Metro Sports Report

Clark stars as Eagles sweep Northeast

NORFOLK, Neb. - Cal Clark hit a grand slam and drove in nine runs  Monday as the eighth-ranked Kirkwood Eagles swept a conference  doubleheader from Northeast Community College, 12-1 and 7-4.

The first game was stopped after five innings due to the college mercy rule.

Clark, a second baseman from Cedar Rapids Prairie, went 3-for-3 with a  double, grand slam and seven RBIs in the first game and collected two  more RBIs in the second game.

Ellison Hanna went 3-for-4 with a double, home run, two RBIs and three  runs in the opener. Izaya Fullard also went 3-for-4 with a double and  scored twice. Spencer Wiskus and Ross Kramer scored twice.

Peyton (1-1) pitched a complete game in the opener for his first  victory of the season. He allowed only two hits and one unearned run  in the 12-1 triumph, with nine strikeouts and no walks.

Taylor Jackson, Fullard and Wiskus had two hits in the 7-4 victory in  the second game. Korry Howell, Fullard and Wiskus scored twice.  Jackson hit a triple.

Stewart playing like All-American for Eagles

Rachel Stewart had two big adjustments to make when she joined the Kirkwood softball team this season.

Stewart was a stalwart at second base for Davenport West during her last three years in high school, but Kirkwood Coach Joe Yegge asked her to move to shortstop due to an injury to another player.

In addition, Stewart hit in the No. 3 spot in high school last season and Yegge wanted her to succeed National Player of the Year Taylor Nearad in the leadoff slot for the Eagles.

She has handled both adjustments in stellar fashion.

"She's been great," Yegge said Sunday after Stewart enjoyed another big day. "She's putting up All-American numbers.

"She didn't want to play shortstop, and when we asked her to do it she was a little hesitant. But she's got a good glove, she's confident now in her arm. She's doing a great job."

No. 8 Eagles sweep Northeast CC

NORFOLK, Neb. - The eighth-ranked Kirkwood Eagles got strong pitching Sunday and swept their conference doubleheader from Northeast Community College in Norfolk, Neb.

Hunter Lee tossed a four-hitter with 12 strikeouts as the Eagles defeated Northeast, 5-1, in the first game.

Cameron Leff pitched six strong innings in an 11-1 triumph in the nightcap, allowing one run on four hits with eight strikeouts.

Lee and Leff raised their records to 6-1.

Ellison Hanna hit a home run and drove in three runs for Kirkwood in the first game. Izaya Fullard also had an RBI for the Eagles.

Halvorson tosses shutout for Eagles

Natalie Halvorson had to get healthy before she could become a successful pitcher for the Kirkwood Eagles this season.

It took a long time.

"It probably took about four months for me to feel better," she said Saturday afternoon.

Halvorson began feeling weak last fall. Climbing two flights of stairs was difficult. She spent a few days in the hospital and missed three or four days of school.

Halvorson was reluctant to reveal the diagnosis, but she did not need an operation. Medication finally solved the problem.

She feels fine now, but it was an ordeal.

"It was physically draining," she said. "It was tough to come back from it, mentally and physically."

Halvorson said she felt normal again in February, just in time for the 2018 college softball season to begin. Very little has held her back since.