FRIDAY SPORTS, JULY 24, 2026
PALACE CITY LEGION BASEBALL
— Rapid City Post 320 rallied from a three-run deficit to defeat Palace City Post 18, 6-5, Thursday night and complete a two-game sweep in their Class A Legion baseball playoff series. The Stars scored the winning runs on a two-run home run by Tegan Sayles in the seventh inning after Palace City starter Carter McCormick reached the pitch limit. Palace City led 5-2 after four innings. McCormick drove in two runs at the plate, while Dawson Adams, Jaxson Hartman and Kaiden Allen each had two hits. Palace City’s inaugural season ends with a 20-24 record, while Post 320 advances to the Class A state tournament beginning Tuesday in Rapid City.
CLASS A LEGION BASEBALL REGIONS – THURSDAY
No. 2 Sioux Falls West 6, No. 15 Huron 1 – SFW wins the series 2-0.
No. 3 Yankton 8, No. 14 Aberdeen 1 – Yankton wins the series 2-0
No. 4 Brandon Valley 11, No. 13 Spearfish 2 – Brandon Valley wins the series 2-0
No. 12 Sioux Falls East 8, No. 5 Brookings 6
No. 5 Brookings 7, No. 12 Sioux Falls East 1 – Brookings wins the series 2-1
No. 6 Rapid City Post 320 6, No. 11 Palace City 5 – Rapid City wins the series 2-0
No. 10 Watertown 2, No. 7 Pierre 0 – Watertown wins the series 2-0
No. 9 Renner 10, No. 8 Harrisburg 1
No. 8 Harrisburg 7, No. 9 Renner 0 – Harrisburg wins the series 2-1
— Palace City Post 18 Junior Legion baseball had its season come to an end Thursday with a loss to Watertown in the deciding game of their Class A playoff series. Post 18 forced a Game 3 with a 3-2 win earlier in the day, but Watertown responded with a 16-3 victory to advance to the state tournament. Palace City finishes the season with a 26-20 record, one win away from its first state appearance since 2018.
CLASS B LEGION BASEBALL
REGION 4B – THURSDAY in MENNO
Parkston 6, Platte/Geddes 2
— Parkston Post 194 captured the Region 4B Legion baseball championship Thursday with a 6-2 victory over Platte/Geddes in Menno. Parkston went 3-0 in the regional tournament and will advance to the Class B state tournament for the third consecutive season. Kash Neugebauer earned the win on the mound, allowing three hits and two runs over six innings, while Parkston finished with eight hits. The state tournament begins July 31 in Madison.
REGION 1B CHAMPIONSHIP
Groton 2, Sisseton 1
REGION 2B CHAMPIONSHIP
Dell Rapids 5, Sioux Falls Post 911 4
REGION 3B CHAMPIONSHIP
Dakota Valley 14, Vermillion 1 (6 innings)
REGION 5B CHAMPIONSHIP
Hartford/Humboldt 4, Garretson 2
Garretson 15, Hartford/Humboldt 5 (5 innings)
REGION 6B CHAMPIONSHIP
Clark/Willow Lake 6, Volga 4
Volga 9, Clark/Willow Lake 7
REGION 7B CHAMPIONSHIP
Belle Fourche 6, Martin 3
DAKOTA WESLEYAN
— Dakota Wesleyan volleyball has been named the NAIA Women’s Team Academic National Champion by the American Volleyball Coaches Association. The Tigers posted the highest team grade-point average in the NAIA for the 2025-26 school year with a 3.84 GPA. It is the first time in school history that DWU volleyball has earned the honor.
MINNESOTA TWINS
— Trevor Larnach and Luke Keaschall both delivered two-out RBI singles in the 12th inning, giving the Minnesota Twins a 3-1 win over the Cleveland Guardians and a split of their four-game series. Cleveland starter Gavin Williams struck out 11 before the Twins rallied in the eighth. Minnesota starter Taj Bradley went seven innings, allowing just one run. Five Twins relievers combined to allow one hit over five innings. Patrick Bailey homered for Cleveland’s only run. The win pulled Minnesota within 2.5 games of Boston for the final Wild Card spot in the American League. The Twins return home after a 3-4 road trip to host the Athletics for a three-game series starting Friday at 7:10 pm.
DISTRICT 5B AMATEUR BASEBALL TOURNAMENT – PLATTE
No. 1 Alexandria vs. No. 8 Corsica, 6 p.m. – Friday
No. 4 Winner/Colome vs. No. 5 Platte, 8:30 p.m.- Friday
No. 2 Parkston Mudcats vs. No. 7 Mount Vernon, 5 p.m.- Saturday
No. 3 Parkston Devil Rays vs. No. 6 Dimock/Emery, 7:30 p.m. – Saturday
District 5B will have five representatives qualify for the state tournament starting August 5 in Mitchell.
