FRIDAY SPORTS, JULY 25, 2025
MITCHELL KERNELS
— Mitchell 16-and-under baseball (19-10 on the season), awaits the Class A 16U state tournament July 25-27 in Yankton. Mitchell will begin state tournament play at noon Friday in Yankton against Harrisburg Gold in pool play.
SOUTH DAKOTA STATE
— South Dakota State women’s soccer will host its Blue vs. Yellow scrimmage on Thursday, July 31 at 7 pm, followed by an exhibition vs. Nebraska on Tuesday, August 5. SDSU officially starts the season at Missouri on Thursday, August 14 at 7 pm.
CLASS A AMERICAN LEAGION BASEBALL PLAYOFFS
No. 1 Rapid City Post 22 5, No. 15 Spearfish 2 – Rapid City wins the series 2-0
No. 2 Yankton 12, No. 14 Sturgis 0 (6 innings) – Yankton wins the series 2-0
No. 4 Brandon Valley 5, No. 13 Aberdeen 4
No. 4 Brandon Valley 4, No. 13 Aberdeen 1 – Brandon Valley wins the series 2-0
No. 12 Sioux Falls West 4, No. 5 Renner 2
No. 5 Renner 6, No. 12 Sioux Falls West 5 – Series tied 1-1
No. 11 Rapid City Post 320 8 No. 6 Sioux Falls East 7
No. 11 Rapid City Post 320 3 No. 6 Sioux Falls East 0 – Rapid City wins the series 2-0
No. 7 Pierre 9, No. 10 Huron 3
No. 7 Pierre 7, No. 10 Huron 0 – Pierre wins the series 2-1
No. 8 Harrisburg Gold 7, No. 9 Brookings 2
No. 8 Harrisburg Gold 6, No. 9 Brookings 1 – Harrisburg wins the series 2-0
No. 3 Watertown receives a bye due to hosting the state tournament.
The winners will advance to the Class A state tournament on July 29-Aug. 2.
LEGION BASEBALL – REGION 5B in SALEM
Parkston 8, Alexandria 4 – Parkston scored five runs in the first inning to advance to the Class B Legion Baseball Tournament, which they finished second last season. Kash Neugebauer threw six innings for the win with eight strikeouts, while going 2-for-4 with a triple and two RBI’s. A.J, Wilber had two hits and two RBI’s in the loss for Alexandria (8-8). Parkston (14-11) awaits its first-round opponent at the Class B State Legion Baseball Tournament on Friday, Aug. 1, in Milbank.
REGION 4B in PLATTE
Scotland/Menno/Freeman/Canistota 19, Tabor 0 (5 innings) – SMFC makes it’s first appearance in the State Legion Baseball Tournament. Riley Tschetter finished with eight RBI’s, including a grand slam in the second inning. SMFC scored nine times in the fourth inning. Bryce Sattler allowed just two hits over five shutout innings. SMFC (15-11) awaits its first-round opponent at the Class B State Legion Baseball Tournament on Friday, Aug. 1, in Milbank. The five-day, double elimination tournament will include seven region champions plus the host Milbank.
MINNESOTA TWINS
— The Minnesota Twins host the Washington Nationals for a three-game home series starting Friday night at 7:10 pm. After losing two out of three to the L.A. Dodgers, the Twins are 49-53 on the season, five game out of the final American League Wild Card spot.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
— Donald Trump has signed an executive order directing federal authorities to clarify whether college athletes can be considered employees of their schools. The move aims to establish clearer national standards in the NCAA’s name, image, and likeness era. The order also seeks to address the chaotic landscape of college sports, where athletes can now earn money from endorsements and schools can pay them directly. Trump’s order also calls for preserving scholarships and roster spots for non-revenue sports and asks the Justice Department to protect athletes’ rights.
