Metro Sports Report

Coughlin, Lions take regional golf title

CEDAR FALLS - Lauren Coughlin captured medalist honors and sparked the Linn-Mar Lions to the team championship at the Class 5A regional golf tournament at Pheasant Ridge Golf Club Tuesday.

Coughlin shot a 6-over-par 78 to win the title by one stroke. Teresa Lopez Moreno of Linn-Mar and Sierra Hargens of Kennedy tied for second place with 79's.

Linn-Mar advanced to the Class 5A state meet at Elmwood Country Club in Marshalltown June 2-3. Hargens also advanced to the state meet.

The Lions won the title by 12 shots over Dubuque Hempstead, 339-351. Kennedy placed sixth.

TEAM STANDINGS

1. Linn-Mar 339, 2. (tie) Hempstead 351, Dubuque Senior 351, 4. Cedar Falls 360, 5. Mason City 370, 6. Kennedy 381, 7. Iowa City High 382, 8. Waterloo West 411, 9. Waterloo East 487.

LINN-MAR: Lauren Coughlin 78, Teresa Lopez Moreno 79, Katie Harding 89, Jordan Postma 93, Morgan Uridil 95, Amanda Shannon 96.

KENNEDY: Sierra Hargens 79, Breanna Osterkamp 98, Raemi Chavez 100, Emily Moore 104, Abby Krueger 105, Val Davidson 108.

Daniels tames Keller and Saints

The Major League scouts came to watch Mitch Keller Monday, but Zach Daniels stole the show.

Daniels tossed a superb one-hitter as Kennedy topped Keller and the Saints, 5-0, in the semifinals of the Metro Baseball Tournament at Ken Charipar Field.

Linn-Mar will face Jefferson in the other rain-delayed semifinal Tuesday at 5 p.m. at Veterans Memorial Stadium, with Kennedy facing the winner at 7 p.m.

Keller has been assured by Major League teams he'll be selected in the early rounds of the draft June 5 and scouts flocked to Xavier High School for another look at his 95 mph fastball and sharp-breaking curve.

Keller did not disappoint, but the Cougars scored a run against him in the top of the sixth inning for a 1-0 lead and he moved to shortstop in the seventh inning after having thrown 101 pitches.

Kennedy scored four more runs in the top of the seventh to bust it open, and meanwhile Daniels was unhittable with a steady diet of fastballs and breaking balls at the knees.

Daniels carried a no-hitter into the bottom of the seventh with a 5-0 lead. He struck out the first batter, but Matt Clarahan hit a high chopper that Kennedy shortstop Derek Jacobus charged and tried to field on a short hop on a do-or-die play.

Lions ride no-hitter into semifinals

Ben Hilsenbeck and Ryan Wyant combined on a no-hitter Monday as the Linn-Mar Lions blanked Washington, 2-0, in the opening round of the Metro Baseball Tournament at the Jefferson field.

Hilsenbeck struck out seven batters in five innings, then Wyant fanned three batters in the final two innings for the Lions. They combined to walk seven batters, but the Warriors were not able to get any hits.

Brandt Ollinger went 2-for-3 for Linn-Mar and drove in a run. Jackson Jacobs hit a solo home run for th other run.

Chris Harrington pitched a strong game for Washington, allowing only six hits and two runs. He struck out six batters and did not walk anyone.

Spencer VanScoyoc tossed a strong game for Jefferson as the J-Hawks defeated Marion, 5-1, in the other first-round game at Jefferson.

VanScoyoc allowed only four hits and one unearned run in six innings. He struck out nine batters and walked only one man. Jared Eivings pitched the seventh inning for Jefferson.

Marcus Colbert, Spencer Hunt and Lucas Larson belted home runs for the J-Hawks.

Metro Spotlight honors track athletes

Athletes from the Metro area enjoyed a fabulous weekend at the state track meets in Des Moines with 10 gold medals, 11 silver medals, seven bronze medals and two handsome trophies.

As a result, the Metro Sports Report is honoring all of these track stars as the Metro Spotlight Athletes of the Week.

Josh Evans of Linn-Mar collected four gold medals in the 800, 1600, 3200 and distance medley with Austin Fielder, Tim Wolfe and Duggan Trenary.

Stephanie Jenks of Linn-Mar claimed two gold medals in the 1500 and 3000. Curtis McCrary of Linn-Mar won the long jump, giving the Lions seven titles overall.

The Cedar Rapids Jefferson girls captured the 4x200 relay and sprint medley relay. And the Cedar Rapids Prairie boys won the 4x800 relay as part of the Metro's golden haul.

In addition to all that gold, Evans ran the fastest 1600 in state history (4:06.32) and set a Class 4A state meet record in the 3200 (9:00.97). The Lions also set a 4A state meet record in the distance medley in 3:24.39 with Evans on the anchor.