Sawyer Neuhaus was not an overnight sensation in the Kennedy youth baseball program when he was growing up, unlike some of the other players on the varsity this year.

He began playing in the Hiawatha Kids League before joining the Junior Cougars, then played for Junior Cougar Green teams before joining the upper level Gold squad with guys like Zach Daniels and Sammy Lizarraga.

Now he's an important member of the all-junior starting rotation for the Kennedy Cougars, who are ranked No.2 in the state in Class 4A.

He's all grown up and doing very well.

Neuhaus pitched five strong innings Tuesday night and allowed only one hit as Kennedy blanked Washington, 8-0, in the regularly scheduled Mississippi Valley Conference game at Kennedy.

The Cougars also defeated Washington, 10-3, in the completion of a suspended game from Monday night.

Neuhaus has a 2-1 record and 3.41 ERA, with a rough outing at Cedar Falls the only blemish on his pitching chart this year.

Neuhaus likes being a member of the starting rotation for a club that is 12-2 overall and 8-2 in the league.

"I feel awesome about it," he said. "It's great that we have four guys that can throw strikes every time we come out."

Blake Hargens, another junior in the rotation, raised his record to 4-0 by pitching five shutout innings in the suspended game Monday. Daniels has a 3-0 mark and Lizarraga is 2-0.

Kennedy Coach Bret Hoyer liked what he saw of Neuhaus in winter workouts and thought he had a good chance to make the starting rotation.

"We hoped so," said Hoyer. "We saw that he had good stuff and he'd been in the top four.

"He's gotten better," said Hoyer. "I think he's getting more comfortable out there."

Neuhaus thought he had a shot at being a starter this year.

"I did, because I was one of the only lefties that had a possibility to pitch," he said. "I worked my butt off and tried to get the job."

Landen Akers belted a leadoff double in the top of the first inning against Neuhaus, but that was the only hit he allowed all night.

"A lot of inexperienced players, that would really rattle them," said Hoyer. "He recovered nicely. We're just happy to see him keep improving."

Kyle Brewer went 3-for-3 and scored three runs for Kennedy in the second game. Matt Stevens was 3-for-4, drove in two runs and made several nice running catches in right field.

Daniels went 2-for-4 and scored three times. Jimmy Cunningham had two RBIs and made a slick diving catch of a foul ball.

Daniels pitched two innings against Washington Monday night and surrendered his first earned run this season in 23 innings. When the game resumed Tuesday, Hargens took the ball and tossed five shutout frames in the 10-3 verdict.

Cunningham was 3-for-4 in the first game with a double, three runs and an RBI. Stevens drove in three runs.

Washington (2-11, 2-8) collected only seven hits in the two games against Kennedy.

The Cougars climbed one spot to No.2 in the rankings this week. They were snubbed in the preseason poll, but shot up quickly after that.

"I like the target on our back," said Hoyer. "I think we get the best effort out of our opponents. I'd just as soon be ranked as high as we can possible be ranked.

"The things we're doing well will keep you in a game against anybody," he said. "We're pitching well and playing good defense."

Game 1

Kennedy      130 411 0 - 10 12 1

Washington   030 000 0 - 3 4 3

W - Hargens. L - Harrington.

Game 2

Washington   000 000 0 - 0 3 4

Kennedy      002 024 x - 8 10 0

W - Neuhaus. L - Dobbs.