Wednesday December 11th Local Sports

TONIGHT:
AM-1300 KGLO — Iowa women at Iowa State — pre-game 6:45, tipoff 7:00

MASON CITY — NIACC’s head baseball coach Travis Hergert is heading to professional baseball. Hergert has accepted a position as the Philadelphia Phillies’ assistant pitching coordinator. Hergert was 260-146-1 in his seven seasons at the helm of the NIACC baseball program and led the Trojans to three NJCAA Region XI titles, three NJCAA North Plains District titles and three trips to the NJCAA Division II World Series. Hergert took over the NIACC baseball program in 2013 and led the Trojans to the NJCAA Division II World Series in his first season as head coach. The Trojans also qualified for the World Series in 2015 and 2016. Hergert was honored with the 2013, 2015, and 2016 American Baseball Coaches Association/National Junior College Athletic Association Division II North Plains District coach of the year and won the 2-year college coach of the year by the Iowa High School Baseball Coaches Association in 2013, 2015 and 2016. During Hergert’s tenure as head coach, eight players have heard their names called in the MLB Draft.

MASON CITY — A day after climbing to the #1 spot in the national rankings, the NIACC men’s basketball team received a national honor as being one of the National Association of Basketball Coaches’ Teams of the Week for the fourth week of the basketball season. According to a release from the organization, the Trojans were selected because of their 11-0 start to the season and climbing to the #1 ranking in the Division II junior college poll this week. The other schools recognized were Ohio State in NCAA Division I, Dallas Baptist in NCAA Division II, The College of Wooster in NCAA Division III, and Indiana Tech in NAIA.

MASON CITY – NIACC freshman Sierra Morrow has been selected as the Iowa Community College Athletic Conference women’s basketball player of the week for the week of Dec. 2-8.

Morrow, a 6-foot-2 freshman from Minneapolis, recorded her second career triple/double in the No. 2 Lady Trojans’ 84-81 overtime victory over No. 5 Lincoln Land last Saturday. Morrow recorded a career-high 29 points with a career-best 17 rebounds and 12 blocked shots.

For the week, Morrow averaged 20 points, 10 rebounds and 5.6 blocks per game in three NIACC victories.

Morrow leads NJCAA Division II with 61 blocks.

Morrow was also the league’s player of the week for the week of Nov. 1-10.

NIACC (12-0) returns to action Dec. 28 at the Illinois Central Holiday Tournament in Peoria, Ill.

AMES — The first of two nights of Cy-Hawk basketball in Ames begins tonight with the women’s game. The Hawkeyes and coach Lisa Bluder will be in search of their fourth straight win in the series.

It will be the last Cy-Hawk game for Mason City native and Hawkeye senior guard Mackenzie Meyer.

Iowa State coach Bill Fennelly says rivalry games often feature the unexpected hero.

Fennelly on what this series means.

You can hear the Iowa-Iowa State game on AM-1300 KGLO starting with the pre-game at 6:45, with the tipoff from Hilton Coliseum slated for 7 o’clock.

BOULDER, COLORADO — Spencer Haldeman stole a pass and raced down the floor for a tiebreaking layup with 49 seconds remaining and Northern Iowa hung on to beat No. 24 Colorado 79-76. Northern Iowa defeated a ranked team for the first time since topping No. 25 Wichita State 53-50 on Feb. 13, 2016. The Panthers had lost their previous seven encounters against ranked opponents. AJ Green and Trae Berhow had 20 points apiece Tuesday night as Northern Iowa improved to 9-1. Colorado fell to 7-2.

MASON CITY — The Newman girls used a 21-8 third quarter on their way to a 58-44 win over Nashua-Plainfield in Top of Iowa Conference East Division basketball last night, as you heard on AM-1300 KGLO. Lauren Andrews had 16 points and eight rebounds off the bench while Kealan Curley added 15 to lead the Knights.. The Newman boys picked up a 66-63 over the Huskies. Three players scored in double-figures for the Knights, with Sammy Kratz leading the way with 19 points. Noah Hamilton added 14 while James Matthews had 13. Both Newman teams are now 2-2 on the season and will travel to West Fork on Friday.

— boys basketball from last night
Central Springs 55, North Butler 47 (OT)
Charles City 57, New Hampton 45
Eagle Grove 47, Belmond-Klemme 39
Forest City 66, North Union 37
Garner-Hayfield-Ventura 61, West Hancock 51
Riceville 53, Valley Lutheran Cedar Falls 16
West Fork 63, Northwood-Kensett 49

— girls basketball from last night
#13/1A Saint Ansgar 50, #4/2A Osage 49 (OT)
Belmond-Klemme 66, Eagle Grove 32
#8/1A Bishop Garrigan 88, Lake Mills 28
Central Springs 47, North Butler 39
Forest City 47, North Union 26
New Hampton 54, Charles City 45
Riceville 60, Valley Lutheran 6
Rockford 65, North Iowa 39
West Fork 42, Northwood-Kensett 20
West Hancock 77, Garner-Hayfield-Ventura 43

SAN DIEGO (AP) — The Minnesota Twins finalized a $20 million, two-year contract with suspended pitcher Michael Pineda and a $4.25 million, one-year deal with catcher Alex Avila. Pineda went 11-5 with a 4.01 ERA in 146 innings over 26 starts for the Twins in 2019. He was suspended for 60 games by Major League Baseball on Sept. 7 following a positive test for a banned diurectic. He will finish the suspension at the start of next season. Avila spent the past two seasons with Arizona and hit .207 with nine homers and 24 RBIs in 164 at-bats this year.