Metro Sports Report

Kernels get high grades so far

Mon - 08 Apr Written by S.D. Buhr

It’s no secret that the new baseball season opened up in Cedar Rapids with high expectations for this year’s group of Kernels.

In addition to cracking the seal on the first year of the new affiliation between the Kernels and the Minnesota Twins, it’s been widely reported that this year’s team has the potential to be one of the best collections of prospects Cedar Rapids fans have had the pleasure of watching in Kernels uniforms for a number of years.

So, with the first series of the year under our belts, what kind of impression have the Kernels made?

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Tatge breaks KCC record for homers

Mon - 08 Apr Written by Metro Sports Report

Kayla Tatge broke the Kirkwood record for most home runs in a career Monday when she slugged her 37th roundtripper against the Mount Mercy junior varsity.

The seventh-ranked Eagles (28-3) swept the doubleheader, 8-0 and 18-0, at Kirkwood.

Tatge, a sophomore from Milan, Ill., hit 20 home runs last season and has 17 this season. She broke the old record of 36 career homers set last year by Nicole Fisher, who is currently a junior at the University of Northern Iowa.

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Local players in pro baseball

Mon - 08 Apr Written by Metro Sports Report

SCOTT SCHEBLER (Prairie, Rancho Cucamonga (Dodgers)) - Started in left field Monday and was 0-for-3 in the Quakes' 3-2 loss to Modesto. Season stats: G - 4, Avg. - .143, AB - 14, H - 2, HR - 1, RBI - 3, SB - 0.

KELLEN SWEENEY (Jefferson, Lansing (Blue Jays)) - Started at second base Monday and was 1-for-4 in the Lugnuts' 4-3 loss at Bowling Green. Season stats: G - 5, Avg. - .263, AB - 19, H - 5, HR - 0, RBI - 1, SB - 0.

RYAN SWEENEY (Xavier, Iowa (Cubs)) - Started in left field Monday and was 0-for-4 in the I-Cubs' 13-5 loss at Round Rock. Season stats: G - 3, Avg. - .500, AB - 10, H - 5, HR - 1, RBI - 2, SB - 0.

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Tyler Duffey throws his 76th and last pitch Sunday in seven innings of perfect pitching for the Kernels. Duffey, Josue Montanez and Tim Atherton combined to no-hit Beloit in a 9-1 Kernels win. (Photo by Ken Gilchrist)

Kernels hurlers no-hit Beloit

Sun - 07 Apr Written by S.D. Buhr

The Cedar Rapids Kernels wrapped up their first homestand of the season in style, no-hitting the visiting Beloit Snappers and winning the final game of the series, 9-1.

Right-handed starting pitcher Tyler Duffey tossed seven perfect innings at the Snappers, striking out seven hitters in the process. Newcomer Josue Montanez relieved Duffey in the eighth inning. While he struggled with his control and gave up a run, he kept the Kernels’ no-hitter intact. Right-hander Tim Atherton struck out three batters in the ninth inning to seal the no-hitter.

The Kernels’ hitters provided plenty of offensive support for their pitching staff, as well. Cedar Rapids totaled 15 hits, six of them for extra bases.

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Kirkwood's Sam Belz ran her record to 10-0 in the nightcap of the Eagles' doubleheader sweep of Iowa Lakes Sunday at Kirkwood. (Photo by Margaret O'Banion)

Belz, Saladino help Kirkwood roll along

Sun - 07 Apr Written by Jim Ecker

Kirkwood freshmen Samantha Belz and Shyanne Saladino, commonly known around the ballpark as Sam and Shy, could be the No.1 pitcher for lots of junior college softball teams in Iowa and grab their share of the headlines.

The star pitcher at Kirkwood, however, is freshman Amber Logemann, a strikeout whiz who is being wooed by NCAA Division I teams who are aware of her string of no-hitters, one-hitters and double-digit strikeout performances.

If Logemann is 1A, then Belz is 1B and Saladino is 1C.

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