Metro Sports Report

Marion pledges $750,000 to Prospect Meadows

The city of Marion pledged $750,000 to the Prospect Meadows baseball and softball project over the next five fiscal years Thursday night.

Approval came after members of the Marion City Council debated how and when the money would be distributed. The Council added a caveat to the pledge, specifying funding would be provided as long as the city budget allowed.

"I don't want you to think we don't support what you're doing," Councilman Joe Spinks told representatives of Prospect Meadows. "We just don't know for certain what's going to happen in the future."

The proposed pay schedule, though not yet approved through budgeting by the city council, would see $100,000 given to Prospect Meadows in the next two budget years with the remainder to follow in the three years after that.

All members of the Council spoke favorably of the project, saying they felt it was going to be a great addition to the area. The measure passed unanimously.

The plans for Prospect Meadows include 17 fields. The facility would be located northeast of Marion, near the corner of County Home Road and Highway 13.

The proposed cost of the project is $9.4 million. Organizers plan to hold baseball and softball tournaments and leagues, generating millions of dollars for the local economy.

A completion date has not been announced.

Blood siblings grew up with bowling

It is an easy cliche, but it is also true.

Cedar Rapids Prairie siblings Rylee and Nick Blood have bowling in their blood. The Bloods will be competing together at the combined boys and girls Class 2A state tournament March 12 at Plaza Lanes in Des Moines.

The 1A tournament will be held March 11 at Plaza Lanes. The meets, originally scheduled for this Thursday and Friday, were postponed due to threatening weather.

It is rare that a brother-sister combination competes on the state stage on the same day at the same venue, but the Bloods will be doing just that.

Dani Franklin tops all-MVC squad

Cedar Rapids Washington junior Dani Franklin has been named the Athlete of the Year in the Valley Division of the Mississippi Valley Conference for the 2012-13 girls basketball campaign.

Franklin and Blaire Thomas of Waterloo West were unanimous picks on the first team in the Valley Division. Madison Dellamuth of Prairie, Alisa Weiland of Prairie, Abby Herb of Washington, Ashley Stulken of Xavier and Mykaela Brandt of Linn-Mar also were named first team all-MVC in the Valley Division.

Maddie Koolbeck of Jefferson and Steph Botkin of Kennedy were named first team all-MVC in the Mississippi Division. Ally Disterhoft of Iowa City West was honored as the Athlete of the Year in the Mississippi Division.

Steve Doser, who led Prairie to its first conference title in school history, was named the Coach of the Year in the Valley Division.

State bowling tournament postponed

The Iowa High School Athletic Association and the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union have postponed Thursday and Friday's State Coed Bowling Tournament at Plaza Lanes in Des Moines until Monday and Tuesday, March 11 and 12.

Information from the National Weather Service prompted the decision. Their forecast indicates snow will begin in Des Moines at about nooon on Thursday.

While there may not be an issue in getting teams and individuals to Des Moines, conditions will likely deteriorate rapidly. Neither the Union nor the Association want to have students, coaches or spectators attempting to return home from the Thursday competition or coming for the Friday competition to travel in unsafe and dangerous conditions.