Metro Sports Report

Wensel sizzles in 400 for Linn-Mar

IOWA CITY - Linn-Mar freshman Payton Wensel ran the fastest time in the state this year in the 400 meter dash Thursday when she won the event in 56.25 seconds at the Iowa City West Invitational.

Wensel broke the Linn-Mar school record in the 400. She also ran the anchor leg on the triumphant 800 sprint medley with another swift 400.

The Jefferson J-Hawks won six events and Linn-Mar captured five events.

Jefferson's winners were Jasmine Blue in the 100 (12.44), Lucy Schneekloth in the 200 (25.73) and Abbie Ranschau in the 100 hurdles (15.10). Blue, Schneekloth and Ranschau joined Morgan Meese on the victorious 4x100 relay (48.66).

No. 4 Lions boot No. 7 Hawks, 5-1

The Linn-Mar Lions became the first team to score a goal against the Prairie Hawks all season Thursday night. And when they started, they never stopped.

The fourth-ranked Lions defeated the seventh-ranked Hawks, 5-1, in a Mississippi Valley Conference boys soccer match at Linn-Mar Stadium.

Prairie entered the game with a perfect 8-0 record and had outscored its opponents, 45-0, but Linn-Mar solved the Prairie defense with a high-powered attack.

Philipp collects hat trick for Huskies

Joey Philipp fired in three goals Thursday as the Cedar Valley Christian soccer team defeated Prince of Peace, 4-2, at the Tuma Complex.

Philipp scored his first goal with an assist from Ethan Sperfslage. Philipp collected his second goal with an assist from Tom Scroggs. His third goal was unassisted.

Logan Crittenden scored Cedar Valley's fourth goal on a penalty kick after Philipp was fouled in the penalty box.

Pitchers have excelled for Kernels

It may not be what casual baseball fans want to see, but in most cases and at most levels of professional baseball, the teams with the best pitching win the most games.

Sometimes, it really is that simple.