West Delaware making a push in Wamac East

For much of the past decade, the East Division of the Wamac Conference has been the Solon Spartans' personal playland.

It's far too early to declare the Spartans dethroned, but West Delaware is making a push at it.

A 4-1 win Monday at Manchester put the Hawks (16-5 overall, 5-0 Wamac East) alone in first place. Mount Vernon is 5-1 in divisional play, Solon 3-2.

'(Winning the division), that's always the goal,' said Hawks Coach Tiffany Rave. 'But it's not something we talk about. We mentioned it at the preseason meeting, but nothing since.

'Right now, we're just focusing on the process.'

The Hawks aren't glitzy. They aren't putting up gigantic numbers, instead succeeding because of balance.

'We don't have a star kid. But we have a steady lineup without any holes,' Rave said. 'Offensively, our girls have committed to become better hitters. We've definitely improved that part of our game.'

• Super 10: West Delaware jumps into top five

All nine batters in the regular starting lineup are hitting between .304 and .415, with Kira Vaske leading the way.

Heidi Yonkovic, the No. 8 hitter, had a critical two-run hit in the Solon win.

Kristen Wegmann (12-5) has had the bulk of the pitching duty. She owns a 0.91 ERA with 132 strikeouts in 108 innings.

Rave has won everywhere she's been, both as a player (as Tiffany Kruse, at Edgewood-Colesburg and Luther College), then as a coach. After developing Monticello into a winner, she jumped at the chance to coach closer to home before the 2015 season.

'It was tough leaving Monticello. I loved that program,' Rave said. 'But when the opening came up here, it made sense.

'I'm nothing but happy where I'm at.'

STATE LEADERS

The season has reached its midpoint, and Cedar Rapids Kennedy's Megan Weber is tied for the state lead in home runs, with 10.

Casidy Dondiego of Northeast also has gone deep 10 times.

Weber ranks third in slugging percentage (1.241), fifth in RBIs (33) and sixth in on-base percentage (.691).

Taylor McDonald of Monticello and Libby Ryan of Mount Vernon among three players with five triples apiece.

TUESDAY IS BRACKET DAY

Regional pairings will be released Tuesday, IGHSAU assistant director Jason Eslinger confirmed.

The tournament series begins July 5 with 1A and 2A regional first-rounders. Regional finals are July 11 in 1A, 2A and 3A, July 12 in 4A and 5A.

The state tournament is July 18-22 at the Rogers Sports Complex, Fort Dodge.

l Comments: (319) 368-8857; jeff.linder@thegazette.com