Metro Sports Report

Local players in pro baseball

RYAN SWEENEY (Xavier, Chicago Cubs) - Placed on disabled list June 30 with fractured rib. Expected to return Sept. 1. Season stats: G - 44, Avg. - .295, AB - 112, H - 33, HR - 4, RBI - 15, SB - 1.

SCOTT SCHEBLER (Prairie, Rancho Cucamonga (Dodgers)) - Started in right field Saturday and was 1-for-4 with a three-run home run in the Quakes' 11-5 loss at Visalia. Season stats: G - 99, Avg. - .308, AB - 377, H - 116, HR - 24, RBI - 74, SB - 12.

KELLEN SWEENEY (Jefferson, Lansing (Blue Jays)) - Did not play in the Lugnuts' 5-3 win at Fort Wayne. Season stats: G - 89, Avg. - .182, AB - 285, H - 52, HR - 5, RBI - 22, SB - 0.

ANDREW HANSE (Linn-Mar, Bowling Green (Rays)) - Did not pitch Saturday in the Hot Rods' 6-4 loss to South Bend. Season stats: W - 1. L - 0. Sv - 0. ERA - 0.00. G - 1. IP - 1.1. H - 1. BB - 0. SO - 1.

CHAD CHRISTENSEN (Washington, GCL Twins (Twins)) - Started at third base Saturday and was 1-for-4 with two RBIs and a stolen base in the Twins' 10-8 win over the GCL Red Sox. Season stats: G - 28, Avg. - .250, AB - 96, H - 24, HR - 1, RBI - 13, SB - 3.

JON KELLER (Xavier, GCL Orioles (Orioles)) - Did not pitch Saturday in the Orioles' 4-0 loss to the GCL Rays. Season stats: W - 0. L - 0. Sv - 0. ERA - 0.00. G - 2. IP - 3. H - 1. BB - 0. SO - 3.

Sweeney eyes Sept. 1 return to Cubs

No, Ryan Sweeney’s nickname is not “DL.’’ Sometimes it just seems so.

Yet another major-league season was interrupted by injury June 29 when Sweeney crashed into the centerfield wall at Safeco Field in Seattle, chasing down a Kendrys Morales fly ball. He was diagnosed with a fractured left rib and eventually placed on the 60-day disabled list.

It was the latest in a frustrating string of injuries Sweeney has suffered in his 8-year big league career. He had a torn pinkie tendon, bruised right hand, injured thumb and right knee surgery while in Oakland. In Boston, he suffered a concussion and broken hand.

Sweeney has played in 82 games or fewer three of the past four seasons. Now this.

Gross wins initial Wall/Found award

Cole Gross of Linn-Mar High School has been named the winner of the first "Just Drew It/Live Like Line" award.

The award honors the memory of Drew Wall, the former Kennedy student-athlete who died from cancer last November, and Caroline Found, the former Iowa City West student-athlete who was killed in a moped accident in August of 2011.

The award honors their spirit, enthusiasm, dedication and sportsmanship. It will be presented to area athletes who "pursue victory with honor," according to Iowa City West counselor Paul Breitbach.

6-run frame dooms Kernels

BURLINGTON - Cedar Rapids Kernels hitting coach Tommy Watkins summarized the team's feelings in five words after the Kernels lost their third game in four days to the Burlington Bees Friday night.

“Can’t wait to get home,” said Watkins.

The Kernels came out on the short end of a 6-2 score in front of 1,054 fans at Community Field. A fair number of those fans had headed home by the time the two teams sat through a one hour, six minute rain delay during the middle of the fourth inning.