Metro Sports Report

Keller tosses 3-hitter as Saints split

Mitch Keller enjoys watching his older brother Jon pitch in the Big Ten Conference for the Nebraska Cornhuskers.

Some of it appears to be rubbing off.

Keller tossed a three-hitter Thursday as the Xavier Saints drubbed Dubuque Senior, 12-1, in five innings in the first game of a Mississippi Valley Conference doubleheader at Ken Charipar Field on a steamy night.

Dubuque Senior took the second game, 8-6.

Jon Keller was an all-state pitcher for the Saints before joining the Cornhuskers. Mitch is a tall right-hander, just like his brother, and he's developing into an effective pitcher for Xavier as a sophomore.

Keller has a 4-0 record and 4.20 ERA following Thursday's strong outing and he leads the staff in victories.

Marion ousted from softball tourney

Dubuque Wahlert put up two runs in the first inning, added an insurance run in the top of the seventh and held on to upset Marion, 3-2, in a Class 4A regional first round game Thursday night at Marion.

Wahlert (16-24) advances to play Xavier in the regional semifinals Saturday at 7 p.m. at Xavier.

Run-producing singles by Anna Schmidt and Maddy Nillis gave Wahlert a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Marion's Michalyn Mohr got one of those back with an RBI double in the bottom of the inning and that was where the score stayed until the seventh inning.

Lochner tosses 2-hitter as Indians sweep

MANCHESTER - Levi Lochner tossed a two-hitter with 10 strikeouts Thursday night as the Marion Indians defeated West Delaware, 7-3, in the first game of a Wamac Conference doubleheader in Manchester.

The Indians won the second game, 7-4, to sweep the twinbill.

Mitch Wagner hit a solo home run in the opener for Marion (27-10, 21-7). Alex Charipar collected two hits, including an RBI double.

The Indians took control of the nightcap by scoring five runs in the top of the sixth inning. A squeeze bunt by Sean McGarvey tied the game, then Trev Biery socked a bases-clearing triple.

Tyler Hedtke pitched four scoreless innings for Marion. Nick Connelly got the win and Josh Davila got a save.

West Delaware dropped to 20-15 overall and 16-12 in the conference.

Former Metro preps in pro baseball

RYAN SWEENEY (Xavier, Boston Red Sox) -- Placed on 15-day disabled list June 17 with broken bone in his foot. He is eligible to come off the disabled list and began a rehab assignment Thursday at Portland (Class AA Eastern League). He was 1-for-4 Thursday against New Hampshire.  Year to date -- BA - .292, AB - 171, R - 19, H - 50, RBI - 13, 2B - 17, 3B - 1, HR - 0, SB - 0.

SCOTT SCHEBLER (Prairie, Great Lakes Loons (Dodgers), MWL) -- Started in left field Thursday and was 1-for-4 with an RBI in the Loons' 5-2 win at Lansing. Scott is second in the Midwest League in triples (6). Year to date -- BA - .273, AB - 315, R - 41, H - 86, RBI - 46, 2B - 23, 3B - 6, HR - 5, SB - 11.

KELLEN SWEENEY (Jefferson, Vancouver Canadians (Blue Jays), NWL) -- Started at third base Thursday and belted his second home run in as many nights, going 2-for-4 with three RBIs in a 10-2 win at Salem-Keizer. Kellen swatted his first career home run Wednesday and drove in four runs. Vancouver totals -- BA - .197, AB - 61, R - 12, H - 12, RBI - 10, 2B - 4, 3B - 0, HR - 2, SB - 0