Metro Sports Report

Nelson will tell his college pick Thursday

Matt Nelson plans to pick up his phone Thursday and call Iowa, Notre Dame or Stanford with the good news that he's accepted their offer to play football at their school.

He does not plan any press conferences at Xavier High School or any major announcements. Just a phone call to the winner will take care of it.

"Just a simple phone call," he said Tuesday evening. "I'm not into the elaborate announcements that people do. I'm not going to do anything fancy. I was offered a press conference, but I'm already going to get enough press attention."

Nelson is a 6-foot-8, 250-pound defensive end who became one of the most sought-after football players in Iowa this spring. He's an all-state player with a terrific frame, quick feet, great instincts and a love for the game. He also sports a 4.2 GPA on a 4.0 scale and wants to become a doctor.

Kuch pitches Prairie past Linn-Mar

As the saying goes, it’s always best to dance with the girl that brung ya.

After dropping three of four games in the very tough Clear Creek Amana softball tournament over the weekend, interim Prairie coach Lynette Stecklein put pitching ace Katie Kuch on the mound for both games Tuesday night at home against Linn-Mar.

The seasoned senior came through with two wins, 9-2 and 7-0.

Schulte hurls Saints to 11-1 victory

Reggie Schulte could have spent the entire summer getting ready to play football at the University of Northern Iowa, but he couldn't resist the urge to finish his career at Xavier High School with the baseball team.

It's turned out to be a good decision for everyone.

Schulte pitched four strong innings Tuesday as the Saints strolled by North Scott, 11-1, in five innings in a non-conference game at Ken Charipar Field.

Kepler's home run lifts Kernels by Bees

Both of Max Kepler's parents were professional ballet dancers who performed on international stages, but Kepler prefers a baseball and a bat to ballet slippers.

The Minnesota Twins and Cedar Rapids Kernels are glad about that.

Kepler played his first game in Cedar Rapids Tuesday and lofted a game-winning, two-run homer to help the Kernels trim the Burlington Bees, 6-4, before 3,459 fans in a steamy day game at Veterans Memorial Stadium.

Kepler ran nimbly around the bases on his home run, but he's never danced on his toes in his life. He admires his parents for what they accomplished in a difficult profession, but ballet was not for him.