Prairie Baseball

Michael picks off win for Cougars

The Kennedy Baseball Support Group bought a new tarp for $4,300 three years ago to protect Kennedy Field from the elements and reduce the number of rainouts.

Griffin Michael and the Cougars are glad they did.

Michael pitched a complete game with 11 strikeouts Tuesday night as the top-ranked Cougars beat a thunderstorm and the Prairie Hawks, 5-4, in the semifinals of the Bob Vrbicek Metro Tournament.

The three other games in the tournament got rained out, including a scheduled losers bracket game between Jefferson and Mount Vernon at Kennedy Field, but the Cougars and Hawks waited until after 8 p.m. and got their winners bracket game in the books.

The tournament will continue Wednesday, weather permitting. Under one scenario, Xavier and Washington would meet in the semifinals at 5 p.m. at Veterans Memorial Stadium to see which team would face Kennedy in the finals at 7 p.m.

Tournament officials plan to make an announcement during the day on Wednesday. The Cedar Rapids Kernels are scheduled to play a home game at noon on Wednesday, and if that game is delayed they might move the semifinals and finals to Kennedy.

Losers bracket games featuring Jefferson vs. Mount Vernon and Linn-Mar vs. Marion may be played as well, if conditions permit.

Jefferson and Mount Vernon were scheduled to play at 5 p.m. Tuesday at Kennedy, but tournament officials decided to put the tarp on the field prior to 5 p.m. with a severe storm approaching. Once it became obvious they wouldn't be able to play until at least 8 p.m., they decided to postpone the losers bracket game and go straight to the semifinals between the top-ranked Cougars and Hawks.

The Prairie baseball team spent nearly two hours in the Prairie Middle School gym or on a bus, waiting to learn if there would be a game or not.

"When they got the call that said we're playing, our kids went absolutely bonkers," Prairie Coach Matt Thede said. "At this point in the season we need to play the top-ranked team and get better so we can be good come July."

Kennedy jumped on top 4-0, but Prairie scratched and pulled within 5-4 in the bottom of the sixth on an RBI double by Anthony Gagliardi with nobody out. Gagliardi moved to third on an infield grounder and was 90 feet from tying the game, but Michael picked him off third base for the second out.

Thede thought Michael balked by stepping toward home and throwing to third, but the umpires did not agree. "That's just the way it goes," Thede said.

Michael went the distance for Kennedy (2-0), but Coach Bret Hoyer got a relief pitcher ready in the bottom of the sixth just in case his senior needed help. Michael declined the offer.

"I told Coach I wanted to finish it out. I thought it was my game," he said.

Michael threw 98 pitches and had a 1-2-3 frame in the seventh to finish the game. His fastball was clocked at 85-86 mph for the entire game, with a couple of 88's tossed in as well.

"He wanted the ball," Hoyer said. "We were thinking about making a change going into the seventh and he said, 'Coach, I feel real good.' "

Michael allowed six hits and only one earned run. He has signed to play at Southeastern Community College in West Burlington next season, primarily as a shortstop but perhaps as a pitcher as well.

"If they want me to pitch, I'll pitch," he said. "Whatever they want."

Michael helped his own cause by going 2-for-4 with an RBI. He also made several good defensive plays on the mound, including the key pickoff in the sixth with the tying run on third.

Prairie's motto this season is "The Time Is Now," and the Hawks came close to beating the No.1 team in the state.

"We made a lot of mistakes," Thede said. "It's encouraging to our kids to go out and make a lot of mistakes and be within one run of Kennedy."

KENNEDY (5)
Terrell Sykes, 2b, 4 2 1 0, Austin Christensen, 1b, 3 1 1 0, Griffin Michael, p, 4 0 2 1, Alex Hayden, cr, 0 2 0 0, Devon Jacobus, ss, 4 0 1 0, Cody Bell, 3b, 3 0 1 1, David Yancey, lf, 4 0 2 0, Matt Maiers, dh, 3 0 0 1, Jimmy Lizarraga, c, 0 0 0 0, Josh Jahlas, cf, 4 0 1 0, Logan Ambrosy, rf, 1 0 0 0, Colin Taylor, ph, 1 0 0 0. Totals 31 5 9 3.

