Monday August 14th Local Sports

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Sonny Gray tossed two-hit ball over six shutout innings, reliever Caleb Thielbar pitched out of a bases-loaded jam in the seventh and Jordan Luplow homered to lead the Minnesota Twins to a 3-0 win over the Philadelphia Phillies. The AL Central leaders bounced back from a 13-2 loss in the series opener to win the last two games. Gray struck out seven and pitched into the sixth inning in his eighth straight start. Thielbar retired Kyle Schwarber and Alec Bohm with one out and the bases loaded in the seventh inning to secure the win for the Twins. Bohm was ejected for spiking his bat in frustration. The Phillies finished 6-4 on their 10-game homestand.

 

 

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Kirk Ferentz has known for weeks that several of his Iowa football players were under investigation for illegal gambling. He said Friday at the team’s media day he didn’t know until recently that some were accused of wagering on their own games.

Ferentz says, “It can’t be compromised, the integrity of the game, that’s first and foremost. That’s got to be protected, and that’s where everything should start.”

Former players Arland Bruce IV and Reggie Bracy and current player Jack Johnson were charged Thursday on suspicion of tampering with records to disguise that they were college athletes and under the legal betting age of 21 at the time they placed wagers. Kicker Aaron Blom was charged last week.

Bruce, Bracy and Blom are suspected of betting on Iowa football games in which they played, according to court documents.

Ferentz says it’s a deal-breaker if the charges in fact are proven to be true.

Johnson is alleged to have wagered on football games in which he didn’t appear, as well as other Iowa sporting events. A student staffer also was charged.

Bruce has transferred to Oklahoma State, and Bracy has transferred to Troy.

A combined 15 athletes and staff at Iowa and Iowa State have been charged in the ongoing investigation.

Ferentz said his team receives an annual presentation on NCAA rules prohibiting gambling.

The state agency in charge of the criminal investigation, the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, has declined comment because its work is ongoing.

The state Attorney General’s Office did not respond to a request for comment from the Associated Press on what triggered the investigation. Iowa and Iowa State are the only two schools where athletes have been charged. It was unknown if athletes at other schools in the state are under investigation.

 

 

 

IOWA CITY — Iowa defensive tackle Noah Shannon is waiting to find out when his final season might begin. The Illinois native announced this summer he is involved in a gambling investigation and opted out of an appearance at Big Ten Media Days. He has not been charged in the investigation.

Shannon is waiting to see if he will be suspended by the NCAA.

Shannon missed much of the off season with a shoulder injury but has been cleared to return to practice. His focus early in camp has been getting some of the young defensive linemen to get ready.

Shannon says he has not been following the entire gambling story and instead is getting ready for his potential return to the field.

Iowa opens September 2nd at home against Utah State.

 

 

 

BARCELONA, SPAIN — The Iowa Hawkeye men’s basketball team closes out a trip to Europe on Monday with a game against the Barcelona All-Stars. The Hawkeyes are 2-0 on the trip after topping the Valencia All-Stars 119-83.

That is Iowa coach Fran McCaffery who felt his team made progress in the second game.

Iowa opened the tour with a 123-77 win over the Paris All-Stars last Tuesday.