Metro Sports Report

Gaffey stars on senior night for Cougars

Amanda Gaffey did not play softball at Cedar Rapids Kennedy for the glory or the headlines, because there hasn't been much of that during her five years as the starting third baseman.

She did it for love.

"I just have a passion for the sport and I love my teammates and I wouldn't want to let them down, so I just kept playing," she said Thursday night.

Gaffey has endured five straight losing campaigns with the Cougars, but she was all smiles Thursday after Kennedy swept a Mississippi Valley Conference doubleheader from Cedar Falls on Senior Night at Kennedy, 5-3 and 14-11.

Perkins helps Marion split with CPU

Wielding a brand new bat bought for her by her grandma Carol, Paige Perkins was a one-woman wrecking crew for the Marion Indians Thursday night.

She broke in the purple Easton Stealth with big hits all night in a home doubleheader with Class 3A 10th-ranked Center Point-Urbana.

An RBI single and her first home run of the season helped seal a 4-2 win in the opener.

Two doubles in the nightcap kept her team in the game, but they went for naught when the Pointers went on a seven-run barrage in the 12th inning to claim a 14-7 come-from-behind victory.

J-Hawks clinch MVC softball title

DUBUQUE -- Jefferson swept a pair of softball games from Dubuque Hempstead on Thursday to clinch the Mississippi Valley Conference Valley Division title.

The fourth-ranked J-Hawks whipped Hempstead 12-0 and 6-2.

Jefferson (32-4, 23-1) clinched the title when Iowa City West split its doubleheader with Dubuque Wahlert, dropping the Women of Troy three games behind the J-Hawks with two to play.

Hannah Petersen struck out 12 for Jefferson in the opener and also drove in two runs at the plate. Maddie Hanson and Kenna Fry also drove in two runs apiece. Kaitlyn Davidson had two hits.

Fry also drove in two runs in the nightcap. Kailey Drake had three hits.

Jefferson plays in the Ottumwa Classic on Friday. The J-Hawks have games against Southeast Polk and Solon.

Former Metro preps in pro baseball

RYAN SWEENEY (Xavier, Boston Red Sox) -- Placed on 15-day disabled list June 17 with broken bone in foot. 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 3-for-4 with a double in the Loons' 10-0 loss to Fort Wayne. Great Lakes had only four hits. Scott is tied for the Midwest League lead in triples (6) and is sixth in RBI (45). Year to date -- BA - .277, AB - 296, R - 39, H - 82, RBI - 45, 2B - 22, 3B - 6, HR - 5, SB - 11.

KELLEN SWEENEY (Jefferson, Vancouver Canadians (Blue Jays), NWL) -- Started at designated hitter Thursday and was 0-for-2 with three walks and a run scored in Vancouver's 8-2 win over Eugene. Vancouver totals -- BA - .140, AB - 43, R - 7, H - 6, RBI - 2, 2B - 3, 3B - 0, HR - 0, SB - 0.