TUESDAY'S SCOREBOARD - MWL - Kernels 6, Burlington 2

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Today's Line-up

Cougars top All-Metro baseball team
Kernels suspend Boyd for breaking rules
Chih-Wei Hu named Pitcher of the Week
Daniels honored in MVC baseball
Kernels promote Kanzler, add Max Murphy
Metro Players in Pro Baseball
4 Cougars top all-district baseball

Metro Sports Report

Kernels' reliever Chris Mazza threw 1.1 strong innings in the team's 6-2 win Tuesday night. MSR Photo by Ken Gilchrist.

DiMaggio's cousin gives Kernels a boost

Tue - 29 Jul Written by Jim Ecker

You don't find too many New York Yankees fans out in California, but Kernels relief pitcher Chris Mazza had a good reason for cheering for the Bronx Bombers when he was growing up.

The famous DiMaggio brothers - Joe, Dom and Vince - are his third cousins and he actually met Joe DiMaggio when he was a little kid.

"My great grandmother is a DiMaggio," Mazza related Tuesday night after helping the Kernels trim Burlington, 6-2. "I kind of grew up a Yankees fan my whole life."

Mazza, from Clayton, Calif., tossed 1.1 scoreless innings for Cedar Rapids Tuesday before 2,440 fans at Veterans Memorial Stadium.

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Cougars take 3 aces to state tourney

Tue - 29 Jul Written by Jim Ecker

Kennedy Coach Bret Hoyer is like a wily poker player with three aces up his sleeve and a big pile of chips on the table.

He wants to use all three aces and win the pot of gold, but he's not sure how quickly to show his hand before trying to cash in.

His top ace is Zach Daniels with his 8-1 record and 1.02 ERA, but Daniels is also his star second baseman and a trump card on defense.

His next ace is Sammy Lizarraga with his 7-0 mark and 1.45 ERA, but Lizarraga is also an all-star catcher with superb defensive skills behind the place.

His other ace is Blake Hargens with his 8-1 record and 1.10 ERA, but Hargens did not get to pitch in the substate tournament and could be a little rusty.

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Daniels enjoys special year with Cougars

Mon - 28 Jul Written by Jim Ecker

Kennedy junior Zach Daniels has been playing baseball for as long as he can remember. Fielding grounders, swinging a bat, throwing a ball.

He was just a toddler when it all began.

"My dad started doing stuff with me when I was 2 years old," he said Monday night after practice. "Like in the back yard, he'd hit me some balls and I'd hit off the tee.

"I started at a really young age," he said with a grin.

It's paid off for Daniels, who has enjoyed a special year with the third-ranked Cougars on their path to the Class 4A state tournament.

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Lizarraga wins Metro Spotlight Award

Sun - 27 Jul Written by Metro Sports Report

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.

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Emily Oler wins Metro Spotlight Award

Sun - 27 Jul Written by Metro Sports Report

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.

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Sunday, July 27	Thursday, July 31
MWL: Kernels 4, Dayton 1	MWL: Burlington at Kernels, 6:35 p.m.
Monday, July 28	Friday, Aug. 1
MWL: Dayton 3, Kernels 2	MWL: Kernels at Beloit, 7 p.m.
Tuesday, July 29	State baseball tournament, TBD
MWL: Kernels 6, Burlington 2
Wednesday, July 30	Saturday, Aug. 2
MWL: Burlington at Kernels, 6:35 p.m.	MWL: Kernels at Beloit, 7 p.m.
CLASS 4A STATE BASEBALL QUARTERFINALS	State baseball tournament, TBD
Kennedy vs. Southeast Polk at Des Moines, 8 p.m.	Sunday, Aug. 3
	MWL: Kernels at Beloit, 7 p.m.

Today's Line-up

Metro Sports Report

DiMaggio's cousin gives Kernels a boost

Cougars take 3 aces to state tourney

Daniels enjoys special year with Cougars

Lizarraga wins Metro Spotlight Award

Emily Oler wins Metro Spotlight Award

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Wednesday, July 30, 2014