Metro Sports Report

UConn wins 8th national title

NEW ORLEANS - The Connecticut Huskies won the NCAA women's basketball national title Tuesday with a 93-60 pasting of Louisville at the New Orleans Arena.

Former Linn-Mar prep Kiah Stokes played four minutes and grabbed a rebound for Connecticut (35-4). Stokes is a sophomore and a former Miss Iowa Basketball.

Freshman Breanna Stewart led Connecticut with 23 points. The Huskies claimed their eighth national title.

Local players in pro baseball

SCOTT SCHEBLER (Prairie, Rancho Cucamonga (Dodgers)) - Started in left field Tuesday and was 0-for-3 in the Quakes' 1-0 win over Modesto. Season stats: G - 5, Avg. - .118, AB - 17, H - 2, HR - 1, RBI - 3, SB - 0.

KELLEN SWEENEY (Jefferson, Lansing (Blue Jays)) - Started at designated hitter Tuesday and was 0-for-3 with an RBI in the Lugnuts' 8-3 loss at Bowling Green. Season stats: G - 6, Avg. - .227, AB - 22, H - 5, HR - 0, RBI - 2, SB - 0.

RYAN SWEENEY (Xavier, Iowa (Cubs)) - Pinch hit Tuesday and was 0-for-1 in the I-Cubs' 4-2 loss at Round Rock. Season stats: G - 4, Avg. - .455, AB - 11, H - 5, HR - 1, RBI - 2, SB - 0.

Saints dropping to 3A next year

The Xavier Saints will be moving down in baseball and boys basketball for the 2013-14 school year, which may help them move up in the postseason tournaments.

The Saints have dropped from No.48 in school population to No.52 for next year, which is significant in the world of Iowa high school athletics.

The top 48 schools compete in Class 4A in baseball and boys basketball, so the Saints will be dropping from Class 4A to Class 3A in those two sports according to preliminary enrollment figures compiled by the state.

Kernels belt Timber Rattlers, 10-2

GRAND CHUTE, Wis. - The Cedar Rapids Kernels came out swinging Monday night in a 10-2 runaway over the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers in a Midwest League game before 3,036 fans at Fox Cities Stadium.

Cedar Rapids (4-1) scored three runs apiece in the first and second innings for an early 6-0 lead to support David Hurlbut, who had a quality start on the mound.

The Kernels began both innings with back-to-back walks to get things going. Dalton Hicks hit a double off the right-field wall to bring home Byron Buxton for a 1-0 lead, then Adam Brett Walker smacked a double off the left-field wall to drive in Romy Jimenez and Hicks for a 3-0 lead.

Buxton hit a three-run homer in the second inning after two more walks for a 6-0 bulge.