Don't try telling our Warriors or the St. Albert Falcons that a consolation bracket championship doesn't matter. The teams were the first (Falcons) and second (Warriors) left out of the eight-team championship bracket in the 14U AA Iowa USSSA State Baseball Tournament. Instead of packing it in and going home, the teams put on a performance worthy of the majors.
In the third game of the day Sunday for both teams, the Falcons battled back from a 5-0 deficit to win 10-9. Zach Zingula, making his third start of the day on the mound, left after four innings (hitting the maximum allowed for the day) with a 7-4 lead.
The Warriors, the away team for the first time all weekend, opened with a five-run first inning. The Warriors led 6-1 after two innings but a three-run home run off Zingula (the first of his pitching career) brought the Falcons back in the third.
Robert Hogg relieved Zingula in the fifth inning, allowing a two-run home run that made it a 7-6 game after five innings. Had time limits been in effect, the Warriors return home champions.
After Jordy Brown collected his fourth hit in as many appearances, driving in JoJo Javier, the bottom half of the Falcons lineup scratched across four runs in the bottom half of the sixth inning to take a 10-8 lead.
Hogg scored -- after walking, stealing second and a wild pitch -- on Zingula's sacrifice fly in the seventh.
In addition to Brown, who scored two runs and had one RBI, Mitch Blades stood out, going 2-4 with a run and an RBI. Zingula and Javier each scored and had two RBIs.
The Warriors finish the year at 21-17 and proof that they're one of the 10 best teams in their class. Overall statistics and whatnot will be posted soon. Don't go away.
Sunday, June 29, 2008
Warrior season ends on high note
No mercy for Indians
The Warriors continued their stellar play on day three of the Iowa USSSA State Baseball Tournament, shutting out the Altoona Indians 10-0 in four innings. Zach Zingula picked up his second victory in as many starts on the day after giving up just one hit in two innings of work. Mitch Blades was 2-2 at the plate with two runs and two RBIs. Robert Hogg was also 2-2 and scored three runs.
The Warriors advance to play the St. Albert Falcons in the title game of the consolation bracket at 4 p.m.
Warriors pound Clippers
The Warriors arrived at the Prairie Ridge Sports Complex Sunday morning with cruel intentions and made quick work of the Clear Creek-Amana Clippers. The Warriors had nine hits to go with six Clipper errors to invoke the mercy rule in the 16-4 victory. The game was called after the Clippers went three-and-out in the top half of the fourth inning.
Next up for the Warriors is a noon game against either South Des Moines Fusion or the Indians.
Saturday, June 28, 2008
Small consolation, big incentive
If the Warriors are anything like me, and at least one of them is, they'll take the field with loads of incentive and aggression at 8 a.m. Sunday when they face the Clear Creek-Amana Clippers in the consolation bracket of the Iowa USSSA State Baseball Tournament.
With a 2-1 record, the Warriors earned the 10th seed out of 26 participating teams. After going 1-2, the Clippers are the 15 seed.
A fully-expected victory over the Clippers would pit the Warriors in a noon game against the winner of South Des Moines Fusion and the Indians, who are from who-know's where. A victory there would lead to a 4 p.m. consolation bracket championship game.
Who said there are no moral victories in state tournaments? The Warriors could pick up three tomorrow.
State title hopes fade
As in life, all baseball errors are not created equal.
So it was in the first inning of the Warriors' Iowa USSSA State Baseball Tournament game against the Council Bluffs Titans on Saturday. After the Titans' leadoff batter singled and stole second base, the number two batter hit a bloop pop fly to shortstop Zach Zingula. Perhaps distracted by the base runner passing in front of him to third base -- and a near certain double play -- the ball bounced off Zingula's chest. Two pitches later, Titans pitcher Nathan Kramer homered to left field and the Warriors were down 3-0.
The Titans added two runs in the third and the Warriors responded with single runs in the first, fifth and sixth innings before falling 5-3.
