Metro Sports Report

Frisch boots Saints into state finals

DES MOINES - Isaac Frisch kept his promise Friday.

As a result, the Xavier Saints will be gunning for their third state title in four years Saturday in the Class 2A state soccer tournament at Cownie Park.

Frisch blasted in the game-winning goal with 5 minutes, 36 seconds left in the second overtime Friday as the Saints rallied to trim Pella, 2-1, in a semifinal thriller.

Frisch was exhausted, but he delivered.

"He promised a goal. And when he scored I couldn't believe it," exclaimed Xavier Coach Amir Hadzic, relieved with the victory.

Xavier (13-5) will face Storm Lake (15-1) for the title on Saturday at 2:35 p.m.

No-no doubt Wash is better ballclub

Tony Lombardi is trying to keep it simple.

His Washington Warriors baseball team has starters ranging from an eighth-grader (his son Rocky) to a possible soon-to-be professional baseball player (A.J. Puk) and several others in-between.

“I am really proud of these kids, they have come a long way,” Lombardi said after his team’s sweep of Cedar Rapids Jefferson on Friday night at Jefferson. “Our goal is to come out here and be the kind of team you have to beat. That was not our moniker a year ago.”

Lombardi has liked what he has seen so far. Friday’s 7-1 and 6-3 wins over the J-Hawks have Washington off to a 5-1 start.

Cougars blanked by IC West; eye 3rd place

DES MOINES - The Kennedy Cougars ended their quest for the Class 3A boys state soccer title with a possible concussion, a few ice bags and a heavy dose of frustration.

The Cougars gave top-ranked Iowa City West a stiff battle in the first half Friday but lost to the defending state champions, 2-0, in the semifinals at Cownie Park.

Kennedy (16-4) will face Johnston (19-2) in the consolation game for third place Saturday at 4:10 p.m.

Hammerberg's homer aids Xavier split

A solo home run by Luke Hammerberg in the bottom of the fourth inning proved to be the margin of victory for Xavier in a 3-2 win against Prairie in the first game of a Mississippi Valley doubleheader Friday night at Xavier.

Prairie claimed the nightcap, 9-1.

With the score tied at 2-2, Hammerberg drove a pitch over the left field fence. Starting pitcher Zach Brown and reliever Mitch Keller managed to make that run hold up for the victory.