Sports 15 Summer baseball preview Trapshooting hosts invitational May 16, 2013
“We are working to improve from last year and achieve the ultimate goal of winning a State Championship,” senior Corbin Woods said when asked about the Saints’ upcoming baseball season. Xavier lost only three players from its 21-15 record of 2012. Also missing this year is senior Drew Scott, who will be taking classes and completing summer training for the Kansas State football team. Woods, who batted .300 last season, has already signed with Heartland Community College and will be one of the
many talented pitchers for the Saints this season along with junior Mitch Keller, who has verbally committed to the University of North Carolina. “We have four of our top five pitchers back and we have a lot more speed. We will be able to be more aggressive,” head coach Dave Schemmel said. The team will compete in the Metro Tournament on May 20 at Veterans Memorial Stadium. Connor Collins Sports Editor
The Saints hosted the Xavier Trapshoot Invitational at the Otter Creek Sportsman’s Club this past Saturday, where 241 shooters participated from 14 different schools. In the morning portion of the competition, the Saints placed fifth out of 47 squads, after losing a shoot off for third place. This was despite 30 mph winds that caused the clay birds to be even more difficult than normal to hit. Junior Carly Berutti, who was named All-State by the Amateur Trapshooting Association, earned Best Female Shooter honors, hitting 44 out of the 50 total targets. Xavier increased its rank in the afternoon session where the teams
placed fourth, and Berutti was once again named the Best Female Shooter. The team competes again this weekend at Cedar Falls, where the State meet on June 1 will also be held. They are confident the team will be successful with the help of all its members. “It has been a fun season watching the underclassmen improve their skills and help the team be successful, something we hope to see at State as well,” senior Ryan Meaney said.
distance medley team, as well as the 4x100, 4x400, and 4x800 meter relay teams finished fifth. Murtha placed third in shotput and won the discus. The girls’ track team improved at every meet throughout the season. “The coaching staff this season was really supportive. I loved being a part of a team that has improved and been successful,” junior Molly Breitbach said. The 4x100 meter relay girls’ team placed 23rd out of 80 teams in the preliminary rounds at the Drake Relays. On Tuesday, April 30, the girls ran in the Cedar Rapids Prairie Invite. The team placed seventh out of eighth with 45 points. The team then participated in the MVC
Divisional which was held at Cedar Falls on Monday, May 6. They finished seventh with 19 points. On Thursday, May 9, the team ran in the State Qualifying Meet at Linn-Mar. The girls finished eighth with 24 points. Breitbach placed fifth in the 100 meter dash. The 4x100 and 4x400 meter relay teams both finished fifth as well. Freshman Meghan Joens placed third for the discus. The Xavier track season ends this week with the State meet on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, May 16-18 in Des Moines.
John Richardson Sports Editor
Saints fly through Drake and into State
On Friday, April 26, and Saturday, April 27, the boys’ team participated in the Drake Relays held in Des Moines, Iowa. On Friday, senior Craig Murtha placed 10th in the discus and senior Nick Steingreaber placed fourth overall in the 100 meter dash. The 4x100 relay team placed eighth in the preliminary rounds also on Friday, but did not place in the top eight on Saturday for the 4x100 relay finals. Reflecting on this track season and future plans, Steingreaber said, “I will be going to Utah State University to study aviation and finance. I want to thank Cal Stovie and my parents for pushing me to be faster.” The MVC Divisional held at
Kingston took place on Monday, May 6. The boys finished in sixth place with 39 points. Senior Cal Stovie ran his first meet of the season after injuring his ACL in football. Stovie ran in the 4x100 relay which placed third overall with 44.20 seconds. Murtha placed third in the shotput and second in the discus. The State Qualifying Meet was held on Thursday, May 9 at Linn-Mar. All of the event winners and runnersup in the events automatically earn spots in the State meet. Steingreaber finished second in the 100 meter dash. Freshman Dylan Eller placed sixth in the 200 meter dash. Sophomore Noah Clasen finished fourth in the 400 low hurdles. The
Shannon Mulcahey Sports Writer