WEDNESDAY SPORTS, JULY 15, 2026
PALACE CITY LEGION BASEBALL
— Palace City Post 18 Legion baseball split it final home doubleheader of the season on Wednesday, losing 10-0 in game one to Yankton, while winning game two 12-5. In game one, Yankton’s Sam Gokie allowed just three hits over seven shutout innings with seven strikeouts, including a three-run home run in the seventh inning. Palace City bounced back in game two with a four run first inning, taking a 7-0 lead after two innings. Canon Moeller went 2-for-4 with a double and three RBI’s, while Ethan Hegg, Kaiden Allen and Dawson Adams each had two RBI’s. Carter McCormick picked up the win, allowing three unearned runs with 12 strikeouts over 5 2/3 innings. Post 18 ends the regular season on Wednesday with a doubleheader at Dakota Valley.
— Palace City Post 18 Junior Legion (24-15) hosts Tea Area for a doubleheader on Wednesday at 5 pm at Cadwell Park.
— Palace City 14-and-under lost a pair of games at Watertown on Tuesday, 11-10 and 7-0. 14U is back in action on Wednesday with a 5 pm doubleheader at Brandon Valley at 5 pm.
— Palace City 13-and-under split a doubleheader at Dakota Valley on Tuesday night, losing game one 12-4 before winning game two 15-6.
LEGION BASEBALL
Parkston 18, Wagner 2 (4 innings) – Kash Neugebauer with four RBI’s, while Kaden Holzbauer had a pair of hits and two RBI’s.
Scotland/Menno/Freeman/Canistota 11, Alexandria 7
Martin 11, Platte/Geddes 5
Tabor 10, Salem 0 (5 innings)
DAKOTA WESLEYAN
— Dakota Wesleyan has named Renita Closner as the 18th head coach of the Tiger softball program. Closner comes to DWU after serving as head coach at Peru State College in Nebraska from 2022 through 2026. Before coaching at the college level, Closner was the head softball coach at Lincoln Southeast High School in Nebraska and also coached at Lincoln North Star, Nebraska Gold and Nebraska Nemesis. She will begin her duties on August 3.
AMATEUR BASEBALL
Parkston Mudcats 20, Mt. Vernon 13 – Gunnar Wilhelm went 4-for-6 with a solo home run for Parkston, as Mt. Vernon lost despite holding a 10-3 lead in the fourth inning.
Plankinton vs. Wessington Springs – Wednesday at 8 pm
Platte vs. Parkston Rays – Thursday at 7:30 pm
Dimock/Emery vs. Mt. Vernon – Thursday at 7:30 pm
Corsica vs. Freeman – Thursday at 7:30 pm
Winner/Colome vs. Alexandria – Friday at 8 pm
Plankinton vs. Four Corners – Friday at 8 pm
WORLD CUP
Spain 2, France 0 – Spain advances to Sunday’s World Cup Final at 2 pm on FOX
Argentina vs. England, Wednesday at 2 pm on FOX
MLB
— The American League recorded the first All-Star Game shutout since 2013, defeating the National League 4-0 Tuesday night in Philadelphia. Dylan Cease struck out the side in the first inning, while 10 relievers combined on a three-hit shutout. A record 27 combined strikeouts were recorded over the course of a nine-inning All-Star game. Cody Bellinger was named All-Star MVP with a two-run single, Ben Rice added an RBI single and Miguel Vargas hit a solo home run as the AL improved to 18 wins in the last 23 Midsummer Classics. Tampa Bay’s Junior Caminero left after being hit on the hand by a pitch, but X-rays were negative.
— Discussions are underway about allowing Major League Baseball players to compete in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, but negotiations remain in the early stages. MLB is considering an extended All-Star break to accommodate the Olympic baseball tournament at Dodger Stadium from July 13-19, 2028. The proposed schedule would include the All-Star Game on July 11, with the regular season resuming July 21. Major League Baseball Players Association interim executive director Bruce Meyer says players are interested in representing their country but want assurances on travel and accommodations. The United States has already qualified for the 2028 Olympic baseball tournament as the host nation.
— Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred says he is pleased with the league’s Automated Ball-Strike System, which debuted this season with teams allowed to challenge ball and strike calls. Manfred says there are no immediate plans to use the technology to make every ball and strike decision, adding MLB is still evaluating the challenge system. Teams have challenged 6,040 calls this season, with 53% overturned. Batters have won nearly 48% of their challenges, while pitchers and catchers have been successful on 58%. Cincinnati has been the most successful team using the system, winning more than 64% of challenges, while Pittsburgh has had the lowest success rate at 41%. Meanwhile, the Minnesota Twins have won the most challenges.
