Cal Sullivan helps Cedar Rapids Prairie baseball salvage split with Xavier

CEDAR RAPIDS — Cal Sullivan has one goal when he steps to the plate.

It doesn’t matter if it means moving runners, getting hits, driving in runs or crossing the plate himself, the Cedar Rapids Prairie sophomore always has a team-first mentality.

“I’m just trying to do my job,” Sullivan said. “I’m just trying to do what the team needs me to do.”

Sullivan drove in four total runs and reached base all but once in the Hawks’ prep baseball doubleheader split with Class 3A fifth-ranked Cedar Rapids Xavier on Monday night at Mount Mercy’s Plaster Athletic Complex.

The Saints used RBI singles from Alex Neal and Griffin Maloney in a two-run fifth for a 4-3 victory in the opener. Sullivan had an RBI single and scored the final run in a three-run sixth, propelling Prairie to a 4-1 win in the nightcap.

Sullivan increased his batting average to .318, going 2-for-2 with a walk in Game 1 and 1-for-2 with a sacrifice fly in the second game. He had two RBIs in each, giving him 30 for the season.

“I’m just staying short with my swing,” Sullivan said. “At times this year, I’ve gotten long in my swing.

“They had two good pitchers going and it’s just trying to go after pitches I can hit.”

Sullivan had a two-run double and scored in the fourth, accounting for all three Prairie runs in the opener. It was his second double of the game.

He got Prairie on the board with a sacrifice fly to score Nate Keiper, tying the nightcap, 1-1, in the fourth. He closed with an RBI and scored on a passed ball in the decisive three-run sixth.

“He was huge for us tonight,” Prairie Coach James Nelson said. “He has turned in a good direction. The talent level is there. He still got big hits here and there, but he’s finally starting to get to where he’s putting together multiple good at-bats and not giving away at-bats.”

In that crucial sixth, Caden Harrison led off with a walk. His hustle allowed him to take two bases on a wild pitch, moving to third with none out in a tied game.

Harrison scored easily on Brandon Vlcko’s RBI double.

“We’ve told them,” Nelson said, “us being able to put pressure on teams is from putting together quality at-bats time after time.”

Prairie (27-7, 22-6 MVC) received strong outings from Caden Richardson in the first game and Ryan Barnes in the nightcap. Barnes earned the win and improved to 5-1 and lowered his 2.59 earned-run average with a complete game.

“It feels good for the team,” Sullivan said of his contributions. “Barnes and Richie went tonight and both threw gems. It’s just doing as much as I can to help them.”

In the opener, Jack Lux had three hits to lead Xavier. He had a single, double and triple, scoring a run and driving in one. Neal, Blake Bohon and Maloney each had multiple hits for the Saints (21-12, 19-9).

Luke Potter went six innings and scattered six hits for the win. Quin Fandel worked a scoreless seventh for the save.