Metro Sports Report

Kernels have 3 catchers on the job

Bo Altobelli, Michael Quesada and Mitch Garver have several things in common. They are similar in age and each played some college baseball before starting their professional careers with the Minnesota Twins organization.

In addition, each of the three hails from areas of the country that you would assume allows baseball to be played in more moderate weather than what welcomed them to Cedar Rapids last week. Altobelli is from Texas, Quesada went to school in California and Garver is from New Mexico.

They were asked Sunday if they had any prior experience playing ball in conditions comparable to what they faced in their first week of Midwest League play this season.

Wade's homer helps Kernels have good day

Logan Wade has liked everything about playing for the Minnesota Twins organization since he arrived from Australia two years ago, but Thursday night's Kernels' opener in the bitter cold and rain in Cedar Rapids was an exception.

The 22-year-old infielder had trouble gripping the baseball and made three throwing errors that night as he struggled to keep warm.

"The coldest I'd played in before was probably 65 degrees," Wade said Sunday. "Yeah, opening night was a bit of a chill for me.

"After that night I went out and bought some hand-warmers and extra clothing. I'm trying to make an adjustment and realize what the cold does to you when you're playing baseball."

He enjoyed Sunday's weather in Cedar Rapids a lot better, even though it was only 55 and cloudy.

Wade celebrated the extra warmth by hitting a home run in the seventh inning to snap a 2-2 tie and help the Kernels trim Clinton, 4-2, before 1,019 fans at Veterans Memorial Stadium in Cedar Rapids.

Emma Hartzler wins Metro Spotlight Award

Linn-Mar freshman Emma Hartzler is the winner of the Metro Spotlight Award for high school girls this week, the Metro Sports Report announced Sunday.

Hartzler won four gold medals at the state gymnastics meet last month in Cedar Rapids and was named the all-around champion.

Hartzler is a Level 9 gymnast and will compete at the regional meet in Fargo, N.D., on Saturday, April 15. If she is successful at the regional meet, she will qualify for the Westerns meet in Boise, Idaho, May 1-4.

Hartzler has a twin sister, Elliana, who participates in competitive cheerleading with Iowa Elite, which recently won an international championship in Orlando, Fla.

Josh Evans wins Metro Spotlight Award

Linn-Mar senior Josh Evans is the winner of the Metro Spotlight Award for high school boys this week, the Metro Sports Report announced Sunday.

Evans is the premier distance runner in Iowa with major titles at the Drake Relays, the Class 4A state track meet and the Class 4A state cross country meet in the past 12 months.

Evans has the fastest times in the state in the 1600 meter run (4:22.06) and the 3200 meter run (9:14.95). He broke a 27-year-old record at the John Ask Relays on March 29 at Kingston Stadium in Cedar Rapids when he clocked his 9:14.95 in the 3200.

Evans set a meet record at the Drake Relays last year in the 1600. He won the 3200 at the state track meet, anchored the victorious distance medley and helped Linn-Mar capture the Class 4A team championship.