Maiers and Heick Named ICCAC Athletes of the Week
Kara Maiers
Sophomore - RHP
North Liberty, IA / Liberty High School
Kirkwood pitcher Kara Maiers came through when it mattered most last week at the Region 11-A Tournament in Cedar Rapids. After dropping 3-2 against Iowa Central in their first game, the Eagles bounced back and rattled off three straight wins to capture their eighth Region 11 Championship in a row. Maiers pitched both the championship and if necessary championship game for Kirkwood. In those two games, she allowed no earned runs in 12.1 innings pitched. She struck out five while allowing 10 hits and two walks. She went all seven innings in a 2-0 shutout win in the final game of the tournament. Maiers leads the conference in ERA at a mere 2.00 this season.
Sarah Heick
Sophomore – Catcher
Solon, IA / Solon High School
Kirkwood and Iowa Central played to a 0-0 tie heading into the bottom of the sixth inning of a do-or-die if necessary championship game at the Region 11-A Tournament last Sunday. It was then that Kirkwood's Sarah Heick would make her second plate appearance for the tournament. With two outs and the bases loaded, Heick took a 1-1 pitch and blooped a single down the left field line right in between the shortstop and the left fielder. That proved to be the difference in the game -- giving the Eagles a 2-0 win and a Region 11-A title. Kirkwood will host Dawson (MT) on Friday and Saturday in a best-of-three District Championship series.
