K.J. Pilcher

Prairie’s Addie Berg finished with a three-round total of 235, earning MVC Mississippi Player of the Year honors. Linn-Mar swept the top honors at the MVC Valley Division golf meet Monday at Gardner Golf Course.

The Iowa High School Baseball Coaches Association released its preseason rankings. Monday marks the first day of official competition. West Des Moines Dowling (4A), Western Dubuque (3A), Van Meter (2A) and Remsen St. Mary’s (1A) open the season top-ranked.

Cedar Rapids Prairie’s Cal Sullivan has excelled on the baseball diamond. He grew up in a family of accomplished softball and baseball players.

Here are eight area teams to watch for the 2023 Iowa high school baseball season. The season begins Monday for teams in all classes.

Here are Gazette area players to watch as the 2023 Iowa high school baseball season starts Monday. Thirteen all-state performers highlight the list of returners.

Luther fifth-year senior pitcher Kendra Cooper said she was unaware of the approaching strikeout milestone. With seven strikeouts in a 1-0 win over Central in the American Rivers Conference softball tournament semifinals, Cooper has tallied 505 in her career.

Right-handed starter Nick Dufoe pitched nine innings and helped Luther stay alive in the American Rivers Conference baseball tournament Friday at Memorial Stadium in Cedar Rapids.

This year’s Coe softball seniors have stuck together through thick and thin, including a shortened season, a new skipper, titles and displeasure. They have formed the backbone of a program that captured its seventh regular-season conference title and earned a chance to host the American Rivers Conference tournament.

Jack Allison figured out his swing in recent weeks. Coe’s junior third baseman has come on strong as a consistent contributor, making his way to the No. 2 spot in the batting order.

Former Dubuque Wahlert prep Jake Brosius has been a jack-of-all-trades batter, helping lead the Coe offense. The Kohawks open American Rivers Conference tournament play Thursday, looking to repeat after advancing to last year’s NCAA regional championship.

Dyersville Beckman was second at the Class 2A state golf meet, which is the last time the Blazers didn’t win a competition. Beckman opens the postseason Wednesday after a perfect regular season.

Morgan Rupp garnered medalist honors at the Mississippi Valley Conference Valley Division girls’ golf meet Monday at Pleasant Valley Golf Course in Iowa City. Rupp fired an even-par 72 to win the individual competition and help Linn-Mar win the team race with 321

Fourth-seeded Iowa Central scored two runs in the top of the seventh and limited top-ranked Kirkwood’s rally in the bottom half to hold on for a 3-2 victory in the second round of the NJCAA Region 11-A Division II softball tournament Friday.

The postseason is rapidly approaching for Iowa high school boys’ and girls’ golf teams. Now, they all know their paths to state.

UNI commit Kara Maiers owns team highs in multiple categories, helping Kirkwood claim an Iowa Community College Athletic Conference softball title. She will step into the circle Friday when the Eagles host the NJCAA Region 11-A tournament.