Cedar Rapids Kennedy, Prairie split MVC softball doubleheader

CEDAR RAPIDS — Two Mississippi Valley Conference softball heavyweights slugged it out and came away with positives and negatives. Class 5A eighth-ranked Cedar Rapids Kennedy took down Class 5A 13th-ranked Cedar Rapids Prairie 5-2 in Game 1. The Hawks returned the favor, beating Kennedy 9-3 in Game 2 Thursday night at Kennedy.

On the wrong end of a doubleheader sweep at Linn-Mar the previous night, the Cougars (24-9) were pleased to return to winning ways in the opener.

“I’m very pleased with Game 1,” Kennedy Coach Maddison LeClere said. “I’m happy we bounced back the way that we did after our two tough losses at Linn-Mar. I think we came out swinging the bats very well. Now, Game 2, we continue to preach doing the little things. We have to have a better start in Game 2.”

The Cougars have high hopes of making a deep run in the postseason and they will go as far as the right arm of ace Jayme Scheck takes them. After an uncharacteristic rough night against Linn-Mar, Scheck had the Hawks under control.

Mounting a comeback in the six down by two runs against Scheck is a daunting task. Scheck, who came into the night walking just 10 batters on the season, had trouble finding the zone early, walking four in the first two innings. But she kept the Hawks off the scoreboard until Riley Sauser launched a double and scored on an RBI single from Miranda Farr.

Scheck hit Jade Hynek to load the bases with one out. A wild pitch scored Jensyn Jones. Scheck induced two weak grounders to escape the inning with the score tied.

Kennedy responded immediately. Lilea Prahm reached first in the bottom of the sixth after being hit by a pitch. No. 8 hitter Sidney Osborn smacked her second home run of the year to left to put the Cougars up for good. Kennedy added one more in the inning on an RBI triple from Mya Dodge.

With Scheck out of the circle in Game 2, Prairie (25-10) raced out to a big lead. A three-run first gave Prairie a cushion. The Hawks broke the game open in the top of the third.

The big blow came with the bags full. Hynek ripped a bases-clearing double to highlight a five-run inning that put Prairie up 8-0.

“I just knew I had to go up and make solid contact,” Hynek said. “My team needed me and we needed some more runs to ensure a win. We haven’t beat Kennedy in a few years so it feels good to come out with one win.”

Kennedy loaded the bases in the bottom of the seventh, but Scheck flied out to shortstop to seal the Prairie win.