Kernels end first half with 15-5 rout of Burlington

It's not like anyone is pushing him out the door and on an airplane to California. The Cedar Rapids Kernels and their fans would love to see Mike Trout stay around here the rest of the season.

But, frankly, that's not going to happen. And what better way to go out than this.

The 18-year-old phenom went 3-for-4 with a walk, three runs and two RBIs as the Kernels nuked the Burlington Bees, 15-5, Sunday afternoon before 2,805 fans at Veterans Memorial Stadium.

Cedar Rapids finished the Midwest League's first half with a 43-26 record and Western Division champions. Trout finished it with the MWL's best batting average (. 370) and on-base percentage (. 445) and its most hits (92) and stolen bases (33).

The Midwest League All-Star Game is Tuesday night in Fort Wayne, Ind., and Trout will start for the West. The second half begins Friday in Peoria, and it seems it's a 50-50 deal whether Trout will be a Kernel then or a Rancho Cucamonga Quake.

That's the next stop in the Los Angeles Angels farm system.

“I don't know, but I think it's going to be close,” acknowledged Kernels Manager Bill Mosiello. “It's not going to be too long (before he's promoted). But I don't know exactly what day it's going to be.”

For his part, Trout is taking the high road - wherever that leads.

“Wherever I go, I go, man,” he said. “I just want to try and win a championship. Go out there and try to hit the ball hard every time.”

The Kernels hit it hard and soft Sunday, but mostly where Burlington fielders weren't. Cedar Rapids scored 10 runs in the first inning on 11 hits, part of a 20-hit attack.

All nine Kernels starters had a hit and eight of the nine had at least two. Cedar Rapids has scored the most runs in the MWL.

“Bottom line is they have done an incredible job,” Mosiello said.

Before the game, Janet and Duane Gigeous of Algonguin, Ill, presented the Kernels Foundation with a check for $5,000 from the Nick Adenhart Memorial Fund. The Gigeouses are the mother and stepfather of Adenhart, the former Kernels pitcher who was killed in an auto accident after a game he pitched for the Angels last April.

The Kernels unveiled a portrait of Adenhart that has been affixed to the fence in left-center field at Memorial Stadium.

“Nick loved it here,” said Janet Gigeous. “This is where his career started. It will always hold a special place in our hearts.”