Local News

Metro Players in Pro Baseball

The Metro Sports Report provides a daily update on Metro graduates who are playing pro baseball. Here is the report through July 4:

RYAN SWEENEY (Xavier), Chicago Cubs, OF: Sweeney had a pinch-hit double in the ninth inning Friday as the Cubs beat Washington, 7-2. He is hitting .214 (24-for-112) with 5 doubles and 8 RBIs.

SCOTT SCHEBLER (CR Prairie), Chattanooga, OF, Double-A, Southern League (Dodgers): Schebler went 2-for-4 Friday with a double. He is hitting .270 (80-for-300) with 16 doubles, 10 triples, 16 homers and 45 RBIs.

KELLEN SWEENEY (CR Jefferson), Dunedin, IF, Advanced A, Florida State League (Blue Jays): Sweeney has been released by the Toronto Blue Jays organization. He was hitting .222 (8 for 36) with four doubles and an RBI.

CHAD CHRISTENSEN (CR Washington), Kernels, OF/IF, Class A, Midwest League (Twins): Christensen went 1-for-4 Friday with a double. He is hitting .284 (83-for-292) with 13 doubles, 4 triples, 7 homers, 46 RBIs and 19 stolen bases.

JON KELLER (Xavier), Delmarva, P, Class A, South Atlantic League (Orioles): Keller (3-0, 1.69, 4 saves) pitched one inning Thursday and allowed one run. He struck out two batters and walked one. He has struck out 56 batters in 48 innings, with 31 hits allowed and 13 walks.

MITCH KELLER (Xavier), Bradenton, P, Rookie, Gulf Coast League (Pirates): Keller has not pitched for Bradenton yet. He is working on bullpen sessions in preparation for his first appearance next week. Keller was selected in the second round of the 2014 draft and received a $1 million signing bonus.

ANDREW HANSE (Linn-Mar), Bowling Green, P, Class A, Midwest League (Tampa Bay): Hanse (0-3, 6.42 ERA) did not pitch Wednesday.

DAKOTA FREESE (Washington), Athletics, P, Rookie Arizona League (Oakland): Freese has been placed on the 60-day Disabled List and probably will not pitch again until the fall.

Druschel joins Iowa baseball staff

IOWA CITY - Former Mount Mercy University baseball coach Desi Druschel has been named the new Director of Baseball Operations for the Iowa Hawkeyes.

Druschel also will serve as the director of Iowa's baseball camps.

"He brings a great deal of experience and knowledge to the position," said Iowa Coach Rick Heller. "Desi is a hard worker who has a great passion for the game. We are all looking forward to having Desi on board."

Druschel won 172 games in nine years as the head coach at Mount Mercy before being dismissed during the 2014 campaign. He led the Mustangs to two NAIA regional tournaments and twice finished second in the conference.

Druschel played for Heller as a freshman in 1995 when Heller was the head coach at Upper Iowa University. He will not be an on-field coach for the Hawkeyes, but will be heavily involved in video work, scouting, analysis and the camps.

"I'm very excited about it," he said.

Druschel was named to the job last week.

CIA 17 Black team wins volleyball title

MINNEAPOLIS - The CIA 17 Black squad won the USA Division title at the USA Volleyball junior national championships in Minneapolis Wednesday.

The CIA Black team defeated CVA Colorado Navy, 25-20, 25-18, in the finals.

Abby Phillips of Marion, Sarah Renner of Linn-Mar, Sami Boekhoff of Linn-Mar and Amanda Ollinger of Jefferson played for the CIA Black squad.

Metro Players in Pro Baseball

The Metro Sports Report provides a daily update on Metro graduates who are playing pro baseball. Here is the report through July 2:

RYAN SWEENEY (Xavier), Chicago Cubs, OF: Sweeney did not play Wednesday. He is hitting .207 (23-for-111) with 4 doubles and 8 RBIs.

SCOTT SCHEBLER (CR Prairie), Chattanooga, OF, Double-A, Southern League (Dodgers): Schebler went 0-for-3 Wednesday with an RBI. He is hitting .267 (78-for-292) with 16 homers and 45 RBIs.

KELLEN SWEENEY (CR Jefferson), Dunedin, IF, Advanced A, Florida State League (Blue Jays): Sweeney has been released by the Toronto Blue Jays organization. He was hitting .222 (8 for 36) with four doubles and an RBI.

CHAD CHRISTENSEN (CR Washington), Kernels, OF/IF, Class A, Midwest League (Twins): Christensen went 1-for-5 Wednesday with an RBI. He is hitting .289 (82-for-284) with 7 homers, 45 RBIs and 19 stolen bases.

JON KELLER (Xavier), Delmarva, P, Class A, South Atlantic League (Orioles): Keller (3-0, 1.57, 3 saves) did not pitch Wednesday.

MITCH KELLER (Xavier), Bradenton, P, Rookie, Gulf Coast League (Pirates): Keller has not pitched for Bradenton yet. He is working on bullpen sessions in preparation for his first appearance in July. Keller was selected in the second round of the 2014 draft and received a $1 million signing bonus.

ANDREW HANSE (Linn-Mar), Bowling Green, P, Class A, Midwest League (Tampa Bay): Hanse (0-3, 6.42 ERA) did not pitch Wednesday.

DAKOTA FRESE (Washington), Athletics, P, Rookie Arizona League (Oakland): Freese is recovering from an injury and probably will not pitch again until the fall, although he is listed on the active roster in the Arizona League.