Junior Cougars to Cougar Juniors

CEDAR RAPIDS - Sammy Lizarraga recalled the caravan of young baseball players and their families piling into their cars, meeting up and hitting the road together for competition.

They made countless trips to seek challenges on the diamond, finding success more often than not. The trek has wound up at Cedar Rapids Kennedy.

The Cougars will get to remain close to home for the latest challenge when they host Davenport West in an Iowa High School Athletic Association Class 4A substate final tonight at Herkelman Field, starting at 7. Kennedy will attempt to earn its seventh state tournament berth in the last nine seasons and fourth since this decade.

The 'Junior Cougars” won numerous championships together, including USSSA state and World Series titles. They played a lot of games at a lot of different places, starting as early as 8 years old.

'I think a couple years we had seasons up to 60-some games,” Lizarraga said. 'We traveled from Tennessee to Ohio to Arkansas and almost everywhere.”

Kyle Brewer has fond memories of those excursions. Games are fresh enough to remember specific plays, especially the national title in 2007. Good times occurred off the field as well.

'I can play back the World Series when we won it,” Brewer said. 'Running around hotels together, getting in trouble and all that good stuff.”

Lizarraga's father, Jim, and Mark Daniels, father of Kennedy teammate, Zach Daniels, spearheaded the charge, taking the team to play talented teams outside of the area. Kennedy Coach Bret Hoyer said they embraced the philosophy of travel baseball, dedicating themselves almost year-round, helping develop skills and increase and sustain players' interest in baseball and

'Their results have paid off,” Hoyer said. 'The kids have been enjoying a lot of success in the high school years.”

Kennedy won its third Mississippi Valley Conference divisional crown this season, sitting at 30-5 overall. The juniors make a big impact. Daniels is among the leaders, batting .470. Lizarraga has a team-high 34 RBIs, tying Brewer for the most home runs for the Cougars. Daniels and Blake Hargens are both 8-1. Lizarraga is 6-0, while Sawyer Neuhaus has added four wins.

All the practices, games and plays have created a cohesive group that works well together on the field.

'We just know each other like the back of our hand,” Lizarraga said. 'We have really good chemistry as a team.”

The Cougars feed off one another and are motivated to achieve for their teammates more than themselves.

'We all play for the team,” Brewer said. 'No one is selfish. We're always raising each other up.”

Kennedy will need contributions from everyone if it plans to reach state for the program's 15th time and 12th during Hoyer's 22 years coaching the Cougars. West (27-6) rolled to a Mississippi Athletic Conference championship. Hoyer said he considers the Falcons a top-10 caliber team.

'They won the MAC by five or six games, according to one of the MAC coaches and that hasn't been done as long as they can remember,” Hoyer said. 'They are very good. They are well coached and much disciplined. They are the real deal.”

West is led by pitcher Tommy Dorton, who has struck out 101 batters and walked just 15 in less than 63 innings. Alex Peek provides a punch on offense, hitting .343 with a team high six home runs, which is more than the entire Kennedy team.

'We welcome the challenge,” Hoyer said. 'We know to get to where we want to get to you have to beat good people.”

The goal is to assemble that long line of cars again and set out for Des Moines next week, bringing back another title for these players.

'I think we have a pretty good chance,” Lizarraga said. 'Our goal is to play our game the whole way through and see how far we can make it.”

Iowa City West also will try to earn a spot in the 4A state field. The Trojans host Burlington.

In 3A, fourth-ranked West Delaware will attempt to knock of No. 1 Waverly-Shell Rock at Oelwein. Marion plays Davenport Assumption at Maquoketa. Solon hosts Wamac Conference foe Clear Creek Amana.

l Comments: (319) 368-8679; kj.pilcher@sourcemedia.net