EG BEATS SWG!

Down Eagles 8-2 in Tourney Opener

East Greene opened tourney action on its home field tonight (Tuesday) with an 8-2 win over Southeast Webster-Grand (Burnside). With the win, EG advances on to Thursday night’s semifinal round game against Madrid, a 7-1 winner over Glidden-Ralston. Game time at Walt Anderson Field is 7 p.m. The winner on Thursday advances to the district championship game in Ames on Saturday.

In other area Class 1A and 2A games:
CRB 6, Ar-We-Va 3
Adair-Casey 6, Exira 0
Van Meter 5, Earlham 4 (8 innings)
Martensdale-St. Mary’s 5, Iowa Christian 2
Panorama 16, WCV 1
Bondurant Farrar 11, DMC 1 (5 innings)
Woodward-Granger 1, Ogden 0

EYE ON GJ SAYS: The Hawks win over the Eagles breaks their five-year streak of opening round district tourney losses. Last year the Hawks went to CRB and took on the conference co-champs, losing 5-2. Two years ago, EG was hosting the tourney at Rippey but lost to Pomeroy-Palmer 8-6 in 8 innings in the first round. In the three previous years, EG dropped opening round games to GR in 2006, CRB in 2005, and Southern Cal in 2004. EG is usually placed in the same district as CRB and usually the games are played on the Crusaders’ home diamond in Coon Rapids. And each of the last five years, CRB has advanced to the district title game. CRB won the district in 2007, then took the substate crown and advanced on to the state tournament, where they made it to the semifinal round. CRB also won the district in 2005, but lost in the substate game to Walnut, repeating the same scenario from 2004, when they made it to substate, but were knocked out by West Harrison of Mondamin.

EG was the last team to keep CRB out of the district finals. EG beat Ar-We-Va in the first round 4-2 in 2003, then downed the Crusaders 8-4 on their home diamond in the semifinal round. EG took on Adair-Casey in the championship game in Coon Rapids, but lost to the Bombers, 4-2. AC lost to West Harrison 8-7 in the substate game, the first of two straight trips to state for West Harrison. WC foe Van Meter won the 1A state championship that season.

EG and CRB are in different districts--and substates--this year. CRB hosts all three rounds of district play and the substate game too. The Crusaders face Adair-Casey in Thursday’s semifinal round. The winner will play either Walnut or Elk Horn-Kimballton in the district final Saturday in Coon Rapids.