K.J. Pilcher

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.

Cedar Rapids Washington’s Mya Messenger and Linn-Mar’s Morgan Rupp handled the constant wind at Aiport National better than the rest. They shared medalist honors, shooting 73 at the Mississippi Valley Conference Super Meet. The Lions also won the team title.

Jayna Witzany struck out 18 batters, tying a Mount Mercy single-game record, and pitched her 39th career shutout in a 7-0 victory over Graceland Saturday in her final home start.

Iowa’s Denali Loecker belted a two-run home run in a 5-3 loss to Rutgers Friday at Pearl Field. It was her eighth of the season and 22nd for her career, tying her for seventh on the Hawkeyes’ all-time HR list.