Metro Sports Report

Former Metro preps in pro baseball

KELLEN SWEENEY (Jefferson, Vancouver Canadians (Blue Jays), Northwest League) -- Started at third base Thursday and was 0-for-3 with an RBI and run scored in Vancouver's 10-7 win over Boise. The best-of-3 NWL championship series shifts to Boise for Games 2 and 3, if necessary, on Saturday and Sunday. Vancouver totals -- BA - .229, AB - 245, R - 35, H - 56, RBI - 29, 2B - 15, 3B - 2, HR - 5, SB - 5.

Jelinek Bowl? Nope, just Saints vs. Hawks

Craig Jelinek does not want Friday night's big football game between the Xavier Saints and Prairie Hawks to be about him in any way, shape or form.

It looks like he'll get his wish.

Jelinek, 60, compiled a 106-96 record in 21 years as Prairie's head football coach. He retired after the 2010 campaign, but returned to the sidelines this season as a volunteer assistant for Xavier.

The Saints visit Prairie Friday night, which means Jelinek will stand on the visitor's sideline and will head into the visitor's locker room at John Wall Field after spending all those years as head coach of the home team.

"The schedule says XAVIER at Prairie on September 7th," he noted. In other words, it doesn't say JELINEK at Prairie, and that's exactly the way he wants it, with the focus on the teams, not him.

The end of an era?

While we usually try to stick to the high school scene here at the Metro Sports Report, we still keep an eye on the sports scene in the Metro area. That includes the Cedar Rapids Kernels professional baseball team.

On Monday, the Kernels wrapped up their 2012 season with a 10-3 loss to the Clinton Lumber Kings. The loss put the Kernels overall record for the season at 53-86, which tied the mark for the worst season record for a Kernels team in club history.

More importantly, a much larger question loomed on the horizon, one that will be answered officially in the next several weeks. Will the Kernels be searching for a new Major League affiliate in the offseason?

The Player Development Contract (PDC) between the Kernels and the Los Angeles Angels expires after this season. The Cedar Rapids Baseball Club has been affiliated with many teams over the long history of professional baseball here in town, and for the last 20 years has been a the low Class A farm club of the Angels. Twenty years is a long run in Minor League Baseball. The question is, should the Kernels and the Angels cut ties and go their separate ways?

Former Metro preps in pro baseball

RYAN SWEENEY (Xavier, Boston Red Sox) -- Was placed on the disabled list July 31 after undergoing surgery for a broken knuckle on his left pinky finger. He is expected to be out until late September. Year to date -- BA - .260, AB - 204, R - 22, H - 53, RBI - 16, 2B - 19, 3B - 2, HR - 0, SB - 0.

SCOTT SCHEBLER (Prairie, Great Lakes Loons (Dodgers), Midwest League) -- Season completed. Year to date -- BA - .260, AB - 515, R - 67, H - 134, RBI - 67, 2B - 32, 3B - 8, HR - 6, SB - 17.

KELLEN SWEENEY (Jefferson, Vancouver Canadians (Blue Jays), Northwest League) -- Kellen was 1-for-6, but drew three walks, scored a run and drove in a run as Vancouver swept Everett in two games of the Northwest League playoff semifinals. The best-of-3 championship series starts Thursday against Boise at Vancouver. Games 2 and 3, if necessary, are Saturday and Sunday at Boise. Vancouver totals -- BA - .229, AB - 245, R - 35, H - 56, RBI - 29, 2B - 15, 3B - 2, HR - 5, SB - 5.