Beckman Heritage Farms north of Burlington is celebrating 175 years this weekend. However,&nbsp; owner Doug Beckman said the farm is about a decade older than that.

The farm is so old, Beckman said, it technically has two first-time sales dates — the first from before Iowa was even a state.

“We have one barn on the property that we are positive was built before the Civil War,” Beckman said.

Doug and his wife purchased the farm from Doug’s grandparents in 2016. While Doug doesn’t make a full-time living from the farm (he works for BNSF Railway), the Beckmans grow corn and soybeans there.

“I grew up on the farm and helped my grandpa with all that. We worked side by side for many years,” Beckman said.&nbsp;

Not long ago, the Beckmans started growing pumpkins. That led to an annual fall festival that has grown exponentially over the past few years.

“We had over 1,000 people the first year,” Doug Beckman said.

The next iteration of the fall festival is set for this weekend, and more than 70 vendors will be on hand. So will the YouTube personality who goes by the name “The Farm Babe.”&nbsp;

She’s in town today and will be featured at the Saturday event.

“We are going to have a special program at 11 a.m. where she is going to talk a little bit, and she will touch on the advances of modern agriculture,” Doug said.

If you miss the Beckmans this weekend, there’s still time to enjoy the fall atmosphere at the farm before the year ends.

“We are going to stay open every weekend through Halloween. We put an 80-acre corn maze out there, a big bounce house,” he said.

The original 140-acre farm borders Flint Creek and is located along the Flint River Trail system.

The Beckmans live on a 240-acre neighboring property that connects to the original farm on its northern boundary. Over 30 acres of native prairie grass on the farm is part of the Conservation Reserve Program, and there are six acres of pollinating plants to support bees and butterflies.

The farm even features a trail system for visitors leading to a natural spring surrounded by limestone. That spring has slowly been hollowed out over the course of thousands of years.

“We call the farm our hobby. It seems like more work than a normal hobby,” Doug said.

The history of the farm extends well beyond the Beckmans. Alexis Phelps, one of the founders of Oquawka, Ill., sold the 160 acres to Maria Mathilde Beckman for $250.

Maria Beckman (also known as Mary) was born in Germany on Nov. 12, 1789, and emigrated to the United States in 1841 at 52 with her four children. About a year before Iowa was admitted to the Union as the 29th state, Beckman sold the 160-acre farm to Frederick Weidekind for $900.

The farm was briefly out of the Beckman family for a few years, but it didn’t take long to get it back. The bank foreclosed on the property while Weidekind owned it, and Mary Beckman bought it back at auction for $538.50 in 1848.

The farm stayed in the family after that. Though Maria Beckman was the head of the farm, she still wouldn’t have the right to vote in U.S. elections until 78 years later.

The history fascinates Doug — so much that he constructed a timeline on the farm’s website.

The farm’s legacy belongs to everyone who touched it — not just the Beckman family, Doug said.

“The farm and its history have always been important to me,” Doug said. “It’s just a legacy that’s ongoing, and we’re one little piece of that. We hope that we can build up on that and sustain it, take good care of the property, and make good sound decisions when it comes to conservation.”

Beckman Heritage Farms is hosting a Fall Market on Saturday (Sept. 23) and Sunday (Sept. 24) with 75 unique vendors and crafts, food, music, and family activities.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2023/9/1695404894813.jpeg" alt="Doug and Heather Beckman and their eleven-month-old daughter Vivian are shown on Wednesday, Sept. 20 at their 175-year-old family farm at 14572 N Prairie Grove Road in Burlington.&nbsp; Photo/John Lovretta" />
 <figcaption>Doug and Heather Beckman and their eleven-month-old daughter Vivian are shown on Wednesday, Sept. 20 at their 175-year-old family farm at 14572 N Prairie Grove Road in Burlington.&nbsp; Photo/John Lovretta</figcaption>
 </figure>By William SmithBeckman Heritage Farms north of Burlington is celebrating 175 years this weekend. However,&nbsp; owner Doug Beckman said the farm is about a decade older than that.The farm is so old, Beckman said, it technically has two first-time sales dates — the first from before Iowa was even a state.“We have one barn on the property that we are positive was built before the Civil War,” Beckman said.Doug and his wife purchased the farm from Doug’s grandparents in 2016. While Doug doesn’t make a full-time living from the farm (he works for BNSF Railway), the Beckmans grow corn and soybeans there.“I grew up on the farm and helped my grandpa with all that. We worked side by side for many years,” Beckman said.&nbsp;Not long ago, the Beckmans started growing pumpkins. That led to an annual fall festival that has grown exponentially over the past few years.“We had over 1,000 people the first year,” Doug Beckman said.The next iteration of the fall festival is set for this weekend, and more than 70 vendors will be on hand. So will the YouTube personality who goes by the name “The Farm Babe.”&nbsp;She’s in town today and will be featured at the Saturday event.“We are going to have a special program at 11 a.m. where she is going to talk a little bit, and she will touch on the advances of modern agriculture,” Doug said.If you miss the Beckmans this weekend, there’s still time to enjoy the fall atmosphere at the farm before the year ends.“We are going to stay open every weekend through Halloween. We put an 80-acre corn maze out there, a big bounce house,” he said.The original 140-acre farm borders Flint Creek and is located along the Flint River Trail system.<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2023/9/1695404997157.jpeg" alt="Pumpkins and gourds outside a hay barn on George and Heather Beckman's 175-year-old family farm.&nbsp;Beckman Heritage Farms is hosting a Fall Market on Saturday (Sept. 23) and Sunday (Sept. 24) with 75 unique vendors and crafts, food, music, and family activities. Photo/John Lovretta" />
 <figcaption>Pumpkins and gourds outside a hay barn on George and Heather Beckman's 175-year-old family farm.&nbsp;Beckman Heritage Farms is hosting a Fall Market on Saturday (Sept. 23) and Sunday (Sept. 24) with 75 unique vendors and crafts, food, music, and family activities. Photo/John Lovretta</figcaption>
 </figure>The Beckmans live on a 240-acre neighboring property that connects to the original farm on its northern boundary. Over 30 acres of native prairie grass on the farm is part of the Conservation Reserve Program, and there are six acres of pollinating plants to support bees and butterflies.The farm even features a trail system for visitors leading to a natural spring surrounded by limestone. That spring has slowly been hollowed out over the course of thousands of years.“We call the farm our hobby. It seems like more work than a normal hobby,” Doug said.The history of the farm extends well beyond the Beckmans. Alexis Phelps, one of the founders of Oquawka, Ill., sold the 160 acres to Maria Mathilde Beckman for $250.That was the first time she bought it.Maria Beckman (also known as Mary) was born in Germany on Nov. 12, 1789, and emigrated to the United States in 1841 at 52 with her four children. About a year before Iowa was admitted to the Union as the 29th state, Beckman sold the 160-acre farm to Frederick Weidekind for $900.The farm was briefly out of the Beckman family for a few years, but it didn’t take long to get it back. The bank foreclosed on the property while Weidekind owned it, and Mary Beckman bought it back at auction for $538.50 in 1848.The farm stayed in the family after that. Though Maria Beckman was the head of the farm, she still wouldn’t have the right to vote in U.S. elections until 78 years later.The history fascinates Doug — so much that he constructed a timeline on the farm’s website.The farm’s legacy belongs to everyone who touched it — not just the Beckman family, Doug said.“The farm and its history have always been important to me,” Doug said. “It’s just a legacy that’s ongoing, and we’re one little piece of that. We hope that we can build up on that and sustain it, take good care of the property, and make good sound decisions when it comes to conservation.”Beckman Heritage Farms is hosting a Fall Market on Saturday (Sept. 23) and Sunday (Sept. 24) with 75 unique vendors and crafts, food, music, and family activities.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2023/9/1695405091206.jpeg" alt="Doug and Heather Beckman and their eleven-month-old daughter Vivian. Photo/John Lovretta" />
 <figcaption>Doug and Heather Beckman and their eleven-month-old daughter Vivian. Photo/John Lovretta</figcaption>
 </figure>

A legacy of family farming

By Chris Faulkner Burlington Beacon

John Carter said he was about 10 or 12 years old when he encountered butterflies for the first time in his backyard.

