Metro Sports Report

Jahlas, Cougars finish tourney in tears

DES MOINES - Josh Jahlas broke a pair of school records this year and set the tone for the Kennedy baseball team all season with his diving catches in enter field and aggressive baserunning that sparked the Cougars to victory after victory en route to the state tournament.

Unfortunately for Jahlas and the Cougars, the final play of his high school career will haunt him for a long, long time to come. As it turned out, he was aggressive once too often at the worst possible time.

Jahlas tried to take an extra base with two outs in the seventh inning and was thrown out at third by a healthy margin as Kennedy lost to Fort Dodge, 4-2, in the semifinals of the Class 4A state tournament at Principal Park Friday night.

It was the second straight year that Fort Dodge eliminated Kennedy from the state tournament and now the Dodgers will face Ankeny for the title Saturday night.

3 Metro players named IHSBCA all-stars

Alex Hayden of Kennedy, Devon Jacobus of Kennedy and Jake Stolley of Linn-Mar have been selected to play in the 2012 IHSBCA All-Star Series in Clinton on Aug. 2-5 as members of the Large Schools East Squad.

Hayden compiled an 11-2 record as Kennedy's top pitcher. He hit .400 and was also the team's starting second baseman.

Jacobus hit cleanup most of the season for the Cougars as they compiled a 33-7 record and reached the semifinals of the Class 4A state tournament. He was Kennedy's top third baseman and played second base when Hayden was pitching.

Stolley compiled a 7-2 record for Linn-Mar and helped the Lions reach the state tournament. He also played first base.

The IHSBCA all-star games will be played in Clinton at the Ashford University Field, home of the Midwest League's Clinton LumberKings.

Former Metro preps in pro baseball

RYAN SWEENEY (Xavier, Boston Red Sox) -- Pinch-hit and played right field Saturday and was 0-for-1 in Boston's 8-6 win over the Yankees. Year to date -- BA - .265, AB - 196, R - 22, H - 52, RBI - 14, 2B - 18, 3B - 2, HR - 0, SB - 0.

SCOTT SCHEBLER (Prairie, Great Lakes Loons (Dodgers), MWL) -- Started in left field Saturday and was 1-for-3 with an RBI and run scored in the Loons' 5-4 loss at Fort Wayne. Year to date -- BA - .265, AB - 389, R - 54, H - 103, RBI - 53, 2B - 27, 3B - 6, HR - 5, SB - 15.

KELLEN SWEENEY (Jefferson, Vancouver Canadians (Blue Jays), NWL) -- Started at third base Saturday and was 2-for-4 with a double, triple and RBI in Vancouver's 7-6, 10-inning loss at Everett. Vancouver totals -- BA - .197, AB - 132, R - 20, H - 26, RBI - 18, 2B - 8, 3B - 1, HR - 3, SB - 1.

Cougars want revenge against Fort Dodge

It's been exactly one year since Kennedy lost to Fort Dodge in the opening round of the 2011 state baseball tournament.

Fort Dodge lefthander Will Kenny pitched a no-hitter for 6 2/3 innings and the Dodgers trimmed the Cougars, 2-1, on a brutally hot day at Principal Park in Des Moines.

The date was July 27, 2011 -- exactly one year ago.

Kennedy and Fort Dodge will meet again Friday night at the Class 4A state tournament, this time in the semifinals with a berth in the championship game at stake.