Metro Sports Report

Kennedy keeper Nathan Althoff (back to camera) is rushed by his teammates after stopping a penalty kick in a shootout to seal the Cougars' 1-0 win over Linn-Mar Saturday at Kingston Stadium. (Photo by Ken Gilchrist)

Althoff saves Cougars again

Sat - 20 Apr Written by Tom Fruehling

A dead cinch to be ranked the state’s best in the next poll on Tuesday, the Kennedy boys soccer team dodged a scare Saturday afternoon against 12th-ranked Linn-Mar.

On a rare sunny day at Kingston Stadium, the two traditional rivals played cat-and-mouse for 80 minutes of regulation and two overtimes before the Cougars finally broke the scoreless tie with an 8-7 shootout victory.

“We were very lucky we didn’t lose in the second overtime,” said Kennedy co-coach Steve Robertson. “One inch to the left and the ball would have gone in."

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Kirkwood's Kristen Winter (far left) is greeted by her teammates after cracking a home run Saturday in the Eagles' doubleheader sweep of Iowa Lakes at Kirkwood. Winter was 5-for-7 in the doubleheader with six RBIs. The Eagles won 21-5 and 13-2. (Photo by Margaret O'Banion)

Winter helps No.6 Eagles push streak to 27

Sat - 20 Apr Written by Jim Ecker

Kristen Winter has been an outstanding softball player and a top-notch leader for a long time at Xavier High School and Kirkwood Community College.

Now she's even better, thanks partly to her work as an assistant coach at Xavier last summer.

"You just know the game better," she said Saturday after helping No.6 Kirkwood crush Iowa Lakes in a doubleheader. "You know what to look for in an at-bat, you know what pitches they're going to throw you more. Knowing how to run the bases was a big one for me.

"It gives you a little more confidence, to be honest," she said. "I've been playing the game forever and I love it, but you feel more in control of the game."

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Kernels pound Peoria, 11-2

Sat - 20 Apr Written by Morgan Hawk

PEORIA, Ill. – The Cedar Rapids Kernels set season highs for runs and hits in an 11-2 pounding of the Peoria Chiefs on Saturday afternoon at Peria Chiefs Stadium.

The Kernels collected 17 hits with Drew Leachman collecting four safeties. Romy Jimenez drove in four runs and had the Kernels' only extra-base hit. They scored six runs in the first inning and five more in the fourth to cruise to the victory and avoid a sweep of the three-game series by the Chiefs.

The Kernels sent 12 hitters to the plate and scored six runs in the first inning. All five hits in the inning were singles and all resulted in RBIs. Jorge Polanco, Travis Harrison, Leachman, Jhonatan Arias and Niko Goodrum collected the hits. Jimenez added an RBI sacrifice fly.

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Local players in pro baseball

Sat - 20 Apr Written by Metro Sports Report

SCOTT SCHEBLER (Prairie, Rancho Cucamonga (Dodgers)) - Started in left field Saturday and was 3-for-4 with a double, triple and two RBIs in the Quakes' 5-3 win over High Desert. Has hit safely in eight of his last nine games (15-for-33, .455) with four triples, two doubles and seven RBIs. Season stats: G - 14, Avg. - .340, AB - 50, H - 17, HR - 2, RBI - 10, SB - 1.

KELLEN SWEENEY (Jefferson, Lansing (Blue Jays)) - Did not play Saturday in the Lugnuts' 17-8 loss at Fort Wayne. Season stats: G - 9, Avg. - .233, AB - 30, H - 7, HR - 0, RBI - 2, SB - 0.

RYAN SWEENEY (Xavier, Iowa (Cubs)) - Did not play Saturday in the I-Cubs' 8-5 loss at Memphis. Season stats: G - 10, Avg. - .382, AB - 34, H - 13, HR - 3, RBI - 8, SB - 0.

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Kirkwood golfers aiming high (and dry)

Fri - 19 Apr Written by Jim Ecker

Sean Cleary was excited when he left Ireland two years ago to attend Kirkwood Community College and play golf for the Eagles.

"I thought you could play golf the year-round," he said Thursday, laughing at himself. "That's what I thought."

Cleary and the Eagles have been watching the rain and trying to stay warm this spring, just like everyone else, but they did manage to win the Iowa Central Invitational this month and place third at the Wartburg College Invitational.

Several meets have been postponed and their practice time on courses has been limited.

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