Kennedy picks off Prairie to move to Metro tourney finals

CEDAR RAPIDS - Cedar Rapids Kennedy is in the finals of the Bob Vrbicek Metro Baseball Tournament again.

The Cougars' opponent? To be determined.

Rain washed out last night's semifinal at Cedar Rapids Xavier between the Saints and Cedar Rapids Washington. Down 42nd Street, Kennedy overcame Cedar Rapids Prairie and the weather, 5-4, in a game that began at 8:30 (an hour and a half late) and only after an extensive effort to get the Cougar diamond playable.

Kennedy is seeking its 11th Metro tourney title, its second consecutive and third in four years. This would be one of its darndest championships considering it won't know who it'll play until today.

That's a definite maybe since the forecast is for more rain. Tentatively, and this is very tentatively, Xavier and Washington are scheduled to play their semifinal at 5 p.m. at Veterans Memorial Stadium, with the title game to follow, according to Kennedy Athletics Director Aaron Stecker.

All consolation games were rained out Tuesday, and it's possible the entire bracket won't be played.

Victory number two didn't at all come easily for Kennedy, the defending Class 4A state champion and the top-ranked 4A team preseason. A pesky and improved Prairie club had the tying run at third base with one out in the sixth inning, only to have him picked off cleanly by Kennedy pitcher Griffin Michael.

“We work on that,” Michael said. “We have a call for it, and Coach (Bret) Hoyer made a good call. We saw him jumping off the base.”

Kennedy had the lead the entire game, scoring twice in the first inning and twice in the third for a 4-1 lead. Prairie hung around and was in position for a tie when Brennan Hammer singled leading off the sixth and scored on Anthony Gagliardi's double to center.

He went to third on a groundout before Michael's big play. In the set position, he lifted his leg as if to throw home but went to third instead.

“It was the right situation,” Hoyer said. “It doesn't always work ... Then we executed the rundown after it, which was important.”

Michael threw a complete-game six-hitter and contributed two hits offensively. David Yancey also had two hits, including a triple.

Jason Velvick had an RBI triple for Prairie, which should significantly improve on last season's 13-20 record. Hammer had two hits and added 2 2/3 innings of spotless relief pitching.

“It's a process,” Michael said, when asked his opinion on Kennedy's play in its first two games. “We haven't made some of the routine plays that we'd like to, but it's early.”