All that, but Saints keep the edge

CEDAR RAPIDS -- Thursday's softball double-header at Bob Erusha Field featured an ejection and a big comeback.It didn't contain any movement in the MVC Valley Division leaderboard.Class 5A 10th-ranked Cedar Rapids Prairie erased a six-run deficit after Coach Joe Yegge was dismissed and won the opener 8-6, then 4A No. 7 Cedar Rapids Xavier responded with a 4-3 triumph in Game 2.As a result, they're right where they started the day, with the Saints (18-6 overall, 13-5 MVC) holding a one-game advantage over the Hawks (16-8, 12-6) with eight league games to play."We used it as motivation when Coach got thrown out," said Prairie's Brittney Lash, a senior outfielder. "We wanted to come back and take the game."Yegge was tossed by base umpire Ed Murphy while arguing a bang-bang call at first base in the fourth inning of the first game. It was his second time ejected in his first season with the Hawks.The following is the IGHSAU procedure for a second ejection:

"The standard penalty for a second offense within one year of the initial offense, is school membership sanction and the violator is subject to a multi-date suspension. However, more severe penalties may apply if warranted."IGHSAU assistant director Joel Oswald said Thursday, preliminarily, that a two-date suspension would be the most likely sanction."Most of it depends on what was said (between Yegge and Murphy)," Oswald said.Prairie is scheduled to participate in the Clear Creek Amana Classic on Friday and Saturday. Most likely, Yegge will serve his suspension this weekend, then be back in the dugout next week."(Assistant coach) Lynnette (Stecklein) will do just fine," said Yegge, who was permitted (by IGHSAU rule) to coach the second game. "She won both games that I've been tossed."The Hawks trailed 5-0 at the time of the confrontation, and it was 6-0 before they rallied with four runs in the fifth inning (thanks to four Xavier errors and a three-run double by Natalie Rumer), then took the lead with four tallies in the seventh. Lash's double put the Hawks in front for good."This tells me that the kids are fighters," Yegge said. "I've proud of the way they responded."Xavier committed seven errors in the opener and saw its 12-game winning streak end."I was at a loss of words that inning," said Saints Coach Nikki Price. "We've made the routine plays and the outstanding plays all year."We talked between games about competing and wanting the ball defensively. Just go out and compete."Xavier took a 3-0 advantage in the second game, lost it, then reclaimed the lead in the bottom of the fifth on Jenna Schulte's bunt single."I didn't really have the mindset to squeeze, but (Price) gave me the signal and I thought, 'All right, I'm going to do it,' " Schulte said. "And I did."Jenna Schwach scored without a play, and Schulte beat the throw.Prairie got a runner to second in the sixth inning, then didn't threaten in the seventh.Thursday's split was further evidence of Prairie's progress. The Hawks were 8-29 last year."They've always had the talent," Price said. "Now they have the confidence too."Lash said, "This year's a lot different. We feel that we can play with anybody when we play our game." 

Katie Kuch and Alyson O'Brian. Erin Drahozal and Erica Miller. W -- Kuch (10-2). L -- Drahozal (9-3).

Game 1

R

H

E

Cedar Rapids Prairie

0 0 0

0 4 0

4

--

8

8

3

Cedar Rapids Xavier

0 0 4

2 0 0

--

6

9

7

Gabi Carter, Sara Stevenson (5), Katie Kuch (5) and Alyson O'Brian. Jacey Wiebold and Erica Miller. W -- Wiebold (3-2). L -- Stevenson (2-2).

Game 2

R

H

E

Cedar Rapids Prairie

0 0 0

0 3 0

--

3

8

Cedar Rapids Xavier

2 1 0

0 1 0

x

--

4

6

1