Metro Sports Report

Lions take control of MVC race

Linn-Mar took sole possession of first place in the MVC Mississippi Division with a doubleheader sweep of Cedar Falls at home Wednesday night.

The Lions won the opener 5-2 after going ahead early but had to rally from a 6-0 deficit in the nightcap for a 9-8 comeback win.

The twin wins give them a 17-3 conference mark (22-8 overall) with a crucial double bill at Iowa City High Friday.  The Little Hawks split a doubleheader at Kennedy Wednesday, leaving both teams at 16-4 in the tight division race.

Looking back at a big change

Last week, the Indiana High School Athletic Association approved the formation of a sixth football class in the Hoosier State. This was done in an attempt to level the competitive playing field and to give teams, and athletes, an opportunity to participate in postseason competition.

Sound familiar?

It has been, believe it or not, five years since the Iowa High School Athletic Association made a somewhat similar move. Instead of adding another class, the IHSAA added another level to the playoff structure, thus doubling the amount of teams that qualify for postseason play.

At first coaches, in the Metro anyhow, were very much against the idea. Some said it would only "water down" the playoff system by allowing teams with four, and sometimes three, wins into the postseason party.

J-Hawks and Rams trade blowouts

There's an old baseball bromide that goes "What goes around comes around."

What went around in Wednesday's opener between Dubuque Senior and Jefferson came whipping back around the other way in the nightcap.

Sam Techau belted two home runs and Jefferson banged out 13 hits and whipped Senior, 12-5, in the opener.

The Rams belted five home runs -- two by Dylan Merritt -- among their 14 hits and claimed the nightcap, 15-5.

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 Wednesday and was 0-for-5 in the Loons' 11-6 win at South Bend. Scott is tied for the Midwest League lead in triples (6) and is sixth in RBI (45). Year to date -- BA - .271, AB - 292, R - 39, H - 79, RBI - 45, 2B - 21, 3B - 6, HR - 5, SB - 11.

KELLEN SWEENEY (Jefferson, Vancouver Canadians (Blue Jays), NWL) -- Started at third base Wednesday and was 1-for-4 in Vancouver's 5-3 loss at Everett. Vancouver totals -- BA - .146, AB - 41, R - 6, H - 6, RBI - 2, 2B - 3, 3B - 0, HR - 0, SB - 0.