Fouled Hopes

FEATURED PHOTO · Kasey Semler attempts to turn a double play after putting out Independence's lead runner. Marion fell to the Mustangs 13-3 in a substate final game played at Van Horne. Below, Garrett Fortner fouls off a pitch during his first at-bat in a substate game against Independence. | Ken Gilchrist

Marion falls one game short of state berth
by Jeff Dahn · July 29th, 2010
High school basketball coaches have often said that playing in the final game of a substate tournament presents the most difficult challenge of all, just because of what's at stake.

Marion golfer makes run for Great CR Open title
by Jeff Dahn · July 29th, 2010
Through the first two rounds of the Greater Cedar Rapids Open Pro-Am Golf Tournament played at Hunters Ridge Golf Course last week, Marion's Bill Hoefle had just about everything working.

With high school career behind him, Combs moving on to Coe
by Jeff Dahn · July 29th, 2010
Editor's Note: This week's feature on Combs is the first of a series on recently-graduated and soon-to-be senior Marion and Linn-Mar athletes preparing for the coming season. The Times will run the series in the weeks leading up to the fall sports season.

COLUMN: Linn-Mar, Marion wrap up exciting sports year
by Jeff Dahn · July 29th, 2010
With the Marion baseball team losing in its substate tournament final to upstart Independence last Wednesday, July 21, the 2009-2010 athletic school year officially came to an end at Marion and Linn-Mar high schools.

Beck, Harms, Gibbs make All-MVC teams
by Jeff Dahn · July 29th, 2010
Linn-Mar senior third baseman Leah Beck and junior shortstop Lindsey Harms have been named first-team All-Mississippi Valley Conference Valley Division performers after the Lions completed a 12-25 season (7-16 MVC) last week.

Marion baseball team slides into state play
by Jeff Dahn · July 23rd, 2010
A spot in the substate tournament final game has become a regular date for the Marion baseball team.

Lions lose lead against Bettendorf to end state bid
by Jeff Dahn · July 23rd, 2010
One big inning from the Bettendorf Bulldogs brought a close to the baseball season for the Linn-Mar Lions.

Linn-Mar softball team ends late-season resurgence
by Jeff Dahn · July 23rd, 2010
It was just two short weeks ago that Linn-Mar softball coach Jon Harms had this to say about his suddenly resurgent team:

Marion softball team earns honors
by Jeff Dahn · July 23rd, 2010
Marion junior Leah Smith has been named first-team All-WaMaC Conference West Division in a vote by league coaches.

Learning the art of sports column writing
by Jeff Dahn · July 23rd, 2010
Writing a sports column is fairly new endeavor for me. I was asked to write a column on a bi-monthly basis during my final years at The Gazette (I was there 22 years) and found it difficult.

Linn-Mar grad Mahoney preparing for another football season at Iowa State
by Jeff Dahn · July 23rd, 2010
Grant Mahoney didn't get to celebrate many victories during his football career at Linn-Mar, which came to an end in the fall of 2007.

Marion girls soccer team shut out of state
by Jeff Dahn · June 10th, 2010
Kristin Kramer scored two more goals to run her single season school record total to 30, and Marion beat Mount Vernon-Lisbon, 5-0, in a Class 1A regional tournament quarterfinal last Tuesday, June 1, at Marion.