Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

The Matchups

No. 4 City High (30-9) vs. No. 10 Waukee (25-13)

City High and Waukee meet in a rematch of last year’s state quarterfinal won by City High 2-0.

Expect a similar type game in the rematch on Tuesday that could feature the same pitching matchup as last year’s quarterfinal.

Waukee ace Grant Sorensen (4-3, 2.47 ERA, 64 K) and City High senior Jaxton Schroeder (4-3, 1.83 ERA, 61 K) have both been outstanding this season.

Schroeder fanned eight in a complete game shutout of seventh-ranked Indianola in the substate title game as City High clinched a fourth consecutive 30-win season with the 1-0 win.

City High is making its fourth consecutive state tournament appearance and is seeking a third trip to the semifinals in that span.

The Little Hawks have won four in a row entering Tuesday’s quarterfinal and have allowed a total of three runs during that stretch.

City High relies heavily on its pitching and defense.

The Little Hawks lead 4A in team ERA (1.70), team WHIP (.96), fewest runs allowed (93), fewest hits allowed (178), fewest walks allowed (67), ranks second in batting average against (.190) and ranks fifth in fielding percentage (.953).

Schroeder and junior Adam Bowman (7-1, 1.06 ERA, 50 K) lead a deep and talented City High pitching staff that features eight players with at least 15 innings pitched and an ERA under 2.40.

Senior infielder Drake Obermueller leads the Little Hawk offense, hitting .415 with 38 runs scored, 20 extra-base hits and 24 RBI.

Senior first baseman Parker Sutherland is hitting .354 with 17 RBI and senior Dominic Salibi is hitting .302 with 11 extra-base hits and a team-high 30 RBI.

Waukee returns to the state tournament for the second year in a row and the fifth time in the past six seasons.
The Warriors have lost their last five quarterfinal matchups, last reaching the semifinals in 2017.

Waukee knocked off defending state champion Cedar Rapids Kennedy 7-6 in the substate title game to reach the state tournament and has won four of its last five games.

Sorensen leads the Waukee pitching staff while junior Brayden Moore (6-1, 1.84 ERA, 38 K) and sophomores Gavin Weinschenk (2-2, 2.89 ERA) and Hayden Anderson (3-1, 2.19) have all had excellent seasons.

Senior Gavin de Jesus is the catalyst for the Waukee offense leading the team in runs scored (40), stolen bases (21) and walks (25).

Sorensen is batting .345 with 17 extra-base hits and 27 RBI while Carter Johnson is hitting .391 with four home runs and 29 RBI and sophomore Matt Meeker is hitting .295 with eight homers and a team-high 37 RBI.

No. 6 Liberty High (32-9) vs. No. 5 Waukee Northwest (28-10)

Liberty High has wasted no time becoming a state tournament regular.

The eighth season in program history has been the best yet for Liberty High as the Lightning set a single season program record with 32 wins, claimed its first ever Mississippi Valley Conference divisional title and advanced to the state tournament for the third time in the past four seasons.

The Lightning come to Sioux City red hot, riding a six-game winning streak that includes a 6-5 win over Linn-Mar in the substate title game.

A Liberty High squad that relies on pitching and defense has scored 58 runs during its current six-game winning streak and has scored double digit runs 10 times in its last 17 games while going 14-3 during that stretch.

Liberty High is comfortable playing small ball on offense and senior outfielder Dallas Miller (.357 BA, 32 runs) and junior second baseman Evan Schmierer (.353, 48 runs) have been a big part of that.

Miller has a team-high 22 stolen bases and Schmierer has stolen 21 bases this season while the duo has combined for 46 RBI.

Liberty High has plenty of pop in the middle of its order.

Sophomore Pryor Reiners is hitting .351 with seven doubles and 26 RBI and senior Cooper Hughes is hitting .353 with 12 extra-base hits and 34 RBI.

Senior catcher Brayden Mayer leads the team with 19 extra-base hits, three home runs and 39 RBI.

Senior all-stater Mason Waterbury (4-0, 2.24 ERA, 42 K) headlines a deep pitching staff that also includes seniors Andrew Olthoff (5-2, 3.47 ERA, 28 K) and Brady Zimmerman (4-1, 2.72 ERA, 29 K).

Waukee Northwest is making its second ever appearance at the state tournament after reaching the 4A semifinals in its only other trip to state in 2022.

The Wolves advanced to the state tournament with a 2-1 win over Southeast Polk in the substate title game in the

Waukee Northwest is one of the most well-rounded teams in the 4A field.

The Wolves rank fourth in 4A with a team batting average of .333 and third in 4A with a team ERA of 2.43.

Junior Chuck Berdovich (7-1, 1.35 ERA, 49) headlines a strong Waukee Northwest pitching staff that also features seniors Drew Fitzpatrick (6-0, 2.33 ERA) and Jack Vinyard (4-0, 1.81 ERA) and sophomore Mack Heitland (3-0, 1.01 ERA).

