Sophomore Danny Doyle steps in to play key roles for Class 4A No. 9 Cedar Rapids Kennedy baseball

CEDAR RAPIDS – Danny Doyle has been entrusted to fill key roles.

The Cedar Rapids Kennedy sophomore plays shortstop and bats in the No. 3 spot of the order. He wouldn’t want it any other way.

“You have to embrace,” said Doyle, who takes over for all-state utility man Matt Stoltenberg, who graduated last year. “You’ve got to love it because that's the only way to play hard. You’ve got to play with fire and passion. I try to do that every day.”

Doyle tallied two hits and an RBI in Class 4A No. 9 Kennedy’s 4-3 victory over Southeast Polk Saturday afternoon at Herkelman Field. The Cougars are 3-2 through their first five games this season.

Doyle plays with energy and enthusiasm that is noticeable and Kennedy Coach Bret Hoyer knew exactly what the underclassman brought to the table.

“We we've had our eye on him for quite some time,” Hoyer said. “His third year in the program and we’re very familiar with the experience he has playing at a very high level in youth baseball. What he’s doing out here is not a surprise. It's actually kind of expected.”

Doyle loved baseball from the first time his dad introduced him to the game. He plays basketball and runs track, but baseball is his favorite. Doyle said he began to pursue it seriously last season, playing for the sophomore team.

The most impressionable moment was dressing with varsity for the state tournament, learning from his predecessor.

“I got to see Matt Stoltenberg and what it took to play the position when the game gets fast,” Doyle said. “You’ve got to really slow it down for yourself.”

Doyle is a well-rounded player, smacking two singles and reaching base in all three at-bats, stealing a base and showing his athleticism on defense. He snagged a hard grounder off a short hop to his right, twirled around and threw out a runner at first in one smooth motion.

“I had a lot of fun,” Doyle said. “It was great experience.”

Hoyer said Doyle is doing everything in competition that coaches and teammates see in practice. He is glad fans are getting a chance to witness the same thing.

“Anybody that is observant will recognize that his mannerisms tell you he loves baseball,” Hoyer said. “And he's a baseball player.”

Doyle is one of the new faces in the lineup for the returning state champions. Seniors had influence on the result against Southeast Polk.

Colton Duerling contributed to three runs. He walked, went from first to third on a wild pitch followed by an errant throw and scored on Doyle’s hit to center.

He delivered a big blow in the three-run fifth, helping erase the Rams’ 3-1 lead. Leo Koester had a leadoff single, Logan Miller walked and Jackson Popelka put down a two-strike bunt single to third that loaded the bases with none out. Two batters later, Duerling drilled a two-run double down the right field line. Popelka scored the go-ahead run on a wild pitch.

“It's kind of the tradition around here,” Hoyer said. “Our seniors get things done.”

Kennedy freshman Tate Welsch made his debut and pitched 2 1/3 innings for the win. He allowed just one run on one hit. Welsch even picked off runners for the third out in consecutive innings. Deacon Kucera pitched two scoreless innings for the save.

Kennedy had to replace a lot of players who graduated from last year’s team. Hoyer said there has been a lot of improvement in a short amount of time. The goal is to continue that learning curve.

“We just hope they keep making that degree of improvement throughout the whole summer,” Hoyer said. “If they do that, then they're going to be where we want to be in July.”

Kaden Hills had a hit and scored twice and Noah Trexel and Maddox Bartling added a hit and RBI apiece for Southeast Polk.

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