Metro Sports Report

Coe wins IIAC tourney, earns NCAA berth

Alec Zwanziger felt like crawling in a hole and hiding after he had a rough inning on defense in the Iowa Conference tournament Saturday, but it's hard to disappear in the middle of a minor league ballpark when everybody is looking at you.

Instead of hiding, Zwanziger and the Coe baseball team bounced back like champions.

The Kohawks overcame a rough start and dumped Wartburg, 12-7, in the championship game of the IIAC tournament at Veterans Memorial Stadium to earn the league's automatic in the NCAA Division III playoffs.

Zwanziger mishandled three straight chances at second base in the second inning. Only one of the plays was ruled an error, but he could have made all three plays.

Wartburg took advantage of the extra outs when Jackson Litterer belted a grand slam to give the Knights a 4-1 lead.

"I'll tell you what, I wasn't feeling too great," Zwanziger acknowledged. "I think that was pretty obvious. But that's what this season has been all about. We're fighters."

Amara Taylor wins Metro Spotlight Award

Cedar Rapids Washington sophomore Amara Taylor is the winner of the Metro Spotlight Award for high school girls this week, the Metro Sports Report announced Sunday.

Taylor was a triple-winner at the Mississippi Valley Conference divisional meet in Iowa City Thursday. She won the 100 hurdles, captured the 400 hurdles and ran on the triumphant 4x100 relay in the Mississippi Division meet.

Lucas Huffman wins Metro Spotlight Award

Linn-Mar freshman Lucas Huffman is the winner of the Metro Spotlight Award for high school boys this week, the Metro Sports Report announced Sunday.

Huffman played a prominent role Friday for the Linn-Mar tennis team when the top-ranked Lions nipped second-ranked Iowa City West, 5-4, in a showdown of state powers in Iowa City.

Kernels sweep for 19-11 record

BELOIT, Wis. - The Cedar Rapids Kernels swept a Midwest League doubleheader at Beloit Saturday before 1,085 fans at Pohlman Field, winning 5-2 and 3-2 in nine innings.

The twin-killing capped a perfect 6-0 road trip through the state of Wisconsin.

The Kernels are heading home for a seven-game homestand with a 19-11 record, a season-best eight games above. 500. The Kernels are 12-0 against teams from Wisconsin, with a 6-0 record against Beloit and a 6-0 mark against the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers.

The Kernels are idle Sunday and host Peoria Monday night at 6:35.

Zack Larson had three hits for Cedar Rapids in the first game. Max Murphy scored three runs and collected two hits. Brett Doe socked a two-run homer and Pat Kelly also had two RBIs.

Michael Cederoth (1-2) earned the victory in the opener with six innings of work. He allowed two runs on three hits, while striking out five and walking three.

Cam Booser picked up his third save, tossing a perfect final inning with two strikeouts.

The Kernels took an early 2-0 lead in the second game on a two-run homer by Murphy. The game was tied, 2-2, after seven innings and headed to extra innings.