Metro Sports Report

Xavier's Kayla Armstrong (14) races Kennedy's Jessica Wagner to the ball during Friday's soccer game at Xavier. Armstrong scored three goals and Xavier rallied for a 4-1 win. (Photo by Ken Gilchrist)

Armstrong helps Saints kick Cougars

Fri - 10 May Written by Tom Fruehling

With her top-ranked team trailing Kennedy 1-0 after 40 minutes at home Friday afternoon, Xavier girls soccer coach Bailey Dorrington used it as a teaching tool.

“It’s the first time we’ve been behind at halftime all year,” said the mild-mannered first-year coach. “I told the girls it was a great learning experience and to pretend that we were in the state tournament, where if we lose we’re done.”

The Saints came out on fire after the intermission.

Besides holding the powerful Cougars at bay the rest of the way, they scored four goals in a flurry to win their sixth straight game, 4-1.

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Kernels open 4-game lead with sweep

Fri - 10 May Written by Mike Condon

DAVENPORT – It was far from their best effort of the young season, but when the plays needed to be made, the Cedar Rapids Kernels came through.

Dalton Hicks atoned for what could have been a critical error in the bottom of the eighth with a run-scoring double as a part of a two-run 11th inning as the Kernels blanked Quad Cities, 2-0, in the first game of a doubleheader Friday night at Modern Woodmen Park.

The momentum carried over for the Kernels in Game 2.

They scored four runs in the top of the first and cruised to the sweep, taking the seven-inning nightcap, 5-1.

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Semler accepts offer from UNI

Fri - 10 May Written by Jim Ecker

Kasey Semler's dream has come true.

Semler has accepted an offer to join the University of Northern Iowa basketball team as a preferred walk-on for the 2013-14 campaign with a chance to earn a scholarship after that.

Semler, a 6-foot-1 guard, graduated from Marion High School in 2011 and spent the last two seasons at Kirkwood Community College.

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Local players in pro baseball

Fri - 10 May Written by Metro Sports Report

SCOTT SCHEBLER (Prairie, Rancho Cucamonga (Dodgers)) - Started in left field Friday and was 0-for-5 in the Quakes' 14-12 win at Lake Elsinore. Season stats: G - 30, Avg. - .287, AB - 108, H - 31, HR - 4, RBI - 20, SB - 4.

KELLEN SWEENEY (Jefferson, Lansing (Blue Jays)) - Started at second base Friday and was 0-for-2 with a sacrifice fly in the Lugnuts' 7-4 win at Dayton. Season stats: G - 27, Avg. - .176, AB - 85, H - 15, HR - 2, RBI - 7, SB - 0.

RYAN SWEENEY (Xavier, Chicago Cubs) - Started in center field Friday and was 2-for-3 with a double in the Cubs' 7-3 loss to the Nationals. Season stats: G - 4, Avg. - .375, AB - 8, H - 3, HR - 0, RBI - 0, SB - 0.

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Kirkwood's Leah Duffe (5) is congratulated by Coach Joe Yegge after swatting a two-run home run that gave the Eagles a 2-1 lead against Dakota County Tech in Thursday's NJCAA Division II District F tournament game at Kirkwood. The Eagles won, 8-1, then beat Dawson, 13-2, and is one win away from a national tournament berth. (Photo by Margaret O'Banion)

Yegge's barbs help Eagles keep winning

Thu - 09 May Written by Jim Ecker

Kirkwood softball coach Joe Yegge barked at his players. He snapped at them. He chewed their butts, as one of them put it.

The more he barked, the better they played.

Kirkwood won both of its games in the NJCAA district softball tournament Thursday and is now one victory away from qualifying for the Division II national meet.

The third-ranked Eagles, riding a 47-game winning streak, defeated Dakota County Tech of Minnesota, 8-1, and stomped Dawson Community College of Montana, 13-2, in five innings on a cool, damp afternoon at the Kirkwood field.

The Eagles (54-3) need one more victory Friday against Dawson (20-13) to advance to the national tournament.

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