WEDNESDAY SPORTS, JUNE 11, 2025
LEGION BASEBALL
— Officials from the South Dakota American Legion and the Mitchell Baseball Association are set to meet Thursday in Pierre behind closed doors to discuss reinstating Mitchell’s varsity-level summer baseball team. The team’s 2024 season was canceled after serious criminal charges involving players, and the Legion set conditions for the team’s return—including dissolving the Mitchell Baseball Association board and removing longtime coach Luke Norden. The MBA has pushed back, supporting Norden and adopting new safety measures. With many deadlines for the 2025 season already passed, it’s uncertain if the varsity team will return this year. Meanwhile, MBA is continuing summer baseball for younger age groups, including an 18-and-under team coached by Norden.
GOLF
— Coming to the 2025 Sanford International, a brand new event called “EMC Greats of the Game.” On Saturday, September 13th, golf legends Sir Nick Faldo and Andy North will team up with Pro Football Hall of Famers Cris Carter and Rondé Barber for a unique 9-hole competition. The event kicks off right after the last group tees off on hole 10. Faldo is a six-time major winner and World Golf Hall of Famer, while North is a two-time U.S. Open champion and longtime tournament host.
AMATEUR BASEBALL – THURSDAY
Parkston Rays vs. Winner/Colome – Wednesday
Platte vs. Parkston Rays
Dimock/Emery vs. Mitchell
Parkston Mudcats vs. Mt. Vernon
Corsica vs. Alexandria
Colome vs. Plankinton
Kimball/White Lake vs. Burke
1st Annual Blarney’s Baseball Classic – Saturday, June 14th at Cadwell Park
Canova vs. Mt. Vernon, 10 am
Platte vs. Wynot (Neb.), Noon
Kimbal/White Lake vs. Parkston Rays, 2 pm
Alexandria vs. Crofton (Neb.), 4 pm
Mitchell Aces vs. Sioux Falls Brewers, 6 pm
Dimock/Emery vs. Wessington Springs, 8 pm
MINNESOTA TWINS
— Kyle Higashioka had a season-high five RBIs for Texas, while Evan Carter and Wyatt Langford hit home runs as the Rangers beat the Minnesota Twins 16-4. Carter finished with three hits, three RBIs and scored four times for the Rangers, who had 17 hits. Game two of the three game series is tonight at 6:40 pm.
AMATEUR BASEBALL POLL
Class B
1. Dell Rapids PBR
2. Canova Gang
3. Dell Rapids Mudcats
4. Milbank Firechiefs
5. Winner-Colome Pheasants
6. Humboldt-Hartford Gamecocks
7. Redfield Dairy Queen
8. Tabor Bluebirds
9. Platte Killer Tomatoes
10. Castlewood Ravens.
Also receiving votes: Larchwood (Iowa) Diamonds, Mount Vernon Mustangs and Alexandria Angels.
NBA
Indiana Pacers vs. Oklahoma City Thunder, Wednesday at 7:30 pm on ABC – Series tied 1-1
STANLEY CUP FINALS
Florida Panthers vs. Edmonton Oilers, Thursday at 7 pm on TNT – Florida leads the series 2-1
NBA
— The New York Knicks are facing early setbacks in their search for a new head coach. According to reports, the Knicks requested permission to speak with Houston Rockets coach Ime Udoka and Minnesota Timberwolves coach Chris Finch, but both teams denied those requests. The coaching search comes after the Knicks made a surprising move last week, firing Tom Thibodeau, who just led the team to its first Eastern Conference Finals in 25 years. The Knicks are also reportedly interested in Mavericks coach Jason Kidd, though they haven’t made a formal request. Sources say Dallas would likely deny that as well.
COLLEGE
— NCAA President Charlie Baker says the newly approved multibillion-dollar settlement in the House v. NCAA case is a game-changer and may have saved the organization from financial collapse. Speaking at a collegiate athletics convention in Orlando, Baker called the deal “one of the biggest changes ever in college sports,” saying it offers a “far better future” and gives the NCAA choices “instead of bankruptcy.” The settlement, approved last Friday, resolves three major antitrust lawsuits and will pay nearly $2.8 billion in back damages to athletes dating back to 2016. Starting in 2025, schools will also be allowed to share up to $20.5 million in revenue annually with players.
— Colorado football head coach Deion Sanders has been absent from spring football camps in Boulder, with no official reason given by the university. Reports suggest Sanders has been ill and is currently at his Texas home. The 57-year-old Sanders has a history of foot health issues related to past surgeries. His son says Sanders will share more details soon. Sanders is under contract through 2029 and is the highest-paid coach in the Big 12. Colorado opens the season August 29th against Georgia Tech.
