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SBLive Iowa Top 25 baseball rankings: Teams make moves to top

Davenport Assumption climbs to No. 2 and Iowa City High to No. 3.
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By Chris Short 

The more things change, the more they stay the same. That can be said in this week’s rankings as the top spot remains the same, but two teams vaulted to the No. 2 and No. 3 positions. Four teams debut in the rankings this week – Cedar Rapids Prairie, Dubuque Hempstead, New London and Dike-New Hartford, replacing Marion, West Delaware, Storm Lake and Sioux City East. 

1. Johnston (23-1)

The Dragons solidified they the top spot in our all-class rankings by dominating doubleheaders over previously No. 2 Dowling and No. 4 Waukee last week. All Johnston did was outscore the Maroons and Warriors, 30-3. It included a pair of shutouts. Jake Pemble went 6 2/3 scoreless innings, fanning 10, in a 4-0 win over Waukee, and Jack Emanuel pitched four scoreless innings in the 7-0 victory over Dowling. Miles Risley is hitting at a .438 clip with 28 runs, 18 RBIs and 15 stolen bases.

2. Davenport Assumption (19-3)

The Class 3A Knights have ripped off 15 straight wins since losing a one-run game to previously ranked West Des Moines Valley. They earn the two spot over Iowa City High based on their 10-4 victory May 20. Noah Mack and Chance Dreyer are having outstanding seasons – both hitting .400+. Dreyer has also jacked four home runs, eight doubles and driven in 33 runs. Tyler Welch has pitched the 3A Knights to five victories with a sparkling 1.08 ERA.

3. Iowa City High (20-6)

The Little Hawks completed a 4-0 week with sweeps over Marion Linn-Mar and Dubuque Senior. They have a big week coming up with doubleheaders against Cedar Rapids Xavier and Western Dubuque sandwiching games with Pleasant Valley and North Scott. Gable Mitchell is hitting .432 with 32 runs scored and 13 steals. He also has 3 wins pitching with a 1.47 ERA.

4. West Des Moines Dowling Catholic (18-7)

The Maroons drop two spots after losing three straight, albeit to state power Urbandale and two to No. 1 Johnston. Sophomore Trever Baumler is hitting .568 with 10 homers and 32 RBIs. Evan Curran has four wins with a 1.38 ERA on the bump.

5. Cedar Rapids Xavier Catholic (20-5)

The 3A Saints drop two spots after a 3-2 week, losing to Independence and Cedar Rapids Washington. Drew Proskovec has pitched Xavier to five wins with a 1.35 ERA and 40 strikeouts.

6. Dubuque Wahlert Catholic (17-6)

The Eagles make it a third straight Catholic school, dropping a spot after a 4-2 week where they won four straight after getting swept by Cedar Rapids Prairie. Ryan Brosius and Ben Freed lead Wahlert’s offensive attack, and Bryce Rudiger has six wins and a 1.88 ERA.

7. Western Dubuque (21-4)

The 3A Bobcats had a solid 5-1 week, losing only a one-run game in a split with ranked West Delaware and sweeping ranked Cedar Falls to climb five spots to No. 7. Garret Kadolph is hitting .506 with four homers, and alum Calvin Harris had a pair of hits for Ole Miss in the Rebels 5-1 win over Auburn Saturday night in the College World Series.

8. Cedar Falls (17-6)

The Tigers drop a spot after getting swept to the team in front of them in our rankings but finished the week strong with three wins. Ben Phillips continues to swing a hot bat, hitting .431, while Jaden Kramer has a team-high 30 RBIs.

9. Grinnell (22-2)

The Tigers split a twin bill with rival Newton to get another blemish on their fantastic record but holds onto No. 9. Pitching continues to carry Grinnell as Will Doty earned his sixth victory and a phenomenal ERA of 0.81. Brady Steward has 47 strikouts and a 1.32 ERA.

10. Van Meter (25-0)

The 2A Bulldogs continue to cruise along, winning seven more games last week to hold onto the 10 position. Reese Moore is ripping the cover off the ball (.522 avg., 10 home runs, 11 doubles, 45 RBIs), and Gannon Archer, who’s ERA is 0.24, picked up his sixth win of the season.