— Major League Baseball and the players’ union are at odds over the league’s proposed salary cap system, with union leaders criticizing MLB’s campaign in support of the plan. Bruce Meyer, head of the Major League Baseball Players Association, says the league is misleading fans by suggesting baseball is in financial trouble. Meyer pointed to strong attendance numbers and said the sport is thriving. Players have said they will not accept a salary cap. The debate comes as baseball’s current labor agreement expires Dec. 1. A lockout is expected if a new deal is not reached, which would mark the 10th work stoppage in MLB since 1972.
— Major League Baseball is proposing changes to amateur draft eligibility that would prevent high school players in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico from signing until they are at least 20 years old and two years removed from their high school graduating class. Commissioner Rob Manfred says the move reflects the growing importance of college baseball, noting that 70 to 75% of major league players now come through college programs. Manfred says MLB also wants to encourage more players to pursue higher education, saying college can be an important part of a player’s overall development. The proposal would represent a major shift from the current system, which allows teams to draft and sign players directly out of high school.
— Top overall pick Roch Cholowsky has agreed to a record $10.3 million signing bonus with the Chicago White Sox. Cholowsky, a 21-year-old shortstop from UCLA, was selected No. 1 overall in last weekend’s amateur draft. His bonus surpasses the previous draft record of $9.2 million. Cholowsky hit .320 with 21 home runs and 60 RBIs in 60 games this season for UCLA.
— Philadelphia Phillies star Bryce Harper says he did not know a personalized video he recorded through Cameo would be used by FanDuel as a reward for a high-volume gambler who later sued the sportsbook. A FanDuel customer, Terry Thompson, wagered $18.5 million with the company and received a video message from Harper as a VIP reward. Thompson later filed a lawsuit alleging FanDuel and DraftKings took advantage of his gambling addiction. Harper said he recorded the video through Cameo, an app where fans pay celebrities for personalized messages, and was unaware of any connection between the request and FanDuel’s VIP program. Harper said if he had known FanDuel’s intent or the details of Thompson’s situation, he would not have made the video. He also said FanDuel did not have permission to use the recording.
NBA
— NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said the league is moving forward with plans to launch a new European league with FIBA in the fall of 2027, with ownership meetings scheduled around this weekend’s FIFA World Cup final. Silver also said the NBA hopes to decide by the end of 2026 whether to expand to Seattle and Las Vegas, with any new franchises likely beginning play in the 2028-29 season. He expects the league’s investigation into Kawhi Leonard’s endorsement agreement and its impact on a pending trade to Toronto to conclude later this summer. Silver also defended the NBA’s collective bargaining agreement, including the controversial second salary cap apron, saying it has improved competitive balance.
— The Minnesota Timberwolves believe LaMelo Ball’s playmaking ability and upbeat personality can help push the franchise closer to an NBA championship. Minnesota introduced Ball and guard Josh Green on Tuesday after acquiring them in a four-team trade that sent forward Naz Reid, Julius Randle and multiple draft picks to Charlotte and Brooklyn. Timberwolves president of basketball operations Tim Connelly says Ball’s ability as a pure point guard will help reduce the workload on superstar Anthony Edwards and bring more energy to the team. The 24-year-old averaged 20 points and seven assists over 72 games last season for Charlotte.
OLYMPICS
— Olympic champion Suni Lee is returning to gymnastics with hopes of competing at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. Lee announced Tuesday that she is back in the gym and preparing for another Olympic run, about two years before the Games begin. The 23-year-old won the all-around gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 and is a six-time Olympic medalist. At the 2024 Paris Olympics, Lee helped the United States win team gold while earning bronze medals in the all-around and uneven bars. The Los Angeles Games would mark Lee’s third Olympic appearance.
NFL
— Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen has been named the NFL’s top quarterback entering the 2026 season in a preseason poll conducted by The Associated Press. Allen received five first-place votes from a panel of eight AP pro football writers, beating out Patrick Mahomes, who had held the top spot in the poll the previous three seasons. Mahomes finished second after an injury-shortened season in which he suffered a torn ACL late in the year. Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford, the reigning NFL MVP, was third. Baltimore’s Lamar Jackson ranked fourth, while Cincinnati’s Joe Burrow rounded out the top five.
— Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid has been voted the NFL’s top coach by The Associated Press for the fourth consecutive year. Despite last season’s struggles, Reid remains one of the most successful coaches in NFL history. He has won three Super Bowls with Kansas City and ranks fourth on the league’s all-time wins list with 307 victories. Los Angeles Rams coach Sean McVay finished second, while Seattle’s Mike Macdonald, who led the Seahawks to a Super Bowl championship last season, placed third. San Francisco’s Kyle Shanahan was fourth, and Denver’s Sean Payton rounded out the top five.