The three Warrior runs were the first scored against the Titans in three tournament games. The Warriors also held them to half of their average score. The Titans opened with a 12-0 victory over the Iowa Mud Dawgs and beat the Urbandale JHawks 8-0.
But there are no moral victories in the state tournament.
The Warrior offense was more the story than its defense. Six Warrior batters combined for 10 strikeouts and the team managed just five hits, two of them by catcher Jordy Brown, who scored two runs and threw out three Titans attempting to steal second base. Max Versteegh scored the third Warrior run on a sacrifice bunt by Josiah Javier.
The Warriors await the conclusion of pool play to determine their fate, which most likely involves a spot in the consolation bracket. Our state title hopes rest on the remote chance we will earn the one wildcard spot in the championship bracket.
Versteegh slam opens floodgates
The Warriors got off to a slow start Saturday, falling behind 4-0 to the Iowa Mud Dawgs in game two of the Iowa USSSA State Baseball Tournament. But a third-inning grand slam to left field by Max Versteegh put the Warriors on top. They scored eight runs in the inning and four more in the fourth for the 12-4 victory.
Versteegh continued his hot tournament play, going 2-3 with two runs and four batted in. Mitch Blades and Dalton Weems were also 2-3 with two RBIs apiece. The Warriors combined for 10 hits and committed just two errors.
Jordy Brown went the distance on the hill, striking out eight Mud Dawgs in five innings of work.
Elsewhere in Pool E, the Council Bluffs Titans beat the Urbandale JHawks 8-0 setting up a winner-take-all game for the pool between the Titans and Warriors. The winner is assured of a berth in the championship bracket and a shot at the state title. The loser will most likely play in the consolation bracket.
Friday, June 27, 2008
Warriors win ugly as Weems goes yard
Dalton Weems' second-inning bomb over the fence in left center was easily the highlight of mistake-filled Warrior victory in the opening game of the 2008 Iowa USSSA State Tournament. The Warriors prevailed 7-6 over the pesky Urbandale JHawks.
Opening-game anxiety is all that can explain six Warrior infield errors. But the Warrior defense didn't allow the one big inning that has plagued us in the past.
The Warriors dodged a bullet in the home half of the third when starting pitcher Max Versteegh got hit on a pickoff attempt at second base. With only nine players in uniform, the Warriors could ill afford an injury. Versteegh gutted out a bloody nose and a sore face and earned the victory in 4 2/3 innings. He helped his own cause in the fourth, swapping ice packs for batting gloves and delivering the game-winning hit, driving in Michael Daughtery and Robert Hogg. Zach Zingula pitched the final 1 1/3 innings for the save.
Elsewhere in Pool E, the Council Bluffs Titans beat the Iowa Mud Dawgs 12-0. The Warriors are going to feast on Mud Dawg for breakfast at 8 a.m. Saturday. Due to some rainouts, the Warriors game with the Titans has been moved up from noon to 11:20 a.m. Both games are on field #9.
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
State Tournament brackets revealed
The Warriors earned the fifth seed in the 14U AA State Championship Tournament and will open the tourney at 2 p.m. Friday against the 17th-seeded JHawks from Urbandale. The JHawks have no tournament experience, but will be playing close to home.
At 8 a.m. Saturday, the Warriors are scheduled to face the 22nd-seeded Iowa Mud Dawgs from Des Moines. Without much success, the Mud Dawgs appear to be tournament tested.
At noon Saturday, the Warriors are scheduled to face the 10th-seeded Titans from Council Bluffs. We can't take anyone for granted, but this should be our toughest game.
These pool-play games will determine our seed for Sunday's championship rounds.
Carry-in food and beverages is not allowed and there will be an admission charge, although it's only 25 cents and seems to be for a worthy cause.
Sunday, June 22, 2008
Fired up! Ready to go!
After extending their losing streak to a season-high four games in Sunday's opener with the Iowa City Firehawks, the Warriors closed the regular season with a 14-4 victory heading into next weekend's state tournament.
