Thursday April 27th Local Sports

TONIGHT:
AM-1300 KGLO — Minnesota Twins vs. Kansas City — pre-game 6:00, first pitch 6:40

 

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Aaron Judge had three hits and three RBIs and dodged an injury scare on his eventful 31st birthday, helping the New York Yankees avoid a sweep and beat the Minnesota Twins 12-6. Gleyber Torres hit a two-run homer and Anthony Volpe and Anthony Rizzo each had two run-doubles in a six-run fourth inning against Twins starter Kenta Maeda. The Yankees posted season highs in hits and runs. They totaled eight runs over their previous five games. The Twins sent Maeda for an MRI exam after he complained of muscle discomfort on the top of his right arm in their 12-6 loss to the New York Yankees. He’s in the early stage of his comeback from elbow surgery that kept him out during the entire 2022 season. Maeda gave up a career-high 11 hits and 10 runs without recording an out in the fourth inning. He is 0-4 with a 9.00 ERA in four starts this season.

 

 

CEDAR RAPIDS — The NIACC baseball team split their Iowa Community College Athletic Conference doubleheader at Kirkwood on Wednesday afternoon. NIACC scored five runs in the top of the seventh and final inning to take the opener 8-3. In the nightcap, Kirkwood came back with four runs in the first, two in the second and three more in the third on their way to a 13-5 win. NIACC is now 17-25 overall and 13-12 in the conference and will host Iowa Central in a three-game series this weekend at Roosevelt Field.

 

 

MASON CITY — NIACC’s Ben Rosin was selected on Wednesday as the National Junior College Athletic Association’s national Division II pitcher of the week. The sophomore right-hander took a no-hitter into the eighth inning of last Sunday’s 6-5 win over Northeast Community College. Rosin allowed no hits, one run and had a career-best nine strikeouts in 7 ⅓ innings of work. Rosin has a 4-2 record and is second in the conference with 58 strikeouts. His 2.98 ERA ranks fourth in the league.

 

 

 

IOWA CITY — The Iowa Hawkeye baseball team takes a five game winning streak in Big Ten play on the road this weekend into Friday afternoon’s start of a three game series at Penn State. The Hawkeyes are coming off a sweep of a series against Nebraska and coach Rick Heller says balanced hitting has been a key.

The Hawkeyes head into the second half of the conference race with a record of 7-5. The Nittany Lions are 5-7.

Penn State is 13-3 at home this season.

The Hawkeyes have already played first place Indiana and second place Maryland but Heller says every weekend is tough in a balanced conference race.

Iowa is 30-10 overall.

 

 

 

IOWA CITY — Several Iowa Hawkeyes hope to hear their name called at the NFL Draft which begins tonight in Kansas City. Defensive end Lukas Van Ness has been rated as high as a top ten pick after a sophomore season in which he registered six and-a-half sacks.

That’s Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz. Sam LaPorta is the next in a line of Iowa tight ends expected to be selected. LaPorta is coming off a senior season in which he had 58 catches. He is projected as a third round selection.

Ferentz says LaPorta’s biggest strength may be his passion for the game.

Linebacker Jack Campbell, corner Riley Moss and safety Kaevon Merriweather are also possible selections this week.

 

 

 

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Minnesota Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards was cited for third degree assault by Denver police following the season-ending loss to the Nuggets. He allegedly swung a folding chair and struck two women who were working at Ball Arena. Denver beat Minnesota 112-109 to win the first-round NBA playoff series in five games. Edwards missed the tying 3-point attempt at the buzzer. According to the report received by Denver police, Edwards was walking off the court to the locker room when he swung the chair and injured the employees. Their injuries were not serious, according to police. The Timberwolves, in a statement issued on Wednesday, said they were “aware of the alleged incident” and “in the process of gathering more information.” The club had no further comment. Timberwolves players and team officials were scheduled to hold season-ending news conferences this week. Edwards was fined $40,000 by the NBA for homophobic comments he made in a video posted to his Instagram account shortly before the season began. He recorded a group of men on a sidewalk from a vehicle he was inside and could be heard in making a disparaging, profane comment about what he assumed to be their sexual orientation. The Timberwolves reprimanded him, and Edwards apologized.

 

 

 

DES MOINES — Two-time Olympic gold medalist Ryan Crouser did not get the world record he was hoping for but he still won the Drake Relays indoor shot put Wednesday night. It was part of a unique team competition in the Drake Fieldhouse.

Crouser has been dealing with a sprained MCL suffered a week and a half ago but still managed a trio of throws over 73 feet.

Reigning World Champion Chase Ealey was the women’s individual champion.

Ealey struggled in the prelims before uncorking her winning throw of 64 feet, one and a quarter inch on her fourth attempt.

A full day of action is scheduled for today at Drake Stadium in Des Moines.