Metro Sports Report

Home dates for 4 Metro 4A teams

We nailed 'em.

The pairings were released for the Class 4A baseball tournament Tuesday and they were just as we predicted.

Kennedy will host Jefferson, Xavier entertains Dubuque Senior, Waterloo West is at Prairie and Cedar Falls travels to Linn-Mar for Class 4A first round subtstate tournament games Friday, July 15.  Washington will play at Iowa City West, which returns most of its team from last year's state runner-up squad.

Kennedy is the defending state champion and is ranked seventh in the state by the Iowa High School Baseball Coaches Association. The Cougars have beaten Jefferson twice, so far, with a third game on tap Tuesday night at Kennedy.

Xavier, ranked No. 9, split its two games with Senior last Friday at Dubuque.

Prairie split its doubleheader with Waterloo West in mid-June. Linn-Mar, meanwhile, lost twice last week at Cedar Falls. Washington also dropped both ends of its doubleheader at Iowa City West last month.

McNeal, Mehring pitch Saints to sweep

The M&M Boys were mm-mmm good for the Xavier Saints Tuesday night.

First McNeal, then Mehring.

Ean McNeal tossed a one-hit shutout as the No.9 Saints blanked Cedar Falls, 3-0, in the first game of a Mississippi Valley Conference twinbill at Ken Charipar Field.

Dane Mehring got the ball in the nightcap and pitched a three-hit shutout as the Saints belted the Tigers, 9-0, to complete a masterful doubleheader.

The M&M Boys mowed 'em down.

"Coach Schemmel told us this was the first back-to-back shutouts in a doubleheader in a really long time," Mehring said proudly after he completed the twin-killing.

It might have been the first double-shutout in school history.

"I don't remember the last time it's happened," Coach Dave Schemmel remarked. "I don't know if it's ever happened while I've coached at Xavier. Usually we give up a run here or there, so this was a pretty good night."

McNeal was touched for a clean infield single in the second inning of the opener, but that was it. The Tigers didn't come close to getting another hit the entire game.

In fact, McNeal didn't need his outfielders for most of the game. The ball never left the infield until the Tigers' leadoff batter in the seventh inning flied out to right field. McNeal then finished the game with a ground ball and his sixth strikeout.

McNeal (7-1) used his curveball to keep the Tigers off-balance.

"I changed the grip before the game and it definitely worked," he said. "It broke a little bit more than usual."

Former Metro preps in pro baseball

RYAN SWEENEY (Xavier, Oakland Athletics) -- Started in left field Tuesday and was 1-for-4 with a single in the Athletics' 4-2 loss to the Mariners.
Year-to-date: Batting avg. -- .285 (41-144), HR -- 0, RBI -- 10, 2B -- 5, 3B -- 1, R -- 15, SB -- 1.

MATT HOLLAND (Marion, GCL Phillies) -- Did not play Tuesday in the Phillies' 3-1 win over the GCL Braves.
Year-to-date: Batting avg. -- .333 (10-30), HR -- 1, RBI -- 5, 2B -- 4, 3B -- 0, R -- 10, SB -- 0.

SCOTT SCHEBLER (Prairie, Ogden (Dodgers)) -- Started in right field and was 2-for-5 with a triple, two runs scored and an RBI Tuesday in Ogden's 8-6 win over Orem.
Year-to-date: Batting avg. -- .342 (26-76), HR -- 2, RBI -- 16, 2B -- 4, 3B -- 3, R -- 12, SB -- 0.

KELLEN SWEENEY (Jefferson, Bluefield (Blue Jays)) -- Did not play Tuesday in Bluefield's 7-6 loss to Johnson City.
Year-to-date: Batting avg. -- .114 (4-35), HR -- 0, RBI -- 1, 2B -- 1, 3B -- 0, R -- 4, SB -- 0.

NATE WOODS (Xavier, GCL Marlins) -- Started at first base and was 0-for-4 in the Marlins' 9-6 win over the GCL Astros.
Year-to-date: Batting avg. -- .289 (11-38), HR -- 0, RBI -- 4, 2B -- 3, 3B -- 0, R -- 8, SB -- 0.

Cougars give old buddy a rough time

Alex Larson wanted a chance to pitch against his friends and former Kennedy teammates Monday afternoon, but it was not a happy Fourth of July for Larson or the Jefferson J-Hawks.

Larson was chased early and the seventh-ranked Cougars pounded the J-Hawks, 15-5, in five innings at the Jefferson field.

Larson grew up in the Kennedy district and saw spot duty for the Cougars last summer when they won the Class 4A state title. His family moved into the Jefferson district and he elected to spend his senior year with the J-Hawks, although he would have been eligible at Kennedy High School as well.

Larson has played regularly at Jefferson this season and he welcomed the opportunity to pitch against Kennedy. Jefferson Coach Mike Kuba was happy to oblige.

"I actually told Coach I wanted the ball," Larson said. "I just wanted a shot at them."

The game began poorly for Larson and did not improve from there. He hit his friend, Terrell Sykes, with the second pitch of the game and then walked three straight batters. Before the first inning was over, the Cougars had scored three runs on no hits, four walks, two wild pitches and one hit batter.

Griffin Michael blasted a two-run homer off Larson in the second inning and Sykes chased Larson from the mound in the third inning with another two-run shot to make it 8-0.