FRIDAY SPORTS, JULY 18, 2025
AMATEUR BASEBALL – THURSDAY
Alexandria 11, Corsica 1 (8 innings) – Tyson Gau went 4-for-5 with a double and two RBI’s for the Angles, while Cole Wenande added two doubles and three RBI’s. Landon Ruesink threw seven innings for the win, striking out eight, allowing one earned run on four hits.
Parkston Rays 9, Mitchell Aces 5 – James Deckert went 3-for-4 with three RBI’s. Jake Helleloid picked up the win, striking out 10 batters over six shutout innings. Carter Miller had three hits in the loss for Mitchell.
Garretson 16, Parkston Mudcats 13 (7 innings) – Kaleb Weber and Max Scott each had three hits and three RBIs in the loss for the Mudcats. Garretson’s Dustin Steckler had four RBI’s.
Winner/Colome 5, Mount Vernon 2 – Kelly O’Bryan and Austin Richey each with a HR for the Pheasants. Austin Calhoon threw all nine innings, allowing two earned runs with five strikeouts. Cam Deinert had a double and two hits for Mt. Vernon.
Kimball/White Lake 13, Wessington Springs 0 (7 innings) – Jaxon Christensen went 3-for-4 with a two-run HR and six RBI’s. Mitchell Price threw six shutout innings, allowing only two hits with six strikeouts.
Winner 13, Plankinton 8 – Thomas Stange had four RBI’s in the loss for the Bankers. Ethan Bartels got the win, striking out 11 over seven innings, giving up four runs.
Canova 5, Madison Dairy Queen 2 – Justin Miller with a HR and four RBI’s.
Dell Rapids Mudcats 5, Salem 4 – Dell Rapids scored three runs in the ninth inning.
Yankton Lakers 18, Freeman 0 (7 innings)
MITCHELL KERNELS
— Mitchell White 13-and-under baseball were swept in a doubleheader vs. Pierre on Wednesday, losing 19-1 and 19-5. On Thursday, Mitchell lost game one of a doubleheader vs. Aberdeen 14-3, before winning game two 4-2. Mitchell (9-19 on the season) wraps up the season at the Class A 13-and-Under State Tournament in Brookings, July 25-27.
— Mitchell Black 14-and-under (17-14) hosts a doubleheader against Brandon Valley on Sunday.
SUMMIT LEAGUE
— The Summit League has extended its agreement with the Denny Sanford PREMIER Center in Sioux Falls to host the conference’s Basketball Tournament through 2029. The extension was approved by the league’s Presidents Council and announced by Commissioner Josh Fenton. By 2029, Sioux Falls will have hosted the event for 21 consecutive years, generating over $90 million in economic impact since 2009. The PREMIER Center has drawn over 600,000 fans during its initial 10-year tenure, making the tournament one of the most well-attended in Division I. The 2026 tournament set for March 4–8, will be the final year under the current agreement before the new extension takes effect.
DAKOTA WESLEYAN
— Dakota Wesleyan Randi Christensen has been named the GPAC Athletic Trainer of the Year for 2024–25. The honor, voted on by her peers across the conference, recognizes her dedication and leadership in the field. Christensen, who’s been with DWU since 2005, also serves as director of athletic training and teaches courses in exercise science and athletic training. Known for going above and beyond for student-athletes, she’ll now represent the GPAC as a nominee for the NAIA Athletic Trainer of the Year this fall.
YOUTH BASEBALL
— Mitchell is hosting a big weekend of youth baseball, as 60 teams arrive for the South Dakota Class A state tournaments at the Cadwell Sports Complex. The action runs Friday through Sunday, featuring third-, fourth-and sixth-grade teams from across the state, including Sioux Falls, Rapid City, Brookings, and Mitchell itself. Games are six innings or 1 hour 45 minutes, whichever comes first. Admission is $10 for adults, free for kids and students. Pool play runs Friday and Saturday, with brackets on Sunday.
