Iowa
Liberty stymies Prairie in an MVC softball sweep
Lightning, Hawks are two of the state’s most prolific dwelling run hitting groups, however not a single ball leaves the yard Tuesday at Prairie
Iowa Metropolis Liberty assistant coach Emily Stumpff high-fives Ella McLaughlin (3) after her base hit throughout the first recreation of their Mississippi Valley Convention doubleheader with Cedar Rapids Prairie on Wednesday. The Lightning gained each video games, 8-2 and 5-0. (Geoff Stellfox/The Gazette)
CEDAR RAPIDS — They’re two of the highest dwelling run-hitting groups within the state.
So, naturally, Iowa Metropolis Liberty and Cedar Rapids Prairie didn’t clear the fence all evening. Didn’t come shut.
Class 5A Tenth-ranked Liberty proved more proficient at manufacturing runs — and capitalizing on alternatives — and swept the Thirteenth-ranked Hawks 8-2 and 5-0 in a Mississippi Valley Convention softball doubleheader Tuesday evening at Prairie Excessive Faculty.
“I used to be capable of get right into a rhythm and see what their hitters may do,” stated Kennedy Daugherty, who pitched a one-hit shutout within the nightcap.
“I trusted our protection quite a bit. Now we have actually good protection, and all of us have one another’s backs.”
Till a few seventh-inning errors within the ultimate recreation, Liberty (19-3 general, 15-1 MVC) made the entire routine performs, plus numerous extraordinary performs.
In brief, the Lightning performed all-around profitable softball. They obtained forward within the first inning of each video games, obtained some well timed hits and got here up with defensive performs when the Hawks (13-7, 11-3) threatened.
Prairie stranded 11 baserunners within the opener, seven within the finale.
“Each of our pitchers threw nicely once more tonight,” Liberty Coach Mike Morrison stated. “We play at a unique tempo than most groups do. Our catchers name the entire pitches, so we play quick. Groups want to regulate to our tempo.”
In Recreation 1, Liberty batted round within the first inning and once more within the fourth, leaping to an 8-0 lead.
Kinsley Robertson capped a three-run first inning with a two-run single, and Brynlee Slockett and Daugherty every drove in a pair of runs because the Bolts tallied 5 occasions within the fourth.
Robertson (9-1) scattered six hits, putting out six and strolling six.
Within the nightcap, Liberty posted single tallies within the first, fourth and sixth, then tacked on two within the seventh.
Haileigh Smith was 3-for-4 within the finale and drove dwelling a pair of runs.
Daugherty (9-2) gave up a first-inning single to Jensyn Jones, however that was it. She struck out six and walked 4.
“She will get higher and higher every evening,” Morrison stated. “She’s extra assured and has the power to maneuver on. She’s extra at peace; she’s simply pitching.”
Prairie entered — and exited — Tuesday with 22 dwelling runs, which ranks second within the state. Liberty is tied for seventh with 18.
The sweep, coupled with Linn-Mar’s break up with Western Dubuque, moved the Lightning right into a first-place tie with Linn-Mar within the Mississippi Division.
Iowa Metropolis Liberty 8-5, Cedar Rapids Prairie 2-0
AT C.R. PRAIRIE
Recreation 1
Iowa Metropolis Liberty 300 500 0 — 8 9 0
C.R. Prairie 000 100 1 — 2 6 2
Kinsley Robertson and Mischa Reiners. Dani Klees and Jensyn Jones. W — Robertson (9-1). L — Klees (7-3).
Recreation 2
Iowa Metropolis Liberty 100 101 2 — 5 10 2
C.R. Prairie 000 000 0 — 0 1 0
Kennedy Daugherty and Ava Donnelly. Jaiden Goerdt and Jensyn Jones. W — Daugherty (9-2). L — Goerdt (4-3).
Feedback: jeff.linder@thegazette.com
Iowa
Iowa Hawkeyes Connected to Overwhelming Bowl Expectation
Kirk Ferentz and the Iowa Hawkeyes were able to take care of business on Saturday against the Maryland Terrapins. Now, they head into their final game of the regular season this coming Saturday against the Nebraska Cornhuskers with a 7-4 record.
