North Linn gets contributions from all ages, wraps up another Tri-Rivers West baseball title

TROY MILLS — North Linn can check off one of its primary goals again.

So, the streak continues.

The Lynx swept Maquoketa Valley, 14-4 and 11-1, in a Tri-Rivers Conference baseball doubleheader Monday at Delhi, securing the TRC West title. Class 1A No. 5 North Linn won its third straight division crown, improving to 19-3 overall and 12-0 in the TRC.

“It is always goal No. 1 on the year for us,” North Linn Coach Travis Griffith. “We love the Tri-Rivers. It has always been a dogfight and one of the best 1A conferences in the state for baseball.”

The season hasn’t been smooth. The Lynx have endured some injuries, causing starters to miss games. In an 8-3 win over 2A No. 7 Cascade, three eighth-graders were thrust into the lineup on short notice. The youngsters contributed and the experience has increased the team’s depth.

“Our eighth-graders really stepped up huge,” said senior Cael Bridgewater, who earned the win against the Cougars. “They make great plays. They did everything you can ask. We said we didn’t need them to be great but need them to make the average play. They did.”

Levi Benesh missed some games and Jake Van Etten has battled a leg injury. Corbin Woods has been a pillar in the Lynx batting order. He missed about five games. He returned to form immediately, ranking among team leaders with a .466 average, 27 hits, 24 RBIs and 38 total bases.

“Woods has recovered from a wrist sprain,” Griffith said. “He’s hitting the heck out of the ball.

“I think it’s better for us in the long run. We got some younger kids in there and they stepped up pretty big. Just a little bit of an adrenaline shot when you add two starters back in the lineup.”

Leadership has come from multiple players, including sophomore catcher Cael Benesh. He has served as a “glue guy” who frames, calls pitches and throws out runners well.

“He’s only a sophomore but he’s as rock solid back there as you’d see in a 1A program,” Griffith said. “Great kid and an unbelievably hard worker.”

Griffith said he’s feeling better about his team as they approach the postseason. The Lynx have four to five arms, including Bridgewater, Ben Wheatley and freshman standout Mason Bechen. Arms, gloves and small ball will be keys to success.

“We’re only going as far as our defense and pitching take us,” Griffith said. “We’re not an offensive juggernaut by any means. We score runs but we do it a different way with baserunning and two-strike approaches.”

City High’s Carlson batters Senior

Iowa City High senior Drew Carlson battered Dubuque Senior in a 21-0 victory in Game 2 of a Mississippi Valley Conference doubleheader split Monday in Dubuque.

Carlson erupted for nine RBIs, going 4-for-4 with two singles and two home runs — a grand slam and a three-run shot. The nine RBIs is the best single-game performance in the state among all classes. He has 33 RBIs this season, batting .396 with 36 hits and three home runs.

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