K.J. Pilcher

Linn-Mar’s Morgan Rupp shot consecutive rounds under par, including a career-best 67 in the second round, and posted 5-under 137 to win the Class 4A state girls’ golf title Friday at Otter Creek Golf Course in Ankeny.

Linn-Mar is reaping the rewards of offseason work. The Lions tallied 25 runs on 24 hits in a high school baseball doubleheader sweep over Iowa City West on Wednesday at Oak Ridge Middle School.

Linn-Mar’s Morgan Rupp will make her third straight appearance at the Class 4A state girls’ golf tournament at Otter Creek Golf Course in Ankeny. She will attempt to win a second straight individual title, starting Thursday morning and concluding Friday.

Dyersville Beckman and senior Luke Harwick finished the first round of the Class 2A boys’ state golf tournament with the lead. When storms wiped out Tuesday’s second round, Beckman swept the team and individual titles at Coldwater Golf Links in Ames.

North Linn Coach Travis Griffith learned much of his approach from his father, Cary, who died last week. A day after his father’s funeral, Griffith coached the Lynx to a split in the season-opening doubleheader with Alburnett.

Here are five notable high school baseball games in the Gazette area this week. The Mississippi Valley Conference has ranked teams going head-to-head. Center Point-Urbana has started strong and heads to West Delaware on Thursday. There are rivalry games in Iowa City. Plus, Anamosa hosts Regina.

Most golfers on Marion’s boys’ golf team team weren’t born the last time the program qualified for the state tournament. With two senior leaders and some talented underclassmen, the Wolves are in this year’s Class 3A state field at Veenker Memorial Golf Course in Ames.

Class 4A No. 5 Cedar Rapids Kennedy closed the opening week of the baseball season with a 6-0 record. The Cougars averaged almost 11 runs per game to start the season, beating Ankeny 13-8 Saturday at Herkelman Field.

Jake Miller plays important roles for Marion’s baseball team. He made key contributions to the Wolves’ 11-10 win over Cedar Rapids Xavier on Thursday night at Ken Charipar Field.

The state golf tournaments for all four classes will be held May 23-24. Cedar Rapids Washington and Linn-Mar advance to the Class 4A state meet at Otter Creek Golf Course in Ankeny. Cedar Rapids Xavier qualified for the 3A championships at Pheasant Ridge Golf Course in Cedar Falls.

Cedar Rapids Washington was the Class 4A state runner-up a year ago. The Warriors earned a chance to improve that finish, winning the regional team title Wednesday at Gardner Golf Course.

The state golf tournaments for all three classes will be held May 20-21 in Ames. The Class 3A state tournament will be at Veenker Memorial Golf Course, 2A will be at Coldwater Links and 1A will be at Ames Golf and Country Club.

Senior Reid Burkle is one of the leaders on a deep Cedar Rapids Prairie pitching staff. He earned his first win of the season against Class 4A No. 3 Iowa City High on Tuesday night at home.

The effects of arthritis combined with possible issues of growth plate formation at birth led to surgery for Iowa City Liberty golfer Bella Pettersen on both hips last summer. The procedures were just a month apart and prevented her from getting back on the course in March. Just two months later, she’s an all-MVC Mississippi Division golfer again.

Western Dubuque has won the last two Class 3A state titles. The Bobcats start the 2024 season atop the Iowa High School Baseball Coaches Association preseason rankings.