Washington High School - Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Saints claim 1st MVC softball crown

There have been many titles won in girls athletics since Cedar Rapids Xavier opened in 1998.

One of the few missing crowns was a Mississippi Valley Conference divisional title in softball. That was crossed off the list Monday night.

The Saints got the sweep they needed to secure the Valley Division championship, downing Cedar Rapids Washington, 15-6 and 7-1, on the Washington diamond.

Xavier, ranked No. 7 in Class 4A, finishes regular-season play at  28-11 overall, 20-6 in the league. Cedar Rapids Prairie, which swept its twinbill against Dubuque Hempstead, finished a game back at 19-7. Washington, which opens Class 5A tournament play Saturday at Cedar Rapids Jefferson, fell to 14-24, 7-19.

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Twins like Chad Christensen's versatility

The Minnesota Twins did not draft Chad Christensen so he could play in his home town for the Cedar Rapids Kernels some day, although that would be an added bonus.

Rather, the Twins took Christensen in the 25th round of the 2013 draft because they like his versatility and talent.

Christensen is hitting .290 with six RBIs in nine games for Minnesota's team in the Florida Gulf Coast League, which means he's probably two steps away from playing for the Kernels. Most Twins prospects start in the Gulf Coast League and then play for Elizabethton (Tenn.) in the Appalachian League before coming to Cedar Rapids.

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Prairie swipes wild twinbill from Warriors

Landen Akers was standing on third base with two outs in the top of the seventh inning Wednesday night when Cedar Rapids Washington assistant coach Javier Rivera came over from the third-base coaching box with a startling idea.

"Steal home," Rivera told Akers.

Huh?

"Yeah, I thought it was risky at first," said Akers, a speedy sophomore. "But then I thought I had a chance. I had to go."

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Warriors stun No.10 Mustangs - twice

DUBUQUE - Caiti Peterson fired a four-hit shutout in the opener, Payton Bruner scattered five hits in the nightcap and Washington stunned No.10 Hempstead twice Tuesday night in a Mississippi Valley Conference softball doubleheader.

Washington won the opener, 2-0, then banged out 13 hits in an 8-2 win in the nightcap.

The Warriors (12-22, 7-17) eliminated Hempstead (26-9, 16-8) from the race for the Mississippi Division title. The Mustangs fell three games behind Jefferson with two to play.

Washington has won 10 of its last 14 games.

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