Senior Cayden Kitzman leads the Waukee Northwest offense batting .400 with 27 runs and 26 RBI while senior Tanner Jackson is hitting .364 with 22 extra-base hits, eight home runs and 42 RBI.

Fitzpatrick is batting .377 with 14 doubles and 36 RBI as six different Waukee Northwest starters have at least 20 RBI.

Cedar Rapids Prairie (29-9) vs. No. 3 Johnston (26-11)

Perennial power Johnston returns to the state tournament for the 10^th consecutive season, the second longest state tournament streak in state history.

The Dragons have won six consecutive state quarterfinal contests and are 7-2 in state tournament openers over the last nine season.

Johnston has won four Class 4A titles since 2017 and claimed three of the last five 4A crowns, reaching the title game four times during that span.

The Dragons have been impressive again this season and bring a six-game winning streak to Sioux City after defeating West Des Moines Valley 5-2 in the substate title game.

Johnston is 5-2 this season against teams in the 4A tournament field with three wins over Waukee Northwest and one win apiece over City High and Waukee.

Senior Mitch Naig (6-2, 2.66 ERA) headlines a veteran Dragon pitching staff along with seniors Carson Crabb (3-2, 2.81 ERA), Conner Culp (2-2, 2.60 ERA), Sam Kemmer (2-1, 6 saves, 2.05 ERA) and Will Nuss (3-1, 2.52 ERA).

Kemmer leads the way offensively batting .308 with 12 extra-base hits, three home runs and 26 RBI while Nuss is hitting .287 with three homers and 25 RBI.

Cedar Rapids Prairie is making it fifth all-time trip to state and first since 2021.

The Hawks won 17 straight games to open the season and was 22-1 before dropping losing eight of its next 11.

Cedar Rapids Prairie bounced back strong down the stretch defeating Waterloo East 11-1 in its postseason opener and hammering Cedar Falls 11-4 in the substate title game.

Cedar Rapids Prairie ranks second in 4A in team batting average at .345 and third in 4A in runs scored with 326.

Seven Cedar Rapids Prairie starters are hitting better than .300 this season led by senior shortstop Kamren Francois who is hitting .455 with a team-high 52 runs and 26 RBI.

Collin McClintock is hitting .408 with 13 extra-base hits, three home runs and a team-leading 53 RBI while senior third baseman Michael Day is batting .405 with 41 RBI.

Junior Tait Tierney (6-1, 2.11 ERA) leads the Prairie pitching staff while senior Jordan Woodhouse is 6-3 with a 3.08 ERA and junior Maddux Mueller is 6-0 with a 3.71 ERA.

No. 2 Sioux City East (37-5) vs. Bettendorf (27-12)

Top-seeded Sioux City East returns to the state tournament for the seventh time in program history and the first since 2015.

The Black Raiders have been the most impressive team in 4A this season and enter the state tournament leading 4A in team batting average (.348), home runs (30), fielding percentage (.967), runs scored (411) and run differential (300) and also rank fifth in team ERA (2.55).

Sioux City East has won 11 of its last 12 games entering state tournament play and has outscored opponents 125-24 during that span.

The Sioux City East pitch staff is led by junior Bohdy Colling (8-2, 1.46 ERA) and sophomores Kason Clayborne (6-1, 2.12) and Frankie Stoos (6-0, 1.48 ERA).

Eight Sioux City East starters are hitting .320 or better led by senior Jax Theeler who is batting .472 with 25 extra-base hits, seven home runs and 58 RBI.

Junor Cal Jepsen is hitting .434 with 28 extra-base hits, seven home runs and 47 RBI and Clayborne is hitting .376 with eight home runs and 54 RBI.

Bettendorf is back at state for the first time since 2002 after rallying for a 4-3 win over Dubuque Hempstead in the substate title game.

The Bulldogs lost three consecutive games to close the regular season but rebounded with substate wins over Davenport Central (6-4) and Dubuque Hempstead to reach the state tournament.

Seniors Kaden Kelley (7-0, 2.76 ERA) and Kasey Clark (5-6, 4.07 ERA) lead the Bettendorf pitching staff along with sophomore Tanner Bitterman (5-1, 2.33 ERA).

Senior center fielder Wrigley Matthys is one of the best in the state ranking in the top 5 in 4A in

Batting average (.511), stolen Bases (53), runs (63), hits (69), triples (9) and total bases (104).

Junior Layden Banks is batting .400 with 28 RBI, senior Landon Potts is hitting .388 with 28 RBI and sophomore Nick Schaich is hitting .327 with 35 RBI.

The Players

City High: Jaxton Schroeder, Sr., P/1B: A Kirkwood commit, Schroeder has been among the best two-way players in the state the past two seasons. The 6-foot-6 left-hander is 4-3 with a 1.83 ERA, .95 WHIP and 61 strikeouts in 49 2/3 innings this season on the mound and is hitting .245 with three home runs and 16 RBI.

Liberty High: Brayden Mayer, Sr., 1B/P/C: It’s been a team effort offensively for Liberty High this season but Mayer has been at the center of most of the production batting .330 while leading the Lightning with 19 extra-base hits, three home runs and 39 RBI.

