Around the horn with Iowa high school baseball: North Linn sweeps Lisbon and more notable wins from last week

The Gazette takes a look at some of the area Iowa high school baseball results from last week and upcoming games of interest this week.

North Linn sweeps ranked foe

North Linn continued its strong season and remained unbeaten in the Tri-Rivers Conference with a doubleheader sweep of Lisbon at home Thursday. The Lynx took the opening game, 8-5, and followed with an 8-2 victory.

The Lynx improved to 20-2 overall and 8-0 in the TRC, leading Maquoketa Valley by two games for the West Division lead. Lisbon is 12-5 overall and 5-1 in the TRC, sitting atop the East Division.

In the opener, Austin Hilmer paced the Lynx at the plate and on the mound. Hilmer pitched a complete game, scattering seven hits and striking out six. He also had two hits and two runs, matching Jarin Peyton with a team-high in both. Cael Bridgewater and Corbin Woods added two hits apiece and Ben Wheatley drove in two.

For the nightcap, Bridgewater, Mason Bechen and Cole Griffith each had two hits. Bechen and Griffith led the Lynx with two RBIs apiece. Bechen also threw a complete game 5-hitter with five strikeouts.

The Lynx were fifth and Lions were sixth in the Iowa High School Baseball Coaches Association Class 1A rankings at the time. Interestingly, North Linn dropped a spot to sixth and Lisbon fell out of the poll.

Cedar Rapids Washington topples Xavier

Cedar Rapids Washington earned a Mississippi Valley Conference doubleheader split with 3A fifth-ranked Cedar Rapids Xavier on Friday. Both teams scored one in the seventh to force extra innings and the Warriors posted four in the eighth for a 12-8 victory.

Roman Rivera had three hits and three RBIs to lead the Warriors (11-12 overall, 6-10 MVC).

Perfect week for Highland

Highland has received votes in the latest IHSBCA rankings, but ranks among the 1A leaders in win percentage with a 15-1 mark this season. The Huskies added four wins last week, giving them 10 straight entering Monday’s home game against 2A No. 9 Mediapolis.

Highland’s lone loss came at Mediapolis (15-0) on May 31. The Bulldogs won 3-0, scattering five hits and allowing eight total base runners.

The Huskies score 8.4 runs per game with their pitchers holding opponents to just 2.6 a contest. Trevor McFarland leads Highland with 25 hits and 17 RBIs. Connor Grinstead contributes 19 hits and 12 RBIs and Chase Schultz adds 17 and 14.

Schultz also powers the pitching staff with six wins. Schultz has struck out a whopping 57 batters in 36 1/3 innings pitched and owns a 1.93 earned-run average.

Waukon wins over WSR

Waukon notched a victory over a Northeast Iowa Conference foe that opened the season in the Class 3A rankings. The Indians beat Waverly-Shell Rock, 6-5, Friday at Waverly, splitting a doubleheader.

Waukon scored two runs in the sixth and two more in the seventh. Noah Hatlan and Jaden Hager led the Indians with two hits apiece and Hager added an RBI. Brody Gress drove in two runs and Nathan O’Neill scored twice for Waukon (10-11, 6-8 NEIC).

Upcoming games of interest

Tuesday: Waverly-Shell Rock (15-6, 11-3) at Decorah (16-5, 12-2) — First place in the NEIC is up for grabs. The host Vikings hold a one-game lead in the standings, so a Go-Hawks sweep puts them in first. Decorah entered the week with four straight wins. The teams are almost statistically the same. Both teams average exactly 8.0 runs per game, but the Vikings allow 4.9 runs a game, 0.1 better than the Go-Hawks.

Wednesday: 2A No. 3 Cascade (13-3, 10-2) at Monticello (11-3, 8-2) — They are the top two teams in the River Valley Conference North Division. The Cougars are ranked third, while the Panthers received votes. Monticello has won four of their last five games and three of the last four against the Cougars, who won, 6-2, on May 31.

Thursday: 3A No. 9 Clear Creek Amana (15-5, 13-3) at West Delaware (18-9, 9-7), at Beckman Sports Complex in Manchester — Each team leads its respective Wamac division in overall wins. The Clippers are ranked ninth in 3A and lead the Wamac West. West Delaware received votes in the latest poll but has been ranked and sits among the Wamac East leaders.

Friday: 3A No. 3 Western Dubuque (21-4, 16-2) at 4A No. 2 Iowa City High (20-6, 15-5), at Mercer Park in Iowa City — A matchup between the top-two teams in the Mississippi Valley Conference Mississippi Division. The Little Hawks are second in 4A and the Bobcats are third in 3A. City High swept Western Dubuque last season. The Little Hawks entered the week, winning five straight and seven of their last eight. City High allows 3.1 runs a game, while Western Dubuque gives up 3.2. The Bobcats average 8.5 runs a game, 1.8 more than the Little Hawks.

Comments: kj.pilcher@thegazette.com