Metro Sports Report

Vavra delivers for Kernels in pinch

Trey Vavra loves coming to the ballpark. There's nothing he'd rather do, and he plans to keep doing it long after his playing days are over.

He'll play first base and the outfield for the Cedar Rapids Kernels. When they need a bullpen catcher, he's their man. He also practices at third base and second base, and he takes his job seriously when he's asked to coach first base.

"That's my game," he said. "Wherever they need me, I try to get in the lineup and help the team win."

Friday night he was asked to take a swing in the eighth inning as a pinch-hitter. He did it superbly.

Vavra clobbered a three-run homer to deep left-center to help the Kernels trip Peoria, 5-1, before 1,914 fans at Veterans Memorial Stadium.

Kernels starter Stephen Gonsalves was terrific for seven innings, but got a no-decision. He struck out 10 batters, walked only one and allowed just one run.

Coe's Cook gets 400th victory

Michael Goerdt scored the winning run on a wild pitch in the first game, then followed with a homer and three runs scored in the nightcap as Coe swept past Central, 3-2 and 7-3 on Friday at Daniels Park, giving Kohawk Coach Steve Cook his 400th career victory.

AJ Reuter pitched six innings of one-run baseball, striking out seven. Despite giving up the tying run in the top of the seventh, Tony Becker picked up the win.

The Kohawks led just 3-2 entering the bottom of the eighth in Game 2 where Goerdt, who had earlier doubled, cracked a solo home run as part of a four-run inning. Catcher Grant Henning had two hits and Cole Tomlinson had a bases-clearing double in the eighth.

Jack Hoffmann got the win in relief, pitching two scoreless innings.

Jenks wins 1600 at Kansas Relays

LAWRENCE, Kan. - Linn-Mar junior Stephanie Jenks ran the fastest 1600 for a high school girl in the country Friday when she captured the event in 4 minutes, 40.78 seconds at the Kansas Relays.

Jenks won the race by nearly three seconds at the prestigious meet.

Jenks currently leads all Iowa high school girls in the 800, 1500 and 3000 meter runs. She has won multiple events at the Drake Relays and Iowa state meet and will be seeking additional titles at the Drake Relays next weekend in Des Moines.

Eagles sweep twinbill at SWCC

CRESTON - No. 10 Kirkwood continued to flex its muscles Friday, sweeping a doubleheader from Southwestern, 12-0 and 8-3.

In the opener, Jasmine Ragusi had three hits, including a home run and five RBIs. Chasney Jenkins had a double and a triple, driving home two runs. Alicia Crivaro had two hits with a triple and two RBIs. Nicky Simpson threw all five innings, allowing just one hit.

Ragusi stayed hot in Game 2 going 3-for-4 with a run and three RBIs Tara Walls had a double and and RBI. Brooke Prior and Allie Mengler combined to get the win on the mound.