Metro Sports Report

Evans, Lions aiming for 2nd title

Josh Evans and the Linn-Mar Lions captured the team championship at the Class 4A state track meet in Des Moines last year.

Now they'd like to do it again.

Evans gives Linn-Mar a major threat in the 800, 1600 and 3200 meter runs and he anchors the distance medley, which is seeded No.1 for the state meet. That gives the Lions a solid base, but they are strong in other events as well.

Curtis McCrary is seeded No.1 in the long jump and both of the 4x100 and 4x200 relays are seeded No.2. Daniel Murphy is seeded No.3 in the 1600 and No.7 in the 3200, doubling with Evans in those events. Tanner Rathje is seeded No.8 in the 800 and the 4x400 relay is also eighth.

Lions, J-Hawks eye state track titles

The Linn-Mar Lions and Jefferson J-Hawks have the talent to win multiple titles at the Class 4A girls state track meet in Des Moines this coming.

Now here's the big question: Do they have enough talent to win the team championship when everyone gathers at Drake Stadium on Thursday, Friday and Saturday?

The Lions feature a superstar in Stephanie Jenks, one of the premier distance runners in state history and a threat to capture the 800, 1500 and 3000 in Des Moines. She's heavily favored (and nearly untouchable) in the 1500 and 3000 and awfully good in the 800 as well.

The J-Hawks take a tremendous amount of pride in their relay units and rightfully so.

Let the races begin.

Williams delivers in pinch for Kernels

J.D. Williams did not need to take a cold shower after delivering the game-winning hit for the Cedar Rapids Kernels on a warm Tuesday afternoon.

He was given an ice-cold bath on the field after the Kernels clipped Beloit, 4-2, thanks to Ivory Thomas, his teammate and roommate on the club.

Williams delivered a two-run pinch-hit single in the bottom of the eighth inning to snap a 2-2 tie and give the Kernels their third straight victory before a season-high crowd of 3,002 fans and noisy school kids at Veterans Memorial Stadium.

Williams was doing a post-game television interview with Jared Aarons of KGAN when Thomas snuck up from behind and dumped a bucket of ice on his buddy.

"I knew as soon as it hit me who's idea it was," said Williams, laughing.

Williams was in a mild hitting slump and batting only .231 when Manager Jake Mauer told him to pinch-hit for Carlos Avila with the bases loaded and one out in the eighth inning. Avila was 2-for-2 with a walk at the time, but Mauer thought Williams was the right guy to deliver in that spot.

Williams pulled a changeup between Beloit first baseman BA Vollmuth and the bag for a two-run single and 4-2 lead.

Wash netters roll into substate finals

The Washington Warriors won all five of their singles matches in straight sets Saturday morning and defeated Jefferson, 5-0, in the semifinals of the Class 2A substate tennis tournament.

Washington will play in the substate finals May 24. The substate champion will advance to the state team tournament June 3 at the Veterans Memorial Tennis Center in Cedar Rapids.

Jackson Hoyt clipped Jacob Donald at No.1 singles, 6-2, 6-1.