Iowa will be headed to a bowl game following their game against Nebraska. However, the real question ends up being, which bowl game will they play in?
At this point in time, the Hawkeyes seem to be trending towards playing in one bowl game in particular.
Here are a few of the bowl game projections that have been put out there by analysts:
Obviously, the ReliaQuest Bowl seems to be the clear favorite when it comes to what game Iowa will play in.
Looking at some of the matchups that have been suggested, there is the potential for a very entertaining game.
Going up against Ole Miss, South Carolina, or Alabama would be a very difficult test for the Hawkeyes. Any of those three games would give them a great test to end the 2024 season.
There is still one game that needs to be played. A win over the Cornhuskers would have them ending their season at 8-4. After that game, it will be a wait and see approach as to which bowl game Iowa will play.
All of that being said, seeing this projections should bring excitement to the Hawkeyes’ fan base. None of them would be easy games, but the matchups would give Iowa a chance to end the season with a major upset and to head into the offseason on a high note.
Iowa
SYC: Iowa Big project focuses on helping unsheltered
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (KCRG) – A group of Cedar Rapids High School students are making sure people without a home have the essentials this winter.
Gavin Cornwell and his team of Iowa Big students filled 100 bags this week with a little bit of everything.
“We have some fruit roll-ups, some gushers, and a granola bar,” said Cornwell.
For this team, it’s more than just a class. Once done, the bags will go to the unsheltered population living at the winter overflow homeless shelter.
“People really don’t understand, everyone has their own story,” said Cornwell.
These care packages will go to each person who stays at the low-barrier shelter this winter.
“We kind of grabbed the basic necessities to include in these care packages to give them some cheer this holiday season,” he said.
The homeless population in Linn County grew by more than 40% in 2024. Denine Rushing oversees operations at the overflow shelter and said the bags provide items that those who sleep at the shelter might not otherwise get.
“Being able to have these bags that they can just throw in their backpacks or in a bag or just carry with them and utilize throughout the day,” said Rushing. “I think it is going to be really helpful for people.”
Rushing expected to see more people utilize the shelter this year, especially during snow events and bitter cold temperatures.
“You really have to kind of have things on the go, things that you can kind of just grab and take with you while you are out and about throughout the day,” said Rushing.
Cornwell said they planned to hand the bags out this Monday at the shelter. A place this Prairie High School senior is now closer to, a place that was more visible thanks to this school-based project.
“You might drive by and you might see somebody experiencing homelessness but you don’t really know what they’re experiencing,” said Cornwell.
Copyright 2024 KCRG. All rights reserved.
Iowa
Iowa State women get back on track, hold off in-state rival Drake
Returning to Hilton Coliseum was just what the Iowa State women needed, as the eighth-ranked Cyclones held off Drake Sunday afternoon in Ames, 80-78.
Returning sophomore standout Audi Crooks had the game-winning bucket with just :00.3 seconds left in the game, finishing off a 33-point effort to lead Iowa State (5-1).
Crooks, a preseason honorable mention All-American, added four rebounds to her night while shooting 15 of 25 from the field.
Emily Ryan had a double-double, scoring 11 points while dishing out 12 assists. Addy Brown added 13 points and Mackenzie Hare chipped in 10. Brown led the team with eight rebounds while Ryan had six with two steals.
Arianna Jackson had three steals and no turnovers in almost 31 minutes of action.
For Drake, another former Iowa prep standout put up a big number vs. the Cyclones, as Katie Dinnebier knocked down eight 3-pointers and scored a game-high 39 points. Anna Miller had 18 with eight rebounds, as Dinnebier also had five rebounds, two steals and two assists.
The win marked the 300th non-conference victory for Iowa State under Bill Fennelly all-time, as he improved to 616-314 with the Cyclones and 782-367 overall in his coaching career.
Iowa State added to its NCAA-record streak for consecutive games with a made 3-pointer, stretching it to 933 straight.
Up next for the Cyclones will be defending national champion South Carolina on Thanksgiving at 12:30 p.m. on FOX. The Gamecocks had their 43-game win streak snapped with a 77-62 loss in Los Angeles.
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