Growing up, he lived on Hagemann Avenue on the east end of Burlington.

“We had gardens on the side (of the house). We had milkweeds there,” he said.

His mother sent him out to get some parsley from the garden, and he reported, “It’s full of bugs. I can’t find any parsley.”

The “bugs” were black swallowtail butterflies.

But the family also had bluebird boxes next to a grape arbor, so that was his focus for the longest time. 

When Carter moved to the Flint Valley area in 1978, he began setting up birdhouses. He remembered the bluebirds of his youth and asked his new neighbors if they had ever seen any of them in the area. 

They said no. He built the boxes anyway. 

“Within four years, if you didn’t see any bluebirds, you were blind,” Carter said.

In 1995, his birdhouse hobby expanded when he retired as a pressman for the Hawk Eye. Then-editor John McCormally ran the For Our Birds store on Division Street and store manager Bob Francis asked Carter to help out at the store.

At one point, they ran out of oriole feeders and discovered they weren’t being made anymore. During his years working at the store, Carter made over 300 of them.

At one point, he had a trail of 54 birdhouses, but they became difficult to care for.

That was when he began revisiting the world of butterflies.

At the age of 92, he has his own monarch butterfly nursery.

Carter took up raising monarch butterflies four years ago, and this year is set to break his previous record of releasing 114 butterflies into the wild.

“Each year, it gets bigger and bigger,” Carter said.

For black swallowtails, he prefers starting from scratch.

“I would rather bring in the egg than a caterpillar because nine times out of 10 it’s compromised with some kind of disease or predator,” Carter said and the early stages are in his home.

“I bring the egg in on a piece of parsley,” and he prefers the Italian variety.

The egg is just a tiny white dot, and when hatched, it comes out as a caterpillar. But not the size people are used to seeing.

“It looks like a piece of bird poop,” he said. “It’s camouflaged so it doesn’t get eaten.”

Carter moves it to another box when it gets bigger than an inch-and-a-half long.

“When he gets ready to make a chrysalis, it expels some of its last meal, and I know he’s ready to move,” Carter said.

The caterpillar goes into another cage that has an obstacle course. 

“They’ll build their cocoon on the obstacles, and I can move them wherever I want,” Carter said.

Some of the caterpillars that make their chrysalises in the fall need to “over winter,” so he puts them in a shed. 

Outside in the backyard are three wooden boxes with wire cages that house the chrysalises until the butterfly breaks free.

On a particular day in August, Carter released 11 and said if you tagged them, you would find out how far they have flown.

For Carter, this isn’t only a retirement hobby. His controlled environment increases the survival rate of these colorful flying insects.

“If I find the egg, and the egg is fertile and it hatches, there is a 95 percent chance it is going to survive to a butterfly,” he said. “In the wild, there is a 5 percent chance it’s going to make a butterfly.”

According to Carter, he has inspired others to raise butterflies. He gave two cocoons to his neighbors, Deb and Joel Schwenker, and they eventually released those. That spurred them to take up the hobby, and then another neighbor got involved. Carter said a woman down the road also “got addicted,” and she got her grandson involved.

“It looks pretty,” he said of the butterflies, “and it has a lot to do with the environment. If we run out of insects, I don’t care what kind of insect it is, something’s going to happen.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2023/9/1694394379024.jpeg" alt="John Carter enjoys the beauty of the butterflies that he raises, but he knows their rightful place is in the wild. This is one of 11 he recently released from his home on Flint Valley Road. (Chris Faulkner/The Burlington Beacon)" />
 <figcaption>John Carter enjoys the beauty of the butterflies that he raises, but he knows their rightful place is in the wild. This is one of 11 he recently released from his home on Flint Valley Road. (Chris Faulkner/The Burlington Beacon)</figcaption>
 </figure>By Chris Faulkner Burlington BeaconJohn Carter said he was about 10 or 12 years old when he encountered butterflies for the first time in his backyard.Growing up, he lived on Hagemann Avenue on the east end of Burlington.“We had gardens on the side (of the house). We had milkweeds there,” he said.His mother sent him out to get some parsley from the garden, and he reported, “It’s full of bugs. I can’t find any parsley.”The “bugs” were black swallowtail butterflies.But the family also had bluebird boxes next to a grape arbor, so that was his focus for the longest time. When Carter moved to the Flint Valley area in 1978, he began setting up birdhouses. He remembered the bluebirds of his youth and asked his new neighbors if they had ever seen any of them in the area. They said no. He built the boxes anyway. “Within four years, if you didn’t see any bluebirds, you were blind,” Carter said.In 1995, his birdhouse hobby expanded when he retired as a pressman for the Hawk Eye. Then-editor John McCormally ran the For Our Birds store on Division Street and store manager Bob Francis asked Carter to help out at the store.At one point, they ran out of oriole feeders and discovered they weren’t being made anymore. During his years working at the store, Carter made over 300 of them.At one point, he had a trail of 54 birdhouses, but they became difficult to care for.That was when he began revisiting the world of butterflies.At the age of 92, he has his own monarch butterfly nursery.Carter took up raising monarch butterflies four years ago, and this year is set to break his previous record of releasing 114 butterflies into the wild.“Each year, it gets bigger and bigger,” Carter said.For black swallowtails, he prefers starting from scratch.“I would rather bring in the egg than a caterpillar because nine times out of 10 it’s compromised with some kind of disease or predator,” Carter said and the early stages are in his home.“I bring the egg in on a piece of parsley,” and he prefers the Italian variety.The egg is just a tiny white dot, and when hatched, it comes out as a caterpillar. But not the size people are used to seeing.“It looks like a piece of bird poop,” he said. “It’s camouflaged so it doesn’t get eaten.”Carter moves it to another box when it gets bigger than an inch-and-a-half long.“When he gets ready to make a chrysalis, it expels some of its last meal, and I know he’s ready to move,” Carter said.The caterpillar goes into another cage that has an obstacle course. “They’ll build their cocoon on the obstacles, and I can move them wherever I want,” Carter said.Some of the caterpillars that make their chrysalises in the fall need to “over winter,” so he puts them in a shed. Outside in the backyard are three wooden boxes with wire cages that house the chrysalises until the butterfly breaks free.On a particular day in August, Carter released 11 and said if you tagged them, you would find out how far they have flown.For Carter, this isn’t only a retirement hobby. His controlled environment increases the survival rate of these colorful flying insects.“If I find the egg, and the egg is fertile and it hatches, there is a 95 percent chance it is going to survive to a butterfly,” he said. “In the wild, there is a 5 percent chance it’s going to make a butterfly.”According to Carter, he has inspired others to raise butterflies. He gave two cocoons to his neighbors, Deb and Joel Schwenker, and they eventually released those. That spurred them to take up the hobby, and then another neighbor got involved. Carter said a woman down the road also “got addicted,” and she got her grandson involved.“It looks pretty,” he said of the butterflies, “and it has a lot to do with the environment. If we run out of insects, I don’t care what kind of insect it is, something’s going to happen.”

