Sweeney back playing with the J-Hawks, not the Jays

CEDAR RAPIDS - Kellen Sweeney's first at-bat back Friday night was a three-run home run. Go figure.“First pitch,” the Cedar Rapids Jefferson shortstop said with a laugh.So much for that month-plus layoff. Sweeney hadn't played since June 7, after being drafted professionally in the second round by the

Toronto Blue Jays, but came back to help Jefferson beat Waterloo West, 12-5 in a Class 4A substate first-rounder.The Sweeney family and its adviser

Larry Reynolds expected a contract would be signed relatively quickly with the Jays and determined it wasn't worth the monetary risk for Kellen to play. But that contract still hasn't been agreed to, so Sweeney is on the field.“I'm playing the rest of the season,” he said. “Thursday some stuff changed. My adviser called and said I'm probably not to sign until closer to the deadline. So I've just decided I'm going to play and try to help my team.”Jefferson Coach Mike Kuba is more than OK with that. He said Sweeney has been to virtually every Jefferson practice and suited up for virtually every game, home and away.“He has been phenomenal through this whole thing. He's been a great teammate,” Kuba said. “I was surprised when his father called and told me he wanted to play. I didn't really ask any questions. I just took it and ran with it.”Jefferson takes a 21-17 record into its 4A substate semifinal tonight at home against Marshalltown (22-19). If the J-Hawks win, they would play at top-ranked Mason City in a 4A substate final Wednesday night.The state tournament is next week in Des Moines.