Tuesday July 7th Local Sports

MINNEAPOLIS — In a meaningful sign that baseball season is rapidly approaching, the Twins released their 60-game schedule for the 2020 regular season on Monday evening, featuring 40 games against divisional opponents in the American League Central and 20 contests against National League Central opponents.

The Twins will begin their campaign with a trip to Chicago, where they will play the Cubs in a July 22 exhibition at Wrigley Field before officially opening the regular season at Guaranteed Rate Field against the White Sox on July 24 at 7:10 p.m. CT. The home opener will follow on July 28 at 7:10 p.m. against the Cardinals, christening the 60th season of Twins baseball in Minnesota.

The Twins play 10 games apiece against the White Sox, Royals, Tigers and Indians, in addition to an Interleague schedule that features six games against border rival Milwaukee, four each against the Pirates and Cardinals, and three against both the Cubs and Reds.

At first glance, several elements of this new schedule appear favorable to the Twins. Seven of Minnesota’s 10 matchups against Cleveland, the Twins’ top competition for the division crown, are slated to occur at Target Field. In addition, the Twins have four of their scheduled off-days in September, including two in the final week of the season. That unequal distribution of days off could make things more difficult in August, but it could also allow the Twins to be more rested for the postseason if they were to qualify.

You can see the Twins full schedule by clicking here

MASON CITY — Newman pounded out 18 hits on their way to a 15-2, five-inning win over West Fork last night at home in Top of Iowa Conference baseball action. Nash Holmgaard was 4-for-4 with two runs batted in while Max Burt knocked in three runs to lead the Knights. Doug Taylor picked up the win, striking out three and walking one. Newman is now 11-3 overall and 6-1 in the conference. The Knights travel to Denver for a non-conference contest tonight.

CLEAR LAKE — Cade Witzke fired a six-hit shutout, striking out six to lead Humboldt to a 3-0 win over Clear Lake last night in North Central Conference baseball, as you heard on AM-1490/96.7-FM KRIB and kribam.com. Humboldt scored the only runs of the ballgame in the second inning, taking advantage of four straight one-out walks followed by a pair of run-scoring singles. Clear Lake drops to 8-5 overall and 3-2 in the conference. They’ll travel to Iowa Falls-Alden on Thursday.

AMES — Mason City High split their CIML Iowa baseball doubleheader last night at Ames, dropping a 2-1, eight-inning decision in the opener before taking the nightcap 7-0. Avery Mellman and Ben Pederson hit homers in the second game for the Mohawks while Alex Gold had a five-hit night. Mason City is 9-7 and is scheduled to travel to Fort Dodge on Wednesday.

— other baseball from Monday
North Iowa 4, North Butler 1
Nashua-Plainfield 7, Central Springs 6
Forest City 15, Northwood-Kensett 5
St. Ansgar 8, South Winneshiek 4
Rockford 11, West Hancock 3
Osage 5, Lake Mills 3
Hampton-Dumont-CAL 4, Clarion-Goldfield-Dows 3
Webster City 15, Algona 5
Iowa Falls-Alden 9, Southeast Valley 8

MASON CITY — The Newman softball team picked up a pair of Top of Iowa Conference wins on Monday. In the first game, the Knights scored six times in the first on their way to a 10-0, five-inning win over West Fork. Paige Leininger was 3-for-4 from the plate and picked up the win in the circle, striking out three and allowing only two hits. Newman survived a late rally by North Union in the second game, as the Warriors scored three in the sixth but the Knights survived with a 4-3 win. Leah Martinez picked up the win, striking out six. Newman is now 13-2 overall and 6-1 in the conference. They’ll travel to Clear Lake on Wednesday night in a game you’ll hear on AM-1490/96.7-FM KRIB and kribam.com starting at about 7:30

— other softball from Monday
Clear Lake 12, Garner-Hayfield-Ventura 0 (3 innings)
Ames 11, Mason City 1 (5 innings); Ames 16, Mason City 4 (4 innings)
Rockford 19, West Hancock 5
St. Edmond 8, Iowa Falls-Alden 4
Clarion-Goldfield-Dows 23, Southeast Valley 1

DES MOINES — Radio Iowa/Iowa High School Baseball Coaches Association High School Poll 7/6/20

Class 1A (Final Poll)
1. Martensdale-St. Mary’s (18-0)
2. Remsen St. Mary’s (12-0)
3. Council Bluffs St. Albert (14-1)
4. South Winneshiek (19-0)
5. Alburnett (11-3)
6. Mason City Newman (10-3)
7. Don Bosco (10-1)
8. Kingsley-Pierson (10-0)
9. Easton Valley (10-0)
10. HLV (Victor) (9-0)

Class 2A (Final Poll)
1. Van Meter (13-0)
2. North Linn (14-2)
3. Dike-New Hartford (10-1)
4. Underwood (10-2)
5. Woodward-Granger (12-4)
6. Mid-Prairie (9-3)
7. Roland-Story (11-5)
8. Camanche (8-3)
9. West Lyon (9-2)
10. Pocahontas Area (11-1)

Class 3A
1. Central DeWitt (14-2)
2. Dallas Center-Grimes (12-1)
3. Davenport Assumption (12-3)
4. Sergeant Bluff-Luton (12-1)
5. Gilbert (14-1)
6. Cedar Rapids Xavier (7-3)
7. Sioux City Heelan (10-3)
8. Ballard (Huxley) (9-2)
9. Winterset (9-2)
10. Boone (8-2)

Class 4A
1. Dowling Catholic (15-1)
2. Johnston (13-3)
3. Ankeny (12-6)
4. Sioux City East (13-1)
5. Dubuque Hempstead (8-0)
6. Urbandale (10-8)
7. Southeast Polk (12-6)
8. Cedar Rapids Kennedy (8-2)
9. Waukee (9-9)
10. Ankeny Centennial (10-8)

AMES, IOWA (AP) — Iowa State guard Rasir Bolton said he decided to leave Penn State last spring because of a comment by coach Pat Chambers, who said the player had a noose around his neck. Bolton, who is Black, disclosed the reason for his departure Monday in a tweet. Chambers, who is white, tweeted an apology. Bolton tweeted that Chambers made the noose comment after the coach returned from a one-game suspension for shoving Nittany Lions player Myles Dread in the chest during the previous game. Bolton said he was offended because the comment was a reference to “lynching, slavery and racial terrorism.”

AMES — Iowa State basketball coach Steve Prohm is confident the Cyclones will make major strides next season. The Cyclones add four freshmen and three transfers to a team that struggled to a 12-20 record a year ago.

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Prohm says the three transfers this spring will add scoring punch. Tyler Harris transferred from Memphis. Jalen Coleman-Lands played at De Paul and Blake Hinson at Ole Miss.

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The Cyclones bounced back from a losing season by posting 23 wins in 2019 and Prohm is confident of similar improvement.

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Cyclone guard Rasir Bolton says one of the reasons he transferred from Penn State was racially insensitive remarks by Nittany Lion coach Pat Chambers. Bolton was second on the Cyclones in scoring at just over 14 and a half points per game.