All creatures great and small

Notre Dame standout is ready for volleyball season at U of I.

By John Bohnenkamp&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Burlington Beacon

Gabby Deery has been a member of the Iowa volleyball team since arriving on campus this summer, but Saturday’s (Aug. 19) intrasquad scrimmage at Xtream Arena was finally going to be the moment she wanted.

“It’s been so surreal,” Deery said in the media session before the scrimmage. “I’ve always wanted to be a Hawkeye. I feel like with this scrimmage, it will finally sink in — being on the court and competing. Yeah, it will be against each other, but it will be like, ‘I’m actually here as a Hawkeye.’”

Deery, the Notre Dame High School graduate who led the Nikes to two state championships, is competing for playing time at outside hitter for the Hawkeyes. Her work in the preseason impressed second-year coach Jim Barnes.

“She’s been a surprise, as a freshman, for how hard-working and serious she is in the gym,” Barnes said. “She gets in there and works hard, and that’s what I’m mostly proud of. We put her on the right side to add some depth, but she’s competing. She’s trying to win a position. And that surprised me too.”

“She’s diligent, hard-working. She’s a perfectionist. All of those things surprised me. I knew she’d be a good addition, but she’s surprised all of us. She’s getting after it.”

Deery, who had more than 1,500 kills with the Nikes, is playing a right-side hitter’s spot, a position she is getting comfortable with during practice.

“I have a little experience on the right side,” she said. “It’s the same basics. There’s not much to it.”

Deery is one of six freshmen Barnes brought in during the offseason, a rebuilding class that includes three transfers after a season in which the Hawkeyes went 10-21, 4-16 in the Big Ten.

Deery holds Notre Dame’s records in career kills, career blocks, single-season kills, single-season blocks, and single-season aces. She was the Iowa Girls Coaches Association Class 1A state player of the year for the last two seasons.

“It was an easy decision,” she said. “I’ve always wanted to play at the highest level of volleyball. It’s close to home. Great program, with great coaches. It all worked out for me.

“I’m super excited for what Coach Barnes has in store for our team. He has great goals for us, and I know we can fulfill those goals.”

Deery arrived on campus at the end of June and worked in the summer program led by the team’s captains. Once she could work with the coaches, her education has grown.

“They definitely keep us busy and I love it,” she said. “I really feel like I’ve been improving in these first two weeks of preseason. We’re always in the gym, and I’m glad we get the film, and coaches give us feedback.

“I have learned so much getting to compete with everyone in the gym. We have this thing where we’re not competing against each other, we’re competing with one another. And so that’s helpful in getting to learn new things.”

“She’s good at everything,” Barnes said.&nbsp;

“But she needs to be great at hitting, at blocking — two big things on the right side. That’s the thing — she’s got all of the tools to be great. She really does. It’s going to take work to get to our level. But it’s impressed us that she is good at everything. She’s a well-rounded player.”

Notre Dame standout is ready for volleyball season at U of I.<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2023/8/1693249555327.jpeg" alt="Gabby Deery" />
 <figcaption>Gabby Deery</figcaption>
 </figure>By John Bohnenkamp&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Burlington BeaconGabby Deery has been a member of the Iowa volleyball team since arriving on campus this summer, but Saturday’s (Aug. 19) intrasquad scrimmage at Xtream Arena was finally going to be the moment she wanted.“It’s been so surreal,” Deery said in the media session before the scrimmage. “I’ve always wanted to be a Hawkeye. I feel like with this scrimmage, it will finally sink in — being on the court and competing. Yeah, it will be against each other, but it will be like, ‘I’m actually here as a Hawkeye.’”Deery, the Notre Dame High School graduate who led the Nikes to two state championships, is competing for playing time at outside hitter for the Hawkeyes. Her work in the preseason impressed second-year coach Jim Barnes.“She’s been a surprise, as a freshman, for how hard-working and serious she is in the gym,” Barnes said. “She gets in there and works hard, and that’s what I’m mostly proud of. We put her on the right side to add some depth, but she’s competing. She’s trying to win a position. And that surprised me too.”“She’s diligent, hard-working. She’s a perfectionist. All of those things surprised me. I knew she’d be a good addition, but she’s surprised all of us. She’s getting after it.”Deery, who had more than 1,500 kills with the Nikes, is playing a right-side hitter’s spot, a position she is getting comfortable with during practice.“I have a little experience on the right side,” she said. “It’s the same basics. There’s not much to it.”Deery is one of six freshmen Barnes brought in during the offseason, a rebuilding class that includes three transfers after a season in which the Hawkeyes went 10-21, 4-16 in the Big Ten.Deery holds Notre Dame’s records in career kills, career blocks, single-season kills, single-season blocks, and single-season aces. She was the Iowa Girls Coaches Association Class 1A state player of the year for the last two seasons.“It was an easy decision,” she said. “I’ve always wanted to play at the highest level of volleyball. It’s close to home. Great program, with great coaches. It all worked out for me.“I’m super excited for what Coach Barnes has in store for our team. He has great goals for us, and I know we can fulfill those goals.”Deery arrived on campus at the end of June and worked in the summer program led by the team’s captains. Once she could work with the coaches, her education has grown.“They definitely keep us busy and I love it,” she said. “I really feel like I’ve been improving in these first two weeks of preseason. We’re always in the gym, and I’m glad we get the film, and coaches give us feedback.“I have learned so much getting to compete with everyone in the gym. We have this thing where we’re not competing against each other, we’re competing with one another. And so that’s helpful in getting to learn new things.”“She’s good at everything,” Barnes said.&nbsp;“But she needs to be great at hitting, at blocking — two big things on the right side. That’s the thing — she’s got all of the tools to be great. She really does. It’s going to take work to get to our level. But it’s impressed us that she is good at everything. She’s a well-rounded player.”

Deery is ‘getting after it’ for the Hawkeyes

Notre Dame coach Chris Chiprez and Van Buren coach Chad Scott shared Coach of the Year honors for the Southeast Iowa Superconference's all-South Division baseball team. The seven coaches voted for the all-Division teams.

The Nikes and the Warriors competed this past week at the state's 1A and 2A tournaments, respectively, in Carroll.

Notre Dame finished 11-1 to claim the South Division title, and Van Buren was one loss behind them at 11-2. The Nikes went to state with a 26-6 record, and the Warriors with a 26-3 record.

Jackson Manning of Van Buren was chosen as Player of the Year. He hit .517 for the season, and his 14 doubles, four triples, and two home runs helped him to a .839 slugging percentage. He drove in 60 runs.

Notre Dame placed six on the first team and six on the second team.

Making the first team for the Nikes were: Jaxon Sadler, pitcher; Logan Brent, catcher, Caden Schwenker and Spencer Brent, infielders; Landry Haberichter, outfielder, and Hunter Shipley, utility.

Payne Prottsman was chosen as one of the second-team pitchers, Maddox Diewold made it as an infielder, Lucas Johnson and Isaiah Crow as outfielders and Dylan Kipp and Eli Oleson as utility players.

Jeremiah Crow received an honorable mention.

Mediapolis came in third in the South at 8-5. Their first-team picks were Kamden Stotlar behind the plate, Jackson Hutcheson in the outfield, and Lance Ludens in the infield. The second-team Bulldogs were outfielder Kyler Crow and infielder Grady Gunn. Xayvion Breuer and Grant Hilton received an honorable mention.

West Burlington came in fifth in the league with a 4-8 record. The Falcons Jace Figuereo made the first team as an infielder and Hayden Vandenberg was first-team utility. Brady Diewold was a second-team outfielder. Emry Watson and Brock Thuleen received honorable mentions.

