All Metro baseball teams set goals at the start of the season, some loftier than others, but they all do it.

Winning the Metro tournament is a good one. So is winning a conference title. A high ranking in the polls is always nice, and so is winning 30 games.

Kennedy has done it all this season.

The second-ranked Cougars won their 30th game Tuesday by blanking Pleasant Valley, 5-0, on a neat five-hit shutout by senior Nick Appleget on Senior Night.

Pleasant Valley took the nightcap, 4-3.

It's been another successful season for Kennedy, which will head into the Class 4A substate tournament Friday with a 30-6 mark and a share of the Mississippi Valley Conference title.

"Terrific. I'm very proud of them," Coach Bret Hoyer said. "It's a special group of seniors, and they've won a lot of games."

The Cougars have won six conference titles in the last 10 years and have reached 30 victories in five of those campaigns. But no matter how many regular-season goals they've attained, their biggest goal is still out there.

Kennedy won the Class 4A state title in 2010 and wants another. At the very least, the Cougars want to reach the state tournament in Des Moines and make a good showing.

"If they can handle the substate pressure and if they can focus on the things that are important ... hopefully they will and we'll be all right," Hoyer said.

Appleget raised his record to 8-0 and lowered his earned run average to 1.96 with his five-hit shutout. He's endured an injury-riddled career at Kennedy, but he's made his final year a season to remember.

"I feel really good," he said. "I think since this is my senior year, I kind of put it all on the line."

Appleget plans to attend the University of Northern Iowa and become a regular student, but that hasn't stopped other colleges from pursuing him for their baseball team. Mount Mercy University and other schools have not given up.

"I think about it, and I read the stuff they give me," he said. "I consider it and I talk to them, but ..."

His mind is made up. His formal baseball career will end with Kennedy's final game this season.

"I hope to end on a good note here. That's why I'm trying my hardest," he said.

Josh Jahlas drove in three runs for the Cougars in their 5-0 victory in the opener. Cody Bell and Andrew Johnson both went 2-for-3 with a double. Adam Lloyd scored three times.

Kennedy had its chances in the nightcap, but left the bases loaded in the first, third and fifth innings against Pleasant Valley (27-13). Bell went 2-for-3 again and Jahlas was 2-for-4. Lloyd (9-1) pitched three innings and suffered his first loss of the season.

Kennedy will host Waterloo East in the substate opener Friday at 7 p.m. The Cougars are the No. 1 seed in the substate, so if they beat Waterloo East they'll draw a second-round bye and play for the substate title next Wednesday.

Hoyer said Alex Hayden (8-2, 1.15 ERA) will be the starting pitcher Friday night.

GAME ONE

PLEASANT VALLEY (0)
Sheeder, dh, 3 0 0 0, Syverud, lf, 0 0 0 0, Fink, p, 2 0 1 0, Flanders, cr, 0 0 0 0, Addelia, ss, 3 0 3 0, Trewyn, 3b, 3 0 0 0, Kress, 1b, 2 0 0 0, Clark, cf, 3 0 0 0, Ennis, 2b, 2 0 0 0, Hanna, rf, 3 0 1 0, Brown, c, 2 0 0 0. Totals 23 0 5 0.

KENNEDY (5)
Jahlas, cf, 3 0 1 3, Dr Jacobus, ss, 4 0 0 0, Bell, 1b, 3 1 2 0, Ambrosy, rf, 2 0 1 0, Hayden, 2b, 2 0 1 1, Moa, pr, 0 0 0 0, Dv Jacobus, 3b, 3 0 0 0, Staton, pr, 0 0 0 0, Lizarraga, c, 3 0 0 0, Lloyd, dh, 1 3 1 0, Appleget, p, 0 0 0 0, A.Johnson, lf, 3 1 2 0. Totals 24 5 8 4.

Pleasant Valley   000 000 0 - 0 5 2
Kennedy           021 101 x - 5 8 0

Fink and Brown; Appleget and Lizarraga. W - Appleget (8-0). L - Fink (4-2). 2B - Fink, Bell, A.Johnson.

GAME TWO

PLEASANT VALLEY (4)
Sheeder, lf, 3 1 0 0, Fink, dh, 4 2 1 0, Suhr, p, 0 0 0 0, Clifton, c, 0 0 0 0, Cobler, rf, 0 0 0 0, Addelia, ss, 3 0 2 1, Trewyn, 3b, 2 0 0 1, Kress, 1b, 3 0 2 1, Clark, cf, 2 1 0 0, Ennis, 2b, 3 0 1 0, Hanna, rf/p, 3 0 1 1, Brown, c/p, 2 0 0 0, Blaske, ph, 1 0 0 0. Totals 26 4 7 4.

KENNEDY (3)
Jahlas, cf, 4 2 2 0, Dr Jacobus, ss, 2 0 0 0, Z.Johnson, p, 0 0 0 0, Unash, 2b, 0 0 0 0, Bell, 1b/3b/p, 3 0 2 1, Moa, pr, 0 0 0 0, Ambrosy, rf/1b, 4 1 1 1, Hayden, 2b/ss, 1 0 0 0, Dv Jacobus, 3b/ss/p, 3 0 1 0, Staton, cr, 0 0 0 0, Lizarraga, dh, 3 0 0 1, Maiers, c, 0 0 0 0, Lloyd, p/rf, 4 0 0 0, Seubert, lf, 3 0 0 0, A.Johnson, lf, 0 0 0 0. Totals 27 3 6 3.

Pleasant Valley    201 100 0 - 4 7 0
Kennedy            100 011 0 - 3 6 1

Suhr, Brown (6), Hanna (7) and Brown, Clifton (6), Brown (7); Lloyd, Z.Johnson (4), Dv Jacobus (5), Bell (6) and Maiers. W - Suhr (3-1). L - Lloyd (9-1). 2B - Fink. SB - Dr Jacobus.