Metro Sports Report

Evans gets his gold; Lions win 2 at Drake

DES MOINES - Josh Evans had trouble sleeping Thursday night after he was nipped in the 3200 run at the 104th Drake Relays and had to settle for second place.

He can sleep like a baby now with a gold medal draped around his neck.

Evans made a strong finishing kick Friday to help Linn-Mar claim the 1600 sprint medley, chasing down three runners after getting the baton for his 800-meter leg in fourth place.

Evans lost to Thomas Pollard of Gilbert by a stride in the 3200 Thursday when his final kick wasn't quite good enough. This time Evans flew down the backstretch and punched the air in celebration with a sizzling finish to the medley.

J-Hawks bring home 2 silver medals

DES MOINES - Maliya Ratliffe, Taylor Jacobson and Rachel Broghammer were just sophomores in 2011 when they helped Cedar Rapids Jefferson win the 4x200 relay at the Class 4A state track meet.

The J-Hawks served notice Friday that they might be ready for an encore this year as seniors.

Ratliffe, Jacobson and Broghammer helped Jefferson finish a tight second in the 4x200 relay at the 104th Drake Relays Friday behind Des Moines Roosevelt, which is loaded with top sprinters.

Kasha contributes for No.6 Warriors

Despite its No.6 ranking, the Washington boys soccer team has not been functioning as a smooth machine yet this season.

“We’ve been losing, winning, you know,” Kimu Kasha said before the Warriors’ April 18 match against Dubuque Senior. “It’s been tough, we keep on coming back.”

Kasha scored two goals despite wet, windswept conditions to lead Washington to a 3-0 win. In an early season in which it’s been difficult to assess the team’s overall potential, Kasha continues to be a reliable contributor for the 6-2 Warriors.

Walker drives in 7; Kernels roll to 13-8 win

Adam Brett Walker belted two home runs and drove in seven runs to power the Cedar Rapids Kernels to a 13-8 win over the Great Lakes Loons Friday night at Veterans Memorial Stadium.

The Kernels have scored 29 runs in the first two games of the series against Great Lakes. They scored 16 in a win Thursday.

The Kernels scored three in the first inning Friday on Walker's three-run home run and they never looked back.  Walker led the way with three hits that included a grand slam in the fourth inning.

“It was a pretty good day. I think that’s the most RBIs I have had in a game,” said Walker, who also homered Thursday. His five homers lead the Kernels.  “I have been concentrating on slowing the game down and not trying to do too much. Individually, it’s my job to try and drive the ball from gap to gap and that is what I focus on.”