For Danville, which finished seventh with a 1-13 mark, Kessler Whaley was a first-team outfielder, and Jaden Bauer was a first-team infielder. Deken Huff made the second team as an outfielder, and Henry Bellrichard was a second-team infielder. Quentin Stotlar and Addison Clayton received an honorable mention.

Rounding out the first team: pitcher Taylor Sprouse, infielder Manning and outfielder Anthony Duncan, of Van Buren; catcher Tate Welcher and utility player Brendan Richey, New London.

The rest of the second team: pitcher Dylan Richardson, catcher Izaak Loeffler and infielder Lucus Fett, Van Buren; catcher Bo Herdrich and utility player Corbin Pohren, Central Lee; and infielders Gavin Menke-Bailey and Memphis Watson, New London.

Schwenker, a junior, led his team with a .431 average (.608 slugging). He had eight doubles, two triples, and two home runs and drove in 37 runs. He also led the Nikes in drawing walks with 18. He stole 13 bases.

Spencer Brent, a junior, hit .381 (.517 slugging) and hit 13 doubles and one home run. He led in RBIs with 38 and struck out just 10 times in 118 at-bats. He stole 12 bases.

Haberichter, a freshman, batted .343 (.528 slugging). He had 13 doubles, two triples, and a home run.

Logan Brent, a junior, hit .330, with seven doubles and two home runs. He stole 13 bases.

Sadler, a junior, went undefeated in all six starts, and he pitched in eight others. His ERA was 3.03, and he struck out 61 and walked 20.

Shipley, the only senior on the team, started 11 games and went 8-1. He had a 1.43 ERA, the lowest of the regular hurlers. He struck out 52 and walked 26.

Figuereo, a senior, hit .531 for the Falcons (.703 slugging). He had three doubles and four triples to go with 27 singles in 64 at-bats. He and Vandenberg each walked 14 times. Figuereo struck out just three times in 64 at-bats.

Vandenberg, a senior, hit .483 but his 18 doubles and six home runs helped him get a .867 slugging percentage.

Stotlar, a junior, led the Bulldog starters in hitting at .365. He hit three doubles and led the team in RBIs with 24.

Hutcheson, a junior, hit .354 with four doubles and 14 RBIs.

Ludens, a sophomore, hit .338. He had two doubles, two triples, and four home runs. He struck out eight times in 80 at-bats.

Whaley, a sophomore, hit .518 to lead the Bears (.607 slugging). He hit five doubles.

Bauer, a sophomore, hit .392 and led the team in RBIs with 17.

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 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2023/7/1689693600285.jpeg" alt="" />
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 </figure>Beacon SportsNotre Dame coach Chris Chiprez and Van Buren coach Chad Scott shared Coach of the Year honors for the Southeast Iowa Superconference's all-South Division baseball team. The seven coaches voted for the all-Division teams.The Nikes and the Warriors competed this past week at the state's 1A and 2A tournaments, respectively, in Carroll.Notre Dame finished 11-1 to claim the South Division title, and Van Buren was one loss behind them at 11-2. The Nikes went to state with a 26-6 record, and the Warriors with a 26-3 record.Jackson Manning of Van Buren was chosen as Player of the Year. He hit .517 for the season, and his 14 doubles, four triples, and two home runs helped him to a .839 slugging percentage. He drove in 60 runs.Notre Dame placed six on the first team and six on the second team.Making the first team for the Nikes were: Jaxon Sadler, pitcher; Logan Brent, catcher, Caden Schwenker and Spencer Brent, infielders; Landry Haberichter, outfielder, and Hunter Shipley, utility.Payne Prottsman was chosen as one of the second-team pitchers, Maddox Diewold made it as an infielder, Lucas Johnson and Isaiah Crow as outfielders and Dylan Kipp and Eli Oleson as utility players.Jeremiah Crow received an honorable mention.Mediapolis came in third in the South at 8-5. Their first-team picks were Kamden Stotlar behind the plate, Jackson Hutcheson in the outfield, and Lance Ludens in the infield. The second-team Bulldogs were outfielder Kyler Crow and infielder Grady Gunn. Xayvion Breuer and Grant Hilton received an honorable mention.West Burlington came in fifth in the league with a 4-8 record. The Falcons Jace Figuereo made the first team as an infielder and Hayden Vandenberg was first-team utility. Brady Diewold was a second-team outfielder. Emry Watson and Brock Thuleen received honorable mentions.For Danville, which finished seventh with a 1-13 mark, Kessler Whaley was a first-team outfielder, and Jaden Bauer was a first-team infielder. Deken Huff made the second team as an outfielder, and Henry Bellrichard was a second-team infielder. Quentin Stotlar and Addison Clayton received an honorable mention.Rounding out the first team: pitcher Taylor Sprouse, infielder Manning and outfielder Anthony Duncan, of Van Buren; catcher Tate Welcher and utility player Brendan Richey, New London.The rest of the second team: pitcher Dylan Richardson, catcher Izaak Loeffler and infielder Lucus Fett, Van Buren; catcher Bo Herdrich and utility player Corbin Pohren, Central Lee; and infielders Gavin Menke-Bailey and Memphis Watson, New London.First-team statsNotre Dame(Stats before the state tournament)Schwenker, a junior, led his team with a .431 average (.608 slugging). He had eight doubles, two triples, and two home runs and drove in 37 runs. He also led the Nikes in drawing walks with 18. He stole 13 bases.Spencer Brent, a junior, hit .381 (.517 slugging) and hit 13 doubles and one home run. He led in RBIs with 38 and struck out just 10 times in 118 at-bats. He stole 12 bases.Haberichter, a freshman, batted .343 (.528 slugging). He had 13 doubles, two triples, and a home run.Logan Brent, a junior, hit .330, with seven doubles and two home runs. He stole 13 bases.Sadler, a junior, went undefeated in all six starts, and he pitched in eight others. His ERA was 3.03, and he struck out 61 and walked 20.Shipley, the only senior on the team, started 11 games and went 8-1. He had a 1.43 ERA, the lowest of the regular hurlers. He struck out 52 and walked 26.West BurlingtonFiguereo, a senior, hit .531 for the Falcons (.703 slugging). He had three doubles and four triples to go with 27 singles in 64 at-bats. He and Vandenberg each walked 14 times. Figuereo struck out just three times in 64 at-bats.Vandenberg, a senior, hit .483 but his 18 doubles and six home runs helped him get a .867 slugging percentage.MediapolisStotlar, a junior, led the Bulldog starters in hitting at .365. He hit three doubles and led the team in RBIs with 24.Hutcheson, a junior, hit .354 with four doubles and 14 RBIs.Ludens, a sophomore, hit .338. He had two doubles, two triples, and four home runs. He struck out eight times in 80 at-bats.DanvilleWhaley, a sophomore, hit .518 to lead the Bears (.607 slugging). He hit five doubles.Bauer, a sophomore, hit .392 and led the team in RBIs with 17.Final standingsNotre Dame 11-1, 26-6Van Buren, 11-2, 26-3Mediapolis, 8-5, 17-9Central Lee, 7-5, 15-8West Burlington 4-8, 9-10New London, 2-10, 8-15Danville, 1-13, 2-17

Chiprez, Scott share Coach of the Year honors

Burlington High School’s 12th-ranked softball team fell one win short of returning to the state tournament.

Norwalk, who was ranked fourth, blanked the Grayhounds, 5-0, Tuesday night in the championship game of the Class 4A, Region 6 tournament at Norwalk. The Warriors (31-9) advance to the state tournament July 17-21 at Harlan Rogers Park in Fort Dodge.

