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Taylor Nearad (left) and Lexi Kinnaird set career records for the Kirkwood softball team Wednesday. Nearad broke the career mark for home runs and Kinnaird snapped the record for victories. (MSR photo by Margaret O'Banion)

Kinnaird, Nearad snap KCC records

Thu - 04 May Written by Jim Ecker

Lexi Kinnaird and Taylor Nearad engaged in some good battles against each other at rival high schools in Eastern Iowa, but they're teammates at Kirkwood Community College now and destroying the record book at one of the top softball programs in the country.

Kinnaird snapped the career record for victories and Nearad broke the career mark for home runs Wednesday as the second-ranked Eagles pounded Southwestern, 20-0, in five innings in the opening round of the regional tournament at Kirkwood.

Kinnaird, a right-hander from Clear Creek Amana, raised her record to 51-5 the past two years by tossing three perfect innings. She broke the old school mark of 50 victories set by Amanda Lambrecht in 2010-11.

Nearad, a center fielder from Solon, cracked the 46th home run of her remarkable career, snapping the old mark of 45 homers set by Kayla Tatge in 2012-13.

"It's awesome," Kirkwood Coach Joe Yegge remarked after seeing two career marks fall in the same game.

Kinnaird and Nearad, both sophomores, competed against each other in high school in the Wamac Conference before moving to Kirkwood last season. Kinnaird prefers having Nearad on her side these days.

"She's always been tough to pitch to. In high school and now," said Kinnaird. "She was always someone I dreaded pitching to."

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Duwa joins Iowa Women's Softball League

Tue - 02 May Written by Jim Ecker

Another elite all-state softball player from Iowa has joined the new Iowa Women's Softball League.

Hailey Duwa starred at Pleasant Valley High School, where she was the Quad City Times Player of the Year and the Mississippi Athletic Conference Player of the Year for the Spartans.

Duwa enjoyed an incredible season as a senior in 2015 when she hit .615 with 17 home runs and 60 RBIs.

(CLICK HERE TO REGISTER)

Duwa, a first baseman, is currently a sophomore at Western Illinois University, where she leads the Leathernecks with a .356 batting average along with four homers and 13 RBIs.

Shelby Crist, who played at Kirkwood Community College and Upper Iowa University, also will be playing in the league this summer as a player/coach. She will be a head coach and also a catcher for her team.

Crist, a Cedar Rapids Prairie grad, hit .392 for the Hawks as a senior in 2011. She made the all-region team at Kirkwood and won a Gold Glove award from the Northern Sun Conference at Upper Iowa.

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Long stars as Eagles split with NIACC

Sun - 30 Apr Written by Metro Sports Report

MASON CITY - Peyton Long and the Kirkwood Eagles are coming back from a cold, wet weekend in Mason City with a chance to win the ICCAC conference title in Cedar Rapids this week.

Long sparkled on the mound Saturday as the Eagles topped NIACC, 10-2, in the first game of a league doubleheader.

Long tossed a complete game and allowed two earned runs on five hits, with 10 strikeouts and three walks. The freshman from Des Moines raised his record to 6-1, giving him the most wins on the staff.

NIACC won the second game, 10-6.

The split left Kirkwood with a 13-7 record in the conference, good for a virtual tie for first place with Southeastern in the compact league standings.

Southeastern leads the race by percentage points with a 12-6 record heading into a doubleheader with DMACC on Sunday. Kirkwood will be hosting Southeastern in a four-game series this Friday and Saturday in what could be a showdown for the title, but three other teams are still in the hunt as well.

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Kramer stars as Eagles tie for ICCAC lead

Sat - 29 Apr Written by Metro Sports Report

MASON CITY - Ross Kramer had socked only one home run all season for the Kirkwood Eagles heading into Friday's doubleheader at NIACC, but that changed dramatically.

Kramer belted three homers and knocked in six runs as the Eagles topped NIACC, 10-6, in the first game of their ICCAC conference doubleheader at Mason City.

NIACC rallied to win the second game, 3-2, in 10 innings, but the split was good enough to lift Kirkwood into a tie for the conference lead with six games left in the race.

Kramer, a freshman from Urbandale, collected a grand slam and two solo shots in the first game. Spencer Wiskus, a freshman from Iowa City, also hit a homer and drove in four runs for the Eagles.

Porter Hummel picked up the victory with five innings in relief.

Kirkwood led, 2-0, heading into the bottom of the ninth in the second game, needing three outs to sweep the twinbill and take over sole possession of first place in the league. NIACC scored twice in the bottom of the ninth and pushed across the winning run with one out in the 10th for the victory.

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KCRG 9.2 will televise MSR softball games

Fri - 28 Apr Written by Metro Sports Report

The Metro Sports Report and KCRG 9.2 are happy to announce that the local ABC television station will broadcast two of the doubleheaders in the new Iowa Women's Softball League this summer.

KCRG 9.2 will offer live broadcasts of the twinbills that will be played at Coe College on Sunday, June 25 and Sunday, July 2 at 2 p.m. both days.

The new league has been formed by the Metro Sports Report to give active college players a league of their own. A few former college players will be playing as well.

"We are delighted that the folks at KCRG have decided to broadcast two of our doubleheaders," said Metro Sports Report president Jim Ecker. "Thanks to 9.2, the players will get a chance to showcase their skills on TV and get the recognition they deserve.

"In addition, having the games on KCRG will help publicize the league and help us continue to grow."

The Iowa Women's Softball League is the only summer collegiate league in Iowa and has been well-received by players, coaches and the community.

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Today's Line-up

Metro Sports Report

Kinnaird, Nearad snap KCC records

Duwa joins Iowa Women's Softball League

Long stars as Eagles split with NIACC

Kramer stars as Eagles tie for ICCAC lead

KCRG 9.2 will televise MSR softball games

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