Metro Sports Report

Christensen sets record in Cougars' sweep

Austin Christensen climbed into the Kennedy High School record book in style Friday night.

Christensen tossed a one-hitter and became the winningest pitcher in school history as the No.5 Cougars blanked Dubuque Wahlert, 3-0, in the first game of a Mississippi Valley Conference doubleheader at Kennedy Field.

Kennedy won the second game, 11-1, in six innings behind a strong pitching performance by Adam Lloyd.

With the sweep, the Cougars climbed over Wahlert to the top of the Mississippi Division standings with an 18-4 record with four games left in the conference race. Wahlert fell to 17-5.

Christensen passed Danny Bales as the winningest pitcher in school history with his 27th victory. Bales compiled a 26-7 record from 2001-04, while Christensen is 27-6 since 2008.

Christensen is now the most prolific pitcher in school history and the most prolific hitter as well, with school records for single-season home runs, career home runs and career RBIs to complement his newest record for career victories.

"It's incredible. I don't know what to say, to be honest," Christensen remarked. "There have been so many good players to come through Kennedy, like I've said a million times. Kennedy has such a good tradition in baseball and to have my name up there is pretty awesome."

Kennedy Coach Bret Hoyer had one word to describe his star player. "Unique," the coach said, smiling broadly.

KGYM launching 3-hour talk show Tuesday

Rob Norton believes strongly in local programming on his radio stations in Cedar Rapids. Now he's taking a bold new step to prove it.

Starting this Tuesday, KGYM will feature a three-hour talk show with sports journalists Brent Balbinot and Todd Brommelkamp that will run from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday.

The show will focus heavily on the Iowa Hawkeyes, but also plans to feature Iowa State, Northern Iowa, high school sports, the local scene and topics of national interest.

Norton is the president of KGYM (ESPN 1600) and KZIA (Z 102.9), the locally owned stations that are housed in southwest Cedar Rapids. The additional hours of sports talk is his idea and he's confident the community reaction will be favorable.

"I think it will be good, or I wouldn't have done it," he said Thursday.

The Dan Patrick Show, which has been running on KGYM from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. during the week, will be broadcast from noon until 3 p.m. starting this Tuesday. The Scott Van Pelt Show, which has been running from noon to 2 p.m., will be bumped to make room for Patrick.

As part of the new schedule, the Gym Class featuring Scott Unash and Mark Dukes will be broadcast from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m., giving KGYM four straight hours of local sports talk. The Gym Class has been running from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m.

Former Metro preps in pro baseball

RYAN SWEENEY (Xavier, Oakland Athletics) -- Pinch ran and played left field with no at-bats Saturday in the Athletics' 4-2 loss to the Diamondbacks.
Year-to-date: Batting avg. -- .286 (40-140), HR -- 0, RBI -- 10, 2B -- 5, 3B -- 1, R -- 15, SB -- 1.

MATT HOLLAND (Marion, GCL Phillies) -- Started at first base in Saturday's first game of a doubleheader and was 1-for-3 with a double, RBI and runs scored in the Phillies' 3-2, 10-inning win over the GCL Tigers. Was designated hitter in the second game and was 0-for-1 with three walks and a run scored in a 7-4 loss to the Tigers.
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 Saturday and went 2-for-4 in Ogden's 3-2 win at Idaho Falls.
Year-to-date: Batting avg. -- .328 (20-61), HR -- 2, RBI -- 12, 2B -- 2, 3B -- 1, R -- 9, SB -- 0.

KELLEN SWEENEY (Jefferson, Bluefield (Blue Jays)) -- Did not play Saturday in Bluefield's 3-2 win over Princeton.
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) -- Was designated hitter Saturday and was 1-for-4 with an RBI and double in the Marlins' 6-4 win over the GCL Cardinals..
Year-to-date: Batting avg. -- .310 (9-29), HR -- 0, RBI -- 3, 2B -- 3, 3B -- 0, R -- 6, SB -- 0.

Petersen's gem lifts Jeff past No.5 Ottumwa

OTTUMWA -- Jefferson dropped three spots in the Class 4A softball poll released Friday, but took a step toward heading back up the rankings later in the day.

Hannah Petersen tossed a one-hit shutout and the No.7 J-Hawks nipped No.5 Ottumwa, 1-0, in the Ottumwa Classic.

Jefferson (28-6) scored its only run in the fourth inning. Rachel Sedlacek smacked a lead-off double and scored on Kailey Drake's single.

Petersen and the J-Hawks worked out of a bases-loaded jam in the sixth with an inning-ending groundout to shortstop Carson Burgart.

Jefferson also beat Cardinal of Eldon, 16-6, in six innings. The J-Hawks rallied from a 6-1 deficit with a 17-hit attack that featured five home runs and a 10-run fourth inning.

Sophomore Amber Grimm belted a three-run home run, Burgart swatted two homers, and Sedlacek and Kenna Fry also hit homers. Sedlacek has 10 home runs.

Jefferson is idle until Tuesday, when it plays a doubleheader at Dubuque Wahlert.