Metro Sports Report

Kernels bump off River Bandits, 5-2

Thu - 12 Jun Written by S.D. Buhr

The Cedar Rapids Kernels were eliminated from any opportunity to earn a postseason berth in the first half of the Midwest League season before this week’s series against Quad Cities began, but the Kernels have been doing their best to spoil the River Bandits' chances as well.

The Kernels took two out of three games in the series with a 5-2 win in front of 2,898 fans at Veterans Memorial Stadium Thursday night.

The Cedar Rapids victory dropped the River Bandits two games behind Burlington in the race for second place in the MWL’s Western Division with just three games left in the first half.

Ryan Eades (4-7) had his best start in more than a month and recorded his first win since throwing five shutout innings against Peoria May 4.

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Keller signing with Pirates on Friday

Tue - 10 Jun Written by Jim Ecker

Mitch Keller turned 18 years old in April and his life has been a blur ever since with high school graduation, the Major League draft and some awfully big decisions to make.

And now in less than two weeks, he'll be wearing a Pittsburgh Pirates uniform and pitching in the Gulf Coast League in Florida.

Keller plans to fly to Pittsburgh on Thursday, sign his first professional contract on Friday and fly to Florida on Saturday.

The 2014 Gulf Coast League season begins June 20 and the GCL Pirates will be facing the Yankees to get things started.

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The unranked Kennedy Cougars celebrate after defeating number two ranked Bettendorf Bulldogs, 3-1, in the State soccer quarterfinals Thursday in Des Moines. (MSR Photo by Margaret O'Banion)

Cougars bump off No.2 Bettendorf

Thu - 12 Jun Written by Jim Ecker

DES MOINES - The Kennedy girls soccer team did not panic after losing its last three games of the regular season to three ranked opponents.

The Cougars kept their cool, kept working hard and kept having fun.

Now the fun-loving Cougars have reached the semifinals of the Class 3A state tournament after booting second-ranked Bettendorf, 3-1, in the opening round Thursday at the Cownie Soccer Park in Des Moines.

Kennedy (14-6) will face No.6 Waukee (17-3) in the semifinals Friday at 5 p.m. on Field 6.

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Xavier's Katie Ives lines up a shot at the net during the second half of Thursday's 3A State semifinal soccer game in Des Moines. Ives scored the Saints' lone goal on a free kick to give Xavier a 1-0 win over Ankeny Centennial.(MSR Photo by Margaret O'Banion)

Ives boots Saints into 2A semifinals

Thu - 12 Jun Written by Jim Ecker

DES MOINES - Katie Ives did not grow up as a member of girls soccer dynasty at Xavier High School, but she certainly knew about the Saints and their amazing success as a young player in the Jefferson district.

Ives transferred from Jefferson to Xavier last year and did her part Thursday to keep the Saints in contention for an unprecedented ninth state title in a row.

Ives lofted in a free kick from about 40 yards away with 28 minutes, 51 seconds left in the second half to help Xavier blank Ankeny Centennial, 1-0, in the opening round of the Class 2A state tournament on a windy day at the Cownie Soccer Park.

Xavier (11-7) will face North Scott (17-4) in the semifinals Friday at 2:30 p.m. on Field 6.

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Chad Christensen (18) hit a two-run triple to give the Kernels a 4-1 lead in the eighth inning. (MSR photo by Ken Gilchrist)

Mauer says Christensen ready for promotion

Wed - 11 Jun Written by Jim Ecker

It was a nice human-interest story when Chad Christensen returned home to Cedar Rapids to play for the Kernels this year, but it's turning into much more than that.

Christensen has performed very well for the Kernels and Manager Jake Mauer would not be surprised if he gets promoted to the Fort Myers Miracle in the Florida State League soon.

Christensen belted a key two-run triple and drove in three runs Wednesday night as the Kernels clipped the Quad Cities River Bandits, 5-4, in a Midwest League game before 2,581 fans at Veterans Memorial Stadium.

Christensen, 23, is hitting .295 with five homers, 34 RBIs and 17 stolen bases for Cedar Rapids and he's excelled in the field at first base, left field, right field and center field.

"He just always seems to be the right guy in the right spot," said Mauer. "When the situation comes up and we need something, he always delivers."

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