Baseball notes: IHSAA releases 1A, 2A postseason assignments

The Iowa High School Athletic Association has released postseason assignments for its two smallest classes in baseball.

Three of the highly-ranked 1A teams in Eastern Iowa will travel in different directions.

Second-ranked North Linn, No. 3 Don Bosco and No. 6 Lisbon learned they were assigned to different districts and substates when the IHSAA announced postseason groupings Thursday. The pairings will be released at a later date.

'I think they did a good job,' North Linn Coach Travis Griffith said. 'It's hard to split it equally, but they actually did a pretty good job overall.'

The Lynx improved to 21-1 after sweeping Lisbon (6-2 and 6-5) and beating Don Bosco (9-3) on consecutive days to open this week. North Linn will compete in 1A District 7 with Alburnett, Belle Plaine, Central City, East Buchanan, Edgewood-Colesburg, Maquoketa Valley and Springville.

The district champion will face the winner of a district with BGM, HLV, English Valleys, Iowa Mennonite, Iowa Valley, Keota, Sigourney and Tri-County.

'Alburnett and Maquoketa Valley are both teams that can be scary,' Griffith said. 'I don't know the other district in our substate very well. You worry about that when you get there.'

Before they get there, the IHSAA will have to iron out the seeding process. The pairings will be determined on a point system. The first 25 games will be used to total points, awarding one point for each win over a 1A team, two points for wins against 2A foes, three for 3A wins and four for 4A victories. North Linn is on pace for about 28 points, which would likely earn it the top seed.

'We've been doing pretty well in the seeding system,' said Griffith, noting there is no differentiation for wins against stronger teams in a higher class. 'I do and I don't (like it).

'It's a better system than we had before, but it's not flawless by any means.'

Lisbon (11-3) faces a huge test in a district that includes Calamus-Wheatland (11-6), Durant (10-3) and Midland (10-6). The substate's other district includes 2016 state qualifier Highland (10-3), New London (8-2) and Burlington Notre Dame (11-3).

Lisbon and Highland have been in the Iowa High School Baseball Coaches Association rankings. Burlington Notre Dame, Highland, New London and Midland all received votes in the latest coaches poll.

In 2A, familiar foes could cross paths if either wants to reach the state tournament. Fourth-ranked Cascade and No. 6 Dyersville Beckman are in the same substate.

The Blazers are in 2A District 7 with Clayton Ridge/Central, MFL MarMac, Monticello, Starmont and Waukon. The Cougars are in 2A District 8 with Anamosa, Bellevue, Camanche, North Cedar and Northeast.

Iowa City Regina, ranked 10th, may have to go through top-ranked Wilton, if both reach the substate final. The Regals will play in 2A District 10 with Central Lee, Columbus Community, Mid-Prairie, Van Buren and West Burlington. Wilton's district includes Louisa-Muscatine, Mediapolis, Tipton, Wapello and West Branch.

Teams have plenty of work to do before the postseason begins next month. The Lynx have their attention turned to the powerful Tri-Rivers Conference, looking for another conference crown.

'We're still focused on what's going to win this conference,' Griffith said. 'We'll let the chips fall where they may. We're going to keep doing what we're doing to get better at the little things we don't do well yet.'

Postseason assignments for 3A and 4A are expected to be released late next week, according to IHSAA Assistant Director Todd Tharp.

XAVIER HITTING DUO

Cedar Rapids Xavier's Sam Meyers and Nolan Butkowski have produced the two top individual hitting performances in the Mississippi Valley Conference and rank among the state's best in hits in a game.

Even more impressive is they did it on consecutive days,

Meyers led the Saints to a 16-9 victory at Dubuque Senior on Monday. He smacked five hits, including a home run, with three RBIs and scored three times. It was his first home run of the season and third career home run.

Butkowski matched the five-hit showing the next day in an 11-3 win at Clinton. He had a double and four singles, scoring three times and driving in two. Butkowski is hitting .321.

Vinton-Shellsburg senior Will Edwards has the state's best single-game performance at the plate with six hits against Dyersville Beckman on June 1. West Delaware's Jarod Harris also had five hits in a game, achieving that on June 7 against South Tama.

PACK THE PARK NIGHT

Cedar Rapids Washington is hosting 'Pack the Park' Night for its home game Friday against Cedar Rapids Kennedy. The Warrior program will hold a special ceremony scheduled for approximately 6:30 p.m., recognizing the 'Fix the Field' campaign that raised money for major renovations to the Washington baseball diamond.

Friends of Warrior Baseball began the fundraising effort about 18 months ago and raised more than $225,000. The field received a facelift, peeling away the top level, levelling, a new irrigation system and controls and drainage system. The pitching mound was also redone.

Washington also replaced outfield and sideline fencing, batting cages and bullpens. The foul poles were repainted and improved storage was added.

'The field is much safer and more playable for our players,' Washington Coach Scott Brune said. 'We are so thankful for all the hard work from the Friends of Warrior Baseball and all the contributions from the community that helped make this renovation project a reality.'

A couple pics of some improvements at Warrior Field! Great work, Friends of Warrior Baseball! May 18, 2017

A couple pics of some improvements at Warrior Field! Great work, Friends of Warrior Baseball! pic.twitter.com/tzxXn6MAhu

— CR Warriors Baseball (@crwarriors)

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