Marion High School - Marion, Iowa

Saints, J-Hawks keep rolling in softball

The Xavier Saints and Jefferson J-Hawks continue to set the pace for Metro softball teams, with several clubs not far behind.

The Saints, ranked No. 5 in Class 4A, won all four of their games this past week and raised their record to an impressive 18-2. The J-Hawks, ranked No. 5 in Class 5A, captured all five of their games and are sitting at 19-4.

The Washington Warriors, enjoying a strong year, went 5-1 this past week and have a 16-5 overall mark. Prairie is 16-9 and Kennedy 14-8.

The Linn-Mar Lions had a tough week, losing six of seven games. That dropped their record to 16-9. Marion lost five games and fell to 6-16.

Here are the Metro records through June 22:

Jefferson         19-4 overall    11-3 MVC
Xavier            18-2 overall    13-1 MVC
Washington        16-5 overall    10-4 MVC
Prairie           16-9 overall    11-3 MVC
Linn-Mar          16-9 overall    11-5 MVC
Kennedy           14-8 overall    7-6  MVC
Marion            6-16 overall    3-8  Wamac

Cougars, J-Hawks lead Metro baseball

This is not shaping up as a particularly good year for high school baseball in the Metro area.

Only Kennedy and Jefferson have winning records in conference games. And only Kennedy, Jefferson and Xavier have winning records overall.

The Xavier Saints suffered a big loss this month when Mitch Keller accepted a $1 million signing bonus from Pittsburgh and left to begin his pro career.

The Linn-Mar Lions also have suffered a big loss with all-state catcher Brandt Ollinger playing travel ball this summer with an all-star team. Linn-Mar Coach Chad Lechner said Ollinger will be gone for an extended period of time.

Kennedy is ranked No. 2 in Class 4A and Jefferson defeated No. 1 Hempstead in the second game of a doubleheader Friday.

Here are the Metro records through June 22:

Kennedy         14-2 overall   10-2 MVC
Jefferson       13-6 overall   8-4 MVC
Xavier          12-8 overall   6-6 MVC
Marion          8-8 overall    6-6 Wamac
Linn-Mar        9-14 overall   4-8 MVC
Prairie         4-12 overall   3-7 MVC
Washington      3-12 overall   3-9 MVC
Cedar Valley    0-14 overall

Indians trimmed twice by Mustangs

The Mount Vernon Mustangs swept a Wamac Conference doubleheader from the Marion Indians Friday night at Marion, 5-4 and 5-3.

Luke Eldred pitched a complete game for Mount Vernon in the opener and the Mustangs took advantage of five Marion errors. Eldred had three hits. Trey Ryan had two hits and two RBIs for the winners.

Trevor Hardman collected a triple and two RBIs for Marion in the first game.

Mount Vernon scored four runs in the top of the seventh to snap a 1-1 tie and take a 5-1 lead in the nightcap. Marquis Dew had a two-run double in the inning for the Mustangs. Marion responded with two runs in the bottom of the seventh, but the rally fell short.

Freshman Brady Donohue pitched six strong innings for Marion in the nightcap, striking out seven batters and allowing only five hits. Gage Kray had a double and triple for the Indians. Quinn Cannoy also had two hits.

Marion committed six errors in the nightcap for a total of 11 errors in the twinbill.

Game 1

Mount Vernon  122 000 0 - 5 9 1
Marion             110 020 0 - 4 6 5

W - Eldred. L - Kray.

Game 2

Mount Vernon  001 000 4 - 5 8 1
Marion             000 100 2 - 3 7 6

W - Dew. L - Donohue.

Maquoketa tops Marion in softball

Maquoketa defeated Marion, 6-1, in a Wamac Conference softball game at Marion Friday night.

Bayley Fuller went 3-for-4 and drove in a run for Marion. Camryn Cannoy was 2-for-3 and scored a run.

McKenna Owen was 3-for-4 and drove in two runs for Maquoketa. Liz Gavin was 2-for-3.

Maquoketa    030 020 1 - 6 9 1
Marion       000 010 0 - 1 6 3

W - Ruppert. L - Steepleton.