CEDAR FALLS - Sixth-ranked NU High wrapped up its regular season with a blast, launching three home runs Thursday in the opener of a 12-1, 10-2 sweep over Aplington-Parkersburg.

Tanner Cooke went 3-for-3 with a three-run shot in the fourth inning, finishing with five runs batted in to back up a six-inning three-hitter by Brad Denning in game one.

Johnny Hines added a three-run blast in the sixth and Kyle Denning launched a solo homer in the sixth.

Cooke carried his momentum over to the mound in game two, striking out seven batters and allowing no earned runs over five innings.

Nate Smith went 3-for-5 with three RBIs in the nightcap for the Panthers, who finished the regular season 24-4 overall and 12-2 in the NICL. Alec Thompson went 3-for-5 on the day for the Falcons, who finished 11-12-1 and 5-9.

The Panthers will meet third-ranked Don Bosco in a Class 1A district first-round game Tuesday at Traer.

A-P meets Sumner-Fredericksburg in a Class 2A district at Denver Saturday.

FIRST GAME

Apl.-Parkersburg 000 001 - 1 3 5

NU High 100 344 - 12 11 1

Andy Eggers, Christian Price (5) and Ryan Bixby; Brad Denning and Alex Quinones.

HR - NU: Tanner Cooke, Johnny Hines, Kyle Denning. 2B - NU: Andrew Stone; AP : Alec Thompson. Multiple hits - NU: Cooke 3, B. Denning 2, Quinones 2. Multiple RBIs - NU: Cooke 5, Hines 3.

SECOND GAME

NU High 500 112 1 - 10 13 1

Apl.-Parkersburg 200 000 0 - 2 4 6

Tanner Cooke, Calvin Siebel (6) and Quinones; Colin Tenney, Austin Ryan (6) and Bixby.

2B - NU: Stone, Quinones. Multiple hits - NU: Nate Smith 3, Stone 2, B Denning 2, Hines 2, Tommy Amlie 2; AP: Alec Thompson 2. Multiple RBIs - NU: Smith 3.

Tigers can't hold early lead in loss

MASON CITY - Cedar Falls jumped out to a 4-0 lead on the top-ranked team in Class 1A Thursday before a five-run sixth inning propelled Mason City Newman to a 7-4 win.

"Regardless of class, they're as good as any 4A team we play," Tiger coach Jack Sole said of the 29-1 Knights.

Jeff Conrad started the Tigers off with a solo home run in the first inning, but three CF errors helped open the door back up for Newman.

Conrad had two hits in the game, and Joe Schwickerath added a double.

"We didn't make some plays that would have locked that game up for us," Sole said.

The Tigers (6-25) host Iowa City West at 5 p.m. today.

Cedar Falls 121 000 0 - 4 9 3

Newman 002 005 x - 7 8 0

Joe Clark, Matt Schindel (6) and Joe Schwickerath; Bohl, McCann (4) and Jordan Adams.

HR - CF: Jeff Conrad. 2B - CF: Conrad, Schwickerath. Multuple hits - CF: Conrad 2.