Metro Spotlight

Lizarraga wins Metro Spotlight Award

Cedar Rapids Kennedy junior Sammy Lizarraga is the winner of the Metro Spotlight Award for high school boys this week, the Metro Sports Report announced Sunday.

Lizarraga has helped the third-ranked Kennedy baseball team (31-6) reach the Class 4A state tournament as a pitcher, catcher and hitter. He has a perfect 7-0 record on the mound with a 1.45 ERA, including a team-high 53 strikeouts in 58 innings pitched. He is hitting .299 with two home runs and a team-best 34 RBIs in 36 games.

In addition to his pitching and hitting, Lizarraga is recognized as one of the top defensive catchers in the Mississippi Valley Conference with a good glove and strong arm.

Lizarraga has been named first team All-District by the Iowa High School Baseball Coaches Association.

Kennedy will face Southeast Polk in the opening round of the state tournament Wednesday at 8 p.m. at Principal Park in Des Moines.

Emily Oler wins Metro Spotlight Award

Cedar Rapids Washington freshman Emily Oler is the winner of the Metro Spotlight Award for high school girls this week, the Metro Sports Report announced Sunday.

Oler helped the Washington softball team enjoy a winning season this year with her hitting and pitching as just a ninth grader.

Oler finished third in the Metro area in the power departments with eight home runs and 47 RBIs, trailing only Erin Drahozal of Xavier and Gabi Carter of Prairie. She also hit .379 for the Warriors.

Oler helped Washington in the pitching circle with a 9-9 record and 2.16 ERA, making her a dual threat with her bat and arm. She was named second team all-Metro and second team all-Mississippi Valley Conference.

Washington finished 22-17 overall and 13-13 in the MVC.

David Kuhn wins Metro Spotlight Award

Marion junior David Kuhn is the winner of the Metro Spotlight Award for high school boys this week, the Metro Sports Report announced Sunday.

Kuhn pitched two no-hitters for the Indians in Wamac Conference games in June.

He tossed his first no-hitter in an 11-0 victory against Vinton-Shellsburg June 2. He struck out 12 batters and walked only two.

Kuhn twirled his second no-hitter three weeks later in an 8-0 triumph over Independence June 23. He whiffed nine batters in that contest with only one walk.

Kuhn has a 5-1 record and 1.66 ERA for Marion this season. He has struck out 51 batters in 38 innings, with 13 walks. Opponents are hitting only .143 against him.

Kuhn, also an outfielder, is hitting .278 with 11 RBIs.

Marion is 14-12 overall and 11-9 in Wamac games.

Gabi Carter wins Metro Spotlight Award

Cedar Rapids Prairie junior Gabi Carter is the winner of the Metro Spotlight Award for high school girls this week, the Metro Sports Report announced Sunday.

Carter is hitting .461 for the Hawks with eight home runs and 46 RBIs. She ranks fourth in Class 5A in RBIs and is tied for sixth in homers.

Carter leads Prairie in hits, doubles, homers, RBIs and batting average. Remarkably, she has struck out only once in 128 plate appearances.

Prairie is ranked 10th in the state and has a 24-10 record heading into the final week of the regular season and the playoffs.

Carter has a .508 on-base percentage and a .791 slugging percentage.