Softball notes: Iowa City Liberty is off to a 9-1 start in “interim” season

Mike Morrison is a baseball coach, coaching softball.

“Swing mechanics, I’m not changing anything,” he said. “I not big on bunting. I would rather move runners with a swing, drive the ball into the gaps.”

It’s working.

Iowa City Liberty has scored 93 runs in its 10 games, and is off to a 9-1 start in Morrison’s interim season as a result.

The Lightning are among the state’s Class 5A leaders in most offensive statistics. Part of that is because they already have 10 games in the book. Part of it is pure prolificity.

Liberty is No. 1 in home runs (13), RBIs (85) and stolen bases (34). That combination reflects the team’s aggressiveness both at the plate and on the basepaths.

“I would say the power surge has been a pleasant surprise,” Morrison said. “I’d like to see a little more consistency at the plate. Right now, we’re putting up a big number, then cruising a little bit for a couple innings.”

The power has come from junior Haileigh Smith (four home runs) and sophomores Brynlee Slockett (four) and Mischa Reiners (three). Those three have combined for 44 RBIs.

Slockett leads the Lightning in both runs (16) and RBIs (17).

Liberty had an ace in the circle for the past couple of years in Kara Maiers, who graduated in 2021. This year’s team has a more-than- capable duo in junior Kennedy Daugherty (5-0, 0.82 ERA, 42 strikeouts) and senior Kinsley Robertson (3-1, 1.17, 32 Ks).

The Lightning suffered their first loss Monday, 6-0 to Williamsburg in the first game of a doubleheader, before rebounding to win the nightcap, 2-1.

“We needed to see some upper-level pitching and a team that could swing the bats from top to bottom,” Morrison said. “That’s why playing Williamsburg was good for us.”

Liberty swept Cedar Rapids Washington on Tuesday.

Morrison was the head baseball coach at West Delaware for 21 years, winning a state championship in 2007.

He has served as athletics director at Liberty since its birth in 2017, then stepped in as interim coach when Jeff Kelley resigned suddenly on the first day of practice.

“It’s been a blast so far,” Morrison said. “The kids are great. We’re still in the process of figuring each other out. We’ve just got to give each other grace, laugh off the mistakes and figure it out as we go.”

The Lightning host Iowa City West on Thursday.

Early perfection: Party of 7

Led by reigning state champion North Linn, seven area teams have gotten through the first week-plus with nary a blip.

North Linn (9-0) has extended its winning streak to 15 games, dating back to a 2021 postseason run that ended with a Class 2A title. The Lynx are No. 1 in 1A this year.

Other area teams that were unbeaten through Tuesday: Linn-Mar (5-0), Clear Creek Amana (6-0), Decorah (5-0), Mount Vernon (8-0), Jesup (6-0) and Sigourney (5-0).

CCA, Mount Vernon and Sigourney were state-tournament teams last year, with the Mustangs earning 2A runner-up honors.

Forty-five teams statewide were unbeaten through Tuesday.

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com