Metro Sports Report

Kernels put Curtiss, Vavra on DL

The Cedar Rapids Kernels and Minnesota Twins announced Thursday that pitcher John Curtiss and infielder/outfielder Trey Vavra have been place on the 7-Day Disabled List.

Curtiss has a right forearm strain. Vavra has a sprained left ankle.

Pitcher Sam Gibbons has joined the Kernels from Extended Spring Training to replace Curtiss.

The Twins signed Gibbons as a non-drafted free agent on July 2, 2011. He spent last season with Elizabethton, posting a 4-5 record and 3.88 ERA in 12 starts.

Curtiss has made seven starts for the Kernels, posting a 2-3 record and 5.87 ERA. He left Monday's game at Beloit in the fifth inning.

Vavra has played in 42 games, batting .342 with six homers and 28 RBIs. He's among the MWL leaders in average, hits and slugging percentage. He sprained his ankle chasing a foul ball during Tuesday's 4-1 win over Wisconsin.

Gonsalves whiffs 12 Rattlers for Kernels

It’s hard to imagine what more Cedar Rapids Kernels starting pitcher Stephen Gonsalves has to do to convince his bosses with the Minnesota Twins that he’s earned a promotion up the organizational ladder.

Gonsalves entered Tuesday night’s game with the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers with an Earned Run Average of 1.50 and he led the Midwest League with 54 strikeouts while allowing opposing hitters a .168 batting average.

With his performance Tuesday, Gonsalves actually improved in all three of those categories.

Gonsalves allowed just a single unearned run on three hits over six innings, while striking out 12 Rattler batters,and leading the Kernels to a 4-1 win in front of 1,081 fans at Veterans Memorial Stadium.

Van Scoyoc no-hits Prairie

Spencer Van Scoyoc watched younger brother Connor throw a gem in Jefferson's opening-round win over Mount Vernon in the Bob Vrbicek Metro Baseball Tournament on Monday.

Connor, a freshman, tossed a five-hit shutout as the J-Hawks advanced with a 5-0 win.

That left Spencer with a tough act to follow in Monday evening's semifinal match-up with a highly regarded Prairie team. The Hawks rolled to a 15-0 win over Washington in their first-round game.

Not only did Spencer Van Scoyoc follow up his brother's effort, he bettered it. The junior left-hander tossed a no-hitter, striking out eight as Jefferson advanced to the title game for the second straight year with an 10-0, five-inning win at Washington.

Behn gives Cougars another live arm

Cedar Rapids Kennedy Coach Bret Hoyer already had a treasure chest filled with excellent pitchers.

Now he has another one.

Jackson Behn tossed six strong innings Monday night as the Cougars topped Marion, 10-1, in the semifinals of the Bob Vrbicek Metro Tournament at Kennedy.