar (left) gives a high-five to teammate Logan Fuller after he scored a run in the third inning of Friday night's 8-2 loss to Davenport Assumption in a Class 3A district tournament game at Solon. (Photo by Ken Gilchrist)

Indians struggle in loss to Assumption

Fri - 19 Jul Written by Jim Ecker

SOLON - The Marion Indians picked a bad time to play one of their worst baseball games of the season.

Marion committed five errors and ace lefthander Levi Lochner was touched for 11 hits as the Indians lost to Davenport Assumption, 8-2, in the opening round of the Class 3A district tournament at Solon Friday night.

Marion finished the season with an 18-19 record.

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