Metro Sports Report

Local players in pro baseball

RYAN SWEENEY (Xavier, Chicago Cubs) - Pinch hit and grounded out in Saturday's 6-2 loss to the Cardinals. Season stats: G - 69, Avg. - .271, AB - 188, H - 51, HR - 6, RBI - 19, SB - 1.

No.1 Saints blank Cougars again, 24-0

Maybe they should change the name of that stretch of 42nd Street that runs between Xavier and Kennedy on the northeast side of town, because it tilts heavily to Xavier's end of the block these days.

During the high school football season, they could call it "The Avenue of the Saints" because all of signs point in Xavier's direction.

The stingy top-ranked Saints blanked Kennedy for the third straight year Friday night, 24-0, for their sixth straight regular-season victory over the Cougars since 2008.

Xavier (5-0) held Kennedy (3-2) to just 76 yards of total offense. The Cougars punted the ball 10 times out of 11 possessions, collected only four first downs and crossed midfield only once.

Prairie pops Wahlert, 27-0

Break out the sweet soda.

Cedar Rapids Prairie used its version of the "Orange Crush" defense Friday in shutting down Dubuque Wahlert, 27-0, at John Wall Field.

Prairie (2-3, 1-1) held the Golden Eagles to just nine first downs and 89 rushing yards while piling up 25 first downs and 307 yards on the ground themselves.

"I learned from my dad," Prairie Coach Mike Morrissey said. "Adjust to what our kids do best. This year we had an experienced line coming back. Control the ball more. I think we've done that."

Tigers crush Lions on the ground, 56-28

CEDAR FALLS – Linn-Mar has run into its share of good football teams over the first five weeks.

The Lions have shown flashes of brilliance on offense, but have struggled on the defensive side.

That was the case again Friday night against Cedar Falls.

Linn-Mar gave up 589 yards to the Tigers, 449 of which came on the ground as Cedar Falls rebounded from an upset loss last week to Waterloo West with a 56-28 victory.