Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

The baseball postseason is underway.

Opening round games in classes 1A and 2A were last Saturday and district semifinals are Tuesday in both classes.

The two larger classes get into the act later this week with Class 3A and 4A opening substate play on Friday.

Last week Your Prep Sports took a look at a few things to watch regarding area teams as the postseason got underway.

Today we look at seven area players that will play key roles for their team during substate action.

Connor Nicpon and Will Litton

When it comes to the postseason pitching is of the utmost importance and Regina has a strong one-two combination atop its rotation in junior Connor Nicpon and freshman Will Litton.

If Regina (14-18) is to make a postseason run in Class 2A, District 7 starting with Tuesday’s 5 p.m. semifinal against Cascade (12-12) in Dyersville it will likely need solid outings from both of its top of the rotation starters.

Nicpon is 4-2 with a 2.98 ERA and 44 strikeouts in 42 1/3 innings this season while Litton has posted a 2-1 mark with a 2.31 ERA and 1.30 WHIP, striking out 53 and walking 20 in 42 1/3.

Regina has a tough postseason road with fifth-ranked Dyersville Beckman (17-10) likely awaiting Tuesday’s winner but has the proven arms to make a deep postseason run.

Brett White

One of the best players in the state White is seeking to cap a brilliant prep career with his first state tournament appearance.

White has been among the most productive players in Class 3A this season and will look to continue that in the postseason starting when Solon (27-10) hosts Vinton-Shellsburg (6-23) at 7 p.m. on Friday in a Class 3A, Substate 4 quarterfinal.

A Baylor recruit, White leads 3A in home runs (11) and total bases (92) ranks second in 3A in runs (52) and third in walks (35) while hitting .393 with 25 extra-base hits and 37 RBI.

White leads Solon in both on-base (.548) and slugging percentage (.821) while posting an impressive 1.369 OPS.

Maclane Morgan

Clear Creek Amana has been among the most potent offensive teams in Class 3A throughout the regular season and junior infield Maclane Morgan has been right at the center of the offensive outburst.

Morgan is hitting a team-high .464 and leads the Clippers with a .579 on-base percentage entering Friday’s Class 3A, Substate 4 quarterfinal against Williamsburg (11-21) at 7 p.m. in Tiffin.

Clear Creek Amana (21-15) leads 3A with a .355 team batting average and a .492 slugging percentage, ranks third in team on-base percentage (.485) and fifth in runs.

Morgan has played a role in all of that, posting 13 extra-base hits, including two home runs, driving in 31 runs and scoring a team-leading 50 runs.

Jake Mitchell 

Third-ranked City High is seeking a third consecutive state tournament appearance and their fourth trip to state in five seasons.

If the Little Hawks are once again set to be one of the final teams playing in 4A look for senior Jake Mitchell to be at the heart of the postseason success.

Mitchell has the ability to impact the game in a variety of different ways.

The Iowa recruit is hitting .298 with 10 extra-base hits, 27 runs scored and 15 RBI to go with 20 walks and 21 stolen bases.

On the mound the left-handed throwing Mitchell is 4-0 with a .88 ERA and has struck out 28 and walked 11 in 31 2/3 innings.

City High (31-7) opens postseason play on Friday hosting Clinton (5-26) in a Class 4A, Substate 7 quarterfinal at Mercer Park in Iowa City.

Kyle Cherry

Kyle Cherry emerged as the ace of the West High pitching staff last season as a sophomore and has settled into that role nicely this summer with a breakthrough junior season.

Cherry owns a 5-4 record and a 3.30 ERA this season striking out 52 in 53 innings of work.

With more than 111 career varsity innings over the past three seasons Cherry has experience beyond his years which can be critical in working through the high-leverage postseason situations.

Cherry can also help himself at the plate, he has six doubles and has driven in 11 runs this season while scoring 10 runs.

A strong postseason from Cherry will be key for West High (17-21) which opens postseason play on Friday traveling to Cedar Rapids Prairie (23-11) for a Class 4A, Substate 7 quarterfinal.

Mason Waterbury

Earning a number one seed in the postseason is always a good thing.

In Class 4A baseball, especially when you’ve got an ace like Liberty High junior Mason Waterbury, the top seed in a substate is a huge boost.

Ninth-ranked Liberty High (23-13) hosts Waterloo East (13-18) in a Class 4A, Substate 8 quarterfinal on Friday.

With a win the top-seeded Lightning receive a bye to the substate title game on July 17 meaning if Liberty High coach Uby Martinez chooses he can potentially ride the left arm of Waterbury to a third consecutive state tournament appearance.

Following a breakthrough sophomore season Waterbury has emerged as one of the best pitchers in the entire state this season.

Waterbury leads Class 4A in wins (9) and ranks second in both ERA (.14) and WHIP (.71) while striking out 53 and walking just 13 in 51 innings pitched.

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