Metro Sports Report

Roeder shows the way at Prospect Meadows

Jack Roeder arrived at Prospect Meadows bright and early Thursday  morning to turn on the field lights and get ready for a television  interview for KGAN and FOX28.

The moon was visible over one shoulder and the eastern sky was  starting to brighten slightly over the other with dawn approaching. He  had time to think and reflect about Opening Day at the new facility, a  project that has consumed nearly 10 years of his life.

It's been a long journey to a happy ending at Prospect Meadows. Or  rather, a happy new beginning. The sparkling new facility is now  officially open for business.

"You know, between this and my two grandsons being born, I don't think  I've had a prouder moment," he later told assembled guests at the  ribbon cutting ceremony Thursday afternoon.

Roeder began working on Prospect Meadows shortly after he retired as  general manager of the Cedar Rapids Kernels in 2010. He accepted  another challenging job as GM for the proposed new baseball and  softball complex and has been working at it ever since.

Big rally saves KCC at nationals

CLINTON, Miss. - The Kirkwood Eagles had one foot on the bus for the  long ride back to Cedar Rapids Thursday, but a big rally kept them  alive at the NJCAA Division II national softball tournament.

Kirkwood fell behind Madison, 8-0, in the second inning of an  elimination game at Traceway Park, but the Eagles stormed all the way  back for a 12-9 victory to play another day.

Kirkwood (2-1) will face Louisburg (2-1) in the double-elimination  tournament Friday at noon. Eight teams are still playing in the  tournament and eight have been eliminated.

The Eagles lost to DMACC, 6-3, in their first game Thursday to fall  into the losers bracket. They had to play again right away and got off  to a miserable start against Madison before igniting.

Kirkwood scored four runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to pull  within 9-7, then the Eagles tacked on five more runs in the sixth to  claim a 12-9 advantage in the wild contest.

KCC golfers eye 3rd at nationals

PLYMOUTH, Ind. - The Kirkwood men's golf team hopes to hang onto third  place at the NJCAA Division II national tournament at Swan Lake Resort  in the final round Friday.

The Eagles have little chance of winning the title or claiming the No. 2 spot in the team standings, but they have a one-shot lead over  Mississippi Gulf Course in a spirited battle for the bronze medal.

South Mountain leads the tournament at 888. Walters State is second at 892, with Kirkwood third at 912 and Mississippi Gulf Coast a shot  behind in fourth place at 913.

Eagles win thriller at national tourney

CLINTON, Miss. - The Kirkwood Eagles scored in the bottom of the  seventh inning Wednesday to snap a 2-2 tie and trim Illinois Central,  3-2, in the opening round of the NJCAA Division II national softball  tournament.

Kirkwood (51-15) will face DMACC (49-6) in the quarterfinals Thursday  at 3:30 p.m., matching two rivals from the ICCAC conference.

Kirkwood led 2-1 heading into the top of the seventh, but Illinois  Central loaded the bases and scored the tying run on a wild pitch  before Erin Hocker got the final out on a fly ball.

The Eagles wasted no time in the bottom of the seventh. Taleah Smith  led off with a double to left-center. Shelby Hulsebus hit a single to  left field with one out and Smith raced home with the winning run on  an error by the left fielder.

Hocker (27-9) walked seven batters and allowed seven hits, but made  big pitches when it counted to escape further damage. Illinois Central  left 13 runners on base. Kirkwood did not commit any errors, greatly  helping the cause.