Metro Sports Report

Prep football prevues - Aug. 30-31

Marion opened some eyes last weekend when it routed Mount Pleasant 70-7 in a season opener at Mount Pleasant.

The win vaulted the Indians four spots, up to No. 4, in the Des Moines Register rankings.

The competition will be a little more stiff Friday when the Indians host top-ranked Decorah in a non-district game at Thomas Park.

It is the highlight game of the weekend, which opens Thursday night with Xavier playing Jefferson at Kingston Stadium and Linn-Mar at Dubuque Senior.

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) -- Started in left field Thursday and was 1-for-5 in the Loons' 8-6 win at Dayton. Scott is 1-for-19 in his last five games, dropping his average from .269 to .261. Year to date -- BA - .261, AB - 509, R - 67, H - 133, RBI - 67, 2B - 32, 3B - 8, HR - 6, SB - 17.

KELLEN SWEENEY (Jefferson, Vancouver Canadians (Blue Jays), Northwest League) -- Started at third base Thursday and was 1-for-5 with a run scored in Vancouver's 7-1 win at Yakima. Vancouver totals -- BA - .228, AB - 237, R - 34, H - 54, RBI - 29, 2B - 15, 3B - 2, HR - 5, SB - 5.

The countdown continues

Two weeks ago I started my countdown of the top 10 high school stories of the past year.

Last week we took a peek at the football season.

This week we're back with my top five stories of the 2011-12 school year:

5. Basketball coaching changes --

Each year we see maybe one coaching change, two tops, in the Metro. This past year there were a total of five changes in the basketball ranks. Not only that , but some big names left the sidelines. Denny Roloff at Kennedy, Brad Metzger at Wash, Matt Jenkins with Xavier, Brian O'Donnell at Marion and the biggest name of all, Larry Niemeyer at Jefferson. (More on that later) That is 31 percent of the prep basketball jobs in town turning over for this winter. Not only that, but some big and interesting names have stepped into these jobs, former Hawkeye Ryan Luehersman and Marion AD Corby Laube to name a couple. It will definitely make for an interesting winter this season.

No. 4 Marion braces for top-ranked Decorah

They've ripped out the 65-year-old bleachers at the Thomas Park football field in Marion and replaced them with new seats that are sturdier and hold a few more people.

Just in time.

The Marion Indians, fresh off a 70-7 conquest of Mount Pleasant, will be hosting the top-ranked Decorah Vikings Friday night in the Class 3A game of the week -- and maybe the game of the year.

The Indians jumped to No. 4 in the Des Moines Register poll this week and are ranked No. 5 by the Associated Press as they head into the big contest.