Metro Sports Report

Kernels stumble late at Fort Wayne

FORT WAYNE, Ind. - The Cedar Rapids Kernels were cruising to a 6-1 victory heading into the bottom of the ninth inning at Fort Wayne Sunday afternoon, but then the roof caved in.

Fort Wayne scored five runs in the ninth and beat the Kernels, 7-6, in 10 innings in a Midwest League game 7,528 fans at Parkview Field in Fort Wayne.

John Curtiss took the ball for the bottom of the ninth for the Kernels with the 6-1 lead, but he surrendered two home runs and was charged with all five runs. Yorman Landa gave up a run in the bottom of the 10th as the game slipped away.

Fort Wayne won all three games in the series and raised its record to 64-53. The Kernels fell to 68-51.

Hansen, Carter join Kirkwood softball

Joe Yegge thinks serving as the head softball coach at Cedar Rapids Prairie is helping his recruiting efforts at Kirkwood Community College.

Two prime examples this year are Maddie Hansen of Jefferson and Gabi Carter of Prairie, who have finished their all-state careers in high school and have joined Yegge's powerful club at Kirkwood.

Yegge has welcomed other good Metro players to Kirkwood before, but he thinks his three years at Prairie have boosted his efforts in getting more star players to join the Eagles.

Yegge has enjoyed three good seasons at Prairie, including a trip to the state tournament and just the second Mississippi Valley Conference title in school history after the program had languished for years.

Yoder welcomes big softball class to Mt. M

Larry Yoder is extra-busy these days as the interim director of athletics at Mount Mercy University, serving as the temporary boss until a new person is hired sometime this fall.

He's also the softball coach at Mount Mercy and is anxious to begin preparations for the next season, especially with 14 brand-new freshmen in the program for the 2016 campaign.

Yoder has compiled a 161-120 record in nine years with the Mustangs. He's serving as the interim A.D. in place of Scot Reisinger, who accepted a new position at Mount Mercy this month as the dean of adult programs.

Kernels fall at Fort Wayne, 3-1

FORT WAYNE, Ind. - The Cedar Rapids Kernels collected 11 hits Saturday night but had trouble scoring in a 3-1 loss to Fort Wayne in a Midwest League game before 8,195 fans at Parkveiw Field.

The Tincaps scored all three of their runs against Kernels starter Sam Gibbons in the second inning, including a two-run homer by Trae Santos. Gibbons (6-3) pitched seven innings, allowing seven hits with six strikeouts.

Pat Kelly went 3-for-4 for Cedar Rapids in the ninth spot in the lineup. Rafael Valera and Nick Gordon both had two hits. Valera collected two doubles.

The Kernels left nine runners on base and were 2-for-9 with runners in scoring position. Valera drove in Austin Diemer with their only run in the fifth inning.

Cedar Rapids (68-50) and Fort Wayne (63-53) meet again Sunday at 12:05 p.m.

KERNELS (1): Valera, 2b, 5 0 2 1, Gordon, ss, 4 0 2 0, Corcino, cf, 3 0 0 0, White, 3b, 4 0 1 0, Doe, c, 4 0 0 0, Paul, 1b, 4 0 1 0, Larson, lf, 4 0 1 0, Diemer, rf, 4 1 1 0, Kelly, dh, 4 0 3 0. Totals 36 1 11 1.

FORT WAYNE (3): Gettys, cf, 4 0 1 1, VanMeter, 2b, 4 0 2 0, Giron, ss, 4 0 1 0, Reyes, rf, 4 0 0 0, Cordero, lf, 4 0 0 0, Urias, 3b, 2 1 1 0, Santos, 1b, 2 1 1 2, Tejada, dh, 3 0 0 0, Ruiz, c, 3 1 1 0. Totals 30 3 7 3.

Kernels      000 010 000 - 1 11 0
Fort Wayne   030 000 00x - 3 7 0

Gibbons, Wilson (8) and Doe. Huffman, Cressley (7), Blueberg (8) and Ruiz. W - Huffman (7-6). L - Gibbons (6-3). S - Blueberg (16). 2B - Gordon (19), Valera 2 (5). HR - Santos (10). T - 2:27. A - 8,195.