Metro Sports Report

Wilson helps Kernels top Whitecaps

COMSTOCK PARK, Mich. - The Cedar Rapids Kernels were glad to have Jared Wilson back on the mound Monday night.

Wilson, who made a spot start for Fort Myers in the Florida State League last week, tossed six strong innings Monday as the Kernels snapped a four-game losing streak with a 4-2 victory over West Michigan before 5,789 fans at Fifth Third Ballpark.

Wilson (5-1, 3.10) allowed two earned runs in six innings with three hits,four strikeouts and two walks.

The Kernels (36-22) got strong relief pitching from Michael Theofanopoulos and Trevor Hildenberger. Theofanopoulos tossed two scoreless frames for a hold and Hildenberger pitched a scoreless ninth inning for his sixth save.

Day lifts Prairie by No. 4 Cougars

Corbin Day delivered a game-winning single in the bottom of the seventh inning Monday night as the Prairie Hawks trimmed fourth-ranked Kennedy, 6-5, in a Mississippi Valley Conference game at Prairie.

The same two teams meet again Tuesday night at Kennedy.

Day went 3-for-3 in the ballgame, capped by his walk-off base hit.

Tyler Nunemaker had a big game for Prairie. He went 2-for-3 with a double, home run and three RBIs. Trey Beckman was 2-for-4.

Jared Street got the victory for the Hawks. Jackson Behn took the loss. Prairie trailed 5-1 in the third inning before staging a late-game rally.

Zach Daniels and Behn had two hits for Kennedy. Tyler Dralle drove in three runs.

Prairie raised its records to 9-1 overall and 5-0 in the MVC. Kennedy fell to 6-4 overall and 1-4 in the league.

Kennedy   104 000 0 - 5 10 2
Prairie   100 013 1 - 6 11 3

W - Street. L - Behn.

Lions, Saints brought honor to Metro soccer

I'm starting to become a soccer fan.

There, I said it.

This might surprise a few of you, who have known me to be strongly anti-soccer for quite some time, but I challenge anyone to watch three straight days of the boys state soccer tournament and not gain an appreciation for the skill, determination and courage on display.

The Linn-Mar Lions won the Class 3A title for the first crown in school history with victories over the No. 1, No. 2 and No. 3 teams in the team.

The Xavier Saints captured the Class 2A crown for their seventh title in school history with victories over three ranked teams, including top-ranked Norwalk, and won the last two games in the semifinals and finals in dramatic overtime.

Both teams brought honor to their schools, themselves and the Metro area for giving us two state champions in one year. Dyersville Beckman took the Class 1A title.

Lions, Saints share Metro Spotlight Award

The Metro Sports Report has never given a Metro Spotlight Award to two teams at the same time, but now it's time for an exception.

The Linn-Mar Lions and Xavier Saints are the joint winners of the Metro Spotlight Award for high school boys this week after both clubs won championships at the boys state soccer tournament in Des Moines Saturday.

Both teams enjoyed impressive runs in the three-day tournament to claim the top prizes at the Cownie Soccer Park.