Xavier High School - Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Solid seniors lead Xavier's quest for 7th title

They’ve never lost a state tournament game.

For the five seniors on Xavier’s Class 2A No. 1-ranked girls soccer team, it’s a source of tremendous pride – and undeniable pressure.

“We have an advantage because we’ve been there three times already,” said Saints co-captain Annie Dale, who was named first team all-state and captain of the all-tournament team after Xavier secured its sixth consecutive title last year.

“It’s a disadvantage because it’s so much pressure to have six state championships on the line. You don’t want to be the team to lose.”

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Mattke delivers the long ball for Saints

Mack Mattke is a big, strong guy at 6-foot-6 and 220 pounds, but he's always had trouble hitting home runs for the Xavier High School baseball team.

Until now.

Mattke slugged a three-run homer Wednesday night and hit a game-winning double in the bottom of the seventh inning as the eighth-ranked Saints clipped Linn-Mar, 9-8, for third place in the Metro Baseball Tournament at Veterans Memorial Stadium.

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Saints 1 step away from return trip to state

The DeWitt Central boys soccer team has an unorthodox strategy. Every five minutes, they sub 11 players and bring on an entirely new team. All game long.

You didn’t catch the Xavier Saints paying much attention to that repeated exodus.

They were too busy scoring goals.

The Saints kept their foot on the gas pedal and defeated DeWitt Central, 5-1, Wednesday in a Class 2A substate semifinal at Heco Field.

Xavier (7-8-1) hosts Benton in the substate final Saturday at noon. Benton beat Mount Vernon, 2-0, to advance.

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Saints sweep Warriors in softball opener

Jacey Wiebold tossed a one-hitter Tuesday as the Xavier Saints opened the softball season with a 10-0 victory over Washington in the first game of a Mississippi Valley Conference doubleheader at Xavier.

The Saints took the nightcap, 12-3.

Wiebold struck out six batters and did not walk anyone in the opener. The game was stopped in the fifth inning by the 10-run mercy rule.

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