Metro Sports Report

Saints claim MVC division title

The Xavier Saints cinched back-to-back Mississippi Valley Conference division softball championships under second-year coach Nikki Price Monday night, but it didn’t come easy against the upstart Washington Warriors.

“They definitely put us in some pressure situations,” said Price. “They’re going to be a headache for other teams in the years to come.”

For this night, however, experience trumped youth as the Saints swept the doubleheader at home, 5-3 and 9-4.

And on Senior Night it was fitting that the three Xavier players being honored had a hand in every one of their team’s rallies.

“We count on them,” Price pointed out. “They were a big part of our first-ever championship last year. And, obviously, they’re a big part this year again.”

Ryan, Sommer key as Lions sweep

CEDAR FALLS - Maddy Ryan got her 20th win of the year and went 5 for 8 in the doubleheader as Linn-Mar swept Cedar Falls, 5-0 and 14-6, Tuesday night.

Ryan blanked the Tigers in the opener and went 2 for 4 with a triple. Katie Sommer and Ally Johnson were 2 for 3. Elison Ollinger added a two-run double.

Ryan and Sommer kept the hot bats going in the nightcap. Ryan was 3 for 4 with a double and a three-run home run. Sommer went 4 for 4.

Ollinger was 3 for 5 with a double and three runs batted in. Katie Andersen got the win in Game 2.

Gabi Carter wins Metro Spotlight Award

Cedar Rapids Prairie junior Gabi Carter is the winner of the Metro Spotlight Award for high school girls this week, the Metro Sports Report announced Sunday.

Carter is hitting .461 for the Hawks with eight home runs and 46 RBIs. She ranks fourth in Class 5A in RBIs and is tied for sixth in homers.

Carter leads Prairie in hits, doubles, homers, RBIs and batting average. Remarkably, she has struck out only once in 128 plate appearances.

Prairie is ranked 10th in the state and has a 24-10 record heading into the final week of the regular season and the playoffs.

Carter has a .508 on-base percentage and a .791 slugging percentage.

David Kuhn wins Metro Spotlight Award

Marion junior David Kuhn is the winner of the Metro Spotlight Award for high school boys this week, the Metro Sports Report announced Sunday.

Kuhn pitched two no-hitters for the Indians in Wamac Conference games in June.

He tossed his first no-hitter in an 11-0 victory against Vinton-Shellsburg June 2. He struck out 12 batters and walked only two.

Kuhn twirled his second no-hitter three weeks later in an 8-0 triumph over Independence June 23. He whiffed nine batters in that contest with only one walk.

Kuhn has a 5-1 record and 1.66 ERA for Marion this season. He has struck out 51 batters in 38 innings, with 13 walks. Opponents are hitting only .143 against him.

Kuhn, also an outfielder, is hitting .278 with 11 RBIs.

Marion is 14-12 overall and 11-9 in Wamac games.