11. Urbandale (17-8)

The J-Hawks split all three of its doubleheaders last week – with Dowling, Valley and Ottumwa. Sam Harris has pitched the U to five wins and Cal Carlson leads the squad with 22 RBIs.

12. Council Bluffs Lewis Central (17-2)

The Titans are the week’s biggest mover, climbing 13 positions after a 5-0 week. Winners of 13 straight, LC’s only losses on the season were by one run to Dowling and two runs to Urbandale – two teams ranked ahead of them.

13. Remsen St. Mary’s (23-0)

The unbeaten Hawks become the first 1A school in the rankings as they hold steady after a 5-0 week. Carter Schorg has pitched seven victories with a microscopic 0.18 ERA. Cael Ortmann is swinging a big stick, hitting .544 with 30 RBIs.

14. Waukee (18-7)

The Warriors fall 10 spots after a tough week that started out getting swept by our clear-cut No. 1 team and ended losing to 3As Lewis Central and Sioux City Heelan. Colin Driscoll continues to rake, batting .403, and teammate Camden Kaufman is having a solid season on the bump with five wins.

15. Estherville-Lincoln Central (19-2)

The Midgets stood tall in 2A, flexing their muscle rolling over Cherokee Washington, 11-0, and ranked Storm Lake, 10-4 during their 4-0 week. Carter Snyder has pitched and hit for E-LC with five wins and 1.65 ERA and .409 batting average with 29 RBis. The Midgets have won 10 straight.

16. Cedar Rapids Prairie (19-6)

The Hawks make their debut after winning six straight, highlighted by wins over Wahlert and sweeping defending 4A champion Pleasant Valley. Cal Sullivan is Prairie’s top hitter (32) and RBI leader (24) and also has a perfect ERA on the mound. Kam Volz has five wins and 1.40 ERA.

17. Mason City Newman Catholic (20-3)

The 1A Knights are the sixth Catholic school after garnering their 8th straight win since back to back losses against top 10 Xavier and Dowling. Tim Castle is ripping .491 and scored 33 times, and Doug Taylor is hitting .389 with team-highs 37 RBIs and five dingers for Newman, which stays 17th.

18. Dubuque Hempstead (15-6)

The Mustangs return to the rankings after a two-week hiatus after winning 11 straight. Johnny Muehring leads Hempstead at the plate, batting .448 with 21 RBIs to go with four dingers. Cole Swartz is hitting at a .464 clip, and Iowa recruit Kellen Strohmeyer leads the team with 28 runs scored.

19. Indianola (17-7)

The Indians hold steady after a 4-1 week. Brady Blake leads the squad with 25 hits and 21 RBIs to go with four victories on the mound. Bennet Brueck has a sparkling 0.31 ERA in 22 2/3 innings pitched.

20. Waukee Northwest (16-9)

The Wolves stay put after a 5-3 week. Carter Van Horn is hitting .429, and Anthony Watts has five wins and a 0.66 ERA.

21. Lansing Kee (25-2)

The 1A Lancers didn’t change positions as Damon Weber is hitting .538 with 34 RBIs and Dalton Dibert has five wins.

22. Clear Creek-Amana (15-5)

The Clippers slide five spots after 3-2 week. Ben Swalls spearheads the CCA attack, hitting .492 with 34 RBIs and five bombs. Sam Young has claimed four wins on the rubber.

23. MOC-Floyd Valley (17-2)

The Dutchmen move up a spot and improve their win streak to nine games. Carter Aalbers leads the team in hits (24) and Carson Jager in RBIs (27), and Kooper Huss has five victories.

24. New London (15-0)

The Tigers opened eyes a couple weeks ago by upsetting Lansing Kee and have proven it wasn’t a fluke as they break through this week. Kooper Schulte is slashing .531 with three homers and 22 RBIs. Dereck Santiago has five victories and a sparkling 0.28 ERA.

25. Dike-New Hartford (16-0)

Gus Varney leads the undefeated Wolverines, who enter the rankings, hitting .491 with four home runs, three triples, and 25 RBIs. Will Textor has four wins.