Xavier High School - Cedar Rapids, Iowa

'Zach! Zach! Zach!' blanks Saints again

The Kennedy Cougars invented a new chant in honor of junior Zach Daniels Wednesday night after he pitched a shutout against Xavier for the second time this year.

"Zach! Zach! Zach!" they sang as Daniels emerged from the visitors dugout at Ken Charipar Field for a post-game interview.

"It's a little annoying," the honoree said, smiling, "but that's OK."

Daniels tossed a five-hit shutout as No.3 Kennedy blanked the Saints, 1-0,in the second game of a Mississippi Valley Conference doubleheader.

Earlier this season, he pitched a one-hitter against Xavier and beat Mitch Keller in the semifinals of the Metro Tournament. Kennedy won the opener Wednesday, 13-4.

Daniels has thrown 14 innings against the Saints this year, allowing just six hits and no runs.

Read more...

Drahozal stars as Saints sweep Hawks

Pity the softball team that plays Xavier after the Saints have had a few days off.

“We hadn’t played a game since last Wednesday, and we were just anxious to go out and get at it,” Xavier all-stater Erin Drahozal said Tuesday night after her usual stellar performance in a 9-3 and 7-2 sweep of Prairie on the Hawks home field.

She was so itchy to see action that she showed up Monday night to watch Prairie take two from Kennedy. The scouting mission obviously paid off.

On the mound in the opener against Prairie, she had one bad pitch that led to a long three-run homer to left by the normally light-hitting Amanda Stecklein. Otherwise, Drahozal (11-2) pretty much bamboozled the Hawks, especially power hitters Gabi Carter and Natalie Rumer.

Read more...

Saints fall twice to No. 1 Hempstead

DUBUQUE - The Xavier Saints dropped a doubleheader to top-ranked Dubuque Hempstead Monday, 12-0 in five innings and 6-5, in Dubuque.

Bryce Grimm belted a two-run homer in the seventh inning of the nightcap to pull the Saints within 6-5, but the rally ended there. Grimm also hit a

double. Adam Pick went 3-for-4 for Xavier in the second game.

The Saints fell to 12-10 overall and 6-8 in the MVC.

Game 1

Xavier       000 00 - 0 2 4
Hempstead    444 0x - 12 13 0

W - Vaassen. L - Pick.

Game 2

Xavier       000 300 2 - 5 9 0
Hempstead    041 001 x - 6 11 1

W - Tomkins. L - Even.

Erin Drahozal wins Metro Spotlight Award

Xavier High School junior Erin Drahozal has been a driving force for the Saints softball team, which is ranked No.5 in Class 4A with an 18-2 record.

She has been Xavier's leading hitter and leading pitcher as the Saints battle for the Mississippi Valley Conference title.

Drahozal is the winner of the Metro Spotlight Award for high school girls this week, the Metro Sports Report announced Sunday.

Drahozal is hitting a healthy .476 with nine doubles, five home runs and 27 RBIs. She also has a 10-2 record and 2.16 ERA in the circle.

Read more...