PRAIRIE (4)

Jason Velvick, cf, 3 1 1 1, Brennan Hammer, 1b, 3 0 2 0, Eric Allard, cr, 0 1 0 0, Anthony Gagliardi, rf, 3 0 1 1, D.J. Utley, p, 3 1 1 0, Blaine Hilgenkamp, cr, 0 0 0 0, Dustin Carlson, c, 3 0 0 0, Chaz Boots, lf, 3 0 0 0, Brayton Carlson, 2b, 3 0 1 0, Nate Meyer, 3b, 3 0 0 0, Ty Mougin, ss, 2 1 0 0. Totals 26 4 6 2.

Kennedy   202 100 0 - 5 9 2
Prairie   002 101 0 - 4 6 2

Michael and Lizarraga, Maiers (6); Utley, Hammer (5) and D. Carlson. W - Michael; L - Utley.
2B - Gagliardi. 3B - Yancey, Velvick. SB - Yancey, Allard.

Utley powers Hawks to Metro win

D.J. Utley put on a powerful show of hitting for Cedar Rapids Prairie Monday night with two long home runs in the opening round of the Bob Vrbicek Metro Baseball Tournament.

Once that was done, he quickly fled the ballpark for an encore with the Prairie show choir.

Utley went 4-for-4, scored four runs and hit a game-tying homer in the top of the seventh as the Hawks rallied for a 9-7 victory over Mount Vernon, but he didn't stick around to talk about it. Neither did Chaz Boots, who went 2-for-3.

"They took off and went dancing, right after the victory," Prairie Coach Matt Thede reported, smiling.

"I'm really thankful they didn't have to leave early," Thede said. "They were going to leave around 7, and they ended up sticking around."

That was a good thing for Prairie. The Hawks trailed, 7-6, when Utley strode to the plate as the first batter in the top of the seventh inning. The big left-handed hitter smashed the first pitch he saw onto the tennis courts beyond the right-field fence.

Prairie scored two more runs in the seventh on RBI singles by Matt Meyer and Ty Mougin for the 9-7 victory.

Thede told his players they owed Utley a soft drink for his powerful hitting.

"I think we all need to give him more than that," said Anthony Gagliardi, who picked up the victory in relief. "He won the game for us, so thanks to D.J."

Utley beat out an infield single in the second inning and tripled in the third, but the best was yet to come. He smashed a long solo home run to right-center in the fifth inning, then hit his mammoth clout in the seventh.

Utley did not hit any homers in 78 at-bats last season as a junior, but he's already got two roundtrippers in four at-bats this year.

"How about Utley? You know, he's a diamond in the rough," Thede said. "I'm really excited for him."

Utley played first base Monday night, but Thede said he'll be the starting pitcher against top-ranked Kennedy in the semifinals at Kennedy tonight at 7.

PRAIRIE (9)
Jason Velvick, cf, 4 0 0 0, Brayton Carlson, 2b, 4 0 0 0, Brennan Hammer, dh, 4 0 1 0, Bryce Alberts, 3b, 0 0 0 0, Drew Pond, rf, 0 0 0 0, Anthony Gagliardi, rf, 4 0 0 0, D.J. Utley, 1b, 4 4 4 2, Dustin Carlson, p, 2 1 0 1, Eric Allard, cr, 0 0 0 0, Chaz Boots, lf, 3 2 2 0, Nate Meyer, c, 3 1 1 1, Blaine Hilgenkamp, cr, 0 1 0 0, Ty Mougin, ss, 4 0 2 1. Totals 32 9 10 5.

MOUNT VERNON (7)
Conner Shaffer, cf, 4 0 0 0, Ryan Cox, 2b, 4 0 1 1, Jake Scieszinski, ss, 4 2 1 1, Ben Leopold, 3b, 4 2 2 2, Marshall Kray, c, 2 0 0 0, Jake Timm, lf, 4 0 1 0, C.J. Eldred, p, 1 0 0 0, Trey Ryan, ss, 1 1 0 0, Jake Pisarik, ph, 1 0 0 0, Cal Kragenbrink, 1b, 3 1 2 0, Conner Younggreen, rf, 3 1 1 0. Totals 31 7 8 4.

Prairie  032 010 3 - 9 10 5
Mt. Vernon  200 032 0 - 7 8 4

D. Carlson, Hammer (5), Gagliardi (6) and Meyer, D. Carlson (5); Eldred, Scieszinski (4), Timm (7) and Kray. W - Gagliardi; L - Scieszinski. 2B - Hammer, Leopold. 3B - Utley. HR - Utley 2. SB - Velvick, Boots, Mougin, Shaffer.

