Metro Sports Report

Plagman cleared; Lombardi faces hearing

An ethics complaint against Cedar Rapids Washington Principal Ralph Plagman has been dismissed by the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners following a year-long investigation of Dr. Plagman and Washington coach Tony Lombardi.

However, The BoEE has found "probable cause" in the complaint against Lombardi and his case will be set for a public hearing before an administrative law judge.

Darcy Lane, an attorney/investigator for the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners, notified Kathi Jensen of Cedar Rapids of the developments Monday afternoon. Jensen filed the formal complaints against Dr. Plagman and Lombardi, on behalf of herself and other Washington parents.

Tough brackets for Metro softball teams

If the Metro area is to have a representative in the Class 5A state softball tournament, that team is going to have to fight its way through one of the top three ranked teams in the state.

The Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union released the pairings for next month's regional tournaments on Monday and did no favors for the five Class 5A teams in the Metro.

Xavier, on the other hand, will get two games at home in the Class 4A tournament, giving the Saints a hand up in their bid for a state tourney berth.

Dates for the Class 5A and 4A regional tournaments are July 11 (quarterfinals), July 13 (semifinals) and July 16 (finals).

Local players in pro baseball

RYAN SWEENEY (Xavier, Chicago Cubs) - The Cubs were not scheduled to play Monday. Season stats: G - 39, Avg. - .309, AB - 94, H - 29, HR - 3, RBI - 13, SB - 0.

SCOTT SCHEBLER (Prairie, Rancho Cucamonga (Dodgers)) - Started in left field Monday and was 2-for-4 in the Quakes' 3-1 loss at Inland Empire. Has hit safely in his last 10 games, going 17-for-42 (.405) over that span. Season stats: G - 61, Avg. - .282, AB - 227, H - 64, HR - 10, RBI - 33, SB - 7.

KELLEN SWEENEY (Jefferson, Lansing (Blue Jays)) - Started at third base Monday and was 1-for-3 in the Lugnuts' 7-3 loss at Dayton. Season stats: G - 59, Avg. - .198, AB - 192, H - 38, HR - 3, RBI - 15, SB - 0.

ANDREW HANSE (Linn-Mar, Hudson Valley (Rays)) - Did not pitch Monday in the Renegades' 3-2 loss to Brooklyn. Season stats: W - 0. L - 0. Sv - 1. ERA - 3.00. G - 3. IP - 6. H - 6. BB - 1. SO - 5.

CHAD CHRISTENSEN (Washington, GCL Twins (Twins)) - Started at first base Monday and was 2-for-4 with an RBI in the Twins' 5-2 loss to the GCL Rays. Season stats: G - 2, Avg. - .444, AB - 9, H - 4, HR - 0, RBI - 2, SB - 0.

Kepler ready to go for Kernels

It may surprise some Cedar Rapids Kernels fans to learn that, even with the promotion of fan-favorite Byron Buxton on Sunday, the Kernels still have an outfielder in their lineup that was ranked among the Top 10 prospects of the parent Minnesota Twins coming into the season.

The reason for the surprise is that few Kernels fans have yet to see that prospect on the ball field.

Max Kepler was promoted to Cedar Rapids last week and arrived just in time to join the team for their trip to Appleton, Wis., to face the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers. He had five hits in the four-game series and three of those hits were doubles.

Kepler, who was ranked as the No.8 Twins prospect by mlb.com and the No.10 Twins prospect by Baseball America before the season started, was expected to open the 2013 season as a member of the Kernels outfield. An elbow injury suffered during spring training resulted in Kepler being held back in extended spring training.