For Kennedy, fundamental focus has flipped it around

The equation has been rather simple. Fundamental, if you will.

Fewer K's and fewer E's has resulted in more W's. Many more W's.

When Dan Gratz took over the softball program at Cedar Rapids Kennedy, he inherited a team that he felt had enough talent, but was lacking fundamental, basic skills.

'The kids had to get their basics down,” Gratz said. 'The first month and a half, we drilled and drilled fundamentals until we got them to stick.”

From last year to this year, the Cougars have decreased their strikeout rate by 18 percent and their errors by 36 percent.

The wins have followed. After a 13-25 mark last year, Kennedy has literally flipped it. The Cougars take a 25-13 mark into Thursday's Class 5A regional quarterfinal against Waterloo East (8-31).

First pitch is 7 p.m. at Kennedy.

'We've cut our errors and our strikeouts way down,” Gratz said. 'When you put the ball in play and play clean defense, good things are going to happen for you.”

Kennedy is a rare 5A winning team playing on opening night. The vast majority of them earned first-round byes and get started on Saturday. Same with the ranked teams in 4A.

The Cougars swept East on Tuesday, and did the same to Cedar Rapids Washington (which hosts the winner Saturday) recently. That's a good sign, Gratz said, but that's all it is.

'We're not going to get too far ahead of ourselves,” he said.

Freshman Ashley Hamilton is hitting .483 this season with 28 extra-base hits, including a state-leading 11 triples.

Kennedy is the only Metro 5A team in action Thursday. In 4A, Marion (6-23) hosts Dubuque Wahlert (9-30), with the winner traveling to Solon on Saturday.

THURSDAY'S CLASS 5A REGIONAL QUARTERFINALS

(All games 7 p.m.)

Region 3

Clinton at Dubuque Hempstead (winner plays at Cedar Rapids Jefferson on Saturday)

(Other Saturday semifinal: Dubuque Senior at Linn-Mar)

Region 4

Davenport Central at Davenport West (winner plays at Iowa City West on Saturday)

(Other Saturday semifinal: Pleasant Valley at Cedar Rapids Prairie)

Region 5

Burlington at Bettendorf (winner plays at Muscatine on Saturday)

(Other Saturday semifinal: Iowa City High at Ottumwa)

Region 6

Waterloo East at Cedar Rapids Kennedy (winner plays at Cedar Rapids Washington on Saturday)

(Other Saturday semifinal: Des Moines East at Southeast Polk)

THURSDAY'S CLASS 4A REGIONAL QUARTERFINALS

(All games 7 p.m.)

Region 2

Decorah at Western Dubuque (winner plays at West Delaware on Saturday)

Webster City at Charles City (winner plays at Waverly-Shell Rock on Saturday)

Region 3

Dubuque Wahlert at Marion (winner plays at Solon on Saturday)

Maquoketa at DeWitt Central (winner plays at North Scott on Saturday)

Region 4

Davenport North at Clear Creek Amana (winner plays at Cedar Rapids Xavier on Saturday)

Washington at Fort Madison (winner plays at Davenport Assumption on Saturday)

l Comments: (319) 368-8857; jeff.linder@sourcemedia.net