MINNESOTA TWINS
— The Minnesota Twins start the second half of the season at Colorado on Friday night at 7:40 pm. The Rockies have the worst record in baseball at 22-74 and are on pace to lose a record 125 games. Meanwhile, the Twins are 47-49 on the season and are four game back in the American League Wild Card race.
MINNESOTA VIKINGS
— Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Jordan Addison has pleaded no contest to a reduced charge of reckless driving, following his July 2024 DUI arrest in Los Angeles. The incident involved Addison being found asleep behind the wheel of a Rolls-Royce near the airport. While the original DUI charges have been dismissed, Addison will now serve 12 months’ probation, pay a $390 fine, and complete two online courses. Addison now awaits possible discipline from the NFL, which could include a three-game suspension. The Vikings open training camp next week.
GOLF
— Matt Fitzpatrick and Harris English are part of a five-way for the lead tie at the British Open at Royal Portrush after an opening round of 67. It’s the largest logjam after one round of the British Open since a six-way tie in 1938. World Nol 1 Scottie Scheffler was one shot behind. Rory McIlroy shot a 70 despite hitting only two fairways. Round two is currently underway in Northern Ireland.
NFL
— Lloyd Howell has resigned as executive director of the NFL Players Association, citing distractions his leadership has caused in recent weeks. Howell has come under scrutiny since ESPN reported he has maintained a part-time consulting job with the Carlyle Group, a private equity firm that holds league approval to seek minority ownership in NFL franchises. That followed the revelation that the NFLPA and the league had a confidentiality agreement to keep quiet an arbitrator’s ruling about possible collusion by owners over quarterback salaries. The latest issue was an ESPN report on Thursday that revealed two player representatives who voted for Howell were not aware that he was sued in 2011 for sexual discrimination and retaliation while he was a senior executive at Booz Allen.
— The Pittsburgh Steelers have made star outside linebacker T.J. Watt the NFL’s highest-paid defender. Watt, who turns 31 in October, agreed to a three-year, $123 million extension deal that will average $41 million annually. Watt, who was entering the final season of the four-year extension he signed in 2021, skipped organized team activities and mandatory minicamp to put pressure on the Steelers’ front office for a new contract. Watt leads the NFL with 73.5 sacks in the past five seasons.
— Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice has been sentenced to 30 days in jail after authorities said he and another speeding driver caused a chain-reaction crash on a Dallas highway last year. Prosecutors say Rice was driving a Lamborghini SUV at 119 mph when he caused the March 2024 wreck. Multiple people were injured. On Thursday, Rice pleaded guilty to felony charges, including causing serious bodily injury. As part of a plea deal, he also received five years of deferred probation and must pay $115,000 for victims’ medical expenses.
— Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Mike Williams has retired from the NFL at age 30. His agent informed the team Wednesday, just before training camp began Thursday. Williams signed a one-year deal in March but was placed on the physically unable to perform list Monday due to an undisclosed injury. Williams played eight NFL seasons, including stints with the Jets and Steelers, and had 330 career receptions and 32 touchdowns.
NBA
— Damian Lillard has signed a three-year deal worth $42 million to return to the Portland Trail Blazers. Lillard was the sixth pick in the 2012 NBA draft by the Trail Blazers and spent 11 seasons with Portland before he was traded to the Milwaukee Bucks just before the 2023-24 season. The 35-year-old Lillard will miss all of next season with a torn Achillies.
WNBA
— Caitlin Clark is out of All-Star weekend as a participant. The Indiana Fever guard injured her right groin on Tuesday night in the final minute of the team’s win over Connecticut. Clark said Thursday in a message posted on social media that she was “sad and disappointed” to pull out of the All-Star Game and 3-Point Contest. Clark is captain of one of the All-Star teams. The WNBA All-Star Game is Saturday in Indianapolis at 7:30 pm on ABC.
— More than 40 WNBA players gathered Thursday for a meeting between the WNBA Players Association and the league to discuss ongoing negotiations on a new collective bargaining agreement. It marked the largest in-person player turnout in union history during CBA talks. Thursday’s meeting, the first in-person one the two parties have had since December, lasted for a couple of hours and ended with no resolution.