The Warriors pounded out 15 hits in game two, and were led by Mitch Blades, who was 4-4 at the plate and drove in three runs while scoring two. Robert Hogg (2-2 with 2 RBI and 2 runs scored), Dalton Weems (3-4 with 3 RBI and 1 run scored) and Zach Zingula (1-2 with 1 RBI and 3 runs scored) also shined for the Warriors. Zingula scored after reaching on a walk, a single down the left field line and getting hit by a pitch thrown by a son of Iowa football coach Kirk Ferentz. How cool is that?!
Michael Daughtery got the win after pitching a hitless first inning (having also allowed no hits in the final two innings of game one). Will Teubel and Max Versteegh closed out the victory.
The Warriors led 9-0 before the Firehawks scratched across a run in the bottom of the second inning. One run each in the second, third, fourth and fifth innings kept the mercy rule at bay. But the Warriors tacked on four runs in the sixth inning and the Firehawks had no answer.
In game one, the Firehawks shattered Warrior head coach John Morgan's rear window in the first and scored seven runs (only two earned) in the top of the second inning for the 7-4 victory.
Zingula started on the mound (and was the pitcher of record when the aforementioned window shattering occurred), but was pulled after one inning because of arm soreness. Patrick Karamitros took the loss, allowing four runs (two earned) while getting just one out before giving way to Blades. Ryan Niemeyer also pitched a shutout inning before Daughtery closed out the game.
The Warriors head to the state tournament with a 17-15 record and a #5 state ranking. Most importantly, they end the regular season with a decisive demonstration of Warrior baseball.
Saturday, June 21, 2008
Rusty Warriors lose two
The Warriors looked very much like a team that hasn't played together in weeks Saturday -- and little like the fifth ranked 14U AA team in Iowa -- getting swept by the Corridor Mudcats.
In both games, a single inning was the difference.
In game one, the Warriors allowed seven runs in the second inning to fall behind 9-0 before rallying to take a 10-9 lead after three. But the Mudcats scored two runs in the top of the fourth for the win. Six Warrior errors were key to the loss.
In game two, an eight run third inning spelled defeat for the Warriors, who committed four errors. Jordy Brown took the loss despite allowing just one earned run in four innings.
After striking out without so much as swinging the bat in his first appearance, Zach Zingula caught fire and went 3-4 at the plate with two runs scored and four RBIs in game one. Mitch Blades batted in three runs in game two.
With the sweep, the Warriors fall to 16-14 on the year with the Firehawks coming to town for a Sunday doubleheader.
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Warriors split with Clippers
Playing for the first time in June and with a makeshift lineup prompted by the absence of their top three hitters, the Warriors split with the Clear Creak Amana Clippers Wednesday night at McKinley Field.
A 2-1 victory in game one gave the Warriors a season-high five-game winning streak dating back nearly a month to the Holiday Park Labor Day Tournament. Mitch Blades got the win in four innings of relief of Robert Hogg.
The Warriors could only muster three hits in a 3-1 loss in game two. Will Teubel took the loss.
I won't pretend to give a full report as if I were there, because you know I wasn't. I was at Washington where Zach Zingula and Jordy Brown helped the Warrior sophomores sweep Davenport North 16-3 and 14-4. Thanks to Cheryl Niemeyer and Bill Teubel for pinch-hitting with concessions and score keeping respectively.
The Warriors host a pair of doubleheaders this weekend -- against the Corridor Mudcats beginning at noon Saturday and against the Firehawks beginning at 1 p.m. Sunday. All games are at McKinley.
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Six games until state
Following cancellation of the league tournament due to flooding in Cedar Rapids, creative scheduling changes give the Warriors six games to tune up for their run at the state title.
All games will be played at McKinley Field, greatly enhancing our concession revenue opportunities. The Clear-Creek Amana Clippers come to town Wednesday for a 5 p.m. double header. The Warriors split with the Clippers way back on May 4.
On Saturday, revenge is best served cold to the Corridor Mudcats. A noon double header is scheduled. The Mudcats handed the Warriors their first loss of the year way, way back on April 13 during the makeshift Cedar Rapids Spring Classic.
