Metro Sports Report

Jenkins sets table for powerful Eagles

Chasney Jenkins stands just a smidgeon over 5 feet tall, but she plays one of the biggest roles on the powerful Kirkwood softball team as a superb leadoff hitter.

Jenkins gets on base on a regular basis and her teammates drive her in.

The formula worked again Wednesday as the 11th-ranked Eagles overwhelmed Ellsworth Community College, 18-1 and 23-1, in a junior college doubleheader at the Kirkwood diamond.

Both games lasted only 4 1/2 innings.

Kirkwood belted 12 home runs in the twinbill, with six in each game. Lexie Biehl and Brook Prior hit three homers and at one point the Eagles hit four straight home runs. Biehl went 7-for-8 and drove in 14 runs.

Christensen aiming for Fort Myers

FORT MYERS, Fla. - Almost a year ago, Cedar Rapids Washington grad Chad Christensen got the word he would be making his full-season pro baseball debut with his hometown club, the Cedar Rapids Kernels.

This spring, the Minnesota Twins farm hand is hoping to avoid a return trip to Cedar Rapids.

You can’t blame a guy for preferring a promotion up the Twins’ minor league ladder over another summer living at home. After hitting .272 for the Kernels last season, Christensen left Cedar Rapids and returned to his previous stomping grounds at the University of Nebraska.

“I went back to Lincoln and lived there,” Christensen said Tuesday. “A lot of guys that are in pro ball are back there so we kind of work out together and use the facilities and everything. That’s where I was doing my workouts.

Diercks named Mount Mercy bowling coach

The Mount Mercy men's and women's bowling teams have a new head coach and it's a familiar face. Andy Diercks, former Mustang assistant and interim head coach, is taking over the program, Athletics Director Scot Reisinger announced Tuesday.

"We are excited to name Andy as our next head bowling coach," Reisinger said. "He showed outstanding leadership to the bowling program as interim coach. Andy is known throughout the bowling community as a teacher of the game and his reputation and contacts will help him recruit top student-athletes to Mount Mercy."

Diercks has resigned as the boys bowling coach at Linn-Mar High School to take the job at Mount Mercy.

Ranschau wins Metro Spotlight Award

Cedar Rapids Jefferson junior Abbie Ranschau is the winner of the Metro Spotlight Award for high school girls this week, the Metro Sports Report announced Sunday.

Ranschau, one of the top sprinters and hurdlers in the state, has gotten off to a fast start this spring with the J-Hawks.

Ranschau helped Jefferson win the shuttle hurdle relay, 4x100 relay and 4x200 relay at the Mississippi Valley Conference indoor meet in Cedar Falls last Tuesday and finished second in the 60 meter hurdles.