Waukee: Grant Sorensen, Sr., P/2B: A true two-way standout Sorensen has done it all for the Warriors this season hitting .345 with 17 extra-base hits, 31 runs and 27 RBI and also going 4-3 with a 2.47 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and 64 strikeouts in 51 innings pitched.

Waukee Northwest: Tanner Jackson, Sr., OF: Jackson has provided the punch in the Wolves lineup this season batting .364 while leading the team in extra-base hits (22), home runs (8), RBI (42), runs (35), slugging percentage (.695) and OPS (1.139).

Bettendorf: Wrigley Matthys, Sr., CF: One of the most dynamic players in the state Matthys leads 4A in hits (69), stolen bases (53), triples (9) and total bases (104), ranks second in batting average (.511) and runs (63) and leads Bettendorf with 20 extra-base hits, 23 walks and 39 RBI.

Sioux City East: Jax Theeler, Sr., P/1B: The Class 4A RBI leader with 58, Theeler has been impressive across the field batting .472 with 25 extra-base hits and seven home runs while also going 6-1 with a 3.85 ERA and 61 strikeouts in 36 1/3 innings pitched.

Cedar Rapids Prairie: Kamren Francois, Sr., SS: The Prairie offense has been stellar this season and Francois has been a big reason why. The speed shortstop leads the Hawks in runs (52), hits (55), batting average (.455), on-base percentage (.569), OPS (1.131) and doubles (11) and ranks second on the team in extra-base hits (12) and stolen bases (28).

Johnston: Sam Kemmer, Sr., INF/P: Kemmer has been key in the Dragons success this season batting .308 with three home runs and a team-high 26 RBI while also posting a 2-1 record, 2.05 ERA, 1.02 WHIP and six saves in 27 1/3 innings pitched.

The Favorite

Take your pick.

Sioux City East is the top seed and has been dominant for most of the season.

Third-seeded City High is experienced, having made four consecutive state tournament appearances, and has perhaps the deepest pitching staff among the 4A qualifiers.

And second-seeded Johnston is, well they are Johnston, winners of half of the last eight 4A titles.

Picking a winner from this 4A bracket is going to be a difficult task.

Given their history at the state tournament Johnston enters as the favorite but don’t overlook their opener against a Cedar Rapids Prairie team that is as talented as any in the field.

The Underdog

In its first trip to the state tournament in more than two decades Bettendorf enters as the underdog.

The eighth-seeded Bulldogs have some bite, as they proved with a seventh-inning rally in a substate title game win over Dubuque Hempstead.

Bettendorf was the second seed in Substate 8 but got a bye to the final after top-seeded Pleasant Valley was upset in the quarterfinals.

It enters as the underdog but Bettendorf is a team capable of pulling an upset.

The Darkhorse

In what projects as a wide-open Class 4A field keep an eye on Liberty High which is seeking its first ever state tournament win.

Fourth-seeded Liberty is solid top to bottom and doesn’t have an overall weakness which makes them a tough postseason out.

Liberty High has an experienced top-send pitcher in senior Mason Waterbury who started the last quarterfinal for Liberty High in 2023.

Keep an eye on Uby Martinez’s squad as a team capable of causing some chaos in the 4A bracket.

The Focus

There will be a new champion in Class 4A this season.

Defending champion Cedar Rapids Kennedy lost to Waukee in the substate title game vacating its crown as reigning champs.

Could this be the second year in a row a team playing in its home city wins the 4A title?

Cedar Rapids Kennedy won last season at Veterans Memorial Park in Cedar Rapids and Sioux City East will be the top seed this week at Lewis & Clark Park in Sioux City.

Five Fast Facts

*- City High leads Class 4A and ranks fifth in the state with a team ERA of 1.70. No other 4A team has a team ERA under 2.00.

* – Liberty High senior Brayden Mayer leads the state with 40 walks this season.

* – Johnston has qualified for the state tournament 10 consecutive seasons. The state record for consecutive state tournament appearances is 13 in a row by Mason City Newman.

* – Cedar Rapids Prairie and Johnston are the only teams in the Class 4A field that have ever won a state title.

* – Each of the top four teams in Class 4A in team batting average, Sioux City East (.348), Cedar Rapids Prairie (.345), Bettendorf (.345) and Waukee Northwest (.333) are all in the 4A field.

The Schedule

Quarterfinals, July 22

City High (30-9) vs. Waukee (25-13), 11:30 a.m.

Johnston (26-11) vs. Cedar Rapids Prairie (29-9), 2 p.m.

Liberty High (32-9) vs. Waukee Northwest (28-10), 5 p.m.

Sioux City East (37-5) vs. Bettendorf (27-12), 7:30 p.m.

Semifinals, July 24

City High/Waukee winner vs. Johnston/Cedar Rapids Prairie winner, 5 p.m.

Sioux City East/Bettendorf winner vs. Waukee Northwest/Liberty High winner, 7:30 p.m.

Championship, July 25

Semifinal winners, 2:30 p.m.

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