The young Burlington team ends its season at 20-9. On the Burlington roster, there are no seniors, four juniors, two sophomores, four freshmen, and six eighth-graders.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;

The Grayhounds reached the championship game by edging Knoxville, 3-2, on Saturday night at Wagner Field in the semifinal round.

&nbsp;“I expect (Norwalk) to be wanting to put it to us because we beat them,” BHS head coach Larry Heath said Saturday night after the semifinal victory. The Grayhounds beat Norwalk on June 10 in the Xavier tournament at Cedar Rapids, 2-0.

“We made some good defensive plays (in the first game against Norwalk) and beat them 2-0,” Heath said. “Their pitching is very good. They’re a very good team and play some tough competition and they more than likely will be laying for us since they lost to us.”

BHS also faced Norwalk in the consolation play of last summer’s state tournament, falling to the Warriors, 5-0.

&nbsp;Last Saturday night, the Grayhounds held a 3-0 lead over Knoxville entering the seventh inning, then committed three errors and allowed two unearned runs. Burlington second baseman Hannah Heuvelmann then made a diving grab of Emma Duncan’s ground ball and Heuvelmann flipped the softball to shortstop Kierah Wiseman for the game’s final out, preserving the victory.

“We’ve been trying to get Hannah to just lay out on some of those balls that we think she can get to,” Heath said. “Obviously, she got there. It was a great play to win the game for us.”

Saydee Plummer (12-4) was the winning pitcher, giving up no earned runs on five hits and one walk in seven innings. She struck out 10 batters.

“Saydee pitched a great game,” Heath said. “She couldn’t close it out in the seventh inning. It should have been two outs and nobody on, but we had three errors in the last inning. We gave them some opportunities, and they almost took advantage of it. We managed to get through it. Saydee pitched a great game and had a big hit with two RBIs. That was the difference in the game.”

In the fifth inning, Wiseman reached on an error, and slugger Kylee Hill was intentionally walked. Plummer ripped a two-out single to left center to score both runners and give BHS a 3-0 lead.

In the second inning, Ava Fawcett doubled to left and scored on Maddy Taeger’s single to right to give Burlington a 1-0 edge.

Joining Norwalk in the 4A state tournament will be Fort Dodge, ADM, Winterset, Carlisle, North Polk, North Scott, and Western Dubuque.

<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2023/7/1689131866147.jpeg" alt="Burlington High School's head coach Larry Heath huddles up with players before the start of their Class 4A Region 6 game against Knoxville High School on Saturday, July 8, at Burlington's Wagner Field. Photo/John Lovretta" />
 <figcaption>Burlington High School's head coach Larry Heath huddles up with players before the start of their Class 4A Region 6 game against Knoxville High School on Saturday, July 8, at Burlington's Wagner Field. Photo/John Lovretta</figcaption>
 </figure>By Joe GerenBurlington High School’s 12th-ranked softball team fell one win short of returning to the state tournament.Norwalk, who was ranked fourth, blanked the Grayhounds, 5-0, Tuesday night in the championship game of the Class 4A, Region 6 tournament at Norwalk. The Warriors (31-9) advance to the state tournament July 17-21 at Harlan Rogers Park in Fort Dodge.The young Burlington team ends its season at 20-9. On the Burlington roster, there are no seniors, four juniors, two sophomores, four freshmen, and six eighth-graders.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;The Grayhounds reached the championship game by edging Knoxville, 3-2, on Saturday night at Wagner Field in the semifinal round.&nbsp;“I expect (Norwalk) to be wanting to put it to us because we beat them,” BHS head coach Larry Heath said Saturday night after the semifinal victory. The Grayhounds beat Norwalk on June 10 in the Xavier tournament at Cedar Rapids, 2-0.“We made some good defensive plays (in the first game against Norwalk) and beat them 2-0,” Heath said. “Their pitching is very good. They’re a very good team and play some tough competition and they more than likely will be laying for us since they lost to us.”BHS also faced Norwalk in the consolation play of last summer’s state tournament, falling to the Warriors, 5-0.&nbsp;Last Saturday night, the Grayhounds held a 3-0 lead over Knoxville entering the seventh inning, then committed three errors and allowed two unearned runs. Burlington second baseman Hannah Heuvelmann then made a diving grab of Emma Duncan’s ground ball and Heuvelmann flipped the softball to shortstop Kierah Wiseman for the game’s final out, preserving the victory.“We’ve been trying to get Hannah to just lay out on some of those balls that we think she can get to,” Heath said. “Obviously, she got there. It was a great play to win the game for us.”Saydee Plummer (12-4) was the winning pitcher, giving up no earned runs on five hits and one walk in seven innings. She struck out 10 batters.“Saydee pitched a great game,” Heath said. “She couldn’t close it out in the seventh inning. It should have been two outs and nobody on, but we had three errors in the last inning. We gave them some opportunities, and they almost took advantage of it. We managed to get through it. Saydee pitched a great game and had a big hit with two RBIs. That was the difference in the game.”In the fifth inning, Wiseman reached on an error, and slugger Kylee Hill was intentionally walked. Plummer ripped a two-out single to left center to score both runners and give BHS a 3-0 lead.In the second inning, Ava Fawcett doubled to left and scored on Maddy Taeger’s single to right to give Burlington a 1-0 edge.Heuvelmann and Hill also hit singles.Knoxville ended its season at 15-14.Joining Norwalk in the 4A state tournament will be Fort Dodge, ADM, Winterset, Carlisle, North Polk, North Scott, and Western Dubuque.

Norwalk ousts BHS girls just short of state

Lauren Krieger's deep foul out to the Fairfield left fielder in the bottom of the ninth brought home West Burlington-Notre Dame teammate Isabella Blaufuss Thursday night and gave the Falcons a 2-1 extra-inning victory in a first-round Class 3A Region 8 game at Barb Carter Field.

WB-ND (22-11) plays Saturday night at West Liberty against the host Comets (20-11), which beat Columbus 8-6 Thursday.

Central Lee lost to Washington 10-1 on Thursday in the top-off of the region.

West Burlington-Notre Dame had gotten out of a bases-loaded jam in the top of the ninth. Winning pitcher Lauren Summers got the first two batters out, but then she gave up a single, a walk, and another hit to load the bases. But Lilly Bergren hit a grounder to third baseman Shonna Anderson, who threw home to Paige Summers for the force out.

Fairfield pitcher Cody Engle struck out the first Falcon batter in the ninth. But Blaufuss' hard grounder to third was mishandled, and Anna Engberg's grounder to short had the same result, putting both Falcons at first and second.

Engle threw a wild pitch, which moved the runners along. Krieger then lofted the fly ball in foul territory, far enough for Blaufuss to tag up after the catch and score the game-ending run.

It was a pitcher's duel: Summers struck out 12 batters, scattered seven hits, walked four, and hit a batter. Engle struck out 10 batters, spread out six hits, walked two, and hit a batter.

Two of the six hits came in WB-ND's first inning. Krieger singled, went to second on an error with Summers batting, and Elise Oleson singled in the first and only Falcons run for the first eight innings.

One of Summers' walks was to Laney Norris leading off the fourth. After Morgan Ament bunted her to second, Leah Helmick singled her home to tie the game at 1-1.

WB-ND stranded nine runners, including runners in scoring position five of the first eight innings.

The Trojans stranded 12 runners, including the bases loaded in the top of the ninth inning.

Engberg almost ended the game in a more traditionally dramatic fashion. With one out in the bottom of the seventh, she launched a deep fly ball to the left that looked like it might clear the fence. But Fairfield's Emmelia Miller stretched her glove and caught the ball at the fence.

