Iowa high school baseball preseason rankings: Marion, Lansing Kee among No. 1 teams

Kee's Tyson Cota pitches in the Class 1A state baseball championship last July at Merchants Park in Carroll. The Hawks open the 2022 season ranked No. 1 in Class 1A. (Rebecca F. Miller/The Gazette)

Marion and Lansing Kee both ended last season in state title games.

The Wolves won the Class 3A title. The Hawks were runners-up in 1A.

Both teams begin the 2022 season ranked atop their respective classes. The Iowa High School Baseball Coaches Association released their first poll Monday, coinciding with the start of competition. The other top-ranked teams are Johnston in 4A and Van Meter in 2A.

The Wolves were 37-6 a year ago. They have reached the state tournament four of the last five years, reaching the semifinals in three straight.

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“Finally getting that state championship gives our guys a lot of pride,” Marion Coach Steve Fish said. “They understand the expectations of where we want to be. We’re not going into this season to finish second. They want to win another one.

“Do I think we have the pieces there? I think we have some pieces but there are a lot of games to be played, a lot of great teams we will have to go through and I think our guys understand that. They don’t take anything for granted.”

Kee made its 17th state finals appearance last summer, which bettered the program’s state record. The Hawks were 35-10 in 2021.

In 4A, Iowa City High is third, while Cedar Rapids Prairie, a 4A state semifinalist last year, is fifth. The teams open the season against each other Monday at Mercer Park in Iowa City. Cedar Rapids Kennedy received votes.

Marion is joined by a trio of area teams, including Wamac Conference foes Solon and Independence. The Spartans are eighth and the Mustangs are ninth in 3A. Cedar Rapids Xavier starts the season ranked third after reaching the 2021 state semifinals. The Saints host the Wolves Thursday at Ken Charipar Field.

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In 2A, Mid-Prairie is third, Dyersville Beckman is fifth and Anamosa comes in 10th.

In addition to Kee, North Linn is ranked third in 1A. Lisbon, a state quarterfinalist last season, returns everyone from last season and received votes.

Iowa High School Baseball Coaches Association rankings

(2021 record in parentheses)

CLASS 4A

1. Johnston (37-8)

2. West Des Moines Dowling (32-8)

3. Iowa City High (29-14)

4. Ankeny Centennial (18-18)

5. Cedar Rapids Prairie (33-9)

6. Waukee Northwest

7. Dubuque Hempstead (30-11)

8. Pleasant Valley (37-4)

9. North Scott (26-14)

10. Indianola (30-11)

Others receiving votes: Ankeny (32-7), Cedar Rapids Kennedy (22-16), Sioux City East (35-7), Southeast Polk Polk (24-18), Urbandale (25-16)

CLASS 3A

1. Marion (37-6)

2. Dubuque Wahlert (32-11)

3. Cedar Rapids Xavier (27-13)

4. Winterset (22-12)

5. Grinnell (30-6)

6. Davenport Assumption (25-14)

7. Waverly-Shell Rock (33-8)

8. Solon (29-12)

9. Independence (27-14)

10. Sergeant Bluff-Luton (24-16)

Others receiving votes: Sioux City Heelan (23-14), Dallas Center-Grimes (18-17), MOC-Floyd Valley (27-9), Webster City (26-2), Western Dubuque (17-19)

CLASS 2A

1. Van Meter (31-7)

2. Jesup (26-4)

3. Mid-Prairie (19-8)

4. Clarinda (18-12)

5. Dyersville Beckman (21-15)

6. West Marshall (24-12)

7. Camanche (24-7)

8. Spirit Lake (17-8)

9. Estherville-Lincoln Central (20-6)

10. Anamosa (20-20)

Others receiving votes: Davis County (15-19), Grundy Center (19-9), Treynor (14-12), Waterloo Columbus (21-13), West Lyon (18-5)