Prairie baseball: 'The time is now'

(Editor's Note: This is the fifth in a series of preseason stories about Metro baseball teams. Next: Washington)

The Cedar Rapids Prairie baseball team is tired of losing. And losing. And losing some more.

Nobody seems to know how many years it's been since Prairie had a winning record in baseball. The answer is probably, "too long."

"Tradition can help you and tradition can hurt you," Coach Matt Thede remarked, "and our boys are sick and tired of it hurting us."

The Hawks might be able to do something about it this season. All the starters and all the top pitchers return from last year's club, giving the Hawks a blend of experience, depth and talent.

"Our motto is, 'The time is now,' " Thede said. "It's one thing to say it. To go out and do it is a tougher thing."

Prairie finished 13-20 last season, which was Thede's first year as head coach. Four more victories would have meant a 17-16 mark, so the Hawks were not far away.

"I really just want to get to .500," Thede said. "If we get to 20 wins, we'll take it from there. When we get to 20, we'll reset the goals.

"We've never gone .500 in the Valley before," he said. "I think that's a reasonable expectation for us."

The Mississippi Valley Conference is stocked with strong teams. In fact, the state championship game last year was an all-Valley affair between Kennedy and Iowa City West, and both of those clubs appear to be strong again.

"If we can compete for the conference title in this conference, you're going to be competing for a state title," Thede said. "We want to be realistic with our goals, but our kids have high expectations."

Thede likes his pitching staff, but is adamant about throwing more strikes this season. The Hawks walked 177 batters in 33 games last year, compared to 182 strikeouts. That's more than five walks per game and nearly a 1-to-1 ratio of strikeouts-to-walks, which Thede thinks is way too low.

"It was pretty ridiculous," he said. "You're just not going to win that many games doing that."

Thede would like to see a 2-to-1 ratio, if not a 3-to-1 ratio, of strikeouts-to-walks. It all starts with throwing strikes. "That's got to be our focus for us this year, because I think we're going to have a pretty good darn defense behind them," he said.

Prairie hit .296 as a team last year and scored 5.4 runs per game, which is pretty good. But the Hawks allowed 7.8 runs and had a team ERA of 5.81, which is not good.

The Hawks also committed 63 errors in 33 games, which is nearly two errors per game.

Thede, 32, said the Hawks had "a great week" of practice when drills began on May 2. He said it was much better than the start of practice last season when he was the new head coach.

"The second year is definitely a lot better than the first," he said. "We're not teaching from scratch. We're maintaining and continuing to build."

Thede said Dustin Carlson (4-4, 3.50) and Anthony Gagliardi (3-3, 4.30) are his top pitchers heading into the season. "I think we have to ride them as seniors," he said.

He also listed D.J. Utley, Conner Steffens, Brendan Hammer, Chaz Boots and Justin Hofland as promising hurlers. "Yeah, we have a lot of pitching," he said. "I think the mound will be our biggest strong suit, if we can throw strikes."

Thede raved about his outfield with Boots (.288) in left, Jason Velvick (.418) in center and Gagliardi (.404) in right. "We might have the best outfield in the state," he said.

He likes Dustin Carlson behind the plate, especially with a 1.9 pop-to-pop time on his throws to second base. Brayton Carlson (.296) and Bryce Alberts (.250) are experienced middle infielders for the Hawks. Steffens also plays the infield.

Gagliardi and Dustin Carlson have signed to play at Southeastern Community College in West Burlington next season. Boots has committed to Wartburg.

Prairie will open the 2011 campaign against Mount Vernon on Monday in the quarterfinals of the Bob Vrbicek Metro Tournament. The game is scheduled for 5 p.m. at Kennedy.

5-sport Schebler focuses on baseball

Scott Schebler played five sports at Cedar Rapids Prairie and was all-state in three of them, so he squeezed as much out of his high school years as possible.

He believes his hyper-active schedule may have slowed his development as a pro baseball player, but he has great memories from his years at Prairie and no regrets. He played football, basketball, baseball, soccer and ran track.

"I'm glad I did all five," he told the Metro Sports Report this week. "If I would have narrowed it down, yes, I could have taken away a little bit of the learning curve I'm facing now, but I wouldn't change my mind today. If I could go back and do it again, I wouldn't change anything."