Summers, whose career best is 16 strikeouts in a game, said of the nail-biting, low-scoring contest, “I like these types of games. I know I have to buckle down and do my job on the mound. I know we have good enough hitters too, when we come up to bat, get the job done.”

Falcon coach Dave Oleson said, “Summers was great on the mound tonight.”

But he praised Engle for the Trojans. “I don't think we've seen anybody as fast as her, possibly the Sigourney pitcher Goodwin, but she was throwing heat.”

Oleson said, “We could have scored some runs early on, but we didn't get the job done. But we battled and battled and battled and came up with the W.

“We forced them to make mistakes,” he said. “Sometimes you've got to be lucky and force the issue and good things happen.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2023/7/1688738418925.jpeg" alt="West Burlington-Notre Dame pitcher Lauren Summers brings home a pitch from the circle Thursday night in a Class 3A regional softball opener against Fairfield at Barb Carter Field. Summers struck out 12 batters in the nine-inning game, in which the Falcons won a walk-off foul out deep near left field territory. Photo/Chris Faulkner" />
 <figcaption>West Burlington-Notre Dame pitcher Lauren Summers brings home a pitch from the circle Thursday night in a Class 3A regional softball opener against Fairfield at Barb Carter Field. Summers struck out 12 batters in the nine-inning game, in which the Falcons won a walk-off foul out deep near left field territory. Photo/Chris Faulkner</figcaption>
 </figure>By Chris FaulknerLauren Krieger's deep foul out to the Fairfield left fielder in the bottom of the ninth brought home West Burlington-Notre Dame teammate Isabella Blaufuss Thursday night and gave the Falcons a 2-1 extra-inning victory in a first-round Class 3A Region 8 game at Barb Carter Field.WB-ND (22-11) plays Saturday night at West Liberty against the host Comets (20-11), which beat Columbus 8-6 Thursday.Central Lee lost to Washington 10-1 on Thursday in the top-off of the region.West Burlington-Notre Dame had gotten out of a bases-loaded jam in the top of the ninth. Winning pitcher Lauren Summers got the first two batters out, but then she gave up a single, a walk, and another hit to load the bases. But Lilly Bergren hit a grounder to third baseman Shonna Anderson, who threw home to Paige Summers for the force out.Fairfield pitcher Cody Engle struck out the first Falcon batter in the ninth. But Blaufuss' hard grounder to third was mishandled, and Anna Engberg's grounder to short had the same result, putting both Falcons at first and second.Engle threw a wild pitch, which moved the runners along. Krieger then lofted the fly ball in foul territory, far enough for Blaufuss to tag up after the catch and score the game-ending run.It was a pitcher's duel: Summers struck out 12 batters, scattered seven hits, walked four, and hit a batter. Engle struck out 10 batters, spread out six hits, walked two, and hit a batter.Two of the six hits came in WB-ND's first inning. Krieger singled, went to second on an error with Summers batting, and Elise Oleson singled in the first and only Falcons run for the first eight innings.One of Summers' walks was to Laney Norris leading off the fourth. After Morgan Ament bunted her to second, Leah Helmick singled her home to tie the game at 1-1.WB-ND stranded nine runners, including runners in scoring position five of the first eight innings.The Trojans stranded 12 runners, including the bases loaded in the top of the ninth inning.Engberg almost ended the game in a more traditionally dramatic fashion. With one out in the bottom of the seventh, she launched a deep fly ball to the left that looked like it might clear the fence. But Fairfield's Emmelia Miller stretched her glove and caught the ball at the fence.Summers, whose career best is 16 strikeouts in a game, said of the nail-biting, low-scoring contest, “I like these types of games. I know I have to buckle down and do my job on the mound. I know we have good enough hitters too, when we come up to bat, get the job done.”Falcon coach Dave Oleson said, “Summers was great on the mound tonight.”But he praised Engle for the Trojans. “I don't think we've seen anybody as fast as her, possibly the Sigourney pitcher Goodwin, but she was throwing heat.”Oleson said, “We could have scored some runs early on, but we didn't get the job done. But we battled and battled and battled and came up with the W.“We forced them to make mistakes,” he said. “Sometimes you've got to be lucky and force the issue and good things happen.”

Krieger lifts Falcons with long foul out in bottom of the ninth

Notre Dame’s eighth-ranked baseball team didn’t play like it was coming off an 11-day layoff.

Even on a night when heavy rains forced their home 1A district tournament game to be played at New London, the Nikes hit the ball well and took advantage of eight New London errors to win the district semifinal game 12-0 in five innings Wednesday.

The Nikes (24-6) host Moravia (23-7) at 7 p.m. Saturday.

New London finished at 8-15, having just one senior, Vegas Watson, and one junior, pitcher Brendan Richey, on the roster..

Notre Dame’s Hunter Shipley kept the Tigers in line on the mound for the first three innings. He gave up one hit and one walk and struck out three. Jaxon Sadler pitched the final two innings, giving up a two-out single in the fourth and then striking out the remaining four batters.

“It almost feels like we didn’t skip a beat,” Notre Dame coach Chris Chiprez said. Notre Dame beat Burlington on June 24 to end the regular season.

“To a lot of teams, that’s detrimental,” he said. But his Nikes “had a really good last 10 days of practice. We did a lot of live ABs (at-bats).”

Chiprez said the Nikes capitalized on the numerous New London errors, but also, “I thought we really did a good job with our two-strike approach. We had a lot of two-strike hits for RBIs.”

Errors led to Notre Dame’s first run. Landry Haberichter reached all the way to second on an infield throwing error. He stole third and scored on an overthrow.

Richey, who took the loss for the Tigers, got the next three batters out, but the worst was yet to come.

In the bottom of the second, Notre Dame scored seven runs on three hits and three errors and two hit batters.

Eli Oleson was hit by a pitch to lead things off, and Dylan Kipp singled. Isaiah Crow reached first on a fielder’s choice, but an error kept everyone safe, and Oleson was able to score. Kipp then scored on a wild pitch.

After Lucas Johnson grounded out to the pitcher, Maddux Diewold doubled in Crow.

Notre Dame’s eighth-ranked baseball team didn’t play like it was coming off an 11-day layoff..

The Nikes (24-6) hosts Moravia (23-7) at 7 p.m. Saturday.

Haberichter was hit by a pitch, and on Spencer Brent’s ground ball to short, the throw to second for the force out was bobbled, and Notre Dame had the bases loaded.

Caden Schwenker cleared the bases with a triple that hugged the right foul line and went deep. Schwenker then scored on a sacrifice fly by Logan Brent. A ground out ended the inning.

Crow singled in the third but was caught stealing. Lucas Johnson doubled but was stranded.

The Nikes scored four runs in the fourth, highlighted by a two-run double by Oleson.&nbsp; Kye Reighard relieved Richey and got the final out.

Cale Westerbeck and Memphis Watson had the only hits for the Tigers, who graduated just one senior: Vegas Watson. Richey was the only junior.

