Iowa High School Baseball Coaches Association Rankings: Cedar Rapids Prairie ascends to 4th in Class 4A poll

Cedar Rapids Prairie endured the growing pains of a young lineup last year.

The Hawks returned most that roster and parlayed experienced into a strong start to this season.

Prairie won its first eight games, climbing six spots to fourth in Class 4A of the Iowa High School Baseball Coaches Association rankings released Sunday night. The Hawks were 8-0 overall before Monday night’s doubleheader at 3A No. 1 Dubuque Wahlert.

“I knew we were going to have a good team this year,” Prairie Coach James Nelson said. “We have everybody back from last year other than a couple arms.

“We were super young. We were a little bit inconsistent but the talent was there.”

Prairie won 23 games last season and were 10 th in the preseason rankings. Nelson said this team transformed from young and green to seasoned and gray after playing almost a whole season of varsity baseball before this year.

“So, now we kind of feel old,” Nelson said with a laugh. “We have a ton of experience.

“They’ve played well. This has been a really fun group. They get along really well with each other.”

The Hawks consist of players from multiple grades. They have come together on the field, providing a blend of youth and veteran players in the daily lineup.

“We have three seniors, three juniors, a couple sophomores and a couple freshman,” Nelson said. “So, it’s a really good mix of all classes, which is typically what you want it to be.”

Prairie has swept Iowa City West, Dubuque Hempstead and Cedar Rapids Jefferson, adding a 12-6 triumph over No. 6 West Des Moines Valley.

Jordan Woodhouse, Maddux Mueller and Alex Meyer had two wins, entering the games against Wahlert. The team owns a 2.62 earned-run average. Kamren Francois leads Prairie with 13 hits and Mueller and Tait Tierney added 12 apiece.

The strength still revolves two things.

“We just try to do what we do,” Nelson said. “We pride ourselves on pitching and defense. We’ve done that, so far.”

Prairie faces a tough week. After Monday against Wahlert, the Hawks face Davenport Assumption Wednesday, play Linn-Mar in a makeup from the season opener, Waterloo West on Friday and travel to No. 5 Iowa City High in another top-10 showdown next Monday.

“Crazy week,” Nelson said. “It’s going to be a gauntlet for us.”

Waukee is top-ranked in 4A. Wahlert has started 9-0 and remains No. 1 in 3A. Underwood (2A) and Remsen St. Mary’s (1A) make up the remaining top-ranked teams.

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Marion (4-1) won four straight since losing its opener to Cedar Rapids Xavier. The Wolves move up to No. 2, followed by No. 3 Western Dubuque. Clear Creek Amana remains in the poll at No. 8. The Saints cracked the top 10 after receiving votes in the preseason rankings. Xavier is 6-3.

In 1A, North Linn maintained its spot at No. 3. The Lynx have opened the season 4-0 and have a showdown with No. 9 Mason City Newman on Tuesday in Waverly. Sigourney is fourth and also is 4-0.

IOWA HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL

COACHES ASSOCIATION RANKINGS

(Record in parentheses)

Week 3

(Released June 1)

CLASS 4A

1. Waukee (10-1), 2. Pleasant Valley (6-1), 3. Sioux City East (9-1), 4. C.R. Prairie (8-0), 5. Iowa City High (7-2), 6. West Des Moines Valley (8-1), 7. Waukee Northwest (7-1), 8. Johnston (6-4), 9. Ankeny Centennial (4-2), 10. Bettendorf (7-2)

Others receiving votes (alphabetical order): C.R. Kennedy (7-6), Dallas Center-Grimes (4-2), Indianola (6-3), Iowa City Liberty (6-2), Southeast Polk (9-4)

CLASS 3A

1. Dubuque Wahlert (9-0), 2. Marion (4-1), 3. Western Dubuque (4-1), 4. Pella (5-3), 5. Algona (7-1), 6. Sergeant Bluff-Luton (7-2), 7. Sioux City Heelan (7-2), 8. Clear Creek Amana (5-2), 9. MOC-Floyd Valley (5-0), 10. C.R. Xavier (6-3)

Others receiving votes (alphabetical order): Benton Community (6-1), Boone (5-1), North Polk (4-2), Oskaloosa (7-1), Saydel (6-1)

CLASS 2A

1. Underwood (4-0), 2. Pleasantville (5-0), 3. West Lyon (3-0), 4. Northeast (4-0), 5. Unity Christian (3-5), 6. Van Meter (6-2), 7. New Hampton (9-0), 8. Wilton (4-1), 9. Chariton (5-2), 10. Mediapolis (6-1)

Others receiving votes (alphabetical order): Dyersville Beckman (4-3), Grundy Center (4-0), Mid-Prairie (5-1), Sumner-Fredericksburg (2-1), West Marshall (3-5)

CLASS 1A

1. Remsen St. Mary’s (4-1), 2. Saint Ansgar (5-0), 3. North Linn (4-0), 4. Sigourney (4-0), 5. Coon Rapids-Bayard (4-0), 6. Martensdale-St. Marys (7-2), 7. Bedford (4-1), 8. Lynnville-Sully (5-0), 9. Mason City Newman (5-2), 10. Don Bosco (6-2)

Others receiving votes (alphabetical order): East Buchanan (5-1), Lake Mills (4-0), Lansing Kee (7-3), Wapsie Valley (4-1), Woodbine (3-1)

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