MARION – Sometimes the unexpected pays off big. Cedar Rapids Xavier baseball coach Dave Schemmel may be inclined to believe that after watching senior pitcher Zach Brown throw a no-hitter last night in a 4-0 victory over Linn-Mar Tuesday night in the semifinals of the Bob Vrbicek Metro baseball tournament at Linn-Mar. Brown struck out [...]

CEDAR RAPIDS — Come a time in the not-so-distant future, people will brag about how they saw Byron Buxton play baseball in Cedar Rapids before he began tearing it up in the majors with the Minnesota Twins. The Cedar Rapids Kernels have provided more good baseball in the first six weeks of this year’s Midwest [...]

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa — An early six run deficit wasn’t the way the Wartburg Knights had envisioned starting the Iowa Conference baseball tournament, but the Knights never doubted themselves Saturday and rallied to defeat Coe, 7-6, at Veterans Memorial Stadium for the title and the league’s automatic berth in the NCAA Division III tournament. “Down [...]

CEDAR RAPIDS – Ryan Sweeney didn’t want to go back down to the minor leagues, but that’s the way it worked out. At least he wasn’t there very long. The Cedar Rapids Xavier graduate was recalled Monday by the Chicago Cubs from the Triple-A Iowa Cubs. It was immediately uncertain if the 28-year-old outfielder would [...]

CEDAR RAPIDS – Reviews of the brand-new movie “42″ have been unanimously favorable. Sounds like that’s the way it is for the guys in the Cedar Rapids Kernels clubhouse who have seen the story of Jackie Robinson breaking baseball’s color barrier. It’s so good and so inspiring, hitting coach Tommy Watkins has screened it twice already, and it’s [...]

A night after scoring nine runs, the Cedar Rapids Kernels were limited to three hits by the Beloit Snappers. That’s through eight innings. The Kernels rallied for two runs in the bottom of the ninth, with Travis Harrison scoring from second on Niko Goodrum’s one-out lined single to right for a 3-2 win Friday night [...]

CEDAR RAPIDS – The legend of Byron Buxton began when he five years old. In an odd sort of way. Not having enough players for his recreational softball team, Felton Buxton decided it prudent to put his son out in right field. The youngster handled himself pretty well, with the exception of one play. “I got [...]

CEDAR RAPIDS – He has promised his West Coast wife, Tasha, that they’re going to move to a warmer climate. Arizona is the eventual destination. But, for now, Ryan Sweeney just can’t get her out of Iowa. The outfielder from Cedar Rapids said he signed a minor-league contract Tuesday afternoon with the Chicago Cubs. He’s [...]

KISSIMMEE, Fla. (AP) — Fresh from pitching against solid Atlanta hitters, Jake Westbrook faced a far trickier test: Guess how much fans paid for box seats to watch the exhibition game. “Hmmm, I have no idea,” the St. Louis starter ventured. “Twenty bucks?” Gotcha! $54 for top tickets sold Tuesday at the Braves’ ballpark at [...]