<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2023/7/1688674125598.jpeg" alt="Lucas Johnson of Notre Dame looks for where his bat sent the baseball in the fourth inning of a Class 1A district semifinal game with New London Wednesday night at the Tigers’ diamond.&nbsp; Photo/John Lovretta&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Lucas Johnson of Notre Dame looks for where his bat sent the baseball in the fourth inning of a Class 1A district semifinal game with New London Wednesday night at the Tigers’ diamond.&nbsp; Photo/John Lovretta&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>By Chris FaulknerNotre Dame’s eighth-ranked baseball team didn’t play like it was coming off an 11-day layoff.Even on a night when heavy rains forced their home 1A district tournament game to be played at New London, the Nikes hit the ball well and took advantage of eight New London errors to win the district semifinal game 12-0 in five innings Wednesday.The Nikes (24-6) host Moravia (23-7) at 7 p.m. Saturday.New London finished at 8-15, having just one senior, Vegas Watson, and one junior, pitcher Brendan Richey, on the roster..Notre Dame’s Hunter Shipley kept the Tigers in line on the mound for the first three innings. He gave up one hit and one walk and struck out three. Jaxon Sadler pitched the final two innings, giving up a two-out single in the fourth and then striking out the remaining four batters.“It almost feels like we didn’t skip a beat,” Notre Dame coach Chris Chiprez said. Notre Dame beat Burlington on June 24 to end the regular season.“To a lot of teams, that’s detrimental,” he said. But his Nikes “had a really good last 10 days of practice. We did a lot of live ABs (at-bats).”Chiprez said the Nikes capitalized on the numerous New London errors, but also, “I thought we really did a good job with our two-strike approach. We had a lot of two-strike hits for RBIs.”Errors led to Notre Dame’s first run. Landry Haberichter reached all the way to second on an infield throwing error. He stole third and scored on an overthrow.Richey, who took the loss for the Tigers, got the next three batters out, but the worst was yet to come.In the bottom of the second, Notre Dame scored seven runs on three hits and three errors and two hit batters.Eli Oleson was hit by a pitch to lead things off, and Dylan Kipp singled. Isaiah Crow reached first on a fielder’s choice, but an error kept everyone safe, and Oleson was able to score. Kipp then scored on a wild pitch.After Lucas Johnson grounded out to the pitcher, Maddux Diewold doubled in Crow.By Chris FaulknerBeacon sportsNotre Dame’s eighth-ranked baseball team didn’t play like it was coming off an 11-day layoff..Even on a night when heavy rains forced their home 1A district tournament game to be played at New London, the Nikes hit the ball well and took advantage of eight New London errors to win the district semifinal game 12-0 in five innings Wednesday.The Nikes (24-6) hosts Moravia (23-7) at 7 p.m. Saturday.New London finished at 8-15, having just one senior, Vegas Watson, and one junior, pitcher Brendan Richey, on the roster..Notre Dame’s Hunter Shipley kept the Tigers in line on the mound for the first three innings. He gave up one hit and one walk and struck out three. Jaxon Sadler pitched the final two innings, giving up a two-out single in the fourth and then striking out the remaining four batters.“It almost feels like we didn’t skip a beat,” Notre Dame coach Chris Chiprez said. Notre Dame beat Burlington on June 24 to end the regular season.“To a lot of teams, that’s detrimental,” he said. But his Nikes “had a really good last 10 days of practice. We did a lot of live ABs (at-bats).”Chiprez said the Nikes capitalized on the numerous New London errors, but also, “I thought we really did a good job with our two-strike approach. We had a lot of two-strike hits for RBIs.”Errors led to Notre Dame’s first run. Landry Haberichter reached all the way to second on an infield throwing error. He stole third and scored on an overthrow.Richey, who took the loss for the Tigers, got the next three batters out, but the worst was yet to come.In the bottom of the second, Notre Dame scored seven runs on three hits and three errors and two hit batters.Eli Oleson was hit by a pitch to lead things off, and Dylan Kipp singled. Isaiah Crow reached first on a fielder’s choice, but an error kept everyone safe, and Oleson was able to score. Kipp then scored on a wild pitch.After Lucas Johnson grounded out to the pitcher, Maddux Diewold doubled in Crow.Haberichter was hit by a pitch, and on Spencer Brent’s ground ball to short, the throw to second for the force out was bobbled, and Notre Dame had the bases loaded.Caden Schwenker cleared the bases with a triple that hugged the right foul line and went deep. Schwenker then scored on a sacrifice fly by Logan Brent. A ground out ended the inning.Crow singled in the third but was caught stealing. Lucas Johnson doubled but was stranded.The Nikes scored four runs in the fourth, highlighted by a two-run double by Oleson.&nbsp; Kye Reighard relieved Richey and got the final out.Cale Westerbeck and Memphis Watson had the only hits for the Tigers, who graduated just one senior: Vegas Watson. Richey was the only junior.

Nikes breeze past NL; host Moravia Saturday

The Burlington Bees extended their winning streak to three games Thursday night by sweeping the Springfield Lucky Horseshoes, 6-4 and 3-1, at Community Field.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

On Saturday, all active duty military personnel and military veterans will be admitted free to the 6:30 p.m. game against the Jackson Rockabillys at Community Field. The event is sponsored by Des Moines County American Veterans (AMVETS) Post 29.

Fireworks will follow Monday’s game against the Clinton LumberKings. Monday’s first pitch is also set for 6:30 p.m.

The Bees are scheduled to play at Quincy Friday and Sunday nights.

In Thursday’s first game, Tanner Holland and Caleb Wulf both went 2-for-4 for the Bees. Holland had two RBIs.

A three-run fourth inning secured the victory. Drew Gaskins and Trent Rice both drew walks, then Holland singled to left field to drive in two runs. Holland scored when Springfield third baseman Daedrick Cail muffed Connor Laeng’s ground ball.

Starter Jeremy Fox (1-2) went five innings for the win.

In Thursday’s second game, the Bees scored the winning run in the sixth inning. Tied at 1-1, Brandon Bickford then doubled Keanu Spenser home. Cedric Dunnwald added insurance with an RBI single to center.

Bickford led the Bees at the plate with two singles in three trips. Chase Golden (1-0) pitched two innings for the win. Drew Martin pitched the final inning for his second save.

Both games Thursday were seven-inning games.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2023/6/1688137244120.jpeg" alt="Burlington Bees first baseman Caleb Wulf (4) attempts to pick off Payton Matthews (20) during the first game of a doubleheader against the Springfield Lucky Horseshoes on Thursday at Community Field. Photo/John Lovretta" />
 <figcaption>Burlington Bees first baseman Caleb Wulf (4) attempts to pick off Payton Matthews (20) during the first game of a doubleheader against the Springfield Lucky Horseshoes on Thursday at Community Field. Photo/John Lovretta</figcaption>
 </figure>Beacon SportsThe Burlington Bees extended their winning streak to three games Thursday night by sweeping the Springfield Lucky Horseshoes, 6-4 and 3-1, at Community Field.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;On Saturday, all active duty military personnel and military veterans will be admitted free to the 6:30 p.m. game against the Jackson Rockabillys at Community Field. The event is sponsored by Des Moines County American Veterans (AMVETS) Post 29.Fireworks will follow Monday’s game against the Clinton LumberKings. Monday’s first pitch is also set for 6:30 p.m.The Bees are scheduled to play at Quincy Friday and Sunday nights.In Thursday’s first game, Tanner Holland and Caleb Wulf both went 2-for-4 for the Bees. Holland had two RBIs.A three-run fourth inning secured the victory. Drew Gaskins and Trent Rice both drew walks, then Holland singled to left field to drive in two runs. Holland scored when Springfield third baseman Daedrick Cail muffed Connor Laeng’s ground ball.<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2023/6/1688138035607.jpeg" alt="Burlington Bees Jeremy Fox (18) delivers a pitch during the first game of a doubleheader against the Springfield Lucky Horseshoes on Thursday, June 29, at Community Field. Photo/John Lovretta&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Burlington Bees Jeremy Fox (18) delivers a pitch during the first game of a doubleheader against the Springfield Lucky Horseshoes on Thursday, June 29, at Community Field. Photo/John Lovretta&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>Starter Jeremy Fox (1-2) went five innings for the win.In Thursday’s second game, the Bees scored the winning run in the sixth inning. Tied at 1-1, Brandon Bickford then doubled Keanu Spenser home. Cedric Dunnwald added insurance with an RBI single to center.Bickford led the Bees at the plate with two singles in three trips. Chase Golden (1-0) pitched two innings for the win. Drew Martin pitched the final inning for his second save.Both games Thursday were seven-inning games.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2023/6/1688138857846.jpeg" alt="Burlington Bees pitching coach Jack Gray (5) talks with pitcher Jeremy Fox (18) while the rest of the team gathers around during the first game of a doubleheader against the Springfield Lucky Horseshoes at Community Field. Photo/John Lovretta&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Burlington Bees pitching coach Jack Gray (5) talks with pitcher Jeremy Fox (18) while the rest of the team gathers around during the first game of a doubleheader against the Springfield Lucky Horseshoes at Community Field. Photo/John Lovretta&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>

Bees sweep Springfield

It’s not uncommon for a father to want his son to follow in his footsteps.

