Kirkwood baseball continues to make strides

CEDAR RAPIDS - Kirkwood opened the season with four straight losses.

The Eagles aren't exactly the same team. They are better with mostly better results.

Kirkwood won its ninth straight game after the opener of a doubleheader split at home Tuesday against Black Hawk (Ill.) College. The Eagles claimed a seesaw affair 11-9, dropping the nightcap, 10-2.

'I think we've taken some big strides,” Kirkwood Coach Todd Rima said. 'We are a better baseball team than we were about a month ago.”

The Eagles are 18-8 overall, following their non-conference split, and 4-0 in the Iowa Community College Athletic Conference. The more impressive aspect is they have yet to play to their potential.

'We haven't played our best baseball, yet,” Rima said. 'I think that's what excites us is we are winning games, we're finding a way to win, but we haven't put all three phrases together, yet. I think when we do this team can be a special group.”

Rima has done it with a roster dominated by Iowans. Twenty-six Eagles are from within the state, including 16 from Eastern Iowa. Kirkwood has retained some Metro preps, which has helped. Rima said an emphasis has been to use the school and facilities to attract the state's baseball talent.

'That's what we wanted,” Rima said. 'It starts with the local kids and we've worked hard on that. It's taken time. We've come a long way.”

The victory was indicative of how Kirkwood has gutted out some close wins, including the sixth decided by two runs or less. The Eagles rallied three times from deficits, starting in a three-run third.

Trailing 3-1, Brandon Brittain's two-run single chased home Bryce Grimm and Luke Hassman to give the Eagles a 4-3 lead.

It was brief. With a strong wind blowing to left field, the Braves belted three-run homers in the fourth and sixth innings for leads of 7-6 and 9-7.

Kirkwood answered in the bottom of the sixth, scoring four. Grimm and Hassman started the inning with consecutive singles. Grimm scored when Matt Paciello's sacrifice bunt was mishandled, which then resulted in a throwing error.

Hassman and Paciello moved into scoring position. Brittain added another RBI single, Jack Fitzgerald followed with an RBI double and Colin Kreiter capped the scoring with a sacrifice fly to bring in Brittain.

Dariel Checo pitched an inning relief, retiring Black Hawk in order in the seventh.

A talented and experienced pitching staff and gritty hitters have contributed to the Eagles' winning ways.

'We've been getting timely hits,” Rima said. 'I thought we did that in Game 1. We got some big hits when we needed them. In Game 1, guys never quit.”

Rima said Grimm has developed into an everyday player from the beginning of last season with hard work. Grimm has become a leader for the Eagles, reaching base in all but one of his at-bats including an opposite-field home run in the opener.

'He's been great for us all year,” Rima said. 'He's hitting over .400 and he's been the catalyst of our offense. Hopefully, he can continue to do that.”

Grimm has transitioned from his role as a leadoff hitter to the third spot. He said he embraces any role coaches ask him to fill, especially in the batting order.

'My goal is every time is to try to find a way on base,” Grimm said. 'I think that puts the team in the best position to score runs.”

Grimm said the depth of talented players has pushed him to keep working. A day off might mean he falls behind his teammates and the opposition. The hard work led to Rima describing Grimm as a player that can play at the NCAA Division I level next season.

'We're going to find him a spot because he's a great player,” Rima said. 'He's a better kid than a player. That's what makes it special.”

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