Metro Sports Report

Niemeyer fondly recalls 1983 state title

Metro high school softball, and girls' sports in general, were in their infancy 30 years ago. Many teams did not even have their own fields, let alone lights. The feeder programs so prevalent today were non-existent. Girls’ sports simply were not a priority.

Larry Niemeyer went to Cedar Rapids Jefferson in 1978 and soon took over the softball program. He had been a successful coach at Adel, winning a state championship in the fall of 1970 among nine state appearances.

"There was hardly any (softball) culture at all back then," Niemeyer said. "At that time, there was a rule girls couldn’t play until the summer of their sophomore year. Now they can play five years."

This summer marks the 30th anniversary of Jefferson’s – and the Metro’s – first state softball title. It was achieved in a one-class tournament (there are five classes now). The J-Hawks defeated Turkey Valley, 5-4, in the 1983 championship game.

Polanco's hit lifts Kernels in 12th

EASTLAKE, Ohio – Jorge Polanco delivered an RBI singe in the top of the 12th inning that scored Jeremias Pineda and gave the Cedar Rapids Kernels a 7-6 win over the Lake County Captains on Wednesday night in Midwest League baseball.

The Kernels took a 4-0 lead in the second inning on an RBI double by Michael Quesada and three-run homer by Pineda. They extended the lead to 5-1 in the fourth inning, but Lake County scored four runs in the bottom of the fourth inning to tie the game at 5-5.

Niko Goodrum gave the Kernels a 6-5 lead with an RBI single in the sixth.

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 Wednesday and was 1-for-6 with a double, RBI and stolen base in the Quakes' 11-8, 14-inning win at Stockton. Season stats: G - 83, Avg. - .312, AB - 314, H - 98, HR - 18, RBI - 59, SB - 10.

KELLEN SWEENEY (Jefferson, Lansing (Blue Jays)) - Started at third base Wednesday and was 0-for-3 in the Lugnuts' 1-0 loss at Clinton. Season stats: G - 76, Avg. - .183, AB - 246, H - 45, HR - 4, RBI - 18, SB - 0.

ANDREW HANSE (Linn-Mar, Hudson Valley (Rays)) - Did not pitch Wednesday in the Renegades' 7-3 win at Williamsport. Season stats: W - 1. L - 1. Sv - 2. ERA - 5.14. G - 9. IP - 14. H - 12. BB - 6. SO - 10.

CHAD CHRISTENSEN (Washington, GCL Twins (Twins)) - Started in left field Wednesday and was 1-for-4 with a triple in the Twins' 4-3 loss to the GCL Rays. Season stats: G - 15, Avg. - .294, AB - 51, H - 15, HR - 1, RBI - 7, SB - 0.

JON KELLER (Xavier, GCL Orioles (Orioles)) - The Orioles were rained out Wednesday. Season stats: W - 0. L - 0. Sv - 0. ERA - --. G - 0. IP - 0. H - 0. BB - 0. SO - 0.

Jeff mauls No.1 Muskies for state berth

MUSCATINE - The curse is broken.

After falling the past three years in the regional finals, the Jefferson girls made it back to the state softball tournament in style Tuesday night.

They did it by crushing the top-ranked Class 5A team in the state on Muscatine’s home field, no less, with a thoroughly dominating 7-0 shutout of the Muskies.

The 10th-ranked J-Hawks (31-11) will face No.3 Ottumwa (36-6) in the quarterfinals of the state tournament in Fort Dodge on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m.