Metro Sports Report

IHSAA changes rules for baseball, golf

BOONE - In an effort to give the best teams an advantage during future state baseball tournaments at Des Moines' Principal Park, the Iowa High School Athletic Association will no longer utilize coin flips to determine home and visiting teams. Instead, the highest-seeded teams will have the choice of being the home team or visiting squad.

The ruling came Wednesday morning at the IHSAA monthly board meeting in Boone. Roger Barr, the head of the Baseball Advisory Committee, made the recommendation to the board.

"We felt that it was rewarding the highest-seeded team for their hard work during the season," said Barr. "We think that should be carried through.

Playoffs feature 1,000-yard rushers

There are certain milestones in sports that elevate an athlete to elite heights, such as rushing for 1,000 yards during a football season.

The Metro area has three of them this year and they'll be on display when the Class 4A playoffs begin Wednesday night.

Two of the 1,000-yard runners - Miles Moa of Kennedy and Mitch Christensen of Prairie - will match skills when the Cougars (6-3) and Hawks (5-4) battle in the second game of a playoff twinbill at Kingston Stadium at approximately 8 p.m.

The third 1,000-yard runner - Brendan Miller of Xavier - will try to help the sixth-ranked Saints (8-1) take care of Clinton (4-5) in a Class 4A game at Xavier at 7 p.m.

Perkins proud of wounded Indians

The Marion Indians are battered and bruised, but they're still fighting as they head into the Class 3A playoffs Wednesday night.

Marion (4-5) will be heavy underdogs when it faces 10th-ranked West Delaware (8-1) in the opening round in Manchester, but Coach Tony Perkins is proud they've made it this far during a season riddled with injuries.

The Indians have started seven different offensive lines in nine games due to injuries. Nick Kramer, their new starting tailback, had never played the position before being pressed into action this past Friday night.

The disabled list is a nightmare.

Football prevues - Oct. 30

The second season starts Wednesday when the playoffs kickoff in six classes across the state.

On the local front there are four games, including a doubleheader at Kingston Stadium.

Xavier is on a quest to reach its second consecutive Class 4A title game. The Saints (8-1) host Clinton (4-5) in a game that shapes up as a huge mismatch.

The highlight of the evening is at Kingston Stadium and features a pair of rematches. Washington (6-3) hosts Cedar Falls (6-3) at 5:30 p.m. and Kennedy (6-3) hosts Prairie (5-4) at approximately 8 p.m.