Metro Sports Report

"Hellerball" alive and well in IVL

WALFORD - Just two short weeks ago, the University of Iowa baseball team came within an eyelash of hosting an NCAA Super Regional.

Many of the Hawkeyes on the field during that memorable weekend of baseball in Houston were back at it again Sunday as members of the Red  Top and Walford teams in the Iowa Valley League.

And, as fate would have it, two Hawkeye hurlers went against each other in the opening game of a doubleheader. Red Top's Cole McDonald and Walford's Elijah Wood both showed that Iowa fans should feel good about the future of the pitching staff for Coach Rick Heller.

In the end, it was McDonald who prevailed, with a huge assist from reliever Jack Greene in the bottom of the seventh as Red Top held on for a 4-3 win. Coach Adam Sadler's team completed the sweep, taking the nightcap, 6-3, behind a complete game effort from Anthony Gagliardi.

The win was also sweet for McDonald as he got the victory in front of his father, Cory, who, along with the rest of the McDonald family, made a surprise trip to watch his son pitch on Father's Day.

"I knew my grandpa would be here," McDonald said. "I didn't know my family was going to come and watch. It was nice that they took the time to drive down."

Nearad sisters hit homers for Emil's

Anyone who follows college softball in Cedar Rapids knows that Taylor Nearad is a terrific power hitter.

Her sister Jess is very good, too.

The Nearad sisters both slugged home runs Sunday to help Emil's Hideaway defeat Hawkeye Convenience Stores, 10-0, in the second game of their Iowa Women's Softball League twinbill at Coe.

Hawkeye Convenience Stores won the first game, 5-4.

Taylor Nearad, who starred at Kirkwood the past two years, got the family started Sunday with a solo home run. Jess Nearad, who played at the University of Dubuque, followed with a solo shot of her own later in the game.

The Nearad sisters are from Solon, and Taylor Nearad was named the National Junior College Player of the Year for the second straight  time this season for Kirkwood.

Kelsey Aikey of Western Kentucky pitched a shutout for Emil's Hideaway in the 10-0 victory.

Taylor Kurtz hit a home run for Emil's Hideaway in the first game.

Fairfax sweeps IVL games from Watkins

WATKINS - Fairfax got more good pitching Sunday and swept an Iowa  Valley League doubleheader from Watkins, 5-1 and 2-1, at Watkins.

Austin Czerwiec raised his record to 4-0 for Fairfax with the victory in Game 1. He struck out eight batters and was named the IVL Pitcher of the Week.

Alex Hayden belted a two-run homer in the seventh inning for Fairfax.

Blake Hargens collected the victory for Fairfax in Game 2 with help from Adam Lloyd, who got the save. Hayden had the game-winning hit with an RBI single in the fourth inning.

Fairfax raised its record to 7-1 and sits alone in first place.

Nearad repeats as National Player of Year

Kirkwood Community College center fielder Taylor Nearad has been named the Schutt Sports/NFCA National Junior College Player of the Year for the second straight season.

The award goes to the top player at any level of junior college softball, including NJCAA I, II, III, Cal JC and NWAC.

Nearad, who is from Solon, led the nation in hits (112), doubles (35) and runs scored (106). She hit .516 and finished fourth in the nation in homers (19) and sixth in RBIs (80).

Nearad shattered a long list of school records during her two years at Kirkwood. She hit .561 for her career with 257 base-hits, 66 doubles, 19 triples, 49 home runs, 209 RBIs and 220 runs.

Kirkwood led the nation with 55 victories this season and reached the Junior College World Series.