Suspended coach there in spirit

CEDAR RAPIDS - Although Cedar Rapids Prairie Coach Joe Yegge wasn't in the dugout against Linn-Mar Tuesday night because of a suspension, his motto of “winning every inning” was.The Hawks (19-11, 14-6 MVC) swept the Lions (10-18, 7-11), 9-2 and 7-0. After losing four of their last five games, junior Amanda Stecklein felt a change in the team.“I kind of felt like we were all a little more relaxed than we were going into this weekend because we kind of struggled last week,” Stecklein said. “We knew we needed to get back on track this week.”Stecklein went 4-for-4 with three singles and a double in the first game. The Hawks took control of the game in the bottom of the third inning when junior catcher Natalie Rumer hit a three-run double to center field.“Every game we've had different hitters step up and that's the uniqueness of this team,” said assistant coach Lynnette Stecklein. “When others are struggling, we pick each other up and that's the neat thing about this team. When the top of the order is struggling, the bottom of the order comes through and vice versa.”In the second game, it felt like “more of a defensive battle” to Stecklein. In the top of the sixth inning with the Hawks leading 5-0, Linn-Mar senior infielder Allissa Clauson went to the plate with bases loaded and two outs.With a 3-1 count, Clauson grounded to Prairie senior pitcher Katie Kuch who threw her out at first. With the Lions threatening late in the second game, Stecklein said her players really kept their composure in a pressure situation.“Those are the kinds of things these girls are just starting to do consistently,” Stecklein said. “They believe in themselves and their teammates and they're making plays they should be making. When you play with confidence, good things are going to happen.”Yegge is serving a suspension for being ejected from a game.