J-Hawks take down No. 1 West — twice

CEDAR RAPIDS - This wasn't just another June double-header to file away and forget.

It's not a typical June double-header when the victors line up afterward for photos, hoisting a broom as a prop. It's not a typical June double-header if a large number of fans stick around for nearly a half-hour afterward.

Class 5A fifth-ranked Cedar Rapids Jefferson rallied from a four-run deficit in the first game and a three-run hole in the second and swept No. 1 Iowa City West, 7-4 and 8-4, in a Mississippi Valley Conference softball twinbill Tuesday night at Larry Niemeyer Field.

'This feels so good,” said junior Erin Kuba, who rapped four hits in the nightcap. 'Earlier in the season, we were a little shaky. This shows that we can play with them. We can do it.”

Jefferson (25-6 overall, 17-3 MVC) tightened the Valley Division race, drawing within one game of the Women of Troy (24-4, 18-2) with six league games remaining. But this was about more than rankings, records and races.

'This is really big for us,” said Kennedy Dighton, whose three-run double highlighted a five-run third inning in Game 1 as the J-Hawks turned a 4-0 deficit into a lead advantage they didn't relinquish. 'This will give us more confidence that we can hit the ball, 1 through 9.

'We had nothing to lose tonight. All the pressure was on them.”

Dighton's blast tied the game at 4-all, then Taylor Holub followed with the go-ahead RBI single. Jefferson tacked on two runs in the fourth inning to extend the lead to 7-4, and Alyssa Olson made it stand.

The second game ran a similar storyline. West broke in front, 4-1, then Jefferson caught and passed the Women of Troy.

Down 4-3 in the sixth, the J-Hawks plated five runs in the bottom of the sixth. A dangerous miscue on the basepaths by Lindsey Culver drew an errant throw, allowing Liv Erickson to score the tying run.

Tori Brandon and Maddie Hansen followed with RBI hits, then it was a sacrifice fly by Dighton and an infield hit for an RBI by Hannah Towns.

'It was an excellent performance,” said Jefferson Coach Brian Erbe. 'We got down twice to the No. 1 team, and we battled back. We got a lot of key hits.”

Alissa Good blanked the Women of Troy for the final four innings. Kuba was 5-for-7 and reached base seven times Tuesday.

'We just kind of saw a pattern. More than anything, we wanted to hit the ball to the right side and advance runners,” Kuba said.

West Coach Justin Lutjen said his team has 'hit a little bit of a bump. We'd been so good for so long this season. It's a long summer, and it's a matter of coming back and refocusing.

'They had one big inning each inning. We just could get an out when we needed it, and they deserve the credit. They earned it.”

Grace Tafolla smacked a three-run triple for a 4-0 West lead in the opener. Laynie Whitehead's three-run double in the top of the first put the Women of Troy in front, 3-0, in Game 2.

But both times, the J-Hawks answered.

CEDAR RAPIDS JEFFERSON 7-8, IOWA CITY WEST 4-4

At Larry Niemeyer Field

Game 1

Iowa City West 103 000 0 - 4 8 3

C.R. Jefferson 005 200 x - 7 8 1

Jessie Harder, Laynie Whitehead (4), Abby Henderson (6) and Taylor Libby. Alyssa Olson and Maddie Hansen. W - Olson (11-5). L - Harder (12-2).

Game 2

Iowa City West 301 000 0 - 4 7 3

C.R. Jefferson 102 005 x - 8 13 1

Laynie Whitehead, Jessie Harder (6) and Taylor Libby. Alissa Good and Maddie Hansen. W - Good (13-1). L - Whitehead (9-1).

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