Christensen shines on mound as Kennedy romps past Jeff

CEDAR RAPIDS - You're going to have to go through Austin Christensen to beat Cedar Rapids Kennedy this baseball postseason. An arduous task indeed.

Christensen proved that again last night, doing what he does at the plate and throwing six one-hit, shutout innings as host Kennedy topped Cedar Rapids Jefferson, 7-3, in a Class 4A substate opener. Almost a perfect start to a possible title repeat for the seventh-ranked Cougars.

“I try not to put pressure on us. We already have enough pressure on us,” Christensen said. “I just tried to stay as relaxed as possible tonight. Try to help the team treat this game just like any other game.”

The University of Nebraska signee showed why he was named the Iowa Gatorade Player of the Year just a couple of weeks into the season. He doubled home the game's first run on a line-drive gapper to left-center, part of a four-run third inning that broke things open.

Devon Jacobus culminated the frame with a long two-run home run over the large former Cedar Rapids Kernels scoreboard in left-center.

“They hit the ball,” said Jeff Coach Mike Kuba, whose team was outhit, 11-3, and finished its season 14-24. “Then when you have one hit going into the seventh inning, you're not going to win many ballgames.”

A lefty with a mid-80s fastball, Christensen kept J-Hawk hitters off balance with a good breaking ball and occasional change up. Jordan McCormick's bloop single the other way to right field was the only hit against him.

Jefferson scored three times in the seventh against reliever David Yancey, two of the runs scoring on a two-out error.

“They were definitely trying to jump on my fastball early in the count,” said Christensen, who walked two and struck out 10. “Especially the second time through the order. So I tried to throw my curveball more and just get ahead 0-1. Try to get a little bit of a guessing game going in their heads.”

Jefferson starting pitcher Bailey Hollingsworth beat Kennedy in the regular season, and it looked promising for him again after he escaped a second-and-third, none-out situation in the second inning. But Kennedy (30-8) took advantage of its opportunities against him the next inning, adding a run in the fifth and two in the seventh.

Griffin Michael went 3-for-4 with a double and triple for the Cougars, who host either Cedar Rapids Xavier or Dubuque Hempstead in a 4A substate final Wednesday night.

“Very happy,” said Kennedy Coach Bret Hoyer. “Score seven runs, Austin threw real well, was able to throw all three of his pitches for strikes, we played great defense up until that last play there.”