Iowa High School Baseball Coaches Association Rankings: Mid-Prairie moves into top spot of Class 2A

Mid-Prairie closed last season with the program’s fifth state semifinal appearance.

Despite dealing with injuries, the Golden Hawks have extended their success. Other coaches have taken notice.

Mid-Prairie moved up one spot and is ranked No. 1 in Class 2A, according to the Iowa High School Baseball Coaches Association rankings released Monday. The Golden Hawks are 5-2, entering Tuesday’s home River Valley Conference doubleheader against Tipton. They replaced defending state champion Van Meter atop the poll.

“We had a good couple weeks and good wins against a 4A Bettendorf school and (ranked) Williamsburg in 2A,” Mid-Prairie Coach Kyle Mullet said. “We understand in high school baseball at any time anybody can beat anybody. It’s great to be there but we’re focused on a state championship and that comes from what we do every day.”

Mullet recalled Mid-Prairie’s run in the early 2000s that included the 2004 2A state title and semifinal appearances in 2001, 2006 and 2007. He wanted to reclaim that success when he took over for the 2021 season.

Current seniors were on the roster and some contributed for the 2020 state quarterfinal team.

“It’s here,” said Mullet, a 2012 Mid-Prairie graduate. “Those guys have been hungry for the last four years, and the juniors and seniors have been a part of that. It’s a credit to them but I feel like our program the last four years, (a state title) has been the goal.

“We believe we have the guys and the talent every year to accomplish that. It’s a very hard thing to do. The puzzle pieces have to come together for you at the end of the year.”

The Golden Hawks are not the only RVC team in the rankings. Perennial powers Dyersville Beckman and Cascade are sixth and seventh, respectively.

Top-ranked teams in the other three classes remained the same. West Des Moines Dowling (4A), Western Dubuque (3A) and Remsen St. Mary’s (1A) are still first.

The Bobcats are 9-2 overall, sweeping four Mississippi Valley Conference opponents and beating Beckman. Their only losses have come to 4A No. 7 Pleasant Valley.

Marion holds at No. 2 behind Western Dubuque, while Cedar Rapids Xavier dropped one spot to fourth in 3A.

In Class 4A, Cedar Rapids Prairie and Cedar Rapids Kennedy both moved up from the preseason rankings. Prairie rolled in the first two weeks, posting a 10-0 mark before Monday’s home games against Davenport North.

The Cougars jumped two spots to No. 5, going 10-2 through the first two weeks. They have won three straight and seven of their last eight.

Tri-Rivers Conference rivals North Linn and Lisbon lead the way in 1A. The Lynx (7-0) are third, while the Lions (4-0) are fifth. South Winneshiek cracks the rankings, making its debut at No. 10 with a 4-0 record.

Iowa High School Baseball Coaches Association Week 3 rankings

Class 4A

1. West Des Moines Dowling (9-1)

2. Ankeny Centennial (8-0)

3. Cedar Rapids Prairie (10-0)

4. Johnston (8-2)

5. Cedar Rapids Kennedy (10-2)

6. Southeast Polk (10-2)

7. Pleasant Valley (6-4)

8. Waukee Northwest (7-4)

9. Urbandale (8-4)

10. Dallas Center-Grimes (6-2)

Class 3A

1. Western Dubuque (9-2)

2. Marion (4-1)

3. Council Bluffs Lewis Central (5-1)

4. Cedar Rapids Xavier (6-3)

5. North Polk (6-1)

6. Ballard (7-1)

7. Knoxville (8-0)

8. Boone (5-2)

9. MOC-Floyd Valley (4-1)

10. Davenport Assumption (2-5)

Class 2A

1. Mid-Prairie (5-2)

2. Van Meter (7-3)

3. Carroll Kuemper (5-2)

4. Williamsburg (5-3)

5. Estherville-Lincoln Central (5-2)

6. Dyersville Beckman (5-5)

7. Cascade (4-1)

8. Underwood (2-1)

9. Dike New Hartford (2-2)

10. West Marshall (6-2)

Class 1A

1. Remsen-St. Mary’s (5-1)

2. Mason City Newman (10-1)

3. North Linn (7-0)

4. Kingsley-Pierson (5-0)

5. Lisbon (4-0)

6. Lynnville-Sully (6-0)

7. Burlington Notre Dame (5-1)

8. Coon Rapids-Bayard (6-0)

9. West Harrison (6-1)

10. South Winneshiek (4-0)