— The Big Ten commissioner is reiterating the league’s preference for multiple automatic qualifiers in the next version of the College Football Playoff, increasing the likelihood of a showdown with the Southeastern Conference when the format for 2026 is decided. Commissioner Tony Petitti says any change that adds at-large bids and increases the role of a selection committee, a format the SEC and others have shown a preference for, “will have a difficult time getting support of the Big Ten.”
— The Atlantic Coast Conference is entering the 2025-26 sports season having moved past uncertainty from its legal fight with member schools Clemson and Florida State. Earlier this year, the league reached a settlement in those cases that reshaped the league’s revenue-sharing model. The league also saw ESPN pick up the option to extend its media deal with the league.
COLLEGE BASKETBALL
— Kansas basketball coach Bill Self had two stents inserted into his heart to treat blocked arteries Thursday at Lawrence Memorial Hospital after he “felt unwell and experienced some concerning symptoms.” The Kansas athletic department released a statement, saying: “The procedure went very well, and he is expected to make a full recovery. He is in good spirits and expects to be released from the hospital soon.” The 62-year-old Self directed the final practice of the summer session Thursday morning as he prepares for his 23rd seasons as head coach of the Jayhawks. He missed the 2023 Big 12 and NCAA tournaments because of a heart condition, getting a standard catheterization and having two stents inserted to help treat blocked arteries.
NFL
— Jets quarterback Justin Fields has a dislocated toe on his right foot and will be evaluated daily by the team. The announcement came after Fields limped off the practice field Thursday morning and was carted into the facility. Fields, in his first season with the Jets, signed a two-year, $40 million contract in March.
— The Las Vegas Raiders have released defensive tackle Christian Wilkins. The team says Wilkins failed to provide an acceptable recovery plan for his broken foot. He was injured in Week 5 last season and had a setback that kept him from offseason practices. Wilkins was a major free-agent signing last year with a four-year, $110 million contract. The Raiders are voiding the remaining $35 million. Wilkins has filed a grievance with the NFL Players Association.
HOCKEY
— An Ontario judge has acquitted five former members of Canada’s world junior hockey team in their sexual assault case, saying the allegations lacked the credibility needed to justify the charges. The Superior Court Justice said Thursday that prosecutors could not meet the onus of proof for the charges against Michael McLeod, Carter Hart, Alex Formenton, Dillon Dube and Callan Foote. All five players had pleaded not guilty to sexual assault in the encounter that took place in a London, Ontario, hotel room in the early hours of June 19, 2018.
BASEBALL
— A 12-year-old Little Leaguer who faced suspension from his team’s first state tournament game for flipping his bat after hitting a home run was allowed to play Thursday night. Marco Rocco of New Jersey, tossed his bat in the air on July 16 after his sixth-inning, two-run homer in the final of the sectional tournament. Marco was ejected and suspended for a game over what his family was told were actions deemed “unsportsmanlike” and “horseplay.” The family sought and received an emergency temporary restraining order that allowed him to play in the New Jersey state tournament.
MLB
— The Seattle Mariners have acquired first baseman Josh Naylor from the Arizona Diamondbacks. This move comes as the Mariners look to improve their offense before the July 31 trade deadline. The 28-year-old Naylor is hitting .292 with 11 homers and 59 RBIs this season. Mariners currently hold a 55-48 record, placing them second in the AL West and in the second wild-card spot.
— Julio Rodríguez, Randy Arozarena and Jorge Polanco homered as the Seattle Mariners beat the Los Angeles Angels 4-2. Rodríguez, who stole third base in the first inning, has 15 home runs and 20 stolen bases this season. The 24-year-old is the first player in MLB history with at least 15 homers and 20-plus stolen bases in each of their first four seasons.
— Ernie Clement and Joey Loperfido hit back-to back hit home runs in the fifth inning to help the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Detroit Tigers 11-4 in a matchup of first-place teams going in opposite directions. The AL East-leading Blue Jays have won 19 of their last 24 games, while the AL Central-leading Tigers have lost 10 of 11.
