Prairie strikes early, drops No. 1 Kennedy

CEDAR RAPIDS - They say the third time is a charm.

And if you would say that, Cedar Rapids Prairie baseball coach Matt Thede probably would agree after watching his Hawks defeat top-ranked Cedar Rapids Kennedy, 3-1, last night at the Prairie diamond.

The Hawks had lost to Kennedy twice this season - 9-0 in the season-opening Metro tournament and 5-4 Monday at Kennedy.

Pitching told the story for both teams.

Prairie hurler Brennan Hammer got the victory, giving up five hits, striking out 11 and walking two.

Kennedy's Alex Hayden matched the outstanding effort by giving up six hits with five strikeouts and one walk. That effort did not escape Thede's attention.

“There were two outstanding pitchers tonight who will be playing major college baseball someday,” he said. “Brennan threw great for us, and Hayden was outstanding for them.”

Prairie scored three runs early and made them stand up.

Jason Velvick walked to lead off the game, and Tyler Mougin was then hit by pitch.

A wild pitch put the runners on second and third before a sacrifice fly from Hammer opened the scoring.

Tyler Votroubek popped a double to score Hammer. Votroubek finished the Prairie scoring when he crossed home plate on a Cougar error.

“Coming off the tough loss Monday night and with the way we responded tonight, we are finally starting to see us as the team we want to be,” Thede said,

“Coming back and winning against a team like Kennedy, which can be considered one of the top programs in the state, was huge for us.”

The Cougars did show some evidence late in the game why they are considered by many to be the top team in Class 4A.

A walk, two hits and a sacrifice bunt left Kennedy with a run in and runners on second and third in the seventh inning.

But a strike out and fly out to the center fielder ended the game.

Prairie moved its record to 8-4, and Kennedy dropped to 8-2.