Metro Sports Report

Langston says Prospect Meadows to get land

One way or another, builders of the proposed Prospect Meadows ball fields will be given the land they need north of Marion, though details have yet to be worked out.

While Aug. 31 had been the target date for coming up with an agreement, it’s now been pushed back a month.

“There is no question that we will make it happen,” Linn County Supervisor Linda Langston said on Tuesday.  “It’s just a matter now of how to go about it. We are enormously supportive of the project. And we’re certain we can meet their construction schedule.”

A local non-profit group for almost two years has developed plans to construct a 17-diamond softball and baseball complex in the area to meet a growing demand for playing fields and to attract major tournaments.

The plan now calls for the $10.4 million facility to be built on 120 acres of county-owned farm land southeast of Highway 13 and County Home Road adjacent to the Abbe Center.  Developers have asked the supervisors to donate the land, saying it’s the only way to make the project financially feasible.  Private fundraising along with anticipated grants would be used to raise the rest of the money.

Construction is to begin next year with the first games being played in 2013.

Xavier football prides itself on family links

The Xavier High School football program likes to consider itself one big family.

There are fathers and sons, uncles and nephews, younger brothers and brothers-in-law, former Xavier players, long-time assistants and devoted, supportive wives.

Don't forget the wives.

Xavier Coach Duane Schulte filled an entire page with family connections, then sent an addendum with two more names.

The Saints have a successful program and produce winning teams on a regular basis, and Schulte feels the family connections have a lot to do with it. The tradition gets passed along from member to member.

Kennedy too strong for Jeff/Prairie swimmers

Jefferson and Prairie are rivals in numerous varsity sports, but there's a new spirit of friendship in girls swimming this season.

The girls from Jefferson and Prairie are swimming on the same team under the Jefferson banner, and from all accounts it's going well.

"I think it was a really good decision to combine and see how it would work out," said Hailey Sullivan, one of 14 Prairie students on the combined team. "So far it's been going really great."

The Jefferson and Prairie girls swam together against Kennedy Tuesday night at the Jefferson pool, but the visiting Cougars were too strong and posted a 122-64 victory.

Heald made All-Madden Team (no kidding)

Washington receiver Flynn Heald was named to the All-Madden Team this summer, but it wasn't some Xbox competition with his high school buddies.

This was the real deal.

Heald made the prestigious All-Madden Team at the IMG Madden Football Academy in Bradenton, Fla., where 130 of the top high school players in the country gathered in late July to test their skills and learn more about the game.

Twenty-eight players were selected for the All-Madden Team, based on performance, and Heald was one of only three wide receivers named to the squad. The All-Madden Team is named for John Madden, the former NFL head coach and broadcaster.

Chris Weinke, a former Heisman Trophy quarterback at Florida State, is the director of the IMG Madden Football Academy. Former NFL quarterback Vinny Testaverde, former University of Miami quarterback Ken Dorsey and former NFL receiver Mark Carrier were among the instructors.

Heald learned one important lesson in Florida: He has to keep working hard, because at 6-foot and 185 pounds, his size alone is not going to open any doors.

"Out-working someone is the best way to go, because you have to find somebody in front of you and just keep working your way up the ladder," he said Monday after practice. "I think that's kind of my motto and kind of what I live by."