Metro Sports Report

Slumping Kernels drop 4th in row

The Cedar Rapids Kernels and Kane County Cougars will be making postseason appearances in the Midwest League playoffs in September, but don’t suggest to Kernels Manager Jake Mauer that his team’s current four-game losing streak might be because his team is tired and there’s nothing really on the line as the season winds down.

Kirkwood volleyball has young team

Kirkwood volleyball coach Jill Williams offered a lot of hands-on instruction to her players during Monday's scrimmage against Clarke University at Johnson Hall.

With 12 freshmen on the club and only three sophomores, the new Eagles have a lot to learn. Four freshmen from last year's team did not return this year for various reasons.

"There's a lot of teaching going on," said Williams. "And I find as a teacher, I've had to learn a lot of different ways to say things.

"Because if they're not picking up on it the first time or the second time, I have to come back and try to find something that they're able to understand and get them to see our system. And you have to see it before you can do it.

"I think that's one of the most difficult things for young kids when they come into any program," she said.

Lindwall sparks Wash at Hunters Ridge

Frank Lindwall fired a 3-under-par 69 Monday at Hunters Ridge to share medalist honors and lead the Washington Warriors to the top prize at the Linn-Mar Invitational golf tournament.

Lindwall, entering his junior year at Washington, shared the medalist spot with Tripp Kinney of Waukee.

The Warriors finished with a four-man total of 297, edging Waukee by three strokes and topping Xavier by four shots.

MSR begins tour of prep football camps

When I began working at The Gazette back in 1982, the Big Ten Conference used to conduct a "Skywriters Tour" for college football writers who would visit

Big Ten camps and file preseason stories from around the league.

The late Gus Schrader went on those tours for The Gazette and offered the latest insights from the around the Big Ten, hobnobbing with head coaches and other writers so Iowa fans could get a feel for the new year.