— Brendan Donovan and Willson Contreras hit three-run homers in the second inning as the St. Louis Cardinals beat the San Diego Padres 9-7 in the opener of a four-game series. Willson had four RBIs and Donovan finished with three hits. Iván Herrera added three hits and two RBIs, including a solo homer in the sixth.
— Gunnar Henderson singled in Alex Jackson with the go-ahead run in the seventh inning while Charlie Morton matched his longest start of the season going 6 2/3 innings, helping the Baltimore Orioles to a 4-3 win over the Cleveland Guardians. Steven Kwan hit a pair of solo homers in the loss for Cleveland.
— Luis Severino struck out eight in seven innings as Luis Urias homered to lead the Athletics to a 5-2 win over the Houston Astros. Severino allowed four hits and two earned runs as the A’s snapped a four-game losing streak. Rookie Nick Kurtz went 3 for 5 with an RBI double.
DISTRICT 5B AMATEUR BASEBALL TOURNAMENT – MT. VERNON
THE SUNSHINE LEAGUE GETS 5 BIDS INTO THE STATE TOURNAMENT
Winner/Colome 7, Dimock/Emery 2 – Derek Graesser allowed two runs on eight hits with five walks over nine innings with nine strikeouts. He also went 3-for-4 with two HR’s, a double and three RBI’s .
Platte 11, Parkston Mudcats 2 – Grant Doom had 20 strikeouts on 168 pitches for Platte, allowing two runs, five hits, five walks over nine innings. Hunter Hewitt added a grand slam for the Killer Tomatoes in the eighth inning.
Alexandria vs. Corsica, Friday at 6 p.m.
Parkston Rays vs. Mount Vernon, Friday at 8 p.m.
Winner/Colome (16-3) vs. Platte (12-6) – Sunday at 5 pm (District Semifinals)
Parkston Mudcats (11-11) vs. Dimock/Emery (8-16) – Tuesday at 6 pm (Elimination Game)
DISTRICT 4B AMATEUR BASEBALL TOURNAMENT – MADISON
THE CORNBELT LEAGUE GETS 7 BIDS INTO THE STATE TOURNAMENT
Defending Class B champion Dell Rapids PBR is the No. 1 seed and earned a first-round bye. They will face the Salem vs. Hartford/Humboldt winner on Saturday at 5 pm.
No. 2 Canova also earned a first-round bye and will take on the Flandreau Blue Teal vs. Colman winner at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday.
No. 8 Hartford/Humboldt Wood Ducks vs. No. 9 Salem, 6 p.m., Friday
No. 7 Flandreau Blue Teal vs. No. 10 Colman A’s, 8 p.m., Friday
No. 3 Madison vs. No. 6 Hartford/Humboldt Gamecocks, 12 p.m., Saturday
No. 4 Flandreau Cardinals vs. No. 5 Dell Rapids Mudcats, 2:30 p.m., Saturday
DISTRICT 3B AMATEUR BASEBALL TOURNAMENT – COLOME/CHAMBERLAIN
THE PONY HILLS LEAGUE GETS 5 BIDS INTO THE STATE TOURNAMENT
No. 1 Kimball/White Lake vs. No. 8 Colome, 12 p.m., Saturday
No. 4 Plankinton vs. No. 5 Chamberlain, 2 p.m., Saturday
No. 2 Four Corners vs. No. 7 Winner, 4:30 p.m., Saturday
No. 3 Burke vs No. 6 Wessington Springs, 6:30 p.m., Saturday
LEGION BASEBALL
Groton vs. Sisseton – Region 1B Championship on Friday
Dell Rapids 7, Volga 1 – Region 2 B Championship
Dakota Valley 10, Lennox 1 – Region 3B Championship
Clark/Willow Lake vs. Lake Norden/Badger – Region 6B Championship on Friday
Winner/Colome 6, Belle Fourche 1 – Region 7B Championship