Metro Sports Report

Kernels drop opener at Clinton

CLINTON - Despite scoring first Friday night and out-hitting the LumberKings, the Cedar Rapids Kernels fell to Clinton, 4-1, in the series opener before 2,012 fans at Ashford University Field.

Cedar Rapids (40-28) struck first with a two-out run in the top of the third. Rafael Valera got the inning started with a one-out walk. Edgar Corcino followed with a single to center, giving the Kernels runners on first and second.

Two batters later, Zack Larson put the Kernels up 1-0 with an RBI single to center, bringing in Valera from second. The RBI for Larson was his team-leading 35th.

Clinton (25-42) countered with a pair of runs in the bottom of the fourth, going in front 2-1. Arby Fields drew a leadoff walk to start the inning before Wayne Taylor gave the LumberKings their first hit with a single through the right side.

Two batters later, Estarlyn Morales reached on a fielder's choice, but a Kernels throwing error on the double play attempt allowed Fields to score from second.

Petersen signs 11 players for Kirkwood

Kirkwood men's basketball coach Bryan Petersen is young and energetic, but he'd rather not have to sign 11 new players every year to keep the Eagles headed in the right direction.

It's a lot of work for Petersen and his assistant coaches, but seven sophomores graduated from this year's club and two freshmen are not coming back.

There were holes to fill and Petersen thinks they've done it well.

"I feel really good about it," he said this week. "It's a group of kids that we feel will fit Kirkwood, not only as basketball players but as good people and good students.

Kernels waste strong game by Steele

They don't have instant replay in Midwest League games, so there was nothing the Cedar Rapids Kernels could do about a bum call in the 11th inning Thursday.

It helped cost them the game.

The Burlington Bees blanked the Kernels, 2-0, in 11 innings before a season-high crowd of 4,173 fans on Fireworks Night at Veterans Memorial Stadium.

No. 7 Lions sweep Saints in baseball

The seventh-ranked Linn-Mar Lions swept a Mississippi Valley Conference doubleheader from Xavier, 8-5 in eight innings and 7-4, at Ken Charipar Field on Friday night at Xavier.

The sweep lifted the Lions to 12-4 for the season. Xavier fell to 7-12.

The first game was tied, 3-3, after seven innings. Linn-Mar erupted for five runs in the top of the eighth, then withstood a two-run rally by the Saints in the bottom of the eighth.