Chris Chiprez, head baseball coach for Notre Dame, coached his son Drew for most of his childhood, and Drew recently served as an assistant for his dad for a couple of seasons.

But on Tuesday, May 30, Chris Chiprez went head-to-head against his son, who is the new varsity baseball coach for Danville.

For that special matchup, Drew said, “At first I was more focused on my player, going through the infield and outfield.

“Early in the game, I looked over (to the Notre Dame dugout) when I was at third base,” Drew said. “I looked over at my dad, and I thought, ‘This is awesome.’”

Baseball is an emotional game anyway, Drew said, “and he had coached me for so long.”

So Drew was “trying to implement what he taught me and what other coaches have taught, trying to put a loss in his column. Even though he is my dad, I still wanted to beat him.”

For Chris, “It was special. Being able to coach my son from T-ball on up, and then being able to coach him at Notre Dame and then having him on my coaching staff the last two years to coaching against him, you can’t ask for more than that.”

Drew graduated in 2020 and then played a year at Southeastern Community under Coach Justin Schulte, who had just gotten done guiding the Blackhawks to a national runner-up spot in the NJCAA World Series.

Drew finished his associate’s degree and transferred to Iowa to get a degree in education.

“It’s been a struggle,” Drew said, of coaching a high school team that has a preseason that begins while college is still in session.

Chris, also a Notre Dame graduate, has coached the Nikes the past eight seasons and coached his son Carson, who graduated last year.”

It wasn’t until after his baseball career ended that Drew thought of becoming a coach.

“I learned a lot from (Chris), and I learned a lot from Justin Schulte,” he said. “They both inspired me to teach the game the right way, to teach the players what quality baseball looks like.”

Drew also coached with Ron Walker in the Perfect Game League. Walker recently finished a coaching stint at Fort Madison High School, where he turned that program around.

Drew helped the two seasons under his father and then decided, “I think it’s time I try to bring this style of coaching to another program.”

Chris had called him when he heard the Danville job was open, and Drew took on the challenge.

It’s been eight years since the Bears have had a winning season (14-11), and they’ve averaged four victories a year since.

But Chris has confidence in his son and said Drew is already more knowledgeable than he was when he started out.

“He is mature beyond his years,” Chris said. “He always has been. He’s got a very high baseball IQ. He’s got a very good knowledge of the game. He helped a majority of our guys as our infield coach and hitting coach.”

Drew said he wants to change the baseball culture at Danville, which he defined as, “buying into the program,” and not just what goes on between the chalk lines on the baseball diamond.

“Knowing the sport goes well beyond just the baseball field,” he said. “We preach day in and day out helping out in your community and your school.”

On or off the field, “Taking pride in doing the little things right. Knowing that it’s going to be tough and a lot of work. There’s been a lot of changes in the last 5-6 months. I think these players responded well.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://d2eftiauov6o73.cloudfront.net/public/2023/6/1687109474675.jpeg" alt="Drew Chiprez (left) went from playing for his father Chris most of his life to helping his dad coach to now coaching against him in the South Division of the Southeast Iowa Superconference. Chris won the first meeting, 12-1, on May 30. Photo/Chris Faulkner" />
 <figcaption>Drew Chiprez (left) went from playing for his father Chris most of his life to helping his dad coach to now coaching against him in the South Division of the Southeast Iowa Superconference. Chris won the first meeting, 12-1, on May 30. Photo/Chris Faulkner</figcaption>
 </figure>By Chris FaulknerIt’s not uncommon for a father to want his son to follow in his footsteps.Chris Chiprez, head baseball coach for Notre Dame, coached his son Drew for most of his childhood, and Drew recently served as an assistant for his dad for a couple of seasons.But on Tuesday, May 30, Chris Chiprez went head-to-head against his son, who is the new varsity baseball coach for Danville.Notre Dame won that battle 12-1.&nbsp;For that special matchup, Drew said, “At first I was more focused on my player, going through the infield and outfield.“Early in the game, I looked over (to the Notre Dame dugout) when I was at third base,” Drew said. “I looked over at my dad, and I thought, ‘This is awesome.’”Baseball is an emotional game anyway, Drew said, “and he had coached me for so long.”So Drew was “trying to implement what he taught me and what other coaches have taught, trying to put a loss in his column. Even though he is my dad, I still wanted to beat him.”For Chris, “It was special. Being able to coach my son from T-ball on up, and then being able to coach him at Notre Dame and then having him on my coaching staff the last two years to coaching against him, you can’t ask for more than that.”Drew graduated in 2020 and then played a year at Southeastern Community under Coach Justin Schulte, who had just gotten done guiding the Blackhawks to a national runner-up spot in the NJCAA World Series.Drew finished his associate’s degree and transferred to Iowa to get a degree in education.“It’s been a struggle,” Drew said, of coaching a high school team that has a preseason that begins while college is still in session.Chris, also a Notre Dame graduate, has coached the Nikes the past eight seasons and coached his son Carson, who graduated last year.”It wasn’t until after his baseball career ended that Drew thought of becoming a coach.“I learned a lot from (Chris), and I learned a lot from Justin Schulte,” he said. “They both inspired me to teach the game the right way, to teach the players what quality baseball looks like.”Drew also coached with Ron Walker in the Perfect Game League. Walker recently finished a coaching stint at Fort Madison High School, where he turned that program around.Drew helped the two seasons under his father and then decided, “I think it’s time I try to bring this style of coaching to another program.”Chris had called him when he heard the Danville job was open, and Drew took on the challenge.It’s been eight years since the Bears have had a winning season (14-11), and they’ve averaged four victories a year since.But Chris has confidence in his son and said Drew is already more knowledgeable than he was when he started out.“He is mature beyond his years,” Chris said. “He always has been. He’s got a very high baseball IQ. He’s got a very good knowledge of the game. He helped a majority of our guys as our infield coach and hitting coach.”Drew said he wants to change the baseball culture at Danville, which he defined as, “buying into the program,” and not just what goes on between the chalk lines on the baseball diamond.“Knowing the sport goes well beyond just the baseball field,” he said. “We preach day in and day out helping out in your community and your school.”On or off the field, “Taking pride in doing the little things right. Knowing that it’s going to be tough and a lot of work. There’s been a lot of changes in the last 5-6 months. I think these players responded well.”The young Bears need encouragement so he tells them, “‘I don’t expect perfection.’ You keep feeding them positive thoughts.“I learned it from my dad: You get a 3 out of 10 on a test and you fail. You hit (a baseball) 3 out of 10 and you’re in the Hall of Fame,” Drew said. “It’s a very difficult sport. It will continue to find any way to make you fail. Are you going to hang your head or pick yourself up and go on to the next play?”

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