Iowa High School Baseball Coaches Association rankings: Cedar Rapids Prairie has been a mainstay near top of Class 4A poll

CEDAR RAPIDS — Rankings are more of a progress report than a source of pressure for Cedar Rapids Prairie.

The Hawks are more concerned with their placement when the season is done than opinions during the regular season.

“I don’t think our kids feel any pressure due to the rankings,” Prairie Coach James Nelson said. “I think they see it more as feedback about the mountain we are trying to climb. The group has back-to-back state tournament runs and are focused on the challenge of being No. 1 at the end.”

Prairie posted consecutive 1-0 road victories over No. 3 Johnston and Waukee Northwest on Friday, maintaining its No. 2 spot in the Iowa High School Baseball Coaches Association Class 4A rankings released Monday. The Hawks entered Monday’s Mississippi Valley Conference doubleheader at Dubuque Hempstead with a 27-3 record.

Prairie has been burrowed near the top of the rankings all season, producing one of its best starts — if not the best start — in school history. The Hawks also start this week with a seven-game win streak.

“Even though it is a short season, there are still a lot of ups and downs,” Nelson said. “I think this group is learning the level of focus and discipline it takes to play at a championship level.”

Prairie is far from the lone MVC team in the rankings. Cedar Rapids Kennedy, which split with Prairie earlier this month, has moved to fourth in 4A. The Cougars have battered opponents and own a 25-9 mark. Iowa City High (22-12) has moved back up to sixth.

MVC Valley Division leader Western Dubuque has been the 3A No. 1 team all season. The Bobcats (26-6) are the defending state champions and play at Prairie on Friday. Dubuque Wahlert (22-10) rounds out the ranked conference programs, coming in seventh in the latest poll.

“The MVC is tough as ever,” Nelson said. “You have to play at a high level every night or you will lose. We have great players and great coaches in Eastern Iowa and that is evident in the statewide 3A and 4A rankings.”

Marion (21-5) moved up to fourth in 3A.

The postseason begins Saturday for 1A and 2A teams across the state. The final rankings for both small classes were distributed Monday. Dyersville Beckman (18-8) climbed to its highest spot of the season in 2A. The Blazers are third, while Mid-Prairie (20-6) remains at No. 2. Both Beckman and Mid-Prairie were state semifinalists last season. Cascade (16-7) holds at No. 7 and was a state quarterfinalist last year.

All three are top seeds in their respective 2A districts and receive an opening-round bye.

In 1A, North Linn (22-4) is fifth and also has a first-round bye Saturday, moving to the district semifinals on July 5. Lisbon (19-4) is top-seeded, hosting Springville in a district quarterfinal Saturday.

Class 4A rankings

1. Ankeny Centennial (25-2)

2. Cedar Rapids Prairie (27-3)

3. Johnston (27-7)

4. Cedar Rapids Kennedy (25-9)

5. Southeast Polk (23-9)

6. Iowa City High (22-12)

7. West Des Moines Dowling (19-9)

8. Dallas Center-Grimes (21-6)

9. Indianola (22-7)

10. Ankeny (16-15)

Other teams receiving votes (alphabetical order): Ames (22-11), Linn-Mar (19-12), Pleasant Valley (20-13), Sioux City North (23-9), Urbandale (17-15)

Class 3A rankings

1. Western Dubuque (26-6)

2. North Polk (20-3)

3. Council Bluffs Lewis Central (22-3)

4. Marion (21-5)

5. Adel ADM (20-7)

6. Knoxville (27-2)

7. Dubuque Wahlert (22-10)

8. Davenport Assumption (21-10)

9. Ballard (15-8)

10. Sioux City Heelan (19-11)

Other teams receiving votes (alphabetical order): Benton Community (24-8), DeWitt Central (19-8), MOC-Floyd Valley (21-7), Sergeant Bluff-Luton (23-11), West Delaware (19-9)

Class 2A rankings (Final)

1. Van Meter (22-8)

2. Mid-Prairie (20-6)

3. Dyersville Beckman (18-8)

4. Estherville-Lincoln Central (17-6)

5. Underwood (18-2)

6. Carroll Kuemper (18-9)

7. Cascade (16-7)

8. West Marshall (21-6)

9. New Hampton (19-8)

10. Pleasantville (22-6)

Other teams receiving votes (alphabetical order): Anamosa (17-8), Sumner-Fredericksburg (16-4), West Lyon (18-2), Williamsburg (16-16), Woodward-Granger (14-4)

Class 1A rankings (Final)

1. Mason City Newman (25-3)

2. Kingsley-Pierson (21-1)

3. Remsen St. Mary’s (23-2)

4. Lynnville-Sully (21-1)

5. Don Bosco (23-5)

6. North Linn (22-4)

7. West Harrison (18-3)

8. Burlington Notre Dame (23-6)

9. Lisbon (19-4)

10. Le Mars Gehlen (17-3)

Other teams receiving votes (alphabetical order): Algona Garrigan (19-5), Coon Rapids-Bayard (21-4), Newell-Fonda (17-5), Saint Ansgar (20-5), Woodbury Central (13-5)