Metro Sports Report

C.R. swimmers cherish 'lifetime experience'

Three kids from the Cedar Rapids Aquatics Association grew up and competed in the 2012 U.S. Olympic Swimming Trials Saturday in Omaha.

They didn't make the team -- only the top-2 finishers in each event will represent the United States at the Summer Games in England -- but they certainly beat the odds by making the Trials.

"The experience of going is like one in a million," said Ryan Phelan, a former state champion at Cedar Rapids Washington who enjoyed a record-setting career at the University of Iowa.

Kennedy, Linn-Mar earn home-field edge

Kennedy and Linn-Mar will have the home-field advantage when the Class 4A substate tournament series opens July 13.

The Cougars and Lions both have secured No. 1 seeds in their respective substates. If they win their openers on July 13, they will play in the substate finals -- at home -- on July 18. Substate winners advance to the state tournament at Des Moines. The 4A tournament is July 25, 27-28.

Official pairings for the Class 4A substate baseball tournaments won't be announced by the Iowa High School Athletic Association until later this week. But utilizing the criteria used by the IHSAA, the Metro Sports Report has calculated the standings.

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 took batting practice on Friday in Seattle, but is still wearing a small cast on his left big toe.  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 Sunday and was 1-for-3 with a run scored in the Loons' 8-5, 10-inning loss to West Michigan. Scott is second in the Midwest League in triples (6). Year to date -- BA - .276, AB - 304, R - 41, H - 84, RBI - 45, 2B - 23, 3B - 6, HR - 5, SB - 11.

KELLEN SWEENEY (Jefferson, Vancouver Canadians (Blue Jays), NWL) -- Started at third base Sunday and was 1-for-4 in Vancouver's 5-1 loss to Salem-Keizer. Vancouver totals -- BA - .140, AB - 50, R - 7, H - 7, RBI - 3, 2B - 3, 3B - 0, HR - 0, SB - 0

Balta helps Jazzy Apes place 2nd in Vegas

Jazzy Ape Sports Apparel, a squad that included five of the Midwest's finest collegiate bowlers, brought home a runnerup finish at the 17th Annual Junior World Team Challenge bowling tournament in Las Vegas.

The event, one of the nation's most prestigious scholarship bowling tournaments, was held at the Suncoast Bowling Center in Las Vegas from June 21-24.

One of the team members, 19-year old Drew Balta, is a Cedar Rapids native and Prairie High School graduate who currently attends William Penn University in Oskaloosa. Balta led the squad by averaging 224.3 for his qualifying round, which earned him a spot on this year's All Star Team.

Team member Austin Porter, of Blue Grass, Iowa, averaged 219.6 to narrowly miss this year's All Star Team.