Lions off to roaring baseball start

The Linn-Mar Lions are playing as well as anybody on a baseball diamond right now.

After eliminating some jitters and shaking off some rust from their pitching and defense in a season-opening loss, the Lions have recorded six straight wins.

Linn-Mar improved to 6-1 Monday, knocking off Class 4A top-ranked Cedar Rapids Kennedy, 4-2 and 6-2, in a Mississippi Valley Conference Valley Division doubleheader at Oak Ridge Middle School in Marion.

'The kids are playing with more and more confidence each game, I think,” Linn-Mar Coach Chad Lechner said. 'That is a big part of it.”

The Lions have won four games already against ranked opponents, adding wins against 3A seventh-ranked Cedar Rapids Xavier and 2A No. 8 Mount Vernon. The sweep of the Cougars was impressive, receiving five strong innings from starter Manny Jeffery to win the opener and six innings from Ryan Wyant for a victory in the nightcap.

Lechner said the Lions had good individual performances with several players making key contributions. Scott Mortensen had a three-run home run in the second game, and Jeffery, Wyant and Logan Greene had two hits apiece, including at least one double and an RBI.

'It's a good measuring stick for us,” Lechner said. 'Whenever you can play a good team, it is going to show you things you need to work on. There are definitely things that we found and can improve. We were fortunate to get the win. We played well.”

In between the Metro tournament and the upset wins over Kennedy, Linn-Mar had two decisive wins against Bettendorf. The games against the Bulldogs were tough in the past, because the Lions pitching was depleted and less than full strength. This time their depth shined, using nine pitchers who combined to allow just five runs in two games.

'They all threw an inning or two,” Lechner said. 'They did a nice job.”

Lechner has been encouraged by the Lions' ability to come through at crucial times. They have scored six or more runs in all but one game, putting the ball in play and earning more walks than strikeouts.

'The kids have bought into that,” Lechner said. 'They have done a much better job with that, understanding game situations and what our approach needs to be at the plate.”

The Lions have had a little of everything in their lineup. Adam Stolley has been a good leadoff hitter, reaching base at a .536 clip. Mortensen has some power, one home run shy of all-staters Manny Jeffery and Brandy Ollinger.

Linn-Mar has 25 players on its roster, making it tough for Lechner to get everyone on the field. He said they have a strong camaraderie and support each other.

'They seem to be accepting their roles,” Lechner said. 'The challenge is to find those innings and at-bats for everyone who is deserving.”

PARKER MAKES PERFECT

Monticello senior Parker Kray is making room in his trophy case. He has a new game ball to place next to the one from his first high school win as a pitcher.

Kray threw a five-inning perfect game Tuesday, leading the Panthers to an 11-0 win over West Branch. Kray struck out nine batters, including seven straight at one point, recording the first perfect game in school history.

'I just couldn't believe it,” Kray said. 'During the game, I like to focus on throwing strikes, first pitch strikes all the time. I wasn't concerned with how everything was going. I was concerned the next pitch.”

No one hinted at the feat throughout the game. Kray didn't realize it until his first baseman yelled, 'Perfect game” after the strikeout to end the game.

'The dugout was quiet the whole time,” Monticello Coach Josh Soper said. 'Guys went about their business. It was something pretty special.”

He received some immediate help. Tyler McDonald made a diving catch in right field to open the game and he was able to cruise the rest of the way. West Branch didn't get another ball out of the infield.

'That was essential,” Kray said. 'Without that play, it wouldn't have been possible.”

Kray, who has signed to pitch for Upper Iowa next year, has put in a lot of work in the off-season. He has gained seven miles per hour on his fastball, topping at 85 mph in the bullpen Tuesday.

'He's a power pitcher,” Soper said of the 6-foot-5, 185-pound Kray. 'He is legit. He has a nice curveball to go with it and he was able to throw the curveball for strikes on any count. When you have that combination, he's going to be dominant.”

Kray is 1-0 with a 2.80 earned-run average and 14 strikeouts in 10 innings pitched this season. Monticello is 6-1 overall.

ROMMES OFF TO ROARING START

South Winneshiek's Jordan Rommes has picked up right where last year's all-state performance ended.

Rommes has homered in each of his first six games for the Warriors, giving him a state-best seven home runs. He is batting .762 (16 of 21) with 10 extra-base hits and 15 RBIs.

Rommes also has dominated on the mound, going 2-0 with two shutouts. He has struck out 19 batters in 14 innings, allowing just eight hits so far. The Warriors are 5-1.

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