On Sunday, the Warriors host the Firehawks in a double header rescheduled from Monday and moved from Daniels Park to McKinley. It will be the season's first meeting of the two teams.
The Warriors carry a #5 ranking into the state tournament in Ankeny beginning Friday, June 27. A championship -- or a top-five finish -- would qualify for the USSSA World Series in Lenexa, Kansas the week of July 13.
Thursday, June 12, 2008
League Tournament canceled
Add the Positive Sports League Tournament to the casualties of the flood now ravaging Cedar Rapids. The tournament scheduled for this weekend has been canceled.
The Warriors now have five games scheduled before the State Tournament June 27-29. A double-header with the Clear Creek Amana Clippers is scheduled for 5 p.m. Wednesday at McKinley. A noon double-header with the Corridor Mudcats is scheduled for noon on Saturday, June 21. The Firehawks will be the final State Tournament tuneup, with a single game scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Monday, June 23.
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
State Tournament venue announced
For the second year in a row, the Prairie Ridge Sports Complex in Ankeny will host the 14U AA State Tournament. The Warriors, currently ranked fifth in state, are one of 20 teams registered for the tournament.
Other participants include #1 Sergeant Bluff Warriors, #2 WDM Tigers, #3 IFA Cadets, #4 Valley Junction Venom, #6 WDM Rebels, #9 Altoona Indians, #10 Corridor Mudcats, #18 Quad City Lightning, #21 Barnstormer Thunder and #24 Rails Maroon. Unranked participants include Dowling Maroons, Cedar Rapids Lions, Mason City Hawks, North Iowa Panthers, North Scott Rebels, SDM Fusion, Des Moines Stingers, The Wild and Waukee Warriors.
Brackets have yet to be released, but we will have a game sometime Friday afternoon or evening and are guaranteed at least four games. Rooms have been blocked off at the Ankeny Heartland Inn (515) 964-8202.
Thursday, June 5, 2008
Warriors pooled with Clippers and Angels for League Tourney
Brackets for the 2008 Positive Sports Training League Tournament have been released and the Warriors have been pooled with the Clear Creek Amana Clippers and the Cedar Rapids Angels. Other tournament participants are the Corridor Mudcats, the Lions, Swisher Swat and Hawks Black.
The Warriors open tournament play against the Angels at 9 a.m. Saturday, June 14 at Hayes Field. They'll follow with an 11 a.m. game vs. the Clippers, also at Hayes. Saturday's round-robin play will determine seeding for Sunday's single-elimination tournament, which begins at 9 a.m. Hayes and Jefferson are the venues for the weekend.
The Warriors are 2-1 against the Angels on the year. The teams split a double-header on May 3, with the Warriors taking game one 7-5 and the Angels winning game two 7-4. The Warriors won 7-6 in a single game played May 14.
In their only prior meeting this season, the Warriors split a double-header with the Clippers on May 4. The Clippers took the opener 8-4 while the Warriors won game two 8-2.
Among other teams in the tournament, the Warriors are 0-1 against the Mudcats, 1-1 against Swisher Swat, and 1-1 against the Hawks. The Warriors have yet to face the Lions this season.
USSSA pitching limitations are in effect for the tournament and games are limited to 90 minutes. Run rules in effect are 15 after three innings and eight after four. Carry-in coolers are allowed at Hayes, but not at Jefferson.
Monday, June 2, 2008
Warriors ranked #10 in Iowa
With the addition of 50 points from the Holiday Park Baseball Club Memorial Tournament, the Warriors now have 255 USSSA points to rank 10th among 44 14U AA teams in Iowa. With the upcoming league tournament on June 14-15, we should be looking at a favorable seed for the state tournament June 27-29. The state tournament location hasn't yet been announced. Once it is, I'll block off rooms at a nearby hotel. Meanwhile, here are the updated overall stats following Saturday's games. For some reason, I wasn't able to load these before.
