Metro Sports Report

Sedlacek powers J-Hawks' sweep

CEDAR FALLS -- Rachel Sedlacek swatted three home runs to power No. 6 Jefferson to a softball doubleheader sweep of Cedar Falls on Wednesday night.

The J-Hawks (21-4, 14-1) won the six-inning opener, 11-0, and took the nightcap, 12-4.

Sedlacek, the J-Hawks' junior leadoff batter, belted two home runs in the opener and another in the nightcap and drove in six runs. She has eight home runs and 22 RBIs.

Junior Hannah Petersen (11-3) fired a three-hitter in the opener. She was backed by an 11-hit attack. The J-Hawks scored four runs in the second inning and five in the sixth.

Senior Katie Naber (7-1) scattered six hits in the nightcap. The J-Hawks again had 11 hits and were helped by five Cedar Falls errors. The Tigers (7-17, 4-10) scored three runs in the seventh inning. There was a 20-minute rain delay in the sixth inning.

Jefferson boosted its lead in the MVC Valley Division to 1.5 games over second-place Dubuque Hempstead. The J-Hawks play their fourth doubleheader in as many nights Thursday with a twinbill at Kennedy starting at 5:30 p.m.

Larson having a blast with J-Hawks

VAN HORNE -- Alex Larson is having a blast in his senior season of playing baseball for the Jefferson J-Hawks.

Literally.

Larson belted two home runs, including a grand slam, and drove in six runs in helping the J-Hawks to an 8-2 lead after 3 1/2 innings Tuesday against Benton Community. The Bobcats battled back to post a 10-9 win that sent the J-Hawks to their eighth loss in their last nine games.

Larson came into the game with a team-high .449 batting average, one home run and a team-leading 11 RBIs.  His two-run home run in the first inning staked the J-Hawks (6-15) to a 2-0 lead and his grand slam in the fourth capped a six-run frame that put Jefferson ahead, 8-2. Benton (6-13) came back with six runs in the bottom of the fourth, tacked on single runs in the fifth and sixth, and pulled out the win.

"We're playing solid, but the mental game is not there right now," said Larson, who played his second straight game at shortstop after playing most of the season at third base. He also pitches.

Xavier sweeps Kennedy in MVC softball

With what looked like heavy rain closing in, someone had to break a tie and make the game official. Xavier’s Abby Bedard made it happen.

Bedard’s two-run double in the top of the sixth inning propelled Xavier past Kennedy, 9-5, in the second game of a Mississippi Valley Conference doubleheader Tuesday night at Kennedy.

Xavier won the opener, 7-2.

Through four innings of the nightcap, Xavier was riding pitcher Erin Drahozal, an eighth grader who was retiring Kennedy batters with ease. In the bottom of the fifth, however, Kennedy caught fire and collected five singles, including a two-run hit by Amanda Gaffey to even the score at 5-5.

“We just relaxed a little after we got the 5-0 lead,” said Xavier Coach Brian Erbe. “Drahozal was coasting, then she started getting too much of the plate and that will happen to an eighth grader sometime. Kennedy did a great job of hitting.”

Bedard’s heroics came into play in the top of the sixth when she ripped a double into the right-center gap, plating two runs and pushing Xavier ahead 7-5. “Bedard’s hit was clutch, big time,” Erbe said.

Hosch shines in No. 10 Xavier win

Xavier Coach Dave Schemmel got a pleasant surprise when he arrived at the ballpark Tuesday.

The Saints have cracked the Class 4A rankings for the first time this year and are No.10 in the poll.

"I just heard that when I walked across the bridge to the game," Schemmel said Tuesday night. "I didn't know anything about it. We'll take it."

Xavier celebrated its lofty status with a 6-2 victory over Bettendorf behind a strong pitching performance by Kevin Hosch.

There's a wooden bridge that leads to Ken Charipar Field at Xavier High School. By the time the Saints crossed that bridge to go home, they were 16-5 overall and happy with their new perch in the poll.

"The kids have been playing well. They have a decent record. I think we've been playing good enough baseball to be there (in the rankings)," Schemmel remarked. "But, it puts the bull's-eye on you, so every time out you have to play well."

Hosch carried a shutout into the seventh inning, but Bettendorf (2-11) scored two unearned runs with two outs on a deep fly ball to center into a suddenly heavy rain. Hosch got the next batter on a fly ball to right to end the game.

Hosch, a junior, had struggled in recent outings.

"It feels great, actually, to get my confidence back," he said. "I've had a few big innings put up against me. It's nice to get this game and a complete game."

Hosch struck out eight batters, allowed four hits (all singles) and walked four batters. Bettendorf did not send more than four batters to the plate until the seventh inning.