Metro Sports Report

Young Eagles soar to national tourney

Maddie "Mad Dog" Hansen has a sore back and other minor ailments from catching all 60 games for the Kirkwood softball team this season, but she's a major reason the fourth-ranked Eagles are heading back to the national tournament.

Hansen enjoyed a special day Friday as the young Eagles spanked Dawson, 10-2 and 15-3, in the NJCAA Division II district tournament at the Kirkwood diamond.

The national tournament is scheduled for May 18-21 in Clinton, Miss.

Hansen went 5-for-6 with two doubles, a pair of two-run homers and eight RBIs as the Eagles won their 32nd straight game and raised their impressive record to 56-4.

Hansen belted a two-run homer in her first at-bat in the first game, then socked another two-run homer in her second at-bat into an Evergreen tree in deep left-center field. She added an RBI single to finish the opener 3-for-3 with two homers and five RBIs.

Hansen collected a sacrifice fly, a double and a two-run double in the nightcap before grounding out to shortstop.

MSR bouncing back with new business model

First of all, I'd like to thank everyone who has supported the Metro Sports Report since we launched the website in 2011. And I'd also like to thank everyone who reacted with sadness and disappointment when we announced March 13 that the company was broke and having to curtail operations.

Your words of support and encouragement made me try even harder to find a way to keep the Metro Sports Report alive. I'm a stubborn guy, and too many people had worked long and hard to simply let go.

For those reasons and many others, I am delighted to announce that we'll be bouncing back this month with a new business model that will reduce our expenses, improve our bottom line and keep us on the job.

The idea hit when I was driving around Cedar Rapids about a month ago: What if we switched from "general" advertising revenues that supported our entire operation and moved toward "targeted" advertising that would support our coverage of a particular school or team?

It's no secret that our advertising support was stronger in certain parts of the Metro area than others. For example, there was financial support for our coverage of schools A, B and C, but little support for schools D, E and F, but we were trying to stretch our resources to cover everyone as fairly and equally as possible.

Simpson puts 'teeth' into No .4 Eagles

Nicky Simpson lost two of her front teeth in a bullpen accident earlier this season, but it hasn't kept the All-American pitcher from enjoying another terrific year with the Kirkwood Eagles.

And make no mistake, the sophomore from Conrad has had plenty to smile about - despite the missing teeth.

Simpson tossed another strong game Monday as the fourth-ranked Eagles belted Iowa Lakes, 14-3, in five innings in the championship game of the NJCAA Division 2 Region XI-A softball tournament at Kirkwood.

Simpson raised her record to a sparkling 27-2 as Kirkwood cruised into the district tournament this weekend at home.

The Eagles (54-4) are riding a 30-game winning streak with their lusty hitting and strong pitching. And if they win the district title, they'll make another trip to the national tournament in Mississippi this month.

Simpson was warming up to pitch the second game of a doubleheader against DMACC on March 26 at Kirkwood when the accident occurred. The first game was still in progress and when she turned her head to check on the action, a return throw from the bullpen catcher struck her square in the mouth.

Nearad hits for cycle as No. 4 Kirkwood rolls

Taylor Nearad put a big exclamation point on her bid to be named the National Player of the Year Friday.

Kirkwood's talented center-fielder hit for the cycle as the fourth-ranked Eagles ripped Ellsworth, 15-0, in five innings in the opening round of the regional softball tournament at Kirkwood.

Nearad collected a single and a two-run triple in the first inning when Kirkwood batted around and scored nine runs. She lined a two-run homer in the third inning and had an RBI double in the fourth.

The freshman from Solon went 4-for-4, drove in five runs and hit for the cycle with a single, double, triple and home run in just four innings.

Nearad is now hitting .619 with 26 home runs and 115 RBIs in 56 games as she bids for the NJCAA Division II Triple Crown. She also has 133 hits, 102 runs, 27 doubles and 11 triples and ranks No. 1 in the nation in numerous offensive categories.

Few people have seen anything like it.

"I have not, to be honest," said Kirkwood assistant coach Jenny Nelson, who was an All-American for the Eagles during her playing days. "It's pretty special to watch.

"And knowing how she is as a kid and a person, it makes me that much more proud of her. She's such a great kid and a great teammate."