Metro Sports Report

Former Metro preps in pro baseball

RYAN SWEENEY (Xavier, Boston Red Sox) -- Did not play Friday in Boston's 10-3 loss to the Yankees. Year to date -- BA - .267, AB - 195, 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 Friday and was 0-for-3 with an RBI and run scored in the Loons' 7-5 loss to Dayton. Year to date -- BA - .264, AB - 386, R - 53, H - 102, RBI - 52, 2B - 27, 3B - 6, HR - 5, SB - 15.

KELLEN SWEENEY (Jefferson, Vancouver Canadians (Blue Jays), NWL) -- Swatted a two-run home run Friday night that carried Vancouver past Everett, 4-3. Kellen was 1-for-4. Vancouver totals -- BA - .188, AB - 128, R - 19, H - 24, RBI - 17, 2B - 7, 3B - 0, HR - 3, SB - 1.

Kennedy strolls by Linn-Mar at state

DES MOINES - The expected pitcher's duel between Alex Hayden and Jake Stolley turned into an unexpected victory parade for the Kennedy Cougars Wednesday night.

The Cougars took advantage of 10 walks and drubbed Linn-Mar, 13-1, in the quarterfinals of the Class 4A state baseball tournament on a warm night at Principal Park in Des Moines.

Waddle helps Cougars make right call

Jake Waddle played in the Class 1A state tournament in 2001 as an eighth grader when he got into a first-round game against Lansing Kee as a courtesy runner for his father's team at Coon Rapids-Bayard High School.

Coon Rapids lost that game and Waddle never made it back to the state tournament as a player during his varsity career, but he'll make his third straight trip to the state tournament this week as an assistant coach at Kennedy.

Waddle, 25, works primarily with the catchers and hitters at Kennedy and calls the pitches for Kennedy catcher Chico Lizarraga. The Cougars have compiled a gaudy 95-25 record the last three years with Waddle on the staff and captured the Class 4A state title in 2010.

"It's just been awesome," he said of his experiences with Coach Bret Hoyer and the Cougars.

Cougars, Lions feature premier pitchers

The Kennedy Cougars and Linn-Mar Lions have two of the deepest pitching staffs in the state, a talent pool that would lend itself to an intriguing five-game series to determine the Metro champion or perhaps even the state champ.

Imagine that. A five-game series between the Cougars and Lions, on five straight days, with the first two games at second-ranked Kennedy, the next two games at ninth-ranked Linn-Mar and perhaps the fifth and final game (if necessary) at Veterans Memorial Stadium.