Metro Sports Report

Drahozal hits timely homer for Saints

Xavier slugger Erin Drahozal picked the right game to come out of her batting slump Tuesday night.

Pitching the nightcap of a home twinbill against Kennedy, the power-packed freshman was nursing a 3-2 lead going into the bottom of the fourth. Leading off the Saints’ half of the inning, she promptly blasted a solo rocket high off the scoreboard beyond left-center for her first home run of the year.

Xavier scored two more runs in the fourth to add to the cushion, winning 6-3 to complete a doubleheader sweep of the Cougars.

Behind a solid performance by mound ace Jacey Wiebold, the Saints won the opener 8-2.

J-Hawks broom off No. 7 Iowa City West

IOWA CITY -- Dylan Jellison threw four pitches Monday night for the Jefferson baseball team.

He got three outs, two saves and protected one huge sweep for the J-Hawks.

Jefferson beat No. 7 Iowa City West, 8-7 and 6-4, in a Mississippi Valley Conference doubleheader at West.

The J-Hawks (9-13, 8-6) stretched their winning streak to four games and recorded their second straight sweep. They also took a pair from Wahlert last Friday night at Dubuque.

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) -- There were no games scheduled Tuesday in the Midwest League, which is on its all-star break through Wednesday. Scott has hit safely in five straight games, during which he is 10-for-21 with seven RBIs, four doubles and a home run. Scott is tied for the Midwest League lead in triples (6). Year to date -- BA - .274, AB - 270, R - 37, H - 74, RBI - 43, 2B - 20, 3B - 6, HR - 5, SB - 10.

KELLEN SWEENEY (Jefferson, Vancouver Canadians (Blue Jays), NWL) -- Started at third base Tuesday and was 1-for-4 with a single, run scored and RBI in Vancouver's 7-1 win at Spokane. Vancouver totals -- BA - .150, AB - 20, R - 5, H - 3, RBI - 1, 2B - 1, 3B - 0, HR - 0, SB - 0.

Stroschein helps Lions trip Cougars

Linn-Mar junior Austin Stroschein was so excited about walloping the ball with the bases loaded against top-ranked Kennedy Monday night that he tripped over first base and fell flat on his face.

He got up grinning.

Stroschein socked a grand slam at a key moment to help the 10th-ranked Lions split a Mississippi Valley Conference doubleheader at Kennedy in a showdown for first place.

The Cougars won the first game, 4-1, behind a strong performance by right-hander Nick Appleget, but Linn-Mar rallied from a 5-0 deficit to grab the nightcap 7-6.

Kennedy snapped Linn-Mar's 10-game winning streak in the opener, then Linn-Mar snapped Kennedy's nine-game winning streak in the nightcap. The split left both clubs 11-3 in the Mississippi Division of the MVC, locked in a three-way tie for first place with Iowa City High with 12 games left in the league campaign.