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Substate finals for Class 4A and 3A are set for Wednesday. Linn-Mar vs. Iowa City Liberty IV is on tap. Can Cedar Rapids Kennedy earn a chance to defend its title? Will Clear Creek Amana avenge a season-opening loss to Pella? Here are five substate finals to watch.
CLASS 4A SUBSTATE 7: LINN-MAR (20-20) AT NO. 6 IOWA CITY LIBERTY (31-9)
This is the fourth meeting between the two Mississippi Valley Conference Mississippi Division programs. The Lightning won all three regular-season games, including two at Liberty on May 28 and a neutral-site game at Norway on July 1. The Lions won their fifth straight, throttling No. 9 Ankeny Centennial, 16-1, in six innings Monday. Linn-Mar rapped 17 hits, including four from Charlie Sarsfield, three each from Kaden Harris and Toby Cruz and two apiece from Dylan Muszynski, Tavian Soppe and Colton Bergen. Sarsfield drove in four runs, while Cruz added three RBIs. Bergen ate up all six innings on the mound, allowing just four hits, so Linn-Mar will have plenty of arms available. The Lightning beat Waterloo West in the first round and received a semifinal bye. Liberty will have everyone available, including ace Mason Waterbury available. He is 3-0 in six starts, owning a 2.22 earned-run average, 0.98 WHIP and 36 strikeouts in 34 2/3 innings pitched. The Lightning hit .321 as a team with Evan Schmierer leading with 47 hits and Brayden Mayer’s 38 RBIs. Linn-Mar hasn’t qualified for state since 2017, while Liberty made its only state appearances in 2022 and 2023.
CLASS 4A SUBSTATE 3: C.R. KENNEDY (26-12) AT NO. 10 WAUKEE (24-13)
The Cougars remain in contention for a repeat title and an 18 th state berth but the Warriors are looking for their second state trip and 10th since 2014. Kennedy beat Waukee in the last meeting for the 2024 regular-season finale. The Cougars survived a one-run win over Cedar Rapids Washington and then blew out Muscatine, 16-6, in the semifinal Monday. Ty Donels has been an offensive dynamo. He is batting .417 with 50 hits, eight home runs, eight doubles, 57 runs and 30 RBIs. Brady Dill, who hits right behind Donels, has a team-best 33 RBIs. Donels pitched the postseason opener, improving to 9-2 with a 2.44 ERA. Colton Duerling is 6-1 and reliever Deacon Kucera leads the state with eight saves. Carter Johnson paces Waukee with 42 hits. He also has 30 runs and 27 RBIs.
CLASS 4A SUBSTATE 5: CEDAR FALLS (22-15) AT C.R. PRAIRIE (28-9)
Prairie thumped Waterloo East in the first round and is coming off a bye. Cedar Falls beat Urbandale to start the postseason. The Tigers scored four in the final three innings, erasing a three-run deficit for a 5-4 walk-off victory over Davenport North in the semifinal. The Hawks have won three straight against Cedar Falls, sweeping a doubleheader, 13-3 and 11-1, on June 27. Collin McClintock had three this and six RBIs and Maddux Mueller matched the three hits and added five RBIs. McClintock ranks fifth in the state with 51 RBIs. Kamren Francois (54) and Tait Tierney (50) lead the Hawks in hits. Prairie is looking for its fifth state berth and first since 2021. Cedar Falls lost in the substate final last season, attempting to reach state for the second time in three season. Jackson Hartzell has 40 hits and 30 RBIs for Cedar Falls.
CLASS 4A SUBSTATE 6: NO. 7 INDIANOLA (32-5) VS. NO. 4 IOWA CITY HIGH (29-9)
This is the marquee 4A substate on paper, which is certainly worthy of being held at University of Iowa’s Duane Banks Field. The Little Hawks were the preseason No. 1 . They have been consistently strong all season, beating Cedar Rapids Jefferson in the substate opener. The Indians have topped West Des Moines Dowling and Ankeny in the last two rounds, giving them six straight wins. Indianola is looking for its fifth state berth. City High was a state semifinalist last year and could qualify for the fourth straight seasons. The Little Hawks have reached state four times since 2020. The matchup promises to be dominated by pitching. City High allows 2.4 runs per game with a 1.75 team ERA, while Indianola allows 2.5 and has a 2.04 ERA.
CLASS 3A SUBSTATE 8: NO. 5 BENTON COMMUNITY (28-6) AT NO. 8 SAYDEL (27-7)
On paper, this is right up there with City High and Indianola. The Bobcats won the Wamac West Division and are trying for their 11th state appearance and first since 2020. Saydel hasn’t qualified since 2017. The Bobcats advanced with a nail-biting walk-off against Oskaloosa. Saydel has tossed two straight shutouts, including a 6-0 semifinal win over Knoxville. V.J. Schulte leads the Bobcats with 45 hits and Drew Fillenworth has a team-high 32 RBIs. Carson Nolan has added 37 hits and 30 RBIs for Benton. Saydel boasts the state’s home run leader in Kamden Jorgenson, who has 14. He powers the Eagles with 41 hits, 11 doubles 45 RBIs and 40 runs.
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