Quite the overall showing from the Class 3A that included upsets, upset sweeps, and more. Overall, Class 3A top-10 teams went 25-15, outscoring opponents 288-185. With that, lets dive into what the new top-10 will look like for the Class 3A ranks.
1.) Wahlert Catholic (8-1)
A lot to like about the Class 3A runner ups as they went unblemished in week two, outscoring opponents by a 30-11 margin. The Golden Eagles took down Beckman, Iowa City West, and Sergeant Bluff Luton. They are currently tied for fourth in the class with 68 hits on the season and the third-highest total base count with 108. With Marion faltering combined with an unblemished week, the Golden Eagles have secured themselves as the top dog in Class 3A.
2.) Independence (5-1)
This was a big week for the Mustangs of Independence as the team opened the week with a split with West Delaware and more importantly, a sweep over fellow top-ten ranked Solon. It was a big home showdown and Independence stepped up to the plate and outscored their battle with the Spartans 12-10 through those two games alone. So far they’ve sported 57 total hits and 80 total bases on the season.
3.) Marion (6-2)
The week may have concluded the way they wanted, but it sure didn’t start that way for now former top-ranked Marion. The Wolves sported the lowest run differential out of any top seeded team for the week, getting outscored 28-8 across the double-header with Clear Creek Amana. They still have a lineup with the best potential to run the tables against any defense but with the double-header loss, Marion was unable to hold onto their top spot, especially with Wahlert going unblemished and Independence sweeping Solon.
4.) Xavier (7-2)
Averaging just over eight runs a game, the Xavier Saints have proven to be a big player in the 3A game this season. They currently rest top ten or better in total hits, doubles, and RBI within the Class 3A ranks. In total, week two saw Xavier go 2-1 with an impressive sweep over Kennedy while splitting the action with Cedar Falls, including a 17-13 victory in game two.
5.) Grinnell (6-0)
Outscoring their opponents 28-4, Grinnell continued to show their strength across the second week of action. The Tigers ended the week on a +6.3 run differential overall as they have yet to hit conference action for the first time. Pitching has led this team as they’ve posted 82 team strikeouts (second best in 3A), led by Brady Steward’s 25 strikeouts.
6.) Assumption (4-3)
Not the greatest week for the Assumption Knights as they went 1-2 throughout week two, and narrowly outscored 15-17. Their split with Valley and a loss to Prairie set them back four spots but this is a team dangerous enough to turn the tables in a heart beat. Therefore, it was hard to imagine the Knights, with their strength of schedule, not residing somewhere in the top ten. That’s even after their sub .500 week. There have still been plenty of bright spots for Assumption, most notably senior Noah Mack who currently rests tied for seventh in Class 3A with 12 hits as part of his .480 average to begin the ’22 campaign.
7.) Clear Creek Amana (5-0)
When you outscore opponents 75-10 within the first five games of the season, it’s hard for the rest of the baseball world not to take notice. For the Clippers, they have gotten off to one of the fastest starts of any team this season. What’s more impressive is that along the way, they took it to then top-ranked Marion to the tune of a 28-8 mark in a double-header sweep! They’ve sported the highest run differential (+13.0) out of any Class 3A team through the first two weeks of the season, ranking fourth in hits (68), third in RBI (63), and fourth in total bases (98). If they keep on this trajectory, the Clippers could be well on their way to some higher rankings!
8.) Western Dubuque (8-1)
Taking it to Cedar Rapids Jefferson 25-3 in two games plus a split with the reigning Class 4A champs in Pleasant Valley, and Western Dubuque continues to stamp their name in the top ten this week. They sport another positive run differential this week (+7.3) while leading the class in total bases (124), RBI (77), and total hits (91). Defensively they rank fifth in putouts along with a .946 fielding percentage. Isaac Then and Nick Bryant both reside top four in the class with 13 hits on the year, each sporting batting averages of .400 or higher.
9.) West Delaware (8-1)
Aside from a double-header split with Independence, there hasn’t been any other blemishes on the loss column for West Delaware. They are firing on all cylinders and have defeated Independence once, swept Benton, and took down a tough Sergeant-Bluff Luton squad. Posting up right around seven runs a game, the Hawks have made themselves jump into the top ten with consistent performances across weeks one and two. They currently sport 60 hits and 89 total bases to begin week three of action, not to mention tied for second in Class 3A with 34 stolen bases on the year.
10.) Solon (5-4)
It’s been a tough go of it for the Spartans of Solon in week two. A split with Maquoketa and a two game loss at the hands of Independence didn’t help them too much. With that said, they still reside with Class 3A’s most stolen bases (36) and one of the more efficient teams on the base paths overall. They are currently fourth in doubles (17) and seventh in RBI (52) across the Class 3A landscape, so that powerful offense we all thought would be there is still around, capable of blowing the doors off of any team they face. Their pitching hasn’t been too shabby either, with 55 total strikeouts on the year so far entering week 3.
Top-15: North Polk, Lewis Central, MOC-FV, Center Point Urbana, Pella