Metro Sports Report

Tiny Gorman makes big splash

Reagan Gorman stands out in a crowd of runners, but not because of her physical stature.

It's her talent, not her size.

"I'm 5-2," the Cedar Rapids Washington freshman said Saturday morning with a shy smile, "and I weigh about 85 or 90."

Good things come in small packages.

Gorman made a quick name for herself Saturday by finishing in second place out of 127 runners at the 31st Prairie Invitational cross country meet.

Iowa City West junior Gabby Skopec won the 5K race in 19 minutes, 26 seconds. Gorman placed second in 19:38 and Marion senior Maddie Bach took third in 19:43.

Miller made quick climb to Kernels

Cedar Rapids Kernels infielder Sean Miller was wearing a South Carolina-Aiken uniform when his baseball season began in the spring and he’s now suiting up for his second pro team this summer.

Miller, a shortstop by trade, has been getting work at second base for the Kernels, who have Nick Gordon solidly entrenched at shortstop. As they have been doing frequently, Miller and Gordon hit in the top two spots of the Kernels’ batting order during the nightcap of their doubleheader with the Kane County Cougars Saturday night.

A Saturday fireworks crowd of 4,863 at Veterans Memorial Stadium saw the Cougars sweep both ends of the twinbill, 6-2 and 4-3, giving Cedar Rapids a season-worst five game losing streak.

Miller was a “young junior,” to use Kernels Manager Jake Mauer’s words, at SC-Aiken. He was just 20 years old throughout his junior season of college and won’t turn 21 until after the season ends.

Jordan Bohannon commits to Hawkeyes

It took four tries, but another member of the Bohannon family is finally going to be a Hawkeye.

Linn-Mar senior Jordan Bohannon has accepted an offer from Iowa Coach Fran McCaffery to play basketball for the Hawkeyes, Linn-Mar Coach Chris Robertson confirmed Friday morning.

Gordy Bohannon played quarterback at Iowa during Hayden Fry's early years with the Hawkeyes, but his three eldest sons - all basketball players - went elsewhere for their college careers.

Jason Bohannon played at Wisconsin, Zach Bohannon played at Air Force and Wisconsin, and Matt Bohannon is currently a senior at the University of Northern Iowa. Now their kid brother will be a Hawkeye.

"He called me last night about 6 o'clock or so," Robertson said. "He had just gotten off the phone with Coach McCaffery and was getting ready to call back to accept. I know it's kind of been in the works the last couple of months, but it finally came to an end yesterday."

Bohannon shared the news on his Twitter account Friday morning. "I am extremely blessed and excited to announce that I have committed to play basketball at the University of Iowa," he wrote.

Dralle stars as Cougars nip IC West

Tyler Dralle owes his offensive linemen at Kennedy a big steak dinner, but he's a guy on a budget and the Cougars might have to settle for something less fancy.

"Go to McDonald's or something. Maybe Pancheros. I don't know," Dralle said Thursday night with a smile. "I've got to reward them for something."

Dralle lugged the ball 40 times for 264 yards and four touchdowns as the ninth-ranked Cougars survived a brilliant passing attack by Iowa City West, 34-31, in a thriller at Kingston Stadium in the season opener.

Dalles Jacobus, one of Kennedy's beat-eaters on the offensive line, is ready to belly up and celebrate Dralle's big night.

"That's my bro," said Jacobus. "I'll be ready to eat anything, as long as it's free. We love the kid."

Kennedy need every one of those 264 yards from Dralle to get past the Trojans and their pass-happy combo of quarterback Alex Henderson and receiver Oliver Martin, who put on a show of their own. Henderson hit 20 of 30 passes for 357 yards and Martin, nearly unstoppable, made 12 grabs for 237 yards and two TDs.