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 Monday and was 2-for-4 with a triple and an RBI in the Quakes' 4-3 loss to Inland Empire. Extended his hitting streak to 17 games. He is 28-for-69 (.406) over that span. Season stats: G - 68, Avg. - .295, AB - 254, H - 75, HR - 12, RBI - 41, SB - 7.

KELLEN SWEENEY (Jefferson, Lansing (Blue Jays)) - Started at third base Monday and was 1-for-5 with a triple in the Lugnuts' 5-4, 10-inning loss to Great Lakes. Season stats: G - 65, Avg. - .190, AB - 210, H - 40, HR - 3, RBI - 15, SB - 0.

ANDREW HANSE (Linn-Mar, Hudson Valley (Rays)) - Did not pitch Monday in the Renegades' 1-0, 13-inning loss to Aberdeen. Season stats: W - 1. L - 1. Sv - 1. ERA - 6.00. G - 5. IP - 9. H - 8. BB - 3. SO - 6.

CHAD CHRISTENSEN (Washington, GCL Twins (Twins)) - The Twins were rained out Monday. Season stats: G - 5, Avg. - .286, AB - 21, H - 6, HR - 0, RBI - 4, SB - 0.

Williams' career ran the gamut at Wash

At the age of 62, Rick Williams is suddenly sensing the swiftness of life, when the years pass like weeks.

It doesn’t seem so long ago that he was a skinny kid in high-top Chuck Taylor All-Stars, an all-state guard on the only Washington High School boys basketball team to win a state championship.

But that was 44 years ago.

And this past Friday, Williams was walking the hallways of Washington for the final time as an associate principal, his last day before retiring after 37 years as a coach and educator.

Kepler earns German feast with big hit

Max Kepler can taste the sauerbraten with gravy and mushrooms now. "And sauerkraut on the side," he said, planning his order, "and of course potatoes."

Kepler, the German-born outfielder who plays for the Cedar Rapids Kernels, earned a free meal for himself and all the Kernels at the Ox Yoke restaurant in the Amanas by delivering the game-winning hit in the bottom of the ninth inning Sunday for a 6-5 victory over Peoria at Veterans Memorial Stadium.

The victory was the Kernels' 10th straight, which according to tradition earns the entire club a free meal at the Ox Yoke, courtesy of team management.

"Free meal? That's awesome," said Kepler, who grew up in Berlin. "So schnitzel and bratwurst? Sauerbraten? I'm really excited. I haven't had German food in awhile, so I'm really excited for that."

Grimes excited about Pelfrey joining Kernels

Tyler Grimes plans to be the first member of the Cedar Rapids Kernels to greet Mike Pelfrey when the Minnesota Twins pitcher arrives at Veterans Memorial Stadium Monday afternoon.

Grimes and Pelfrey both grew up in Wichita, Kan., and both played baseball at Wichita State, although not at the same time. They are friends and golfing buddies, so Grimes is excited to see his buddy pitch for the Kernels on an injury rehab assignment Monday night against Peoria.

"I talked to him last night," Grimes said Sunday after the Kernels beat Peoria, 6-5. "He asked me if I was going to catch him. I told him I don't know. We don't know until Jake puts in the lineup. We'll see what happens."