Eastern Iowa Sports and Rec

CEDAR RAPIDS — Off the airplane, into the game late, hero. What a day for Andy Workman. “I left my house this morning at 4:45,” the weary but happy outfielder said after his bloop single lifted the Cedar Rapids Kernels to a 4-3 walk-off win over Peoria last night at Memorial Stadium. “It’s definitely cool. I [...]

CEDAR RAPIDS — Before life in the pros, the lofty prospect status and even loftier million-dollar contract signing bonus, there was the Little League World Series. Or as Randal Grichuk calls it, the highlight of his baseball career so far. “I remember everything about it,” the Cedar Rapids Kernels outfielder said after he helped his [...]

CEDAR RAPIDS — It’s kind of like the minor league’s version of dumping salary at the trading deadline. The Cedar Rapids Kernels don’t really have a legit shot at making the Midwest League playoffs, so the parent Los Angeles Angels keep taking their best players and moving them to an affiliate that does. The Kernels [...]

CEDAR RAPIDS — Jeremy Cruz was overhearing a conversation about his Cedar Rapids Kernels leading the Midwest League this season in longest average game time. “I’m not helping with that,” he said. Cruz is a fastidious hitter, for sure. He steps out of the box after every pitch, adjusts his helmet and batting gloves and [...]

CEDAR RAPIDS — There’s no way you can say the Cedar Rapids Kernels have quit. But you’re talking elimination numbers now when it comes to the Midwest League playoffs, and that’s never a positive sign. “You’d rather get blown out than lose the one-run games,” Kernels catcher Marcus Nidiffer said after Sunday’s 3-2 loss to [...]

Former West Delaware prep B.J. Hermsen has been promoted by the parent Minnesota Twins from the Beloit Snappers of the Midwest League to the Fort Myers Miracle of the high-Class A Florida State League. Hermsen, 21, went 11-7 in 21 games, 20 starts, for Beloit, winning seven of his last nine decisions. His win total [...]

CEDAR RAPIDS — There’s not much hyperbole here. This road trip will probably make or break the Cedar Rapids Kernels. “We just got talking about that,” Manager Brent Del Chiaro said, after his team’s 3-2 loss to Quad Cities before 4,763 fans last night at Memorial Stadium. “I challenged them. If they can keep the [...]