Metro Sports Report

Ground crew gets save in Kernels wins

Not rain, wind nor LumberKing could stop the Cedar Rapids Kernels Thursday night.

The Kernels outlasted a near-three hour rain delay midway through the first game of their doubleheader with Clinton and ultimately claimed a much-needed sweep with wins of 5-3 and 3-2.

A crowd of 1,651 patiently braved the elements at Veterans Memorial Stadium. They weren’t all there at the beginning, however.

With storms in the forecast, the teams began the opener of their twinbill a half hour early in an attempt to get at least one game in before rain hit the area. It was a good idea, but starting 45 minutes early may have been even better.

Wash's King eliminated in state singles

Singles play at the girls 2A state tennis tournament ran pretty much true to form Thursday in the opening rounds at the Cedar Rapids Veterans Memorial Tennis Center.

Top-seeded freshman Jaci Cochrane of Fort Dodge cruised to two victories by 6-0, 6-0 scores, while second-seeded sophomore Eve Small of Iowa City High won 6-0, 6-0 and then 6-2, 6-3.

Both girls are undefeated this year.

Local players in pro baseball

SCOTT SCHEBLER (Prairie, Rancho Cucamonga (Dodgers)) - Started in left field Thursday and was 2-for-4, scored three runs and stole base in the Quakes' 5-2 win at Bakersfield. Season stats: G - 44, Avg. - .261, AB - 161, H - 42, HR - 5, RBI - 22, SB - 6.

KELLEN SWEENEY (Jefferson, Lansing (Blue Jays)) - Started at second base Thursday and was 0-for-4 in the Lugnuts' 7-4 loss at Fort Wayne. Season stats: G - 42, Avg. - .201, AB - 139, H - 28, HR - 3, RBI - 11, SB - 0.

RYAN SWEENEY (Xavier, Chicago Cubs) - Pinch hit and drew a walk, then played left field Thursday in the Cubs' 8-3 win over the White Sox. Season stats: G - 19, Avg. - .313, AB - 32, H - 10, HR - 1, RBI - 3, SB - 0.

Kennedy girls knock off Warriors

Last season, the Kennedy girls went into the state soccer tournament ranked seventh and ended up taking the title by beating the top three teams in three days.

They’re hoping the underdog role pays off this year as well.

“We’re excited to prove everyone wrong again,” said Cougar captain Tory Harman after leading her squad into next week’s regional finals with a 4-1 win over Washington Wednesday night at Kingston Stadium.

“We’ve had kind of a bumpy season, and a lot of people have written us off. So we’re out to prove something.”

Kennedy started the year ranked No.2 but lost right off the bat to Ankeny in a rematch of the 2012 championship final. It’s been an up and down season since then.