Metro Sports Report

Prairie clinches tie for baseball title

DUBUQUE - Todd Rima was not sure he wanted to become the new baseball coach at Cedar Rapids Prairie this year when the opportunity came along, but he's mighty glad he accepted the job.

The Hawks have become Mississippi Valley Conference champions for the first time in school history and Rima is proud of his guys.

Prairie clinched a tie for the Mississippi Division title in the MVC Thursday by splitting a doubleheader at Dubuque Senior, winning 5-4 and losing 10-9 in Dubuque.

The Hawks, who began competing in baseball in the Mississippi Valley Conference in 1987, can capture an outright division title when they host Dubuque Wahlert in another twinbill Friday.

"The guys have wanted to win the championship and they've put themselves in position to do that," Rima said after the Hawks and Rams traded one-run victories. "It's kind of exciting. Tomorrow night we get a chance to win it at home, and I think that will be neat. Our fans have been awesome all year.

Gordon's key hit rallies Kernels

BELOIT, Wis. - Nick Gordon's two-out, two-run single in the top of the ninth inning proved to be the winning hit as the Cedar Rapids Kernels rallied to defeat Beloit, 6-4, Thursday night before 532 fans at Pohlman Field.

Gordon's winning hit was ruled to not have been caught by Beloit left fielder Joe Bennie, who made a diving attempt for a catch that would have ended the game. Snappers' manager Fran Riordan argued the call with umpires and was ejected.

Marion advances in 4A regional play

Marissa Whitney had three hits as Marion broke a 3-3 tie in the top of the fifth to down Vinton-Shellsburg, 4-3, in a first-round Class 4A regional softball game at Marion.

Camryn Cannoy led off the fifth with a single and scored when a ball hit by Maddie Knapp was misplayed in left field for an error.

Vinton-Shellsburg had the potential tying run at second with one out in the bottom of the seventh, but Indians' pitcher Alicia Steepleton retired the final two batters to secure the win.

Marion (21-14) moves on to the next round on Saturday night with a game at Xavier, beginning at 7 p.m.

Cougars salvage split with Wahlert

The Kennedy Cougars rallied for three runs in the bottom of the seventh inning Friday night to beat Dubuque Wahlert, 11-10, in the second game of their doubleheader and salvage a split of their twinbill at Kennedy.

Wahlert took the first game, 17-12.

The split left the eighth-ranked Cougars at 21-9 overall and 12-8 in the conference. Wahlert is 16-16 overall and 11-11 in the league.

Jackson Behn went 3-for-4 with two doubles and three RBIs for Kennedy in the 17-12 loss in the opener. Tyler Dralle was 2-for-3 with three RBIs. Mitchell Gaffey and Zach Daniels had two this.

Daniels went 4-for-4 with two triples and two RBIs in the nightcap. Sammy Lizarraga was 4-for-5 with two doubles and two RBIs. Dralle and Kyle Brewer also drove in two runs. Dralle hit a home run.