K.J. Pilcher

Iowa City Liberty made an impressive postseason run to reach last year’s state baseball tournament. The Lightning seem to have picked up where they left off from last season.

In a meeting of two highly-ranked teams, Class 3A No. 1 Western Dubuque and 4A second-ranked Cedar Rapids Kennedy split a Mississippi Valley Conference baseball doubleheader Tuesday night at Herkelman Field in Cedar Rapids.

Linn-Mar has jumped to a 7-2 start and ascended to ninth in the Iowa High School Baseball Coaches Association Class 4A rankings. Linn-Mar is one of four Metro programs and one of six Mississippi Valley Conference teams included in the latest poll.

The Mississippi Valley Conference reaches a pivotal week. Ranked teams battle for positioning in both the Mississippi and Valley Divisions. Here’s a look at Gazette-area Iowa high school baseball games to watch.

Cedar Rapids Kennedy continued its hot start with a doubleheader sweep over Cedar Rapids Washington. The senior-laden Cougars beat the Warriors, 17-5 in six innings and 12-4, Saturday at Herkelman Field.

Linn-Mar’s Morgan Rupp shot consecutive rounds under par, including a career-best 67 in the second round, and posted 5-under 137 to win the Class 4A state girls’ golf title Friday at Otter Creek Golf Course in Ankeny.

Linn-Mar is reaping the rewards of offseason work. The Lions tallied 25 runs on 24 hits in a high school baseball doubleheader sweep over Iowa City West on Wednesday at Oak Ridge Middle School.

Linn-Mar’s Morgan Rupp will make her third straight appearance at the Class 4A state girls’ golf tournament at Otter Creek Golf Course in Ankeny. She will attempt to win a second straight individual title, starting Thursday morning and concluding Friday.

Dyersville Beckman and senior Luke Harwick finished the first round of the Class 2A boys’ state golf tournament with the lead. When storms wiped out Tuesday’s second round, Beckman swept the team and individual titles at Coldwater Golf Links in Ames.

North Linn Coach Travis Griffith learned much of his approach from his father, Cary, who died last week. A day after his father’s funeral, Griffith coached the Lynx to a split in the season-opening doubleheader with Alburnett.

Here are five notable high school baseball games in the Gazette area this week. The Mississippi Valley Conference has ranked teams going head-to-head. Center Point-Urbana has started strong and heads to West Delaware on Thursday. There are rivalry games in Iowa City. Plus, Anamosa hosts Regina.

Most golfers on Marion’s boys’ golf team team weren’t born the last time the program qualified for the state tournament. With two senior leaders and some talented underclassmen, the Wolves are in this year’s Class 3A state field at Veenker Memorial Golf Course in Ames.

Class 4A No. 5 Cedar Rapids Kennedy closed the opening week of the baseball season with a 6-0 record. The Cougars averaged almost 11 runs per game to start the season, beating Ankeny 13-8 Saturday at Herkelman Field.

Jake Miller plays important roles for Marion’s baseball team. He made key contributions to the Wolves’ 11-10 win over Cedar Rapids Xavier on Thursday night at Ken Charipar Field.

The state golf tournaments for all four classes will be held May 23-24. Cedar Rapids Washington and Linn-Mar advance to the Class 4A state meet at Otter Creek Golf Course in Ankeny. Cedar Rapids Xavier qualified for the 3A championships at Pheasant Ridge Golf Course in Cedar Falls.