Metro Sports Report

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)) - Started in right field Friday and was 2-for-4 with two home runs and three RBIs in the Quakes' 5-2 win at Stockton. Season stats: G - 85, Avg. - .314, AB - 322, H - 101, HR - 20, RBI - 62, SB - 11.

KELLEN SWEENEY (Jefferson, Lansing (Blue Jays)) - Started at third base Friday and was 0-for-2 in the Lugnuts' 2-1 win over Clinton. Season stats: G - 78, Avg. - .183, AB - 252, H - 46, HR - 4, RBI - 19, SB - 0.

ANDREW HANSE (Linn-Mar, Hudson Valley (Rays)) - Pitched three innings Friday and took the loss, allowing seven hits and two runs in the Renegades' 4-2 loss at Williamsport. Season stats: W - 1. L - 2. Sv - 2. ERA - 5.29. G - 12. IP - 17. H - 19. BB - 7. SO - 11.

CHAD CHRISTENSEN (Washington, GCL Twins (Twins)) - Did not play Friday in the Twins' 4-2 loss to the GCL Red Sox. Season stats: G - 15, Avg. - .294, AB - 51, H - 15, HR - 1, RBI - 7, SB - 0.

JON KELLER (Xavier, GCL Orioles (Orioles)) - Did not pitch Friday in the Orioles' 3-2 win over the GCL Rays. Season stats: W - 0. L - 0. Sv - 0. ERA - --. G - 0. IP - 0. H - 0. BB - 0. SO - 0.

Metro prep baseball: Who's the best?

Question: Who has the best high school baseball team in the Metro area this year?

Answer: It depends on the day.

It's been a topsy-turvy season in the Metro, with several different teams staking their claim to "No.1 in the Metro" during the course of the year.

Murphy powers Kernels into 1st place

EASTLAKE, Ohio - Jonathan Murphy homered and drove in three runs to power the Cedar Rapids Kernels past the Lake County Captains, 9-7, Thursday night in Midwest League baseball.

The Kernels (18-8) reclaimed first place in the Western Division by themselves when Beloit was beaten by Dayton, 7-6.

Murphy had three hits to lead the Kernels' 12-hit attack. He also had a double. Jorge Polanco had two hits and drove in two runs.

Grimes catches on with Kernels

A number of this year's Cedar Rapids Kernels have had to make an adjustment to wearing a Kernels uniform this summer after playing last season for the Beloit Snappers, who were the Minnesota Twins' Midwest League affiliate during the eight prior years. It no doubt felt a little odd to some of them.

But to Tyler Grimes, who was the Snappers' primary shortstop much of last season, the change in geographic location was far from the most drastic of the adjustments he's had to make.

A couple of weeks before the Snappers' season ended, Grimes was informed by the Twins' minor league field coordinator, Joel Lepel, that the organization intended to convert him to catcher during the fall instructional league. Grimes said he hadn't caught since Little League.