Back-to-back for J-Hawks

CEDAR RAPIDS - Mike Kuba knows his team isn't going to overpower the opposition with its power game.

So the Cedar Rapids Jefferson coach turned to small ball in last night's Mississippi Valley Conference match-up at Cedar Rapids Washington. The J-Hawks used a pair of infield hits and two squeeze bunts packaged around a two-run double from catcher Colten Jordan to score five times in the second inning.

That was more than enough for J-Hawks starter Jordan Dee, who tossed a complete game four-hitter as Jefferson downed the Warriors, 5-1, to complete a sweep of games between the rivals on consecutive nights. Jefferson rallied for a 5-4 win Thursday night at Jefferson.

“Tonight, we were able to put a little pressure on them early and I think that was the difference in the ballgame,” Kuba said. “We're a team that is obviously not going to hit the long ball so anytime we can put a little pressure on a team, that's what we are going to have to do.”

That pressure also forced the Warriors into three errors in the second, two on one play when pitcher Matt Troendle bobbled Ky Kramer's squeeze bunt, then threw it away trying to get Kramer at first, allowing the J-Hawk shortstop to motor around to third. Kramer scored the final run of the inning on another good bunt from Dylan Wright.

Staked to a 5-0 lead, Dee held the Warriors at bay. He fanned seven and walked five, but spaced the walks nicely and took advantage of solid defensive play. The Warriors got on the board in the seventh when Kramer, after charging a slow roller, threw the ball past first, allowing one run to score. Kuba went to the mound but said he never considered removing Dee.

“We had a couple tough ones to handle in the seventh, but I didn't think about removing Jordan,” Kuba said. “He was pitching well and I thought he had plenty left in the tank.”

Kuba intentionally walked Warrior slugger A J Puk to load the bases, bringing Noah Burdt to the plate as the tying run. Dee got Burdt on a called third strike to end it.