Iowa High School Baseball Coaches Association rankings: Mississippi Valley Conference well represented in weekly poll

The Mississippi Valley Conference has been recognized as one of the state’s top baseball conferences.

This season is no different and the programs have garnered plenty attention from the state’s coaches.

Seven teams earned rankings or received votes, meaning nearly half of the conference teams were included in the latest Iowa High School Baseball Coaches Association poll released Monday. Cedar Rapids Kennedy remained No. 1, leading a swarm of MVC schools in the penultimate Class 4A rankings.

The Cougars are joined by No. 3 Iowa City High, No. 6 Linn-Mar and seventh-ranked Iowa City Liberty. Cedar Rapids Prairie, which was previously ranked as high as sixth, received votes.

“It just shows that this side of the state can compete with anyone,” Linn-Mar Coach Kyle Rodenkirk said.

And it’s not limited to 4A. Western Dubuque is the two-time defending 3A state champion. The Bobcats were ranked No. 1 for much of the season and are fifth. Dubuque Wahlert is third in 3A. Add in the fact that both Cedar Falls (4A) and Cedar Rapids Xavier (3A) have been ranked or received votes and that’s nine of 15 league teams acknowledged by the IHSBCA.

“The MVC is a grind this year,” Western Dubuque Coach Casey Bryant said. “You have to be really mentally tough to understand when you are short on pitching that you are going to get roughed up some nights.

We have been more inconsistent at winning games with the bottom of our rotation this year, but the reason why is so many of our opponents are just better than they were the last couple years.

MVC teams snagged four of the eight substate No. 1 seeds. Kennedy, City High, Linn-Mar and Iowa City Liberty have an opportunity for a second-round bye if they win their postseason opener. Both Wahlert and Western Dubuque are top seeds in 3A. The regular season has set them up for success in the playoffs.

“Playing in our conference you have to play your best each night in order to come out on top,” Rodenkirk said. “Each conference game tends to feel like a substate game. It really tends to help leading into substate because it feels like another game.”

Bryant echoed the statement that the conference schedule prepares the team for the postseason.

“It definitely makes your team face a lot of adversity,” Bryant said. “Nothing should surprise them in the tourney.

“That competition makes your kids battle tested for sure.”

The Wamac Conference has three teams in the top 10 of 3A. Marion has been a mainstay in the rankings and comes in at No. 2, while conference newcomer Grinnell is seventh. Solon is one spot back of the Tigers. Center Point-Urbana, which had been ranked earlier in the season, received votes.

Smaller classes begin district play Saturday, so this marked the final rankings for 2A and 1A. Dyersville Beckman was the lone area team in the top 10. The defending 2A state champion Blazers close the regular season ranked fifth.

In 1A, Sigourney has enjoyed its highest ranking in a long time. Sigourney opened the week 17-2 and is ranked eighth.

IOWA HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL

COACHES ASSOCIATION RANKINGS

July 1

(Record in parentheses)

CLASS 4A

1. Cedar Rapids Kennedy (29-2)

2. Dallas Center-Grimes (30-2)

3. Iowa City High (30-6)

4. Johnston (27-5)

5. Ankeny Centennial (22-9)

6. Linn-Mar (23-7)

7. Iowa City Liberty (21-11)

8. Waukee Northwest (21-12)

9. Davenport North (25-10)

10. Waukee (23-13)

Others receiving votes (listed alphabetically): Cedar Rapids Prairie (21-11), Des Moines Roosevelt (23-12), Indianola (23-10), Ottumwa (25-7), Southeast Polk (20-13)

CLASS 3A

1. North Polk (19-5)

2. Marion (25-4)

3. Dubuque Wahlert (24-8)

4. Sioux City Heelan (25-9)

5. Western Dubuque (20-10)

6. Davenport Assumption (19-12)

7. Grinnell (22-9)

8. Solon (23-10)

9. Bondurant-Farrar (19-8)

10. Pella (20-7)

Others receiving votes (listed alphabetically): Algona (24-4), Center Point-Urbana (22-8), Central DeWitt (18-11), Harlan (21-7), Saydel (22-9)

CLASS 2A

(Final)

1. West Marshall (31-1)

2. Des Moines Christian (27-2)

3. Underwood (21-2)

4. Van Meter (26-5)

5. Dyersville Beckman (16-8)

6. New Hampton (22-5)

7. Estherville-Lincoln Central (17-5)

8. Sumner-Fredericksburg (20-3)

9. Clarinda (19-3)

10. Northeast (16-7)

Others receiving votes (listed alphabetically): Anamosa (17-9), Chariton (21-4), Mid-Prairie (18-8), Truro I-35 (21-7), West Lyon (16-2)

CLASS 1A

(Final)

1. Akron-Westfield (20-3)

2. Burlington-Notre Dame (23-3)

3. Mason City Newman (24-5)

4. Remsen St. Mary’s (18-3)

5. Lynnville-Sully (22-3)

6. Saint Ansgar (21-2)

7. Wapsie Valley (28-6)

8. Sigourney (17-2)

9. Algona Garrigan (19-5)

10. Don Bosco (20-7)

Other receiving votes (listed alphabetically): Logan-Magnolia (18-6), North Linn (18-7), Tri-Center (16-6), Woodbine (19-3), Woodbury Central (17-6)

Comments: kj.pilcher@thegazette.com