Metro Sports Report

Lions give No. 1 Ankeny a tough battle

MUSCATINE - The Linn-Mar Lions received a standing ovation from their fans Thursday following their strong performance at the Class 3A state soccer tournament.

The 10th-ranked Lions gave No. 1 Ankeny a tough battle before falling, 2-0, in the quarterfinals at the Muscatine Soccer Complex.

Ankeny is undefeated and the defending state champion, but it was a 1-0 game until the Hawkettes scored their clinching goal with just 3:48 left in the game.

Wyant shines as Lions top Warriors

After the first inning Thursday night, the Washington baseball team looked promising. Pitcher Noah Dostal sat Linn-Mar’s first three hitters down in order and then the Warriors came to the plate and scored one run on two hits.

That didn’t sit well with Linn-Mar. It especially didn’t sit well with Lion pitcher Justin Wyant. He used that first inning as fuel and didn’t allow a run the rest of the night, pitching a complete game four-hitter.

Along with some solid offensive and defensive support from his teammates, Wyant propelled Linn-Mar past the Warriors, 7-1, at the Washington baseball field.

Shooting for a dream

It is perhaps the most unique event we have in America.

Where else could an "ordinary Joe" compete with the top athletes in the world in a particular sport on one of that's sports top stages?

It is the United States Open Golf Tournament.

Think about it. A former high school or college football player can't throw himself into the Super Bowl. Semi-pro baseball players can't join a World Series team. Nor can a soccer player become part of a World Cup.

But in golf it's possible. Anyone in the United States can qualify for our national golf championship and possibly hit balls on the range next to Tiger, Phil and even Zach Johnson. Of course you must have a low handicap to start off with (under a 1.4), but you can still qualify if you are in that rare category.

Such is the story of Metro golfer Bill Hoefle.

Uthoff excited to join Hawkeyes

Jarrod Uthoff spent two months looking for a new home to play college basketball on a team that likes to run and have fun. As it turned out, it was just down the street in Iowa City.

Uthoff announced Wednesday night that he plans to transfer to the University of Iowa after spending this past year at Wisconsin.

"First off, I think the style of play is going to fit me," said Uthoff, who starred at Cedar Rapids Jefferson. "I think it will allow me freedom to create and do some things. That's what it came down to.

"I'm really excited. Definitely excited."