K.J. Pilcher

Marion supplanted Western Dubuque atop the latest Iowa High School Baseball Coaches Association Class 3A rankings. The Wolves opened this week 21-1 and moved up two spots from last week’s poll.

Conference races heat up in the Upper Iowa and River Valley. Iowa City Liberty and Linn-Mar face off in Mississippi Valley Conference action. Western Dubuque comes to Mount Mercy for two midweek games. Here are five Iowa high school baseball games to watch this week.

Marion senior left-handed pitcher Zach Houy was excited for the chance to take the mound again. Houy capitalized on the opportunity, throwing more than six shutout innings in a 1-0 victory over Burlington in the opening game of the 17th Terry Heald Baseball Tournament on Saturday at Marion.

Dyersville Beckman’s Drew Thier drove in five runs in a 7-5 victory in the opener. Cascade’s Eli Fritz provided a quality start for a 6-3 win in the nightcap of a River Valley Conference North Division doubleheader Thursday in Dyersville.

Brett Harris is in the middle of his second baseball season since being diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor. The elite all-state player serves as an emotional and inspirational leader for the two-time defending state champion and Class 3A top-ranked Bobcats.

Tait Tierney had four hits and scored each time he reached base, contributing to Cedar Rapids Prairie’s 13-9 win over Class 4A No. 1 Cedar Rapids Kennedy. The Cougars rebounded with a decisive, 11-0, victory in five innings for the split.

Cedar Rapids Kennedy began this week with a 20-1 record, propelling it to the top of the Iowa High School Baseball Coaches Association Class 4A rankings released Monday. Kennedy has made a steady climb after starting at fifth in the preseason poll.

Wamac divisional contenders Marion and Benton Community battle. Cascade and Dyersville Beckman play in one of the state’s best baseball rivalries. Western Dubuque hosts Dubuque Wahlert for something bigger than baseball. Here are five games to watch this week.

CPU opened the season 9-0 and cracked the third installment of the Iowa High School Baseball Coaches Association Class 3A rankings released Monday. The Stormin’ Pointers debut at No. 10 after receiving votes last week.

Monday is filled with high-profile high school baseball matchups in Eastern Iowa. Successful small-class programs battle Tuesday. Solon hosts the annual Fight With Flash Foundation Crosstown Classic on Saturday. Here’s a look at Gazette-area Iowa high school baseball games to watch.

Ben Kueter was a senior at Iowa City High when he won a U20 World Championship. The Hawkeyes’ heavyweight, who plays football, earned a shot at another world gold after claiming the age-level national title.

The University of Iowa has a new home befitting one of college wrestling’s top schools. In a changing college athletics landscape, the new state-of-the-art facility is another step toward keeping pace with leaders in men’s and women’s wrestling.

The University of Iowa unveiled its new state-of-the-art wrestling facility to the public. A crowd filled with donors, fans, current and former athletes, coaches and administrators were on hand Thursday afternoon for the dedication ceremony.

Iowa City Liberty made an impressive postseason run to reach last year’s state baseball tournament. The Lightning seem to have picked up where they left off from last season.

In a meeting of two highly-ranked teams, Class 3A No. 1 Western Dubuque and 4A second-ranked Cedar Rapids Kennedy split a Mississippi Valley Conference baseball doubleheader Tuesday night at Herkelman Field in Cedar Rapids.