Schebler, 20, is a rookie outfielder with the Los Angeles Dodgers after signing a pro contract for $300,000 last August. He's currently assigned to extended spring training in Glendale, Ariz., where he practices and plays every day.

Schebler hit a robust .561 with seven home runs and 55 RBIs as a senior at Prairie in 2009, then hit .446 with 20 homers and 82 RBIs at Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC) last season. He signed with Wichita State and was leaning that way, but the Dodgers convinced him to turn pro after taking him in the 26th round of the 2010 draft.

It went right down to the deadline in mid-August last summer: Sign with the Dodgers or go to Wichita State? The Dodgers sweetened the pot by agreeing to pay for four years of Schebler's college education when he's ready for more school, even though he's already finished one year in junior college.

It went back and worth.

"It was a pretty hectic time," Schebler said. "I was being drawn every which way. I changed my mind daily, to tell you the truth."

Wichita State Coach Gene Stephenson, one of the top college coaches in the country, flew into Cedar Rapids, came to Schebler's house, made a last-second pitch and flew home the same day.

"I was like, if he does this, I'm a pretty big prospect," Schebler remembers thinking. "He made some pretty valid points when he was there, about how much college can help you out and how you need your degree. He was a pretty good salesman, to the tell the truth.

"I just had to hear both sides," he said. "I was overwhelmed when the Wichita State coach came and talked to me, and he kept blurting out what's bad about signing. He really didn't go into the positives about signing.

"Then I talked to the Dodgers, and they started talking about the positives. I just kind of weighed both and made my decision."

Schebler is convinced he made the right decision to turn pro, just like he made the right decision to play five sports in high school. The $300,000 signing bonus, plus four years of a paid college education, is a bigger package than most 26th-round picks are given.

"I'm considered a prospect," Schebler said. "I'm not a 26th rounder that they picked up and they're thinking they got him for cheap."

Most first-year pros are assigned to extended spring training, so it's not like Schebler is behind the curve. Kellen Sweeney of Cedar Rapids was taken in the second round by Toronto last June, and he's in extended spring training in Florida.

Schebler was naturally disappointed when the Dodgers did not assign him to a Class A team this spring. The Dodgers have a Class A club in the Midwest League in Midland, Mich., and he might be shipped there at some point, but for now he's training in Arizona and learning the ropes.

"Obviously, I wish I were in Midland or something like that," he said. "After looking at it and how much I've learned, I think it's actually been a good thing for me to be here (in extended spring training), because every day we learn something new."

Schebler admitted he has a lot to learn.

"The baseball is amazing. There's nothing like it," he said. "I mean, I'm still a little bit  'deer in the headlights.' It's been fun.

"The baseball stuff is awesome. There's so much to process that it would make sense that it would take three or four years to get up to the big leagues. There is just that much information to look at.

"And then you have to get the whole mental part, too. That's a lot to put into a package."

Schebler is a 6-foot-1, 210-pound package of speed and power. He's playing all three outfield positions, but he's learned there's more to the game than speed and strength. "I learned that real quick," he said.

Schebler spent time with the Dodgers' Triple-A players in spring training and loved the experience. Overall, he said he hit about .400 in spring training and absorbed quite a bit. He hit a lot of singles, but was not driving the ball with consistency.

"They would rather have a guy strike out 30 times and hit eight bombs, than a guy who is just a singles guy," he said.

Schebler enjoyed his time with the Triple-A players.

"It was awesome. It was a great time," he said. "They're very relaxed, they played relaxed. They're making hard plays, but they're making it look very easy. I learned real quick that loose muscles are quicker than tense muscles."

Schebler and his rookie-level teammates are staying in a Hampton Inn in Arizona. "Yes, there's a pool," he said.

He wakes up about 6:15 or 6:30 a.m. and shuttle buses take the players to the Dodgers' training complex in Glendale. They eat breakfast at the park, let their food digest, have a meeting and then start their physical training with running and lifting.

All of the players do "early work" on defense, offense, bunting or baserunning from 8:30 to 9:30, then regular practice begins at 9:30 with stretching, individual drills, team drills and batting practice. They break for lunch, then play a game against another team or have an intrasquad scrimmage.

"It's a pretty full day, to tell you the truth," he said.

The players get to relax at night at the hotel, although Schebler said it tends to get boring. "I never thought in my life I would be like, 'Man, I wish I had some schoolwork to do or something.' "

He's in baseball school now, and it's a full-time job.