Metro Sports Report

Kernels trimmed by Peoria, 2-1

PEORIA, Ill. - The Cedar Rapids Kernels tallied one run for the second straight game Wednesday and lost to the Peoria Chiefs, 2-1, before 3,148 fans at Dozer Park.

The Kernels are 1-5 on their road trip to open the second half of the Midwest League season. They look to avoid the sweep at Peoria Thursday at 7 p.m.

Arturo Reyes (5-3) held the Kernels' offense to one run on five hits over six innings. He struck out five and walked one, the only walk the Kernels have drawn in the first two games of the series.

Kohl Stewart (1-4) pitched well but suffered the loss for the Kernels. He went five innings and allowed just two runs on six hits while striking out four and walking one. Stewart's earned run average is now at 2.53 after 13 starts.

The Kernels scored first with a single run in the third inning. J.D. Williams doubled past first base to get the inning started. He advanced to third base on a fly out by Jon Murphy. With the infield drawn in, Williams hurried home on Ryan Walker's RBI groundout, putting the Kernels up 1-0.

Drahozal stars as Saints sweep Hawks

Pity the softball team that plays Xavier after the Saints have had a few days off.

“We hadn’t played a game since last Wednesday, and we were just anxious to go out and get at it,” Xavier all-stater Erin Drahozal said Tuesday night after her usual stellar performance in a 9-3 and 7-2 sweep of Prairie on the Hawks home field.

She was so itchy to see action that she showed up Monday night to watch Prairie take two from Kennedy. The scouting mission obviously paid off.

On the mound in the opener against Prairie, she had one bad pitch that led to a long three-run homer to left by the normally light-hitting Amanda Stecklein. Otherwise, Drahozal (11-2) pretty much bamboozled the Hawks, especially power hitters Gabi Carter and Natalie Rumer.

Sommer helps Lions sweep Warriors

Linn-Mar shortstop Katie Sommer was a dirty, grimy, happy mess after the Lions swept Washington Tuesday night at Franklin Field.

Her eye-black had streaked down her face on both sides. Her black-and-red uniform was covered with dirt and chalk marks. And there were beads of sweat all over her shoulders and arms.

Yup, it was another successful night at the ballpark for the all-state crackerjack and leadoff hitter supreme. And yes, she was a mess.

"Oh gosh, I know," she said with a bright smile. "I've been in the dirt.

"I do my best to try and stop everything," she explained. "You're going to get dirty."

Kernels near deal for Waterloo Bucks

The Cedar Rapids Kernels are close to finalizing a deal to purchase the Waterloo Bucks, a college summer team that is a member of the Northwoods League and plays at Riverfront Stadium in Waterloo.

Doug Nelson, the general manager of the Kernels, confirmed Tuesday night that the Cedar Rapids Ball Club, Inc., would like to buy the Bucks and keep the team in Waterloo. He said the details of a final agreement are still being discussed, but indicated the two sides are close.

The asking price reportedly is $400,000, but Nelson declined to confirm or deny that figure.

Nelson said a final agreement would be contingent on the Northwoods League approving the sale of the Bucks to the Kernels. It also would depend on the city of Waterloo approving a lease with the Kernels for Riverfront Stadium.