TODAY:

AM-1300 KGLO — Minnesota Twins vs. Cleveland — pre-game 2:30, first pitch 3:10
AM-1300 KGLO — NCAA men’s basketball regional semifinals — coverage starts after Twins baseball

 

 

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — After hiring a new manager and some power-hitting help, the Minnesota Twins have assembled a team for 2019 that they’re confident can close the gap with Cleveland in the AL Central. The Twins don’t have to wait for a crack at the three-time defending division champions, with a season-opening three-game series starting this week that will mark rookie skipper Rocco Baldelli’s debut. All-Star Jose Berrios will take the mound, opposite Indians ace Corey Kluber, the two-time AL Cy Young Award winner.

 

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Minnesota Twins have placed three relievers on the injured list: right-handers Matt Magill and Addison Reed and left-hander Gabriel Moya. The moves meant 30-year-old right-hander Ryne Harper was on the opening day roster in the bullpen. He has yet to pitch in the majors after nine seasons in the minors. With so many off days early on the schedule, the Twins will only need four starting pitchers so lefty Martin Perez will start in the bullpen. That allowed them to begin with a five-man bench.

 

TRITON, MISSOURI — The NIACC softball team picked up a doubleheader sweep on the road at North Central Missouri College in Triton on Wednesday. Hannah Faktor socked a grand slam while Kaci Sherwood and Tayler Schmidt also had homers in a 9-0 win in the first game. Kristen Peka recorded the shutout victory in the opener. NIACC also took game two with a 3-0 shutout, with Kylie Sherwood picking up the win. NIACC is now 8-6 on the season and will travel to Iowa Central on Saturday followed by a trip to Iowa Lakes on Sunday.

 

 

IOWA CITY — After winning two games at home last weekend the Iowa Hawkeye women have more of a road test as they prepare for the Sweet 16. The Hawkeyes play North Carolina State Saturday morning in nearby Greensboro. Iowa coach Lisa Bluder.

It will feature an intriguing clash in the post as Iowa’s Megan Gustafson goes up against six-five Wolfpack freshman Elissa Cunane. Bluder says in the past couple of weeks Cunane has been North Carolina State’s top scorer.

Bluder says Cunane is very skilled.

The winner has a likely contest against national top ranked Baylor.

 

 

UNDATED (AP) — UNLV has hired South Dakota State’s T.J. Otzelberger as its next men’s basketball coach. Otzelberger led the Jackrabbits to the NCAA Tournament twice in his three seasons there and went 70-33. He replaces Marvin Menzies, who was fired after three seasons. Otzelberger had two stints as an assistant coach at Iowa State from 2006-2013 and during the 2015-2016 season before going to South Dakota State.

 

 

WOODRIDGE, ILLINOIS — The North Iowa Bulls open play at the Fraser Cup Championship Tournament today in Woodridge Illinois. The Bulls will face the Lewiston/Auburn Nordiques of Lewiston Maine in their first game in Pool A play. The Nordiques were winners of the Coastal Division and beat the Helena Bighorns 4-1 in the Pool A opener yesterday. Faceoff is scheduled for 4 o’clock this afternoon. In Pool B, the Texas Brahmas beat the Binghamton Junior Senators 6-1 yesterday, with Binghamton facing the St. Louis Junior Blues tonight. The top two teams in each pool after round-robin play will advance to Saturday’s semifinal round with the championship scheduled for Sunday.

 

 

AMES — Hopes are high at Iowa State as the Cyclone football team returns to the field for spring drills. The Cyclones are coming off back-to-back eight win seasons and bowl games after a loss to Washington State in the Alamo Bowl.

That’s ISU coach Matt Campbell. Running back David Montgomery and receiver Hakeem Butler left early for the NFL Draft but Campbell says plenty of veteran leadership remains.

The most interesting position battle will be at running back where Montgomery must be replaced.

Among those in the competition is redshirt sophomore Johnnie Lang who is coming off surgery in the off-season.

Spring drills will conclude on April 20th, with this year’s spring schedule not including a spring football game.