Metro Sports Report

5 Metro stars ready for Shrine Bowl

The 90 players in the Iowa Shrine Bowl had one week to practice, learn all the plays and get ready for Saturday night's football game at Jack Trice Stadium in Ames.

It's a lot of material to absorb in a short period of time, but they always seem to grasp the basics in a hurry and put on a good show for the fans.

"We have some top-notch athletes," said Kennedy strong safety Josh Jahlas, who will play for the North squad. "They're really smart, so they'll be able to get it down."

Former Metro preps in pro baseball

RYAN SWEENEY (Xavier, Boston Red Sox) -- Started in center field Saturday and was 0-for-3 in Boston's 7-3 loss to the Blue Jays. (Sweeney adjusts to new role). Year to date -- BA - .270, AB - 189, R - 21, H - 51, RBI - 14, 2B - 17, 3B - 2, HR - 0, SB - 0.

SCOTT SCHEBLER (Prairie, Great Lakes Loons (Dodgers), MWL) -- Started in left field Saturday and was 3-for-5 with an RBI, run scored and stolen base in the Loons' 7-2 win at Beloit. Year to date -- BA - .266, AB - 368, R - 49, H - 98, RBI - 51, 2B - 27, 3B - 6, HR - 5, SB - 15.

KELLEN SWEENEY (Jefferson, Vancouver Canadians (Blue Jays), NWL) -- Started at third base Saturday and was 1-for-3 with a run scored in Vancouver's 8-6 loss to Spokane. Vancouver totals -- BA - .180, AB - 111, R - 16, H - 20, RBI - 14, 2B - 6, 3B - 0, HR - 2, SB - 1.

Linn-Mar gives its old field a special farewell

They're going to rip apart the baseball field at Linn-Mar High School later this summer and put a $5 million swimming pool in its place, but all that water won't be able to drown the happy memories from the final game at the old park Wednesday night.

The ninth-ranked Lions capitalized on a life-haunting error by the Muscatine second baseman with two outs in the bottom of the seventh and escaped the Muskies, 2-1, in eight dramatic innings in the Class 4A substate finals.

If Muscatine second baseman Tyler Kovach had made an accurate throw to first base on a simple groundball by Kevin Bogert in the bottom of the seventh, the Lions would have suffered a 1-0 loss at the hands of Muscatine ace Derek Burkamper and turned in their uniforms.

Instead, Linn-Mar (29-11) advanced to the Class 4A state tournament and will face No. 2 Kennedy (32-6) in an all-Metro battle in the opening round on Wednesday at 6 p.m. at Principal Park in Des Moines.

Baseball of yesteryear

I was driving past Noelridge Park earlier this week on Collins Road, when I briefly looked over to the many fields that populate the park. A pair of the diamonds were being used by kids.

Kids without uniforms.

Kids that, accompanied by a pair of supervisors, were just out playing baseball ... and by the look of things, just for the fun of it.

It reminded of my youth, and simpler times.

It reminded me of growing up here in the Metro area and learning the game and having fun with my friends.

Times that, for good or for bad, have left probably never to return.