Metro Sports Report

Class 4A district football is bad idea

It has been nearly 40 years since the playoffs were introduced to high school football, and many changes have been made to the system by the Iowa High School Athletic Association.

Now the IHSAA is looking to create a district format for the state’s largest football class (4A). The state is asking for input from athletics directors and coaches and either has or will conduct meetings with conferences. The IHSAA will have representatives present Wednesday in Cedar Falls when the Mississippi Valley Conference ADs convene.

Sometimes I wish people would just leave well enough alone.

While nothing is yet certain, the 4A district concept would include about 44 schools. Some districts would have six teams, others would have five. If the 32-team playoff system is retained, that would mean four district qualifiers in each of eight districts.

Lions win meet; Cougars lead chase

DUBUQUE - Tyler McCann claimed medalist honors with a 1-under-par 68 Monday to help Linn-Mar finish in first place at the MVC Mississippi Division golf meet at Bunker Hill.

This was the second leg of the three-tourney series that determines the division champions. Kennedy, which built a commanding lead in winning the MVC Super Meet last month, is 18 shots ahead of Linn-Mar heading into the final division meet Sept. 26 at Irv Warren Golf Course in Waterloo.

Tyler McCann holds a one-shot lead over Kennedy's Cody Bell in the medalist race. Kennedy's Brigham Stewart is four shots back.

Trevor Berry and Mark Drake shot 3-over 72s Monday and Clay Vieth contributed a 5-over 74 as the Lions finished with 286 strokes, four shots better than Kennedy.

Bell and Mitchell Martin led Kennedy with 1-over-par 70s on Monday. Bell shot a 66 in the MVC Super Meet.

Dominic Rodriguez helped Washington finish in sixth place in the seven-team field with a 75.

Saints take 13-stroke lead in Valley meet

WATERLOO - Xavier had four players finish among the top six and took control of the MVC Valley Division lead Monday at Gates Park.

J.P. King finished second, Matt Junge and Jason Beer finished in a three-way tie for third and Ben Sagers tied for sixth as Xavier won the second leg of the three-tourney series that determines the division champions.

"I made a comment recently that we hadn't played our best golf yet," Xavier Coach Tom O'Brien said. "Today we played well."

Xavier posted a 306 that was 12 strokes better than second-place Cedar Falls. The Saints entered the meet in second place, one stroke behind Hempstead and one ahead of Cedar Falls. They now hold a 13-stroke lead over the second-place Tigers and are 16 clear of Hempstead, which finished third Monday with a 323.

Jefferson was fourth, Prairie fifth, Iowa City West sixth and Waterloo East a distant seventh. Those teams hold those same places in the overall standings.

Hempstead's Carson Hillery shot a 1-over par 73 to take medalist honors. He is the overall medalist leader by three strokes over Xavier's Beer. King is five shots back.

The final round of the tournament is Sept. 26 at Airport National Golf Course in Cedar Rapids.

Former Metro preps in pro baseball

RYAN SWEENEY (Xavier, Oakland Athletics) -- Started in center field Monday and was 1-for-4 with a run scored in the Athletics' 6-3 win over the Angels.
Year-to-date: Batting avg. -- .270 (70-259), HR -- 1, RBI -- 25, 2B -- 11, 3B -- 3, R -- 34, SB -- 1.

MATT HOLLAND (Marion, GCL Phillies) -- Season completed.
Year-to-date: Batting avg. -- .236 (26-110), HR -- 4, RBI -- 15, 2B -- 7, 3B -- 0, R -- 19, SB -- 1.

SCOTT SCHEBLER (Prairie, Ogden (Dodgers)) -- Ogden did not play Monday. The Raptors open the Pioneer League's best-of-3 championship series Tuesday against Great Falls.
Year-to-date (regular season): Batting avg. -- .285 (84-295), HR -- 13, RBI -- 58, 2B -- 17, 3B -- 8, R -- 44, SB -- 1.

KELLEN SWEENEY (Jefferson, Bluefield (Blue Jays)) -- Season completed.
Season stats: Batting avg. -- .114 (4-35), HR -- 0, RBI -- 1, 2B -- 1, 3B -- 0, R -- 4, SB -- 0.

NATE WOODS (Xavier, Jupiter (Marlins)) -- Season completed.
Season stats (Total, 3 teams): Batting avg. .266 (47-177), HR -- 4, RBI -- 22, 2B -- 17, 3B -- 1, R -- 23, SB -- 0.