Cedar Rapids Prairie expects wins to lead to respect

CEDAR RAPIDS — Maybe it was a simple oversight, or it could have been a slight.

Either way, Cedar Rapids Prairie took notice it wasn't included in the Iowa High School Baseball Coaches Association preseason rankings. Opposing coaches better start paying attention.

The Hawks continued their strong start, thumping Cedar Rapids Washington, 15-0, in just four innings Tuesday night in the semifinal of the Bob Vrbicek Metro Baseball Tournament at Cedar Rapids Jefferson. Prairie will play Class 4A fifth-ranked Cedar Rapids Kennedy for the championship, starting at 7 p.m. Wednesday at Jefferson.

Prairie, which set a school record in wins and won the Mississippi Valley Conference Mississippi Division, was motivated to show what they were made of, according to third baseman Cooper Reittinger.

'It's something that made us a little angry,' Reittinger said. 'We wanted to show what we were made of. We didn't think we got the attention we deserved.'

The Hawks (2-0) opened with a one-run win over third-ranked Jefferson and then collected 14 hits in just three at-bats. They will be content with letting their play prove their point.

'I think our guys know we got zero votes, so,' Prairie Coach Todd Rima said with a pause. 'we told them you spell respect W-I-N and win. That's what we'll do and then let people decide what the rankings are.'

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Prairie wasted little time, scoring five in the first. Reittinger's three-run home run highlighted the opening frame. He added a sacrifice fly and an RBI double, finishing with five RBIs.

The extra time spent taking cuts before and after practice and productive swings in batting practice has paid dividends. He has more faith in his ability at the plate.

'You can't go up there worrying about making outs,' Reittinger said. 'You have to worry about driving in runs and getting hits for your team.'

Rima said Reittinger has been known for his glove but began to figure out his swing midway through last season.

'Right now, he's so confident that he's driving baseballs,' Rima said. 'He started to show that he could do that at the end of the year, and we just felt he was going to have a big breakout year for us.'

Tyler Nunemaker had three hits and Cal Clark added two for the Hawks.

Prairie pulled away in the eight-run third inning, sending 13 batters to the plate and smacking nine hits. At one point, the Hawks had nine in a row. Rima was impressed with their approach, adjusting to different speeds between Warriors pitchers and even from harder throwers in the opener.

'We're going to be aggressive on good pitches,' Rima said. 'I felt like we got pitches to hit, and we were aggressive (Tuesday night).

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'The thing that I liked the most is when they switched pitchers and went softer, soft lefties are tough to hit, and I thought our guys did a great job of going the other way and had the right approach,' Rima said. 'Hitters were locked in (Tuesday night).'

The Cougars (2-0) won the other semifinal with a 1-0 decision over Mount Vernon, which received votes in the 3A rankings. Prairie has another early shot to make its case.

'I think it would mean a lot,' Reittinger said. 'It would be a good way to start the season. Three good teams we'd face if we could win.'

Washington (1-1) received hits from Johnny Dobbs and Luke Jonasson. The Warriors will play in the third-place game against the Mustangs (1-1) at Cornell's Ash Park, starting at 7 p.m.

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