Baseball: Knights have sights set on another state run

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By Shannon Heaton | Friday, July 4, 2008 6:56 PM CDT | () comments

Only two Iowa high schools can boast more state baseball championships than Assumption.

The Knights’ seven titles — won in 1982, 1992, 1993, 1995, 1999, 2004 and 2006, with a runner-up appearance last year — rank Assumption behind Lansing Kee (nine titles) and Norway (eight). Kee is the only school with more state tournament wins than Assumption’s 23.

That kind of experience should prove invaluable as the Knights (28-8) begin a run to a third straight state appearance — and sixth in the past seven years — tonight at 5 as Assumption (No. 2 in Class 2A) matches up with Camanche in District 10 quarterfinal play.

“I think after the loss to Fairfield, the loss to Davenport North, we’ve been building toward the playoffs. We’re playing pretty solid baseball, we’ve gotten good pitching all year, especially in conference games,” Assumption coach Billy Argo said. “Every situation is unique, but the more often you’re put in those situations, the more helpful it is.”

The Knights (15-3 in Mississippi Athletic Conference play) could figure into the league title picture, but now Assumption’s focus is solely on the postseason.

“We have to focus on the task at hand. It’s easy to say but hard to do sometimes,” Argo said. “We’ve got play in the moment and execute, whether it’s throwing strikes or getting a bunt down. These are things we pride ourselves on doing.”

Assumption wrapped up league play 48 hours before starting the playoffs tonight, sweeping Muscatine on Thursday, but Argo likes the short turnaround.

“I would rather have it this way, rather than have to wait four or five days. There’s less time to think about it, you just kind of stay in a routine,” Argo said.

The Assumption-Camanche winner will face either Durant or Northeast on Tuesday night back in Durant. At the same time, Tipton, North Cedar and West Branch will travel to Wilton for a District 10 doubleheader tonight and semifinal Tuesday.

Semifinal winners meet in Durant one week from tonight, with the district champion going to Cascade on Tuesday, July 15, to meet the District 9 champion. District 9 includes third-ranked Cascade, Western Dubuque.

West Liberty will compete in District 11 play, also starting tonight with a quarterfinal matchup against Sigourney at Mid-Prairie.

Class 1A district tournament play also starts tonight, with all area schools competing in doubleheaders at either Calamus-Wheatland or Bellevue. A district champion is crowned one week from tonight in Bellevue, with that team moving on to substate play July 15 in Alburnett against the District 7 champion — favored to be fifth-ranked Gilbertville Don Bosco or eighth-ranked Lisbon.

In Class 3A, District 8 play begins with a doubleheader at Maquoketa on Friday, with Central DeWitt facing Anamosa, followed by the host Cardinals meeting 10th-ranked Marion in the second game.

Class 4A teams have not determined their postseason pairings, though Bettendorf, Clinton, North, North Scott and Pleasant Valley — along with Dubuque Hempstead — will contend in Substate 4. In Substate 5, Central, West and Muscatine will battle with Burlington, Iowa City High and Iowa City West.