Another big offensive display for Jefferson

CEDAR RAPIDS — Yes, it's early. Sure, the competition level will rise.

But no disclaimer is necessary. It's clear and obvious that the Jefferson J-Hawks can hit.

They can hit for power. They can hit for average.

'It's going to get tougher, but right now, we're going to the plate with a lot of confidence,' Coach Brian Erbe said after Class 5A fourth-ranked Cedar Rapids Jefferson swept No. 13 Cedar Rapids Prairie, 14-3 and 8-2, in a Mississippi Valley Conference softball double-header Tuesday night at Prairie High School.

Jefferson (8-0 overall, 6-0 MVC) is a veteran team with big bats throughout the lineup. The J-Hawks have scored 94 runs, an average of nearly 12 per game.

'We're getting a lot of cuts off the tee in practice. A lot of soft-toss,' said Liv Erickson, who drove in four runs in the opener. 'A lot of fundamentals — loading and unloading.'

Speaking of unloading, the J-Hawks smoked three more home runs Tuesday, running their season total to a state-best 14.

Emily Oler and Erica Oler hit back-to-back bombs in the second inning of Game 1 as the J-Hawks took a 7-1 lead. Emily's homer was a three-run shot.

Kennedy Dighton homered in the nightcap.

Erickson's RBIs in the opener were more of the gapper variety. Single, double, double, double. Each chased home one run.

'I love hitting in the '2' spot,' Erickson said. 'I can bunt. I can hit. And Erbe gives me the freedom to do what I want.'

Jefferson scored in each frame of the six-inning opener, then broke open the finale with five runs in the top of the first inning.

Lindsey Culver upped her state-high RBI total to 19 with a two-run single to get the J-Hawks off and running in the finale.

Most of the rest of the J-Hawks' dominant display was defensive. Prairie (3-3, 3-3) collected 12 hits (out-hitting the J-Hawks, 12-5) in the nightcap, but stranded 12 runners on base.

'We came a couple errors, but for the most part I couldn't be happier with our defense,' Erbe said.

'I'm very tickled with where we're at, and hopefully we keep improving.'

Prairie's Lauren Kuch was 5-of-6 Tuesday with a home run, and scored three of the Hawks' five runs.

C.R. JEFFERSON 14-8, C.R. PRAIRIE 3-2 (1st,6)

At C.R. Prairie

Game 1

C.R. Jefferson 251 114 — 14 12 3

C.R. Prairie 101 010 — 3 6 2

Erica Oler and Hannah Markham. Natalie Halvorson, Lindsey Clausen (2), Payton Akers (5), Abigail Boone (6) and Lauren Kuch. W — Oler (4-0). L — Halvorson (2-2). HR — CRJ: Emily Oler (4), Erica Oler (2), CRP: Kuch (2).

Game 2

C.R. Jefferson 500 012 0 — 8 5 2

C.R. Prairie 110 000 0 — 2 12 5

Emily Oler and Hannah Markham. Nicole Sullivan, Lindsey Clausen (6), Gabrielle Robinson (7) and Hunter Dietrich. W — Oler (4-0). L — Sullivan (0-1). HR — CRJ: Kennedy Dighton (3).

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