Metro Sports Report

Goodrum on the right side in Kernels win

Mon - 20 May Written by Mike Koolbeck

Niko Goodrum is one of five switch hitters on the Cedar Rapids Kernels' roster.

The stats say he is most comfortable swinging from the left side. He entered Monday afternoon's game with a .276 batting average and 15 RBI swinging lefty.

From the right side? A paltry .240 with two RBI.

But Goodrum stepped into the right-handed batter's box against Kane County southpaw Nathan Dorris with the bases loaded in the bottom of the sixth inning and the Kernels trailing by two runs. He lined an opposite-field, bases-clearing triple into the right-field corner that put the Kernels ahead. They went on to beat the Cougars, 8-7, before a crowd of 3,017 at Veterans Memorial Stadium.

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Saints edged by Wahlert in girls state tennis

Mon - 20 May Written by Metro Sports Report

WATERLOO - The Xavier girls tennis season came to a close in Monday's first round of the Class 1A state tournament.

The Saints were beaten by Dubuque Wahlert, 5-3, at Byrnes Park.

Wahlert advanced to the 1A state team tournament June 1 at Ankeny.

Xavier's Devin Hayes and Emma Deignan won singles matches, then team together to win in doubles.

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Local players in pro baseball

Mon - 20 May Written by Metro Sports Report

SCOTT SCHEBLER (Prairie, Rancho Cucamonga (Dodgers)) - Started in left field Monday and was 2-for-5 with a double and an RBI in the Quakes' 10-6 win at Lancaster. Season stats: G - 37, Avg. - .276, AB - 134, H - 37, HR - 4, RBI - 21, SB - 5.

KELLEN SWEENEY (Jefferson, Lansing (Blue Jays)) - Started at second base Monday and was 1-for-4 in the Lugnuts' 4-3 win over Great Lakes. Season stats: G - 35, Avg. - .202, AB - 114, H - 23, HR - 3, RBI - 11, SB - 0.

RYAN SWEENEY (Xavier, Chicago Cubs) - The Cubs did not play Monday. Season stats: G - 9, Avg. - .333, AB - 18, H - 6, HR - 1, RBI - 1, SB - 0.

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The Kernels slap high-fives at home plate after Dalton Hicks' sacrifice fly in the bottom of the ninth gave them an 8-7 win over Kane County Sunday at Veterans Memorial Stadium. (Photo by Margaret O'Banion)

Kernels enjoy 40.5% boost in fans

Sun - 19 May Written by Jim Ecker

There's a new love affair blooming on the southwest side of town between the Cedar Rapids Kernels and their growing legions of adoring fans.

The total attendance this season is running 40.5 percent ahead of last year, thanks to the Kernels' new affiliation with the Minnesota Twins, an exciting club and a string of dramatic victories.

Cedar Rapids raised its league-leading record to 29-13 Sunday with an 8-7 victory in the bottom of the ninth over the Kane County Cougars before 2,379 fans who stayed to the very end and cheered every pitch until Dalton Hicks lofted his sacrifice fly to left field to win the game.

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Metro tourney starts baseball season

Sun - 19 May Written by Jim Ecker

A new head coach and a brand-new field will be featured in the 2013 Bob Vrbicek Metro Baseball Tournament that starts Monday.

Kyle Rodenkirk has returned to his alma mater as Jefferson's new head coach, and he'll have the distinction of participating in the first game at the new $3.2 million Linn-Mar baseball/softball complex when the J-Hawks face Xavier at 5 p.m.

Linn-Mar will meet Prairie in the second game at the new Linn-Mar complex at 7 p.m. in an early battle of projected Metro powers.

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