Cedar Rapids Prairie tops Cedar Rapids Kennedy for Metro tournament title

CEDAR RAPIDS — Cedar Rapids Prairie's Cal Clark held the trophy on his hip as head coach Todd Rima addressed the team.

He even hoisted it up in the air as the team broke the postgame huddle. Fitting that the Hawks followed Clark's lead, because he's stepped in to fill that very role this season.

'He has grown from last year as a guy who just went out and did his job,' Rima said of Clark. 'This year, he goes out and does his job and takes people with him. Now, he's taken that step in leadership where he has guys following his lead and that is the biggest sign.'

Clark smacked three hits and drove in three runs, helping lead Prairie to a 5-0 victory over Class 4A fifth-ranked Cedar Rapids Kennedy on Wednesday night in the championship game of the 47th Bob Vrbicek Metro baseball tournament at Cedar Rapids Jefferson. The Hawks won their first Metro tournament title.

'It's definitely enjoyable,' Clark said. 'Any time you get a chance to win a championship, you have to seize those opportunities. I know it's not the end goal, but it sure is a heck of a good start.'

Prairie (3-0) experienced a little déjà vu, scoring three runs in the fifth like it did in its opening win against third-ranked Jefferson. Clark contributed a two-out two-run single that put the Hawks up 3-0.

Blake Viall and Ethan Copeland stood on first and third. Clark remained patient to try and move the runners. He then produced an opposite-field single.

'I just put a nice swing on the ball and hit it into right field, allowing both of the guys on our team to score,' Clark said. 'It was a big swing for our team.'

Clark added an RBI single, getting thrown out trying to stretch it into a double, to end the scoring and give the Hawks some insurance in the seventh. Copeland and Viall each scored twice for Prairie.

'We were able to get some big hits,' Rima said. 'Clark came up with a couple of huge hits that I think opened it up for us.'

The Hawks almost closed the door on themselves. Their aggressive, and sometimes gambling, style prevented some bigger innings. Prairie had runners caught stealing in the first and fourth innings. Two Hawks were thrown out at home, attempting to score on grounders to drawn-in Kennedy infielders.

Of course, they reaped the rewards. Just like the two-strike sacrifice bunt executed by Mitch Nierling that helped set up Clark's final run-scoring hit. Rima is fine with keeping opponents guessing.

'We're not the biggest in stature,' Rima said. 'We have to do all the little things. We can't be afraid to take a chance. It's going to work and sometimes we're going to look good and there's going to be times we're going to look foolish, because that is who we have to be.'

Darren Kilpatrick and Harrison Cook combined on a three-hit shutout. The Hawks have allowed just two runs in their first three games. Kilpatrick struck out seven in six innings. Cook closed the game, retiring the Cougars in order in the bottom of seventh.

Kilpatrick made his first varsity start and Rima said he picked up where Keegan Sanborn left off in Tuesday's win.

'The pitchers and the way they've had command of the zone has been outstanding,' Rima said. 'We were excited to see what he would do in his first varsity start and it's just the Metro championship. To see him handle it like that, our team got better moving forward because of it.'

Matt Berst, Jackson Behn and Derek Girling each had a hit to lead the Cougars (2-1). Kennedy threatened in the third and sixth, getting two runners aboard with two out, but didn't receive the key hit needed.

'To Kilpatrick's credit, he made some good pitches when he needed to make big pitches,' Kennedy Coach Bret Hoyer said. 'Congratulations to Prairie. They deserve it. They played better than we did.'

In his first varsity start, Chandler Poell pitched well until a pair of walks and a wild pitch that surrendered Prairie first run in the decisive fifth. He allowed just three hits in the four previous scoreless innings, fanning three.

Noah Cronbaugh retired the only batter he faced and Tyler Dralle finished the last two innings. The Cougars had three solid pitching performances in the tournament, answering the questions that arose with the graduation of their three top starters from last season's state semifinal team.

'You know how many innings we have to replace on the mound,' Hoyer said. 'We are very pleased with how our pitching has started this season. We're looking forward to continued improvement and see what happens.'

Cedar Rapids Washington (2-1) rebounded from a big loss to the Hawks on Tuesday. The Warriors beat Mount Vernon (1-2), 19-9, in six innings to place third.

Cedar Rapids Jefferson (2-1) beat Marion, 13-1, in five innings, finishing fifth.

In the seventh-place game, Linn-Mar (1-2) defeated Cedar Rapids Xavier (0-3), 15-7.

l Comments: (319) 368-8679; kj.pilcher@thegazette.com