Metro Sports Report

Appleget shines as Cougars claim Metro

Nick Appleget left Veterans Memorial Stadium Wednesday night with bags of ice taped to his left elbow and right shoulder, but that's nothing.

His whole body has taken a beaten during his career at Cedar Rapids Kennedy. He's had three operations on his left knee, including two for torn ACLs and one for a torn meniscus.

"All in three years," he said. "I haven't missed a baseball season yet, though. I had to give up all the other sports, so I'm banking on this one. It's the only one I've got left."

Former Metro preps in pro baseball

RYAN SWEENEY (Xavier, Boston Red Sox) --  Placed on the seven-day disabled list retroactive to Sunday after suffering concussion-like symptoms following a diving catch last weekend at Philadelphia. Ryan is tied for sixth in the major leagues in doubles (14). Year to date: BA -- .311 (38-122), R -- 11, RBI -- 12, 2B -- 14, 3B -- 1, HR -- 0, SB -- 0.

KELLEN SWEENEY (Jefferson, Lansing (MWL, Blue Jays) -- Started at third base Thursday and was 1-for-5 with an RBI in the Lugnuts' 5-2 win over Dayton. Year to date: BA -- .183 (23-126), R -- 12, RBI -- 11, 2B -- 2, 3B -- 1, HR -- 0, SB -- 1.

SCOTT SCHEBLER (Prairie, Great Lakes (MWL, Dodgers) -- Started in left field Thursday and was 2-for-4 with a double, RBI and a run scored in the Loons' 12-3 loss to Bowling Green. Scott leads the league in triples (6). Year to date: BA -- .254 (47-185), R -- 25, RBI -- 27, 2B -- 11, 3B -- 6, HR -- 3, SB -- 4.

Mattke delivers the long ball for Saints

Mack Mattke is a big, strong guy at 6-foot-6 and 220 pounds, but he's always had trouble hitting home runs for the Xavier High School baseball team.

Until now.

Mattke slugged a three-run homer Wednesday night and hit a game-winning double in the bottom of the seventh inning as the eighth-ranked Saints clipped Linn-Mar, 9-8, for third place in the Metro Baseball Tournament at Veterans Memorial Stadium.

Cougars breeze past Wash; Trojans up next

The Kennedy boys soccer team won the right to a rematch with 3A top-ranked Iowa City West in Saturday’s substate final by toppling Washington, 4-1, Wednesday evening at Kingston Stadium.

Next up for the No. 16 Cougars (9-8) is once-beaten West, who won the first go-around in the regular season 2-0.  No. 14 Washington gave the Trojans their only blemish of the year, a 3-2 defeat in overtime.