Metro Sports Report

Ramlo's goal lifts Saints to state title

DES MOINES - Connor Ramlo picked the perfect time to score his first state tournament goal.

The Cedar Rapids Xavier sophomore tapped the ball past the Storm Lake goalie in the 77th minute of the Class 2A championship match Saturday at Cownie Soccer Park. The goal broke a 1-1 tie and pushed the Saints past the Tornadoes for the Class 2A title, their third in four seasons.

“We had a good shot at scoring and I knew we needed one then just to get the win,” Ramlo said. “I was just there to put a touch on it and it snuck past the keeper.”

Following a scoreless first half, Xavier (14-5) took a 1-0 lead in the 58th minute when senior Eli Smith scored. With time running out, Storm Lake (15-2) used a goal by Peter Mulgae in the 71st minute as an equalizer when he pushed the ball past keeper Paul Cavin following an initial kick off the goalpost.

Cougars suffer 2OT loss in 3rd-place tilt

DES MOINES - Elvir Ibisevic scored the winning goal in the first minute of second overtime to give Johnston his team the comeback, 2-1, victory over Cedar Rapids Kennedy in the Class 3A third place at Cownie Soccer Park.

Kennedy (16-5) took a 1-0 lead late in the first half on Sameeullah Jung's goal.

Johnston's Parker Gesiriech started a rally with a goal in the 64th minute.

Hicks belts 2 homers, Kernels roll 15-2

GENEVA, Ill. - The Cedar Rapids Kernels stormed past the Kane County Cougars, 15-2, before 6,726 fans in a Midwest League game at Fifth Third Bank Ballpark Saturday night.

The Kernels (35-19) won their fifth straight game. They collected 15 hits and were led by Dalton Hicks, who hit two home runs and drove in four runs.

The start of the game was delayed one hour and 18 minutes due to rain.

Tyler Grimes had three hits and scored four runs. Jeremias Pineda added a three-run homer. Niko Goodrum drove in three runs while J.D. Williams and Jorge Polanco had two RBIs.

Local players in pro baseball

SCOTT SCHEBLER (Prairie, Rancho Cucamonga (Dodgers)) - Started in right field Saturday and was 1-for-4 and scored two runs in the Quakes' 9-8 loss at Bakersfield. Season stats: G - 46, Avg. - .266, AB - 169, H - 45, HR - 6, RBI - 23, SB - 6.

KELLEN SWEENEY (Jefferson, Lansing (Blue Jays)) - Started at first base Saturday and was 0-for-5 in the Lugnuts' 7-6 win at Great Lakes. Season stats: G - 43, Avg. - .194, AB - 144, H - 28, HR - 3, RBI - 11, SB - 0.

RYAN SWEENEY (Xavier, Chicago Cubs) - Did not play Saturday in the Cubs' 12-4 loss to the Diamondbacks. Season stats: G - 19, Avg. - .313, AB - 32, H - 10, HR - 1, RBI - 3, SB - 0.