Iowa City High seeks first state baseball tournament appearance in 14 years

This opportunity has been a year in the making.

It didn't take long after a disappointing extra-inning defeat in the 2016 postseason for the Iowa City High baseball team to start offseason work to be a state tournament team and title contender.

The offseason work has paid dividends, allowing fourth-ranked City High to earn the top seed in its substate and come within a victory away of their first state tournament berth in 14 years.

'For us, it's been a long time coming for these kids to have this opportunity,” City High coach Brian Mitchell said. 'They've worked really hard for it.”

The Little Hawks host Linn-Mar in a Class 4A substate final Wednesday night at Mercer Park, beginning at 7. Substate champions advance to next week's state tournament at Principal Park in Des Moines.

'Since Day 1 this has been our goal, to get to Principal (Park),” City High senior Brett McCleary said. 'We've been striving for something like this.

'Some of us have been three or four-year starters. We're all really excited to have this opportunity. Just trying to go out there and play relax and get the job done.”

The Little Hawks (29-12) have not reached the state tournament since 2003. They haven't been focused on the past. The attention has been on the immediate impact. The current upperclassmen are boosting the program.

'It's about these kids here and now,” Mitchell said. 'We have talked, in general, that we believe in this group of juniors, seniors and a couple sophomores in there.

'We have seniors who have done all the things they've been asked to do and beyond. They have helped change the trajectory of our program, so we've talked about that but not about the past. It's their moment.”

McCleary said the team has a strong chemistry. Each player knows their role and accepts them.

'It shows success,” McCleary said. 'Results play a part of that and shows good leadership. This is a successful group and leadership has brought that together more than anything.”

McCleary (5-2), Bryce Frantz (3-1), Riley Regenitter (4-1) and Quenton Max (5-1) lead the Little Hawks in wins and innings pitched. They have received support from a potent offense.

City High leads 4A with 301 runs. The Little Hawks rank among 4A team leaders in hits (355), walks (180) and on-base percentage (.426).

'I would say there is a balance,” Mitchell said. 'Our top pitching has been pretty darn good.

'The offensive turnaround has been the big difference. We've had pretty good pitching the last couple years, too.”

Linn-Mar (20-18) has played well in the postseason. The Lions, who opened the season by winning the Bob Vrbicek Metro Baseball tournament, dropped Clinton (7-2) and Pleasant Valley (15-10) to move into the substate final. City High swept an earlier doubleheader at Linn-Mar, but know the Lions pose a major challenge.

'It's a great opportunity,” Mitchell said. 'We also know that Linn-Mar is hot right now. It should be a good game.”

The Little Hawks aren't the only hometown team with a shot at a 4A state berth. Third-ranked Iowa City West (30-8) hosts Davenport West (22-14) in the Substate 6 final. The Trojans have earned three straight state runner-up finishes.

Cedar Rapids Washington owns the Metro's longest state tournament drought. The Warriors are looking for their first state appearance since 2009. Washington (22-15) hosts Davenport Central (15-18) for the Substate 5 championship.

Washington made more than $200,000 in renovations to its field before this season. It will be an appropriate stage.

'It's great to be home again,” Washington Coach Scott Brune said. 'It's been nice to defend our home field.

'It's a great field to play on and hopefully we'll have some great baseball to watch tomorrow night.”

The Blue Devils are the substate's sixth seed and have the least amount of wins of any 4A team remaining. They knocked off Western Dubuque and Cedar Rapids Jefferson, both in extra innings. Washington dropped a 3-2 decision to Central in the final week of the regular season.

'They are excited,” Brune said. 'They know they have to go out and earn the right to play for that state berth against a tough, scrappy Davenport Central team.

'We'll have our hands full. Our kids are excited and they will come ready to play tomorrow.”

Defending state champion and fifth-ranked Cedar Rapids Prairie (28-12) will face Substate 3 top-seed and No. 7-ranked Southeast Polk (27-14) at Runnells.

In Class 3A, fifth-ranked Marion (30-10) travels to Solon to play the Spartans (27-13) in a battle of Wamac Conference foes. Solon reached state last year and in 2014.

Third-ranked Vinton-Shellsburg (35-5) hosts Oskaloosa (27-13) in a 3A Substate 6 final. The Vikings are vying for their second state trip in three seasons.

In make-up games from Tuesday night, Lisbon will take on West Burlington-Notre Dame in a 1A substate final at Washington, Iowa, and Iowa City Regina will face Wilton in a 2A substate final at Solon. Both start at 5 p.m.

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