Amber Porter paces Alburnett to hot start

The Alburnett Pirates were youthful at some positions last year, injured at some others.

'Everybody's a year older now, a year stronger, a year more mature,' Alburnett Coach Kevin Johnson said. 'And it sure doesn't hurt when your girl on the mound is throwing well.'

That would be junior Amber Porter, who has stymied the opposition to the tune of a 0.27 ERA and 36 strikeouts in 26 innings.

After an un-Alburnett-like 20-19 season last year, the Pirates are 6-0 overall, 3-0 in the Tri-Rivers Conference. The Pirates blanked Central City, 10-0, in the first game of Tuesday's double-header (the Wildcats led Game 2, 3-2, in the fourth inning before it was suspended due to rain).

The Tri-Rivers appears to be deeper and more balanced than in recent seasons. Bellevue Marquette, Calamus-Wheatland and Central City are listed sixth, seventh and 11th in the first Class 1A state rankings. Alburnett, Maquoketa Valley and Lisbon also hope to contend.

'We look forward to it,' Johnson said. 'I hope it goes that deep. There are a lot of teams in this league that have our attention.'

Maddison Volesky is back at full strength after playing on an injured foot last year. Kassidy Rose has returned after missing 2015 with a torn ACL. They provide veteran leadership, as does multi-sport standout Taylor Huber, who is batting .500 with a pair of home runs and 11 RBIs.

Alburnett plays at Calamus-Wheatland on Thursday.

'They hit the ball, and they hit it hard,' Johnson said. 'We're looking forward to that.'

MVC DIVISION LEADERS COLLIDE

Three Mississippi Valley Conference teams are unbeaten in league play, and two of them collide Thursday at Cedar Rapids Kennedy.

The host Cougars — ranked No. 4 in Class 5A and leaders of the Valley Division — are 6-0 overall heading into Wednesday's non-conference game with Solon and 6-0 in the MVC. Kennedy has outscored its opposition by a 55-7 margin, and the pitching staff has allowed one unearned run in 33 innings.

Junior Megan Weber is hitting .615 with three home runs and eight RBIs, and senior Tianna Drahn (.591) has scored 12 runs and stolen 15 bases.

Sophomores Amber Cooksley and Jenna Springer are hitting .600-plus for Mississippi Division leader Dubuque Hempstead (6-0, 4-0).

First pitch is 5:30 p.m.

FISER, ON FIRE

Benton Community ace Amber Fiser has three no-hitters in her first five starts.

A senior who has signed with the University of Minnesota, Fiser opened with a no-hitter against Cedar Rapids Prairie last week, then followed that with a three-inning gem against New Hampton.

Her best appearance was her most recent one, an eight-inning no-hitter against North Scott on Saturday in which she struck out 20 batters. The Bobcats won that game, 1-0.

Fiser is 5-0 with a 0.00 ERA (she has allowed one unearned run). She has struck out 76 batters and walked two in 34 innings.

The top-ranked team in Class 3A, Benton is 9-0 heading into Wednesday's Wamac Conference interdivisional matchup with West Delaware.

l Comments: (319) 368-8857; jeff.linder@thegazette.com