DUBUQUE - Freshman Sammy Lizarraga was promoted to the varsity Friday and pitched a two-hit shutout as Cedar Rapids Kennedy pounded Dubuque Wahlert, 15-0 in four innings, in a Mississippi Valley Conference game in Dubuque.

The second game of the scheduled doubleheader was suspended with Kennedy holding a 4-0 lead in the top of the fourth inning with two outs.

Lizarraga has played with Kennedy's sophomore team this season, but the Cougars needed a fresh arm on the mound Friday as they headed into their third doubleheader this week. He allowed only two singles with two strikeouts and one walk.

Sammy Lizarraga's older brother, Chico, is Kennedy's top catcher and they formed the battery for the second-ranked Cougars. Chico Lizarraga helped his brother even further by driving in three runs.

Josh Jahlas went 3-for-3 with a triple and two RBIs. Derek Jacobus was 2-for-3 with two RBIs.

Kennedy scored seven runs in the top of the first inning to give Sammy Lizarraga a 7-0 lead before he took the mound. The Cougars tacked on eight runs in the third inning. The game was stopped after four innings due to the 15-run mercy rule.

The victory lifted Kennedy within a half-game of first place in the Mississippi Division of the MVC with a 17-4 record. Linn-Mar leads the division with a 17-3 mark and Iowa City High is in third place at 16-4 in the 26-game campaign.

Linn-Mar's doubleheader at Iowa City High Friday was suspended in the top of the third inning of the first game with the Lions holding a 2-0 lead. The twinbill will be resumed from the point of suspension on July 9.

Nick Appleget was working on a one-hit shutout for Kennedy when the second game was suspended in the fourth inning.

Kennedy is 24-4 overall. Wahlert dropped to 11-20 overall and 8-13 in the league.

GAME ONE

KENNEDY (15)
Jahlas, cf, 3 2 3 2, Z.Johnson, cf, 1 0 0 0, Dk Jacobus, ss, 3 2 2 2, Smetzer, ph, 1 0 0 0, Ambrosy, rf, 2 2 1 0, Seubert, rf, 1 0 0 0, Bell, 1b, 3 2 1 1, Dv Jacobus, 3b, 2 1 0 1, Hayden, 2b, 3 2 0 0, Unash, 2b, 0 0 0 0, C.Lizarraga, c, 2 2 1 3, Lloyd, dh, 3 1 1 1, S.Lizarraga, p, 0 0 0 0, A.Johnson, lf, 2 1 0 0. Totals 26 15 9 10.

WAHLERT (0)
Nauman, lf, 1 0 0 0, Ruden, rf, 2 0 0 0, Klosterman, 2b, 2 0 1 0, M.Hoffman, c, 2 0 0 0, Gasper, p, 2 0 0 0, Oglesby, cf, 1 0 0 0, N.Hoffman, 3b, 1 0 0 0, Leubka, 1b, 1 0 1 0, Oittmer, dh, 1 0 0 0, Wedewer, ss, 0 0 0 0. Totals 13 0 2 0.

Kennedy    708 0 - 15 9 0
Wahlert     000 0 -  0  2 5

S.Lizarraga and C.Lizarraga; Gasper and M.Hoffman. W - S.Lizarraga (1-0). L - Gasper. 2B - Bell, C.Lizarraga. 3B - Jahlas.