Metro Sports Report

Twins’ GM likes what he sees in CR

With the Minnesota Twins fighting for one of the American League wild card spots and playing a critical series in Minneapolis against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, another of the wild card contenders, you might think Twins General Manager Terry Ryan would be at Target Field watching those games with considerable interest.

You would be wrong, however.

Early Saturday afternoon, as the Twins and Angels were playing the first game of a day-night doubleheader in the Twin Cities, Ryan was studiously watching the Cedar Rapids Kernels and West Michigan Whitecaps take batting practice on Perfect Game Field at Veterans Memorial Stadium.

Ryan indicated it wasn’t an easy decision to make, but he felt coming to Cedar Rapids was the right choice.

Rekers not enough in Kohawks’ loss

STEVENS POINT, Wis. – A stellar performance by quarterback Josh Rekers wasn’t enough for the Coe College football team in a 34-31 loss to Wisconsin-Stevens Point on Saturday in front of 3,119 fans at Community Stadium.

Rekers finished with 34 completions for 391 yards for the Kohawks (1-2). The 34 completions were the second most in school history and the 391 passing yards were the third most. Coe finished with 35 completions for the game, which tied the school record.

Trevor Heitland caught 13 passes, which was the second most in school history, and finished with 117 yards.

Stevens Point came out strong, however, taking a 17-0 lead in the second quarter before Coe could get on the scoreboard. Demetrius Harper scored on a 3-yard touchdown pass from Rekers for the Kohawks to make is 17-7.

Kernels win with dramatic 9th inning

For eight innings on Saturday, Game 3 of the Midwest League’s Championship Series was another pitchers duel as the Cedar Rapids Kernels and West Michigan Whitecaps had battled to a 1-1 tie headed to the final stanza. Then the offenses came alive.

When it was over, 1,707 fans at Veterans Memorial Stadium, including Minnesota Twins General Manager Terry Ryan, had witnessed a dramatic 3-2 walk-off Cedar Rapids win that gave the Kernels a 2-1 lead in the best-of-five series.

West Michigan used a walk, a sacrifice bunt and a single to manufacture the lead run, taking a 2-1 advantage in the ninth inning and giving the Kernels just one more chance to avoid having to win the final two games of the series to claim a championship.

J-Hawks roll by Davenport West, 62-21

They waited out one weather delay, then just as the game was about to kick off, Jefferson and Davenport West were sent back to the Kingston Stadium locker room for another delay.

The visiting Falcons probably wished they weren't allowed back after a mandatory 30-minute delay.

Jefferson speedster Manny Olutunde took the opening kickoff and sprinted 92 yards nearly untouched for a score that sent the J-Hawks on their way to a 27-point opening quarter and a 62-21 victory on a rainy Friday night at Kingston.

The game was barely two minutes old when the J-Hawks struck again on their first offensive play. A mishandled snap on a West punt attempt left the ball on the Falcon 40. Jared Eivins came out and lofted one down the sideline to rangy 6-foot-5 receiver Jalyn Stafford for a second score.

"Obviously Manny's kickoff return was big," Jefferson coach Brian Webb said. "He's one of our main guys."