Metro Sports Report

Williamsburg matches 2017 win total

Starting a season with a 4-2 record doesn't usually generate much talk.

After splitting Sunday's Iowa Valley League doubleheader with the defending league champion Stars, Williamsburg manager Lloyd Brockshus quipped: "This is great, we've already matched the number of games we won all last season."

The Red Sox jumped out to a 3-0 lead after two innings, then rode the strong pitching of Tanner Jansen and reliever Dustin Meirotto, to hold on for a 3-2 victory in the opener at Mount Mercy's Robert W. Plaster Athletic Complex on Sunday.

A four-run fourth-inning outburst allowed the Stars (3-3) to rally for a 5-2 victory in the nightcap.

Williamsburg has been the surprise team over the first three weeks. After finishing just 4-16 last summer in the IVL, an influx of new players, combined with a few returning standouts have the Red Sox playing winning baseball in 2018.

"On some of the past teams we didn't have as much competitiveness," said Cam Frazier, a Cedar Rapids Jefferson grad now playing at Coe. "This year we brought in a lot of (NCAA Division III) talent. We've had a lot of Simpson players step up for us big-time."

Emil's Hideaway rules the IWSL

Terrific defense and strong pitching were the order of the day in the Iowa Women's Softball League games at Mount Mercy on Sunday.

Unfortunately for the teams that were supposed to play at Simpson College, wet weather won the day in Indianola.

Emil's Hideaway won both of its games at Busse Field in Cedar Rapids, topping Ironside Apparel and Hawkeye Convenience Stores. Hawkeye Convenience Stores defeated Ironside Apparel in the other contest.

Bosch Financial and Metro Sports Report were rained out at Simpson.

Norway, Red Top sweep IVL games

Norway and Red Top swept their Iowa Valley League doubleheaders on  Sunday, creating a logjam in the standings.

Williamsburg and Norway are tied for first place with 4-2 records  after three weeks. Red Top and the Stars are both 3-3, with Walford  and Watkins in contention at 2-4.

NORWAY SWEEPS WALFORD

NORWAY - The Norway Bandits received excellent pitching Sunday and  swept their doubleheader from Walford, 4-1 and 7-0.

Colby Carmichael took a no-hitter into the seventh inning of the  opener before allowing a run on three singles.

Mitch Walser belted a three-run homer for Norway in the first game.  Christian Stekl had two hits and scored twice. Braedon Brown had two  hits and Riley Braughton contributed an RBI single.

Dralle relishes dual sport career

Tyler Dralle wouldn't have it any other way.

Dralle was a standout in both football and baseball during his prep career at Cedar Rapids Kennedy.

When it came time for college, Dralle wanted to continue his dual sports participation at Coe.

Now preparing for his junior year with the Kohawks, Dralle has a busy summer ahead. During the week, he hits the weights hard at Coe. On Sundays, he's back playing baseball again for the Stars in the Iowa Valley League.

"This summer I've been lifting five days a week," he said. "Then on the weekend, I play for fun with the Stars."

Dralle was a key member of the Stars' IVL and IABA state championship teams last summer and was back working in the outfield during the team's home opener last Sunday at Mount Mercy.

The upcoming football and baseball seasons at Coe are setting up to be big ones for Dralle. On the gridiron, he rushed for 452 yards in six games before missing the final four games due to a leg injury as the Kohawks finished 4-6.