Metro Sports Report

Metro teams loaded for state track meet

Sun - 12 May Written by Jim Ecker

First Drake, now state.

That could be the motto for Metro athletes this week as they eagerly prepare for the state track meet in Des Moines.

Metro athletes won six gold medals at the Drake Relays, where they competed against the top performers from all around the state regardless of school population.

Now the talent will be spread into four classes - 4A, 3A, 2A and 1A - and the Metro figures to claim its share of gold again.

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Kernels win wild slugfest, 23-16

Sun - 12 May Written by Morgan Hawk

BELOIT, Wis. - The Cedar Rapids Kernels and Beloit Snappers rounded the bases all day Sunday, and when the power surge ended the Kernels had a wild 23-16 victory before 784 fans at Pohlman Field.

The Kernels and Snappers combined for 39 runs on 37 hits as every position player scored and collected a hit for both teams.

Cedar Rapids built an imposing 22-3 lead in the sixth inning before Beloit snapped away at their heels and made it more interesting.

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Local players in pro baseball

Sun - 12 May Written by Metro Sports Report

SCOTT SCHEBLER (Prairie, Rancho Cucamonga (Dodgers)) - Started in right field Sunday and was 1-for-5 in the Quakes' 8-0 win at Lake Elsinore. Season stats: G - 31, Avg. - .283, AB - 113, H - 32, HR - 4, RBI - 20, SB - 4.

KELLEN SWEENEY (Jefferson, Lansing (Blue Jays)) - Started at first base Sunday and was 1-for-4 in the Lugnuts' 10-0 loss to Great Lakes. Season stats: G - 29, Avg. - .185, AB - 92, H - 17, HR - 2, RBI - 8, SB - 0.

RYAN SWEENEY (Xavier, Chicago Cubs) - Started in center field and moved to right field Sunday, and was was 0-for-4 in the Cubs' 2-1 win over the Nationals. Season stats: G - 6, Avg. - .231, AB - 13, H - 3, HR - 0, RBI - 0, SB - 0.

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Washington's Mitch Blades battles the wind to execute a serve during Saturday's preliminary team substate tournament match against Jefferson at Veterans Memorial Tennis Center. Blades beat Jacob Donald 6-3, 6-3 at No.1 singles to key the Warriors' 5-0 win. (Photo by Margaret O'Banion)

Warriors top J-Hawks in fierce winds

Sat - 11 May Written by Tom Fruehling

Trying to play tennis Saturday morning at the Veterans Memorial Tennis Center was like hitting a ping-pong ball in a wind tunnel.

Under gale-force conditions, the Washington boys breezed by Jefferson 5-0 in a preliminary substate team match and moved on to play again next Saturday.

The Warriors will play Linn-Mar in a substate semifinal next Saturday at Kennedy. The winner of that match will face the winner between Cedar Falls and Clinton on Saturday afternoon at Kennedy for the right to advance to the state team tournament.

Gusty winds on the hill-top courts Saturday blew the ball about like a badminton birdie. Serves sailed into the backcourt, high lobs flew away and drop shots bounced every which direction.

“It was the windiest day I’ve ever played in by far,” said Washington senior Mitch Blades after his 6-3, 6-3 victory at No.1 singles over Jefferson junior Jacob Donald.

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Snappers stun Kernels in 9th

Sat - 11 May Written by Morgan Hawk

BELOIT, Wis. - Chad Lewis laced a two-run double to deep left field in the bottom of the ninth inning Saturday night to give Beloit a 3-2 victory over Cedar Rapids in a Midwest League game before 585 fans in Beloit.

The Kernels carried a 2-1 lead into the inning, but reliever Manuel Soliman walked Rashun Dixon and John Wooten hit a double before Lewis delivered the game-winner with one out.

Soliman (1-1) pitched 1.1 innings, allowing two runs on two hits while striking out two and walking two.

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