Thursday April 6th Local Sports

MIAMI (AP) — Bryan De La Cruz hit a go-ahead single in the eighth, Jorge Soler homered twice and Jesús Luzardo fanned 10 to lift the Miami Marlins over the Minnesota Twins 5-2 on Wednesday afternoon, as you heard on AM-1300 KGLO. Jean Segura and Jon Berti hit back-to-back one-out singles against reliever Griffin Jax in the eighth before De La Cruz’s RBI single against Caleb Thielbar scored Segura and broke a 1-1 tie. Soler followed with a three-run shot to left field to give Miami a four-run cushion and series win. Miami’s star center fielder Jazz Chisholm Jr. left in the first inning with a stinger in his right shoulder after he was caught stealing second.

 

== The Twins were scheduled to have their home opener today, but the organization announced earlier in the week that they were pushing things back a day due to the weather forecast calling for cold temperatures. The Twins will have their home opener on Friday afternoon, scheduled for a 3:10 start, with the pre-game starting at 2:30 on KGLO.

 

MARION — Freshman Will Couchman hit a two-run walkoff home run in the bottom of the 9th to give NIACC a 10-9 win over Ellsworth in the second game of an Iowa Community College Athletic Conference doubleheader on Wednesday afternoon played in Marion. Couchman hit his first career homer earlier in the second game. NIACC scored two runs in the fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth and ninth innings to manage the split with the Panthers, who took the opener 6-4. NIACC is now 10-18 overall and 6-5 in the conference. They’ll return to action Friday and Saturday with a three-game series at Marshalltown Community College.

 

UNDATED (AP) — First lady Jill Biden’s walk-back of her suggestion that runner-up Iowa should join NCAA women’s basketball champion LSU for a visit to the White House doesn’t sit well with Angel Reese. The Tigers star said on The Paper Route Podcast the Tigers should celebrate their title with Barack and Michelle Obama rather than with President Joe Biden and his wife. Jill Biden attended Sunday’s 102-85 LSU victory. She said Monday that as part of the longstanding tradition of having champions visit the White House, the Hawkeyes should come as well because they played such a good game.

 

 

 

IOWA CITY — With a new quarterback and a new pronunciation of his last name Iowa receiver Nico Ragaini (rag-uh-E-nee) hopes to put up big numbers next season. Ragaini had 34 receptions and one touchdown during an 8-5 season before deciding to use his COVID year to return.

Tight ends Sam LaPorta and Luke Lachey combined for 86 receptions last season and Ragaini is expecting there to be more balance this year.

Ragaini used the offseason to build chemistry with quarterback Cade McNamara.

The Hawkeyes close out spring drills April 22nd.

 

 

 

AMES — With a season under his belt Iowa State quarterback Hunter Dekkers hope to take the next step during spring drills. Dekkers passed for more than three thousand yards, including 19 touchdowns and 14 interceptions during a 4-8 season.

Dekkers says his experience will help make him more of a leader this season.

Dekkers spent the offseason working with new offensive coordinator Nate Scheelhaase. He was elevated to that spot after former offensive coordinator Tom Manning was fired.

Scheelhaase also doubles as the quarterbacks coach.

Dekkers says having Scheelhaase as his position coach is a plus.

Scheelhaase spent the offseason working with Dekkers about decision making.

Scheelhaase says he has enjoyed working with Dekkers on the field.

Scheelhaase says there have been no lasting effects of a shoulder injury Dekkers suffered in the season finale at TCU.

The Cyclones close out spring drills on April 22nd.