Run-and-gun Iowa City West sweeps Prairie

CEDAR RAPIDS — Taleah Smith is emblematic of Iowa City West's softball philosophy.

'We're going to get thrown out every now and then, but we're going to win more of those battles than we lose,' West Coach Justin Lutjen said after the Class 5A third-ranked Women of Troy ran past No. 9 Cedar Rapids Prairie, 8-3 and 8-3, in a Mississippi Valley Conference double-header Thursday night at Prairie High School.

Smith doesn't get thrown out often on the basepaths. She was 53 of 55 in steal attempts last year. She swiped three in the first game, then got caught once in the nightcap.

'I got a really bad jump on that one, but props to them for getting me,' said Smith, a junior who has committed to the University of Northern Iowa. 'I just went back to the dugout and tried to get the energy level back up.'

The Women of Troy (4-0 overall, 4-0 MVC) stole nine bases in 10 attempts in the sweep, including 7 of 7 in Game 1. Their aggressive behavior was part of the reason Prairie (1-4, 1-3) committed 10 errors. They forced the issue and the pace.

'Our energy was really up,' Smith said. 'When we get running, the other team gets a little nervous.'

The Women of Troy broke open the first game with four runs (three unearned) in the top of the third inning. A couple of infield singles and a couple of stolen bases got things cooking, then Adara Opiola, Taylor Libby and Skylar Ryan each drove in a run.

Lauren Kuch's two-run homer in the fifth got the Hawks within 4-2, but West answered immediately with three runs in the sixth, highlighted by Opiola's two-run single.

West played from ahead throughout the nightcap, too. Only one of West's runs was earned in the nightcap.

A little bit of West's aggressive baserunning is out of necessity.

'Last year, we could really swing the bats,' Lutjen said. 'We're running a little more this year to manufacture runs and put pressure on the opponent.'

There are veterans at the top, like Smith and Opiola. And there's a bright future for eighth-grader Brylee Klosterman, who bats fifth in the lineup. She was on base 5 of 8 times, scored four runs and hit a two-run triple.

The Women of Troy were ranked No. 1 for a while last year, but were upset in the regional finals by Ankeny.

'Last year, we didn't pull through,' said Smith, whose speed and range also is an asset in the outfield (she made one diving catch on a liner and two other far-from-routine grabs). 'This could be our year.'

IOWA CITY WEST 8-8, CEDAR RAPIDS PRAIRIE 3-3

At C.R. Prairie

Game 1

Iowa City West 004 003 1 — 8 12 1

C.R. Prairie 000 021 0 — 3 7 4

Jessie Harder and Taylor Libby. Natalie Halvorson and Hunter Dietrich. W — Harder (2-0). L — Halvorson (0-3). HR — CRP: Lauren Kuch (1).

Game 2

Iowa City West 010 232 0 — 8 7 2

C.R. Prairie 000 000 3 — 3 7 6

Abby Henderson and Taylor Libby. Nicole Sullivan, Rylie Kane (5) and Lauren Kuch. W — Henderson (2-0). L — Sullivan (1-1).

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