Iowa High School Baseball Coaches Association Rankings: Iowa City High endures tough schedule, climbs to 3rd in Class 4A

Iowa City High’s schedule was by design.

The Little Hawks had talent and depth returning and were capable of handling a stacked schedule to open the season. They faced five top-five ranked teams and another that received votes already this year.

“We tried to structure our schedule to be challenging,” City High Coach Brian Mitchell said. “I’d say we’ve been tested a lot and that’s a good thing. We’ve handled it pretty well.”

City High owns a 16-5 overall record and moved to No. 3 in the latest installment of the Iowa High School Baseball Coaches Association Class 4A rankings released Monday.

Cedar Rapids Prairie remains No. 1 in the 4A poll for the second straight week. Dubuque Wahlert (3A), Underwood (2A) and Remsen St. Mary’s (1A) round out the top-ranked teams.

The have battled teams like Prairie and 4A No. 5 Johnston. City High has split with defending 4A state champions and No. 9 Cedar Rapids Kennedy and 3A No. 3 Marion. The Little Hawks moved up two spots from last week’s poll.

“That’s your goal,” Mitchell said. “Take those experiences and learn from them.

“We’ve won some one-run games here last week. Marion was in extra innings. We got some tough ones from Dubuque Senior, which is much improved across the board. Those are good wins.”

Mitchell is in his 14 th season as Little Hawks head coach. The program continues to parlay strong pitching and defense for success. City High leads 4A with a 1.75 team earned-run average and is tied for first with 35 earned runs. The Little Hawks are second with 54 total runs and tied for second with 88 hits allowed, ranking fourth in opponents’ batting average at .172.

Jaxton Schroeder leads the team with 34 strikeouts and 26 1/3 innings pitched. He also has a 1.06 ERA, averaging less than one baserunner per inning. Drake Obermueller (4-0), Adam Bowman (3-0), Nick Meredith (3-1) and Zach Meredith (3-0) provide a steady stream of effective pitchers.

The staff has the benefit of a strong, athletic defense when the ball is put in play with Schroeder and Parker Sutherland splitting time at first, Dom Salibi at third, Owen Hicks at shortstop and versatile Obermueller at second.

“We have arms,” said Mitchell, noting sophomore catcher Henry Birt has stepped in due to injuries and has performed well. “We have (high velocity) guys and kids that just know how to pitch. I’d start with that.

“Our defense is no different than what we’ve been … look at our infield, in my opinion, it’s pretty elite. Then our outfield, we have some athletes there. They can go down track down some baseballs.”

City High also ranks among the 4A team leaders in home runs with 12. Junior Paxton Bell leads the way with five. Schroeder and Hicks with two apiece.

Mitchell said the Little Hawks were motivated by the challenging schedule throughout the offseason, talking about what that first week would be like. They have played in multiple playoff-like atmospheres, including a Friday night game at Johnston and doubleheaders against Prairie and Wahlert. City High plays at No. 6 Waukee Northwest on Wednesday and hosts Cedar Rapids Xavier on Friday at Mercer Park.

The Little Hawks have embraced it and learn from each competition.

“That’s what they wanted and that’s what they got,” Mitchell said. “It makes for a much better experience. You’d rather have those experiences. We’re here for that, trying to create as great of an experience as we can for the kids.”

Benton Community climbed into the rankings, making Monday’s games at Marion a top-10 battle in 3A.

In Class 2A, Iowa City Regina comes in at No, 7, while perennial power Dyersville Beckman breaks into the poll at No. 10.

Sigourney is second in 1A and North Linn is seventh. The two teams play Tuesday at Troy Mills. Lansing Kee sits at No. 8.

IOWA HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL

COACHES ASSOCIATION RANKINGS

(Record in parentheses)

Week 5 (June 16)

CLASS 4A

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

Others receiving votes (alphabetical order): Bettendorf, Davenport North, Indianola, Iowa City Liberty, Southeast Polk

CLASS 3A

1. Dubuque Wahlert, 2. Pella, 3. Marion, 4. Sioux City Heelan, 5. Ballard, 6. Algona, 7. MOC-Floyd Valley, 8. Sergeant Bluff-Luton, 9. Benton Community, 10. Saydel

Others receiving votes (alphabetical order): Boone, C.R. Xavier, Davenport Assumption, Decorah, Western Dubuque

CLASS 2A

1. Underwood, 2. Pleasantville, 3. Van Meter, 4. West Lyon, 5. Chariton, 6. Mediapolis, 7. Iowa City Regina, 8. Unity Christian, 9. Grundy Center, 10. Dyersville Beckman

Others receiving votes (alphabetical order): Bellevue Marquette, New Hampton, Sumner-Fredericksburg, Truro I-35, Wilton

CLASS 1A

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

Others receiving votes (alphabetical order): Bedford, Lake Mills, Logan-Magnolia, MMCRU, Wapsie Valley

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