Metro Sports Report

Former Metro preps in pro baseball

RYAN SWEENEY (Xavier, Oakland Athletics) -- Came in as a pinch hitter and was 0-for-1, then moved to center field Thursday in the Athletics' 22-9 loss to the Yankees.
Year-to-date: Batting avg. -- .282 (62-220), HR -- 1, RBI -- 21, 2B -- 11, 3B -- 1, R -- 27, SB -- 1.

MATT HOLLAND (Marion, GCL Phillies) -- Started at designated hitter Thursday and was 1-for-4 with an RBI in the Phillies' 5-3 win over the GCL Pirates.
Year-to-date: Batting avg. -- .235 (24-102), HR -- 3, RBI -- 14, 2B -- 7, 3B -- 0, R -- 18, SB -- 1.

SCOTT SCHEBLER (Prairie, Ogden (Dodgers)) -- Started in right field Thursday and was 1-for-4 with a home run and two RBIs in Ogden's 12-0 win over Missoula.
Year-to-date: Batting avg. -- .282 (69-245), HR -- 9, RBI -- 47, 2B -- 15, 3B -- 6, R -- 37, SB -- 1.

KELLEN SWEENEY (Jefferson, Bluefield (Blue Jays)) -- On the disabled list with a cracked bone in his left wrist and has not played since June 30.
Year-to-date: Batting avg. -- .114 (4-35), HR -- 0, RBI -- 1, 2B -- 1, 3B -- 0, R -- 4, SB -- 0.

NATE WOODS (Xavier, Jupiter (Marlins)) -- The Hammerheads were not scheduled to play Thursday. They played a doubleheader Wednesday in advance of Hurricane Irene. Year-to-date: Batting avg. .263 (10-38), HR -- 1, RBI -- 4, 2B -- 2, 3B -- 0, R -- 2, SB -- 0.

Jeff's rugged road begins with No. 8 Lions

Seven football teams in the Mississippi Valley Conference received votes in the Associated Press poll this week.

The Jefferson J-Hawks are scheduled to play six of them this year, all but Iowa City High.

Some teams can't catch a break.

Jefferson begins its rigorous campaign Thursday night by hosting No. 8 Linn-Mar in the 2011 opener at Kingston Stadium in southwest Cedar Rapids.

Kickoff is scheduled for 7:15 p.m.

The J-Hawks lost all nine of their games last season and have dropped 13 straight. They haven't won a game since beating Dubuque Senior, 20-13, on Sept. 25, 2009.

It's been 23 months since Jefferson last won a high school football game.

"To be honest with you, you guys from the media are the ones who brought it to my attention that it's been 13 in a row," Coach Jim Womochil said Wednesday.

"Obviously there's anxiety around here to be successful," he said. "And to say that you're not aware of it and it doesn't grow on your kids and your staff, I'd be lying."

Womochil remains confident and up-beat. He has a huge offensive line, an experienced quarterback and 19 players who have started games during their careers. "I think experience is in our favor," he said.

A final look before the ball gets kicked

With the high school football season kicking off in earnest this week, it's time to take a quick snapshot of the eight Metro football squads. I will not be predicting records for each of the teams, but just taking a look at what I think each team needs to do to be successful. After talking to all the coaches over the last three weeks on the KGYM Coaches Corner, here are some of the observations I have noted:

Cedar Valley Christian - The task is simple. Get better each week and learn. Wins and losses do not mean anything this season. It is difficult to start a program from the ground up, especially with a group of kids who basically have never played the sport before. The Huskies will be playing four varsity games this first season with the possibility of picking up another JV game or two. It will be great for the new program to get in as many games as they can to learn the game, especially for the younger players. The Huskies have athletes, they just need to continue to make them football players.

Red-hot Cougars claim Johnston golf title

GRANGER - The Cedar Rapids Kennedy boys golf team turned Jester Park into its personal playground Wednesday.

Brigham Stewart grabbed medalist honors with a 1-under-par 71 as Kennedy topped a strong field at the Johnston Invitational by 10 strokes.

Cody Bell tied for third with a 1-over-par 73, Harrison Moore tied for fifth with a 2-over 74 and Tyler Kalina tied for 10th with a 78, giving the Cougars a four-man total of 8-over 296.

Ames finished in second place at 306, followed by Dowling (313), Johnston (316), Urbandale (322), Waterloo West (324), Southeast Polk (325) and Des Moines Lincoln (376).