McInerney finds her stroke; J-Hawks sweep Linn-Mar

CEDAR RAPIDS -- Maybe she was eager to rejoin the team. Maybe she couldn't stand the itching that goes with wearing a cast.

"I ripped some of it off," Hannah McInerney said. "I just kept picking at it."

McInerney missed the first part of the softball season after breaking her right wrist in mid-May, during the ASA season.

She's back now, and she's contributing with her bat.

McInerney drove in four runs Thursday as Class 4A eighth-ranked Cedar Rapids Jefferson swept Linn-Mar, 6-0 and 7-1, in a Mississippi Valley Conference softball double-header at the Jefferson Softball Complex.

"I've been working a lot on my hitting in my back yard and at Perfect Game, trying to get my swing back," she said.

Jefferson Coach Larry Niemeyer brought McInerney back slow, starting her in some JV action before inserting her back in the varsity lineup.

"Each year, she's gotten to be a better hitter," Niemeyer said. "The last couple days, she's hit the ball really well. She's a strong kid."

McInerney was 3-for-7 Thursday as Jefferson improved to 13-2 overall, 9-0 in the MVC.

The J-Hawks scored 12 of their 13 runs with two outs.

"We played 100 times better tonight than we had been, in terms of playing and competing," said Linn-Mar Coach Jon Harms. "The next step is playing consistently, night in and night out."

McInerney collected her first RBI of the night with an infield single in the third inning of Game 1, then added a two-run double in the fifth that made it 4-0.

A first-inning ground out plated Jefferson's first run in the nightcap.

"We do a lot of drills, like trying to hit to the right side with less than two outs," Niemeyer said. "When the kids can do that, it makes a big difference."

Carson Burgart's two-run triple highlighted a three-run third inning in Game 2, and Linn-Mar (4-13, 2-8) didn't manage a run until two outs in the final inning.

Jefferson pitchers Hannah Petersen and Katie Naber allowed five hits apiece and combined for 14 strikeouts while walking none.

AT C.R. JEFFERSON

Game 1

Linn-Mar              000 000 0 -- 0  5  2

C.R. Jefferson    002 031 x -- 6  9  0

Dionna Jensen (L) and Ellie Rizor. Hannah Petersen (W) and Nicole Marquart.

Game 2

Linn-Mar              000 000 1 -- 1   5  4

C.R. Jefferson    103 021 x -- 7  10  2

Maddy Ryan (L) and Hannah Yearling, Ellie Rizor (6). Katie Naber (W) and Nicole Marquart.