Metro Sports Report

Warner works the crowd

Anyone that left Elmcrest Country Club without Kurt Warner's autograph Monday had only themself to blame.

Warner, the former Cedar Rapids Regis prep who skyrocketed to fame as grocery-clerk-turned-NFL-quarterback and guided the St. Louis Rams to a Super Bowl championship in 1999, was one of the celebrities playing in the Zach Johnson Foundation Classic at Elmcrest.

If you had a Sharpie and something to sign - tickets, programs, caps, photos - Warner was more than willing to accommodate the request, to the detriment of the pace of play but the delight of the crowd.

Shawn Johnson challenges kids to find own path

She has appeared in two “Dancing with the Stars” seasons, was a celebrity parade marshal at this year’s Indianapolis 500, and can practically take her pick of opportunities to capitalize on a superstar gymnastics career that culminated with gold and silver medals at the 2008 Olympics.

But Monday morning found Des Moines native Shawn Johnson in a less grandiose setting — chatting contentedly with people drinking coffee outside the clubhouse at the Elmcrest Country Club a couple of hours before the start of the Zach Johnson Foundation Classic golf tournament.

At 4-foot-9, Johnson could almost be mistaken for one of the kids hanging around waiting to see their golf heroes in action. Almost — except for that unmistakable million-dollar smile and her still-powerful gymnast’s build.

Kernels top Clinton for 4th in row

Players come, players go and the Cedar Rapids Kernels keep winning.

The Kernels scored two unearned runs in the bottom of the eighth inning Monday night and trimmed the Clinton Lumber Kings, 4-3, before 2,026 fans at Veterans Memorial Stadium.

Cedar Rapids has the best record in the Midwest League at 65-39, despite having 44 different players in uniform this season (45 if you count Minnesota Twins pitcher Mike Pelfrey, who appeared here on a rehab assignment).

Local players in pro baseball

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

SCOTT SCHEBLER (Prairie, Rancho Cucamonga (Dodgers)) - The Quakes were idle Monday. Season stats: G - 94, Avg. - .309, AB - 356, H - 110, HR - 22, RBI - 67, SB - 12.

KELLEN SWEENEY (Jefferson, Lansing (Blue Jays)) - Started at third base Monday and was 1-for-4 with an RBI in the Lugnuts' 6-5 win over Bowling Green. Season stats: G - 86, Avg. - .182, AB - 274, H - 50, HR - 5, RBI - 21, SB - 0.

ANDREW HANSE (Linn-Mar, Hudson Valley (Rays)) - Did not pitch Monday in the Renegades' 4-0 loss to Brooklyn. Season stats: W - 2. L - 2. Sv - 2. ERA - 4.71. G - 14. IP - 21. H - 21. BB - 7. SO - 14.

CHAD CHRISTENSEN (Washington, GCL Twins (Twins)) - Started at third base Monday and was 0-for-3 in the Twins' 9-4 win over the GCL Orioles. Season stats: G - 22, Avg. - .260, AB - 77, H - 20, HR - 1, RBI - 8, SB - 2.

JON KELLER (Xavier, GCL Orioles (Orioles)) - Started on the mound Monday and pitched two scoreless innings with two strikeouts in the Orioles' 9-4 loss to the GCL Twins. He hit former Nebraska teammate and fellow Cedar Rapidian Chad Christensen, the Twins' only baserunner against him. Season stats: W - 0. L - 0. Sv - 0. ERA - 0.00. G - 2. IP - 3. H - 1. BB - 0. SO - 3.