Experienced Alburnett developing consistency as it climbs up 1A rankings

Alburnett opened the season with a victory against South Tama.

The Pirates avenged a loss to the Trojans from last season, winning it decisively. They also set the tone for this year.

'A team that beat us last year, we 10-runned them,' Alburnett Coach Tony Stenberg said about the 16-6 result. 'That made the guys confident that they could play with those teams that maybe they lost to last year.'

Alburnett hasn't looked back, posting a 16-3 mark before Thursday night's doubleheader at Maquoketa Valley. The Pirates have climbed to fourth in the latest Iowa High School Baseball Coaches Association Class 1A rankings.

The Pirates returned seven seniors, including most of their starting lineup and a solid pitching staff. The experience led to some high expectations.

'We knew we returned seven or eight starters,' Stenberg said. 'We just had to be more consistent than we were last year. I think that was the big thing. We're still working through some of those things.'

Alburnett recently beat 2A ninth-ranked Northeast, 6-5. It has won five straight and opened the season with seven straight victories. It was the first loss – a 3-2 decision to Calamus-Wheatland – that became another defining moment.

'It showed we still have some stuff to work on,' Stenberg said. 'It got us to wake up a little bit. The guys need to come to the park every night.'

The Pirates have four batters with at least 26 hits. Senior Dillon Caves leads the way with 28. Ian Boline, Jordan Stewart and Bryce Paul have 26 each. Kyle Christiansen has 22 hits. Paul has a team-high 32 RBIs, while Boline leads Alburnett with 31 runs.

They are hitting .375 as a team and average a little more than nine runs a game.

'Through our top six or so, I think we expect them to hit,' Stenberg said. 'We need them to hit. Toward the bottom of the lineup, we have role players, as far as getting the bunt down when we need them to.'

Kristiansen and Caves have combined for a 9-0 mark on the mound. Kristiansen is 5-0 with a 0.24 earned-run average. Caves is 4-0. Boline has pitched the most innings, throwing 31 with a 3-1 record and 1.35 ERA.

Stenberg said the seniors have provided the leadership, meshing with talented underclassmen. Leadership has been by a committee with all of them playing their part.

'They really have started to step up,' Stenberg said. 'We've had four or five of those seniors around varsity for four years now. They've been phenomenal.'

JEFFERSON HONORS KENNEY

Cedar Rapids Jefferson will host the inaugural Joe Kenney Invitational tournament Saturday, beginning at 10 a.m. The junior varsity competition will honor the late longtime J-Hawk baseball coach.

Kenney coached for more than 46 years overall, compiling a 753-402 career mark. He led the J-Hawks from 1977-97, guiding them to state tournament appearances in 1978, 1989, 1991, 1995 and 1996. He was also inducted to the Iowa Baseball Hall of Fame.

'Joe deserves this honor as he had brought a blue-collar mentality to the program,' Jefferson Coach Kyle Rodenkirk said. 'He was a great man, great coach and a true J-Hawk.'

Kenney also coached at Cedar Rapids LaSalle.

Cedar Rapids Washington, Cedar Rapids Prairie and Linn-Mar will compete in the four-team bracket. The consolation is at 2 p.m. with the championship at 4 p.m.

ANAMOSA EARNS BIG WIN

Victories have been hard to come by for Anamosa this season. The Blue Raiders' latest was their biggest.

Anamosa (4-11) knocked off Class 2A sixth-ranked Monticello, 4-3, Saturday. Jay McLean and Tucker Schofield had two hits apiece. McLean scored twice, hitting a home run. Schofield and Dirk Snyder also had an RBI. Dylan Jones threw two scoreless innings of relief for the win.

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