Metro Sports Report

Jacobus boys help Cougars make state

The Kennedy baseball tradition continues.

By beating Davenport West, 5-1, at home Wednesday night the third-ranked Cougars (31-6) go back to the Class 4A state tournament next week for the seventh time in the last nine years.

And like their last appearance at Principal Park in Des Moines two years ago, when they lost to Fort Dodge in the semifinals, there will be two Jacobus boys in the lineup.

In 2012, it was Devin the senior and Derek the sophomore. Now Derek’s the upperclassman and his burly little brother Dalles the 10th grader.

“Devin taught me so much,” said Derek, who had one of seven Kennedy hits Wednesday and knocked in a run. “Now I’m trying to do the same for Dalles.

"I’ve been in some pressure situations. I try to be a leader for the younger guys.”

Marion belted by Assumption, 10-0

MAQUOKETA - Marion High School seniors Quinn Cannoy and Logan Fuller were ready to scrap their planned vacation to Mexico next week so they could play in the Class 3A state tournament, but that won't be necessary now.

Davenport Assumption crushed the Indians, 10-0, in five innings in the substate finals in Maquoketa Wednesday night to make the state meet and send the Indians home for the summer.

Cannoy and Fuller are glad they won't have to eat the $1,300 they invested in plane fare and lodging in Cabo San Lucas, but they're sad they won't be going to Des Moines with their teammates instead.

It would have been expensive state tournament for the two buddies.

"Yes, it would have, but going to state would have been the better thing," said Cannoy. "You can take a vacation anytime you want, but a state tournament only comes around once in a lifetime."

Kernels fall at Bowling Green, 2-1

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. - The Cedar Rapids Kernels threatened in the top of the ninth inning Thursday night but fell short in a 2-1 loss to Bowling Green before 2,576 fans at Bowling Green Stadium.

The Kernels had runners on first and second with one out in the ninth. Logan Wade lined a shot toward the outfield, but the Bowling Green shortstop made a leaping stab and tossed to the second baseman to get J.D. Williams for a double play to end the game.

Cedar Rapids (48-54) scored in the sixth inning on doubles by Chad Christensen and Alex Swim. Swim was 2-for-4.

Kernels belt 3 homers in 7-2 win

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. - The Cedar Rapids Kernels hit three home runs and struck out 15 Bowling Green batters Wednesday night in a 7-2 victory over the Hot Rods.

The Kernels (48-53) collected 14 hits and have won 10 of their last 12 games.

Tanner Vavra, Logan Wade and Mitch Garver all went deep for the Kernels. It was Vavra's first professional home run and one of his three hits Wednesday.

Garver hit his team-best 13th for the season. It was his fourth home run in the last two games after belting three round-trippers Monday.

Three Kernels hurlers combined to punch out 15 hitters, the second-highest strikeout total this season. Aaron Slegers (7-6) started and picked up the win, going six innings. He struck out seven while allowing five hits, one walk and two runs (one earned).