Kirkwood Softball

J-Hawks, Nearad honored by Register

Cedar Rapids Jefferson graduates Maddie Hansen and Hannah Towns have been named to the Class 5A all-state softball teams by the Des Moines Register.

Hansen, a catcher, and Towns, an outfielder were named second team all-state in Class 5A.

Taylor Nearad of Solon, who is now a freshman outfielder at Kirkwood, has been named to the Elite All-State Team by the Register. Nearad led the state with 75 RBIs and helped Solon win the Class 3A state title.

Hansen, Carter join Kirkwood softball

Joe Yegge thinks serving as the head softball coach at Cedar Rapids Prairie is helping his recruiting efforts at Kirkwood Community College.

Two prime examples this year are Maddie Hansen of Jefferson and Gabi Carter of Prairie, who have finished their all-state careers in high school and have joined Yegge's powerful club at Kirkwood.

Yegge has welcomed other good Metro players to Kirkwood before, but he thinks his three years at Prairie have boosted his efforts in getting more star players to join the Eagles.

Yegge has enjoyed three good seasons at Prairie, including a trip to the state tournament and just the second Mississippi Valley Conference title in school history after the program had languished for years.

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Kirkwood softball team stays alive

CLINTON, Miss. - The Kirkwood softball team is still hoping to win the NJCAA Division II national title, but the Eagles will have to come through the loser's bracket to get it done.

Kirkwood lost to Johnson County Community College, 1-0, in the second round of the tournament Thursday afternoon, then bounced back with a 5-3 victory over Macomb in the loser's bracket Thursday night.

Kirkwood (47-9) will face Labette Friday at noon in the double-elimination tournament. Eight teams are still competing for the title, with four in the winner's bracket and four in the loser's bracket.

In the first game Thursday, Johnson County's Sydney Koch tossed a four-hit shutout at the Eagles, a team averaging just under 10 runs a game. Nicki Simpson and Allie Mengler matched Koch's effort until the top of the seventh.

Heidi Prockish doubled to lead off the inning and eventually scored on a Carly Campbell sacrifice fly for the game's only run.

The Eagles offense bounced back against Macomb. Tara Walls went 4-for-4 with two doubles and two RBIs. Lexie Biehl also drove home a pair.

Brooke Prior a complete game to get the win.

Beth Stroup had a home run for Macomb, which finishes at 39-10.

If Kirkwood defeats Labette  on Friday, the Eagles will play right away at 2 p.m. against an opponent to be determined. And if they win at 2 p.m., they'll play again at 6 p.m. before resting for the day.

Kankakee, DMACC, Johnson County and Lincoln Land are alive in the winner's bracket. Labette, Kirkwood, East Central and Phoenix are still battling in the loser's bracket.

The tournament ends Saturday.

KCC softball wins on Simpson's 1-hitter

CLINTON, Miss. - Nicky Simpson tossed a one-hitter Wednesday as the Kirkwood Eagles trimmed Mercyhurst North East, 3-2, in the opening round of the NJCAA Division II national softball tournament in Clinton, Miss.

Kirkwood (45-8) will face Johnson County Community College in the quarterfinals of the winners bracket Thursday afternoon.

Simpson (20-5) took a shutout into the seventh inning. Mercyhurst scored both of its runs on a dropped fly ball.

Chasney Jenkins drove in two runs for the Eagles, who are seeded No. 3 in the 16-team tournament. Erin Weno collected an RBI. Jasmine Ragusi had a double.

DMACC blanked Surry, 5-0, in the opening round. Johnson County trimmed Illinois Central, 3-1.

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