J-Hawks sweep Xavier, extend win streak to 11 (photo gallery)

sAmber Grimm of Cedar Rapids Jefferson slides past Cedar Rapids Xavier catcher Emily Walton to score a run during the first game of a doubleheader at Jefferson High School in Cedar Rapids on Tuesday, June 5, 2012. (Cliff Jette/The Gazette-KCRG)

CEDAR RAPIDS -- It's far too early to talk about divisional championships and state tournaments.

Right now, Cedar Rapids Jefferson is simply a very good softball team, trying to get better.

The Class 5A seventh-rated J-Hawks extended their winning streak to 11 by sweeping Cedar Rapids Xavier, 5-0 and 9-3, in a Mississippi Valley Conference double-header Tuesday night at the Jefferson Softball Complex.

"We don't talk about that other stuff at the end of the year," said Jefferson's Kailey Drake. "We leave it alone. Right now, we're trying to win one game after another."

And another. And another ...

Jefferson (12-1 overall, 7-1 MVC) lost the second game of a season-opening double-header to Iowa City West, and hasn't stumbled since. The J-Hawks have a proven pitcher in Hannah Petersen, a typically sound defense and an offense that is clicking along with a .346 team batting average.

"Hitting will decide how far this team goes," said Jefferson Coach Larry Niemeyer.

A big test looms Friday, against 5A No. 1 Des Moines East.

The first game was scoreless through two innings, but three errors by Xavier (5-5, 5-5) in the third and fourth contributed to three Jefferson runs. For Petersen (7-0), that was plenty.

"We had some mess-ups defensively, then it spiraled and they had some key hits," Xavier interim coach Nikki Price said after a lengthy discussion with her team. "We're going to work hard, and we're going to get better."

Game 2 had a similar theme -- this time without the errors.

Xavier struck first, but the J-Hawks tallied two runs in the second inning and five more in the third. No. 9 hitter Kaitlyn Davidson contributed to both rallies with an RBI single in the second inning and a two-run single in the third.

"It was fun to see everybody hitting the ball and running around the bases," said Drake, who reached base six times in eight plate appearances Tuesday and scored four runs.

Maddie Hansen added three hits in the nightcap. She and Hannah McInerney both contributed a pair of RBIs.

Tuesday's double-header was dubbed "Strike Out Cancer," and the teams raised more than $1,000. And the J-Hawks presented a plaque to Xavier Coach Brian Erbe, who is sidelined indefinitely after undergoing recent triple-bypass surgery.

Game 1

 

 

 

 

R

H

E

C.R. Xavier

0 0 0

0 0 0

--

3

3

C.R. Jefferson

0 0 1

2 2 0

x

--

5

8

1

Jacey Wiebold and Emily Walton. Hannah Petersen and Maddie Hansen. W-- Petersen (7-0). L -- Wiebold (1-3).

Game 2

 

 

 

 

R

H

E

C.R. Xavier

1 0 0

0 2 0

--

3

3

1

C.R. Jefferson

0 2 5

1 0 1

x

--

9

13

Erin Drahozal and Erica Miller. Brooke Stauffer and Maddie Hansen.