Metro Sports Report

Kernels sting Bees for 7th win in row

The Cedar Rapids Kernels have not spent any time moping about Byron Buxton's promotion to the Florida State League this week.

They've spent all their time winning.

The Kernels won their seventh straight game Thursday night with a 9-0 romp past the Burlington Bees before 2,445 fans in a Midwest League game at Veterans Memorial Stadium.

Christian Powell and Tyler Jones combined on the one-hit shutout as Cedar Rapids climbed 19 games over .500 at 47-28, its high-water mark of the campaign.

Linn-Mar errors gift-wrap Saints sweep

There was a mini-celebration around the dugout after Cedar Rapids Xavier's softball sweep over visiting Linn-Mar at Bob Erusha Field.

The Saints and their fans broke out in song, singing "Happy Birthday" to Xavier Coach Nikki Price.

Ironically, Price and her team got more than their share of gifts from the Lions during the games. Linn-Mar committed seven errors in the two games and a pop fly that dropped for a hit on what would have been the final out, led to a nine-run first-inning explosion the propelled the Saints to a 13-1 win in three innings in Game 1.

The nightcap was much more competitive, but two crucial errors led to three Xavier runs as the Saints won, 5-2.

Surging Warriors split with Cougars

It was a classic combination of long ball and small ball.

The suddenly surging Washington girls used both Thursday night to pull out a comeback 2-1 win over Kennedy in the nightcap of their softball doubleheader at cozy Franklin Field.

In a game of errors, the Cougars coasted 5-1 in the opener.

Improved Cougars trim Ottumwa, 6-5

The Kennedy High School baseball team began the season with few players with any varsity experience. As June ends, it is clear they could be building for a strong finish.

Hosting Ottumwa for a non-conference battle Thursday night, the Cougars banged out 10 hits for a 6-5 victory.

Jared Staton drove in Zach Daniels in the bottom of the sixth to break a 5-5 ballgame and David King pitched the seventh inning to save the victory for Sammy Lizarraga.