Metro Sports Report

Kernels close door after 15-1 drubbing

Kane County closed the door early on a sliding Cedar Rapids Kernels team Saturday night. And following the 15-1 defeat, Kernels Manager Jake Mauer had the clubhouse door closed for a meeting.

Cedar Rapids was never in the opener of the three-game series before a fireworks night crowd of 5,251 fans at Veterans Memorial Stadium.

The loss, the third straight for Cedar Rapids (37-23) combined with Beloit's win over Burlington, cut the Kernels' lead to 1 1/2 games in the Midwest League's Western Division. The magic number for a playoff spot did fall to six as Quad Cities lost at Peoria.

Local players in pro baseball

SCOTT SCHEBLER (Prairie, Rancho Cucamonga (Dodgers)) - Did not play Saturday in the Quakes' 5-2 win at Visalia. Season stats: G - 51, Avg. - .254, AB - 185, H - 47, HR - 6, RBI - 24, SB - 6.

KELLEN SWEENEY (Jefferson, Lansing (Blue Jays)) - Started in both games Saturday and was 0-for-6 as the Lugnuts swept a doubleheader from West Michigan, 3-0 and 2-0. Season stats: G - 48, Avg. - .199, AB - 161, H - 32, HR - 3, RBI - 14, SB - 0.

RYAN SWEENEY (Xavier, Chicago Cubs) - Pinch hit and struck out Saturday in the Cubs' 6-2 loss to the Pirates. Season stats: G - 24, Avg. - .340, AB - 47, H - 16, HR - 1, RBI - 5, SB - 0.

Armstrong's hat trick puts Saints in final

DES MOINES - The Xavier Saints needed something spectacular from Kayla Armstrong Friday after they got off to another relatively slow start at the state soccer tournament.

The Super Saint delivered in style.

Armstrong poured in three goals as the top-ranked Saints dumped No.4 Pella, 4-0, in the semifinals of the Class 2A state tournament at the Cownie Sports Park.

Xavier (18-1) will be chasing an unprecedented eighth consecutive title when it faces No.3 Sioux City East (18-2) in the championship game Saturday at 1:30 p.m. on Field 9.

Linn-Mar, Prairie split MVC twinbill

The Prairie Hawks and Linn-Mar Lions both hope to have strong baseball teams this season, but right now both of them are simply trying to get a little momentum going and get rolling.

They faced each other Friday night and split their Mississippi Valley Conference twinbill at Prairie.

Linn-Mar won the first game, 7-2. Prairie grabbed the nightcap, 8-2.