Beer leads Jefferson to Metro title

For the first time in over a decade, the West side is the best side when it comes to Metro baseball.

Matt Beer threw a five-hitter and helped account for both of his team's runs offensively as Cedar Rapids Jefferson picked up a 2-0 shutout win Tuesday night over Cedar Rapids Kennedy in the championship game of the Bob Vrbicek Metro Baseball Tournament. It's the J-Hawks' first Metro title since 1998.

"The West side has been quiet lately," said Beer, a senior right-hander. "We knew that we had a good team. We just had to try and show it."

The championship game was rained out Monday night at Veterans Memorial Stadium and shifted to the Jeff diamond early Tuesday afternoon because of excessively wet grounds. Jefferson officials, including athletics director Scott Kibby and head coach Mike Kuba, worked for about six hours on their field, using 30 bags of diamond dry, to get it ready.

They were rewarded with a terrific all-around performance from Beer.

"Matty had a little sweet redemption tonight," Kuba said. "He got bit by the Cougars in the substate finals last year, so I know this feels pretty good for him."

Beer walked two and struck out five, recording just a pair of three-up, three-down innings, including the seventh. He got out of a two-on, one-out jam in the sixth by starting a 1-6-3 double play.

Beer also was aided by the throwing prowess of catcher Drew Higgins, who threw out Cougars baserunners trying to steal in the first and third innings.

"I was just trying to throw strikes and keep it low," said Beer. "This is a home run park, so you've got to keep the ball low."

It was Beer who got Jefferson (3-0) started offensively, too, coaxing a leadoff walk against Kennedy starter Derek Thomas. Courtesy runner Josh Vosatka eventually scored on a two-out RBI single from Logan Hollingsworth.

Jefferson got an insurance run in the fifth. Luke Montgomery reached leading off on a catcher's interference call, with pinch runner Abe Philipp scoring on Beer's run-scoring single through the box. Jefferson had just three hits in the game against Thomas and reliever Ryan Dusil.

"Tip your cap to Mr. Beer," said Kennedy Coach Bret Hoyer, whose team scored 19 runs in its first two Metro Tournament games. "He threw a great game. I thought our guy threw a great game, too. It was a very well pitched game all around. Both teams played well for this early in the season."