Metro Sports Report

No-no state tournament for J-Hawks

MARSHALLTOWN - Pain, tears, and disappointment filled the eyes of the Jefferson softball players Thursday night after the J-Hawks came up short in their Class 4A regional final game against Dowling Catholic.

The J-Hawks lost 2-0 in eight innings, making it two years straight that Jefferson (32-8) came up short of a state tournament appearance.

“We had a great year, the girls really overachieved,” Jefferson Coach Larry Niemeyer said. “It is too bad it had to end this way.”

Jefferson ace Hannah Petersen and Dowling ace Demi Plathe came ready for a battle. Petersen, who has been stellar all year, was again a force to be reckoned with, allowing just six hits in eight innings.

Plathe was better. Despite pitching 16 innings the night before in a 3-2 semifinal win over Marshalltown, Plathe stifled J-Hawk hitters en route to a no-hit shutout.

“I knew it would be a tough game,” Niemeyer said. “I have seen her four or five times. She is tough.”

For seven innings it looked as if no one would ever score as both teams struggled to get runners on base.

Big field expected for GCRO

In between the British Open and Zach Johnson’s first pro-am golf event at Elmcrest on Aug. 1, I would like to remind golf aficionados in the area that the 13th Annual Greater Cedar Rapids Open will return to Hunters Ridge next week. The pro-am will be held Thursday and the three rounds of golf for a $20,000 first prize will be competed on July 22-24.

The annual Waterloo Open ends Sunday and many of those pros will be journeying to Marion for our annual event. In fact, we’re looking for a record professional field since 95 pros have already signed up. And that includes Andy Winnings of Brownsburg, Ind., who is the defending champion.

Also, Brown Deer’s head pro, Sean McCarty, a former champ, will return. And there is every indication that Marc Gladson, the son of Elmcrest pro Larry Gladson, will be in the field. Marc, who attended Linn-Mar and had an excellent high school career, is now a graduate of Wake Forest and has been playing on the South Carolina/Eastern Seaboard tours as a pro.

And of course, Gladson’s goal is like that of Zach Johnson, who came through the Nationwide Tour and made it big-time on golf’s worldwide stage.

The amateur ranks will be enhanced by former winner J.D. Schlotterback of Marion and Darin Pint, the golf coach at Kirkwood Community College who runs an excellent program.

For spectators who want to see outstanding golf on a very challenging layout, a visit to Hunters Ridge for the tournament would be rewarding. And the price is right. It’s all free.

Petersen Metro softball athlete of the year

Jefferson junior pitcher Hannah Petersen was named the Metro Athlete of the Year in a vote of Metro high school softball coaches and heads up this year's all-Metro team.

Petersen was one of five unanimous selections on the first team. The others were Marion senior Leah Smith, and Xavier seniors Tyler Sampson, Kristen Winter and Abby Bedard.

A fourth Xavier player, freshman Courtney Colston, also was chosen for the first team.

Four other Jefferson players were on the first team. Senior Katie Naber was joined by juniors Kailey Drake, Kenna Fry and Rachel Sedlacek.

Linn-Mar had three first teamers. Sophomore Kelsey Duggan and freshmen twins Ellie and Maggie Rizor.

Prairie senior Shelby Crist also was on the first team.

Metro Coaches of the Year were Larry Niemeyer and his Jefferson staff. The J-Hawks finished 32-8 and won the Mississippi Valley Conference's Valley Division with a 22-3 mark.

4 Metro players unanimous all-MVC softball

Jefferson juniors Hannah Petersen and Rachel Sedlacek, Xavier senior Tyler Sampson and Linn-Mar freshman Ellie Rizor all were unanimous first team selections to the Mississippi Valley Conference all-conference teams released Friday.

The teams were chosen by a vote of MVC coaches.

Petersen, Sedlacek and Sampson were named to the Valley Division first team, Rizor was chosen for the Mississippi Division first team.

Prairie senior catcher Sheby Crist was the only other Metro player selected to the Valley Division first team.

Linn-Mar placed three members on the Mississippi Division first team. Rizor was  chosen as a utility player. Sophomores Kelsey Duggan and Kortlan Ollinger also were picked for the team.

Washington's Jordan Carr also was first team in the Mississippi Division.

Hempstead senior Hannah Koerperich was named the Valley Division athlete of the year. Coaches of the year were Alisha Frese and the Hempstead staff.

Waterloo West senior Jadyn Spencer, who set the Iowa all-time home run record and was a dominating pitcher, was the Mississippi Division athlete of the year. West Coach Tammy Utley and the Wahawk staff were named coaching staff of the year.