By Bob Bakken
MaxPreps.com
Coaches Notch Historic Wins in Baseball, Softball
Two legendary high school coaches in Iowa reached legendary win levels in the last week. Cedar Rapids Jefferson softball coach Larry Niemeyer picked up his 1,900th career softball victory in a 4-3 victory over Iowa City High in the first game of a doubleheader played in Iowa City.
Jefferson also won the nightcap, 6-1, giving Niemeyer a career record of 1,901-385 in 47 years of coaching. This year's J-Hawks were 21-3 after the win.
Meanwhile, the nation's leader in high school baseball coaching victories, Lansing-New Albin Kee High's Gene Schultz, coached his team to his 1,500th career victory. The 19-7 win came in the first game of a twin-bill played earlier this week against Clayton Ridge at Garnavillo. The Kee Hawks also won the second game of the doubleheader, 16-1, to give the 61-year old Schultz win number 1,501. Both games were called after six innings by the 10-run rule.
Schultz's career mark, all coming at the far northeastern Iowa school at Lansing, is now 1,501-322-1. This year's team is ranked second in Class 1-A this week by the Iowa Baseball Coaches Association.
Crimmin Reaches Record Plateau at St. Edmond
Another record-setting performance came on the softball mound for a Fort Dodge St. Edmond High School player. Rose Crimmin earned her 69th career pitching victory with a 2-1 victory over Webster City early this week.
The achievement came with some drama in the bottom of the seventh inning, when Crimmins escaped a bases-loaded situation by striking out the Lynx' final hitter on a 3-2 pitch.
Crimmin replaces Tara Kessling as the leading pitcher in the St. Edmond High School record book. Her career mark is now 69-57.
With the victory, the Gaels reached the 12-win level (12-5) for the summer season.
New Logo to Lead Athletic Association
The Iowa High School Athletic Association that it is changing its logo for the first time in over 50 years.
The new logo replaces a modified replica symbol of the seal of the state of Iowa. The new logo will show the appearance of a geographic outline of the state, with the letters "IHSAA" in the outline.
The Association says the new look will help better identify its programs and services. It will be found on all boys' high school awards, publications, banners and flags.
Baseball, Softball Leaders
The powers in state baseball and softball are bubbling up to the top as the week's ratings were announced by the state baseball coaches association and the Iowa High School Girls' Athletic Union.
On the baseball side, Davenport Central was given the No. 1 ranking for the week in Class 4-A, followed closely behind by Urbandale. Defending champion West Des Moines Valley is fourth, following Johnston in third. Last year's Class 3-A champ, Cedar Rapids Xavier, tops the charts there for another week, with West Delaware second and Mount Pleasant third.
The Class 2-A leader is new this week, as Cherokee enters the No. 1 slot, followed by Albia and Cascade, respectively.
In Class 1-A, North Sentral of Kossuth is No. 1, leading Lansing-Kee High, which is in second place.
The IGHSAU rankings for softball this week have Des Moines Christian (12-1) at No. 1 in Class 1-A, defending Class 1-A champ Akron-Westfield (12-0) now on top of the Class 2-A ratings, Cedar Rapids Xavier (18-1) leading Class 3-A, and last year's Class 4-A champion Des Moines East unbeaten (15-0) and leading the ratings.
