April 20, 2011
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IOWA CITY, Iowa – – Zach Kenyon and the Iowa baseball team travel to Davenport tonight to play Western Illinois at Modern Woodmen Park at 6:30 p.m. For Zach Kenyon, it will be a final return home.
Kenyon, a senior who hails from Davenport, is excited for his last trip to the venue in a Hawkeye uniform.
“It is basically where it all started for me,” said the 6-6 right hander. “Growing up in Davenport, it is going to be great to go back and play in front of the hometown crowd.”
Modern Woodmen Park is the home venue of the Quad Cities River Bandits, the single-A affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals.
Kenyon, who is 1-1 this season with 19 strikeouts in 18.2 innings pitched, grew up attending games at the venue as a youngster.
“I used to attend games when the team was originally the River Bandits,” said Kenyon. “The River Bandits have had a great tradition playing there, with players like Joe Mauer and Colby Rasmus coming through. It has been fun to go and see the different organizations and all the different players. It will be a great experience to go up there and play.”
The Hawkeye relief pitcher was a standout at Central High School in Davenport, helping lead the Blue Devils to two conference championships. A ninth-round draft pick for the Kansas City Royals coming out of high school, Kenyon was a first team all-conference and all-district selection twice.
Kenyon enjoyed an outstanding senior campaign for Central. He was named recipient of the Bob Feller 4A Pitcher of the Year award and was an elite all-state selection after posting a 10-2 record. In addition, he tied the state tournament record with 14 strikeouts in a game his senior season. The standout earned four letters in basketball and received second team all-conference honors. Kenyon sits in second in the Blue Devils’ record book for rebounds in a game with 21.
The former Mississippi Athletic Conference standout is looking forward to seeing some relatives from the area as well.
“Some family will be in attendance, parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles,” said Kenyon. “It will be nice to see them.”
Iowa (13-20, 3-6) is undefeated in its last two visits to the venue. The Hawkeyes and Leathernecks last played at Modern Woodmen Park on April 21, 2009. Iowa routed Western Illinois, 20-7, in front of 1,234 fans. The Hawkeyes played at the ballpark last season, downing St. Ambrose, 8-0.
“Getting a chance to get out there and play will be great,” said Kenyon. “It has been a fun experience playing there and I am really glad I have been a part of it.
“It is the last go-around for me; it will be nice to get back to where it all started.”
Fans who wish to purchase tickets for the Iowa-Western Illinois game can do so starting at $5. Tickets can be purchased through the River Bandits box office by calling (563) 3-BANDIT or online at RiverBandits.com.