Iowa high school baseball substate finals: Xavier has taken advantage of ‘a fresh start’

Cedar Rapids Xavier Coach Dan Halter has an interesting view of the Iowa high school baseball postseason.

He compared it to the NCAA basketball tournament, where past results don’t matter and the unpredictable reigns.

“We’re preaching the postseason is a fresh start,” Halter said. “It doesn’t matter what your seed is or what’s going on. You get a shot to go and take it as far as you can. If you keep winning, you keep playing.”

The Saints still own a losing record, but capitalized on the playoff reset, advancing to the Class 3A Substate 5 final Wednesday at No. 4 Marion. The winner advances to the state tournament July 17-21 at University of Iowa’s Duane Banks Field in Iowa City.

“You’ve seen it in the past that good teams get hot at the right time,” Xavier senior Maverick Burger said. “It’s all about who gets hot in the postseason. We’re hoping it’s us this year.”

Xavier opened the season ranked third, one spot back of the Wolves, by the Iowa High School Baseball Coaches Association. The Saints have wins over top-ranked defending 3A state champion Western Dubuque, No. 6 Dubuque Wahlert, 4A No. 4 Iowa City High, 4A No. 10 Cedar Falls and 2A No. 3 Dyersville Beckman. Among the quality wins was a 6-3 decision over Marion the first week of the season.

“First off, they’re a heck of a lot better than their record,” Marion Coach Steve Fish said. “They have quality pitching. They were ranked earlier in the season. Quite honestly, they’re one of the better teams we’ve played. It’s going to be a tough task for us.”

Inconsistencies and a tough schedule left the Saints at 16-19 before two dominant substate wins over Keokuk (10-0) and second-seeded Benton Community (12-0).

“It starts in practice and forgetting what happened during the regular season because we didn’t really play our best,” Burger said. “We knew our best ball was yet to come and it still is. We’re getting better every day.”

Halter said he has witnessed an increase in confidence. They have played with a higher energy. Burger said Xavier wouldn’t be in this position without both.

“We’re playing loose and fun,” Burger said. “We’re playing good baseball, right now. We look to keep it going.”

Xavier was impressive in the substate semifinal at Benton. The Saints ripped 11 hits, scoring three in the first and seven in the second to end it in five innings. Cooper and Carson Schenck, Carlos Baez-Perez and Brody Hoffmann each had two hits for the Saints. All but one starter scored and all but two had at least one hit.

“Our guys were locked in,” Halter said. “They played with great energy. Everybody was feeding off each other. Defense was making great plays. We had quality at-bats throughout the lineup. When you get success, sometimes it’s contagious. Hopefully, that’s the case with us.”

Pitching was another positive for the Saints. They used three pitchers, keeping each under 40 pitches, allowing them to have their full staff available to throw Wednesday.

“It was a rare thing in the postseason that you are able to do that,” Halter said. “It’s all hands on deck. We have everybody available.”

The Wolves (29-6) were stalwarts in the rankings and have been strong ever since that opening-week loss to Xavier. The past result doesn’t matter now.

“I think it’s a little bit of positive and it doesn’t really matter,” Fish said. “Our kids know each other. They’re aware of who they are. Some of them play and train together. When you go through a whole season, some things change. A lot of different things can happen.

“They have the same goals every year. It’s one game at a time. They’re excited to play for a chance to go to the state tournament.”

Recommended Reading

Final Iowa high school baseball rankings: Marion enters postseason ranked No. 4

Western Dubuque (32-9) hosts surprise substate finalist Mount Vernon (13-19). The Mustangs upset second-seeded West Delaware and knocked off No. 3-seed Waverly-Shell Rock, 9-4, in a semifinal Monday. Mount Vernon’s Colin Bentley, Jase Jaspers and Mikey Ryan had two hits apiece against the Go-Hawks.

In 4A, second-ranked Cedar Rapids Prairie, No. 6 Cedar Rapids Kennedy and City High all host substate finals. Prairie (33-6) plays Iowa City Liberty (22-17). The Cougars (26-14) face No. 10 Cedar Falls (26-14), which topped Linn-Mar Monday.

The Little Hawks (29-12) welcome No. 9 Pleasant Valley (27-15). City High beat the Spartans, 2-1, on June 21 and has won four straight against Pleasant Valley.

Wednesday’s Iowa high school baseball substate finals

All games start at 7 p.m.

CLASS 4A

Ames (28-13) at No. 1 Ankeny Centennial (30-7-1)

Iowa City Liberty (22-17) at No. 2 Cedar Rapids Prairie (33-6)

West Des Moines Valley (16-20) at No. 3 Johnston (32-8)

No. 10 Cedar Falls (26-14) at No. 6 Cedar Rapids Kennedy (29-11)

Urbandale (20-21) at No. 5 Southeast Polk (27-14)

No. 9 Pleasant Valley (27-15) at No. 4 Iowa City High (29-12)t

Ankeny (21-19) at No. 7 West Des Moines Dowling (25-11)

Waukee Northwest (21-20) at No. 8 Dallas Center-Grimes (29-6)

CLASS 3A

Spencer (22-7) at Sergeant Bluff-Luton (28-14)

Gilbert (18-12)/Algona (17-14) winner at No. 2 North Polk (26-5)

Mount Vernon (13-19) at No. 1 Western Dubuque (32-9)

DeWitt Central (26-14) at No. 6 Dubuque Wahlert (28-13)

Cedar Rapids Xavier (18-19) at No. 4 Marion (29-6)

Ballard (20-10) at No. 7 Knoxville (34-3)

Carlisle (21-12) at Boone (16-15)

Harlan (21-14) at No. 3 Council Bluffs Lewis Central (29-4)

Comments: kj.pilcher@thegazette.com