Metro Sports Report

Former Metro preps in pro baseball

RYAN SWEENEY (Xavier, Boston Red Sox) -- Started in center field Monday and was 1-for-3 in Boston's 4-1 loss at Miami. Year to date -- BA - .308, AB - 159, R - 19, H - 49, RBI - 13, 2B - 17, 3B - 1, HR - 0, SB - 0.

SCOTT SCHEBLER (Prairie, Great Lakes Loons (Dodgers), MWL) -- Started in left field Monday and was 0-for-3 with a run scored in the Loons' 11-6 loss at West Michigan. Scott is tied for the Midwest League lead in triples (6). Year to date -- BA - .257, AB - 249, R - 33, H - 64, RBI - 36, 2B - 16, 3B - 6, HR - 4, SB - 8.

A Brit, a Scot and their special girls

A game was about to begin at the state soccer tournament Friday in Muscatine and Doug Graham was patting the girls on the back, slapping hands and encouraging them to play well.

You see coaches do that all the time, but this was different. Graham coaches the Xavier girls soccer team, and he was encouraging Kennedy to play well in its semifinal contest.

This wasn't some phony, insincere "let's be friends" gesture on the part of the Xavier coach. Soccer is a close-knit fraternity (and sorority), and on top of that Graham is a friendly guy who emigrated to the United States from Great Britain 30 years ago.

"He's a Londoner," quipped Kennedy Coach Andrew McKnight, who is from Scotland. "That's why you can't understand anything he says."

SEVEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

MUSCATINE - All Doug Graham wanted for his 50th birthday Saturday was a record-setting victory for the Xavier girls soccer team.

Happy birthday, Coach.

The Saints became the first team in the 86-year history of girls athletics in Iowa to win seven straight titles in any sport when they clipped North Scott, 3-1, in the finals of the Class 2A state tournament on a warm, sunny day at the Muscatine Soccer Complex.

Kayla Armstrong scored two goals and Annie Dale collected the other as the Saints reached seventh heaven with their historic triumph.

Then there was 1

MUSCATINE - Sixty-five seconds of lightning brought the Kennedy girls soccer team a lifetime of happy memories Saturday.

The Cougars poured in both of their goals during a 65-second span of the second half and stunned top-ranked Ankeny, 2-1, in the championship game of the Class 3A tournament for their second state title in the past four years.

The victory capped a remarkable performance by the unheralded Cougars at the Muscatine Soccer Complex.

It began Thursday with a 2-0 victory over No. 3 Iowa City West, continued Friday with a 1-0 verdict over No. 2 Bettendorf and ended Saturday with a victory over the No. 1 team that had won 31 straight matches since last year.