COLLEGE
— The NCAA Division I Board of Directors says it has no plans to change a new age-based eligibility rule being challenged in court by several athletes. The rule gives athletes five seasons of competition over five years but limits additional eligibility waivers. Lawsuits have been filed nationwide, with some athletes seeking a fifth season of competition. The NCAA says it will continue enforcing the rule consistently across all Division I programs.
— A federal bill aimed at reshaping college sports is not expected to receive a vote in the U.S. Senate before lawmakers leave for their August recess. The Protect College Sports Act would create an antitrust exemption for the NCAA and address issues including NIL rules, transfer limits and spending caps. College leaders continue working with lawmakers on changes to the proposal.
NFL
— The Las Vegas Raiders have signed top overall draft pick Fernando Mendoza to a four-year, $57 million contract. The former Indiana quarterback won the Heisman Trophy and led the Hoosiers to their first national championship last season. Mendoza enters training camp competing with veteran Kirk Cousins for the starting job.
— Arizona Cardinals offensive lineman Isaiah Adams was arrested in Canada recently on four weapons charges. The 25-year-old Adams was charged with possession of a firearm obtained in a crime, possession of a restricted/prohibited firearm, no license while in possession of a loaded firearm and possessing a prohibited device. Adams was one of four people arrested. Adams’ attorney said in a statement that“ Isaiah is completely innocent in this matter. He had no knowledge of any firearm, and he will be fully exonerated.” The report says that police concluded an investigation into a male believed to be in possession of a firearm and involved in drug trafficking. Two of the other people arrested were charged with possession of fentanyl with intent to distribute.
NASCAR
— NASCAR driver Alex Bowman will retire from full-time racing following the 2027 season. Bowman, who had been in the final year of his contract at Hendrick Motorsports, signed a one-year extension before announcing his future plans on Thursday. The 33-year-old Bowman missed four races earlier this season because of vertigo and also was sidelined in 2022 because of a concussion and the following year because of a back injury. He drives the No. 48 Chevrolet for Hendrick and currently sits 29th in points.
GOLF
— Ben Kohles fired a career-best 9-under 62 on Thursday to take the first-round lead at the 3M Open in Minnesota. Kohles eagled the final hole to finish two shots ahead of Emiliano Grillo, Jackson Koivun and Gary Woodland. World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler opened with a 65, three shots back, after making five birdies in an eight-hole stretch. Defending champion Kurt Kitayama shot a 68.
MLB
— An investment group that includes former Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban has purchased a minority stake in the Athletics ahead of the team’s planned move to Las Vegas in 2028. The Harbinger Sports Group did not disclose the size of its investment, but says it sees Las Vegas as one of the biggest opportunities in professional sports. The A’s are currently playing in West Sacramento while construction continues on a new $2 billion, 33,000-seat domed stadium that will open on the Las Vegas Strip for the 2028 season.
— Chris Sale matched a season-high with 11 strikeouts over six innings as the Atlanta Braves hit four home runs in a 6-5 win over the San Diego Padres. Dominic Smith hit a three-run homer and Michael Harris II and Ozzie Albies had solo HR’s. Drake Baldwin added his 19th of the season in the seventh inning. Atlanta has a 4.5 game lead over Philadelphia for first place in the NL East.
— Detroit’s James Outman hit a three-run homer in the seventh inning, while Dillon Dingler had a tiebreaking double in the eighth as the Detroit Tigers beat the Kansas City Royals 4-3. The Tigers have won 14 of 19 games to potentially persuade the franchise to keep Tarik Skubal and make a push for the playoffs, instead of dealing the two-time Cy Young Award winner before the Aug. 3 trade deadline.
— Shane Bieber pitched a season-high seven innings, while George Springer reached base three times and drove in a run as the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Tampa Bay Rays 3-1 to avoid a four-game sweep. Tampa Bay’s lead in the AL East over the New York Yankees is down to two games.
— Tyler Locklear went 3 for 4 with a homer and three RBI’s as the Arizona Diamondbacks beat the St. Louis Cardinals 10-6. Arizona maintains the final Wild Card spot in the National League, while St. Louis is 1.5 games back.
Miami Marlins vs. San Diego Padres, 3:10 pm on Saturday
Minnesota Twins vs. Athletics, 6:10 pm on Saturday
New York Mets vs. Los Angeles Dodgers, 6:15 pm on Saturday
Minnesota Twins vs. Athletics, 1:10 pm on Sunday
Philadelphia Phillies vs. New York Yankees, 6:20 pm on NBC