As is the normal with Class 2A, it was a strong opening week of action as the ’22 season officially was kicked off last Monday. Within the 2A ranks, there was plenty of success including 15 teams beginning the campaign with an unblemished record. It was a strong start so how did all of the action impact the top-10 rankings? Lets check it out:
1.) Van Meter (3-0)
For well over five seasons now, Van Meter baseball has begun the season with an exceptional mark in week one. For the ’22 campaign, that meant going 3-0 and neither Class 3A’s ADM or Gilbert or even a Class 2A title game rematch with Centerville could knock the Bulldogs off. Van Meter was as productive as possible defensively and offensively, limiting their opposition to just four runs while scoring 38 themselves. If they could possibly move up any higher they would but for now, they’ll just have to stick as the number one team across the Class 2A landscape. They are the team with the most total bases in the class (62) with a .407 team average at the plate, all while leading 2A in home runs (4). Not to mention 33 K’s on the mound. This next week could prove challenging for the Bulldogs who take on I-35, Creston, Roland-Story, Ogden, and Madrid.
2.) Des Moines Christian (3-0)
Perhaps the biggest jump of any class would be Des Moines Christian vaulting from preseason unranked to number two on our week two list. The Lions went undefeated through the first week and went at least 3-0 for the second consecutive season. En route to that, they took down previously second-ranked Kuemper Catholic as well as Woodward-Granger and Colo-Nesco. The Lions ultimately outscored their first week opponents 29-12 for the unblemished record. They may not have been flashy all the time but they did produced with 12 of their 25 hits going for extra bases. As they look to keep things going, they will battle it out in week two with Earlham, ACGC, and Pella Christian.
3.) Estherville Lincoln Central (4-0)
Couldn’t really ask for a better start to the season for Estherville Lincoln Central. The Midgets are off to a roaring start, outscoring their opponents 49-9. They are officially 4-0 for the fourth time in the past six seasons and have won by 10 or more runs in three out of their first four battles. They hold the class lead in RBI (37) and walks (34), plus sit tied for the 2A lead in doubles (11). They also lead all 2A teams with 44 K’s entering week two. The next week for the Midgets will be within the comforts of Hess-Limberg Field as they take on Clarion-Goldfield-Dows, Manson NW Webster, Bishop Garrigan, and Sioux Central.
4.) Cherokee Washington (2-1)
When you can go 25-12 to begin the season, you know there’s good things ahead. That’s where Cherokee Washington stands after they went 2-1 to begin the season, losing out to 1A power Remsen St. Mary’s. Beyond that, they took down MVAOCOU and a rising Akron-Westfield squad to round out the week. They have a slate of big tests ahead of them to challenge their near perfect record. That includes Sioux Center, Ridge View, East Sac County, and Gehlen Catholic.
5.) Durant (3-0)
Allowing the fewest runs out of any team currently in the top ten, Durant impressed with their week one performance, allowing just two runs through the first week of action. Things may not have been flashy but they were productive, drawing 22 walks from the batters box while tossing 36 strikeouts and a 0.35 team ERA, ranking second within Class 2A. Overall offensively, they outscored their opponents 24-2, holding opponents to a .106 average while striking 17 RBI offensively. Week two will look to bring more challenges as Durant faces Wilton, a surging Williamsburg squad, Regina Catholic, and Camanche.
6.) Mid-Prairie (1-0)
One game in and already looking impressive is Mid-Prairie. The Golden Hawks went up two classes to beat 4A Muscatine 4-3. That was led by University of Iowa commit Karson Grout as Mid-Prairie begins yet another season with a win. Next week will see more action from the Golden Hawks as they will take on five games, battling against West Branch, Fairfield, Cascade, and Williamsburg which should propel then up even higher should they capture a win. Mid-Prairie will be seeking their ninth 15-plus win season in 14 years and are well on their way to doing so with an unblemished record, one of just 15 Class 2A teams to do so.
7.) Hinton (2-0)
The Blackhawks from the War Eagle Conference makes their inaugural appearance on our Victory Mounds team rankings. They do so after a scorched earth policy where they outscored their opponents 27-7 through just two games. Their last state tournament appearances came in three straight sets from 2014-2016 but they look as poised as ever to grab their fourth in 2022. They will be seeking their seventh 20-plus win season in the past 14 years and it’s well on its way with the highest two game run total the Blackhawks have had in the past five years. They will seek to continue the winning trend as they take on West Manona, Remsen St. Mary’s, and West Sioux.
8.) Williamsburg (2-1)
With a 6.3 positive run differential, Williamsburg has had a very strong start to the season, up for the running in the team of the week. That comes after splitting their double-header with then seventh-ranked Beckman Catholic and formerly sixth-ranked 4A Ankeny Centennial. They have outscored their opponents 19-15 for a quick beginning to the 2022 season. The Raiders are seeking to get back to the state tournament for the fifth time in program history. Their ’22 pursuit continues on with Class 3A’s Center Point Urbana, 2A fifth-ranked Durant, 3A’s South Tama, and 2A sixth-ranked Mid-Prairie.
9.) Beckman Catholic (2-2)
What an opening week it’s been for Beckman Catholic. They’ve already played a wide array of teams including 2A’s eighth-ranked Williamsburg (split doubleheader), a win over Class 4A’s North Scott, and a battle with 3A’s Western Dubuque. Out of all of that, it’s hard to take the Blazers out of the top ten, especially with the wins they’ve picked up and scoring 23 runs through just the first week. They are third in their class in hits (34) while sporting a .309 team batting average. They hold the most singles in 2A with 27 while also sporting seven extra-base hits. They are looking to get back to the 30-plus win trail, something they’ve done in 12 out of the last 14 seasons. They continue on their 10th ranked schedule in 2A with Class 3A’s second ranked Wahlert Catholic, Center Point-Urbana, and 2020 state title winner Don Bosco.
10.) Cascade (2-0)
Tying for the fewest amount of runs given up so far through week one in Class 2A, Cascade finds themselves in the top ten via an unblemished record. They torched their week one opponent in Midland to the tune of 27-2 through two games. That may have been all the action to have taken place for the Cougars but it was more than enough to propel them to a strong start in search of 12th twenty-plus win season. They earned their place on the top ten board but it won’t come easy to retain in week two as they battle Northeast and Mid-Prairie.
Top 15:
West Marshall, MVAOCOU, Davis County, New Hampton