— Florida A&M University athletic director Angela Suggs was arrested Monday, accused of stealing over $24,000 using a corporate credit card for personal expenses at her previous job as CEO of the Florida Sports Foundation. Suggs faces felony charges of grand theft and scheme to defraud, plus misdemeanor counts of false travel claims. The investigation revealed she used the card for personal purchases, including casino trips, and falsified travel vouchers. Florida A&M says the case relates to her former employer and they are monitoring the situation.
NFL
— A Seattle man has been charged with a string of burglaries at the homes of prominent current and former football and baseball players, marking the latest example of well-known athletes being targeted in these types of thefts. 21-year-old Earl Riley IV was charged Friday with several counts of residential burglary in both occupied and unoccupied homes, along with first-degree robbery. Prosecutors say Riley was the ringleader in a series of burglaries that started in February and involved thefts from the homes of such players as Seattle Mariners Luis Castillo and Julio Rodriguez and former Seattle Seahawk Richard Sherman.
SOCCER
— Philadelphia’s host city executive for the 2026 World Cup says organizers accept that an immigration crackdown by the U.S. federal government may be among the outside events that impact next year’s tournament. At a gathering of the 11 U.S. host city leaders on Monday, Meg Kane said, “We do not play a role necessarily in what is happening in terms of the decisions that are made.” The World Cup will be played at 16 stadiums in the U.S., Mexico and Canada from June 11 to July 19 next year, a tournament expanded to 48 nations and 104 games.
COLLEGE BASEBALL WORLD SERIES
No. 13 Coastal Carolina vs. Arizona, Friday at 1 pm on ESPN
No. 8 Oregon State vs. Louisville, Friday at 6 pm on ESPN
No. 15 UCLA vs. Murray State, Saturday at 1 pm on ESPN
No. 3 Arkansas vs. No. 6 LSU, Saturday at 6 pm on ESPN
MLB
— Cincinnati’s Andrew Abbott pitched a three-hitter for his first career complete game and Spencer Steer had an RBI single in the fifth inning, giving the Cincinnati Reds a 1-0 victory over the Cleveland Guardians. Abbott struck out five and walked one in a 110-pitch shutout.
— Austin Wells hit a three-run homer and finished with five RBIs, while Aaron Judge hit the third-longest homer in the majors this season at 469 feet as the Yankees routed the Kansas City Royals 10-2. Max Fried (9-1) bounced back from his first loss of the season, pitching seven innings of two-run ball for New York.
— Manny Machado had three hits and drove in five runs, while Luis Arraez had three hits and scored four times as the San Diego Padres defeated the Dodgers 11-1. Dylan Cease struck out 11 and allowed just three hits over seven scoreless innings.
— Mike Yastrzemski hit a go-ahead single in a four-run ninth inning as the San Francisco Giants beat Colorado Rockies 6-5 for their sixth win in a row, all by one run. Colorado has lost four straight following its first three-game winning streak and fell to a major league-worst 12-54.
— Jeff McNeil doubled home the winning run in the 10th inning as the New York Mets rallied past the Washington Nationals 5-4 in the opener of a three-game series. The Mets have the best record in the National League at 43-24.
— Ian Happ homered twice, including a two-run shot in the sixth inning in the Cubs 8-4 win over the Philadelphia Phillies. Dansby Swanson, Happ and Michael Busch each hit a solo HR’s.
— Andrés Giménez and Alejandro Kirk each homered as the Toronto Blue Jays beat the St. Louis Cardinals 10-9. The Blue Jays have won 11 of their last 13 and are a league-best 21-10 over their last 31 games.
— Jackson Chourio and Jake Bauers hit home runs for Milwaukee, while Quinn Priester struck out seven in six innings as the Brewers defeated the Atlanta Braves 4-1.
— Spencer Torkelson homered and Zach McKinstry hit two triples for the Tigers in a 5-3 win over the Baltimore Orioles.
— Luis Robert Jr. homered and Shane Smith pitched six innings, allowing one run as the White Sox beat the Houston Astros 4-2.
— Sandy Alcantara struck out six in six shutout innings as the Miami Marlins defeated the Pittsburgh Pirates 3-2. Alcantara allowed three hits and walked one in his first win in two months.
— Arizona catch Gabriel Moreno hit a three-run homer and Corbin Carroll added a pair of triples as the Diamondbacks beat the Seattle Mariners 10-3.
— Nolan Schanuel hit a single into shallow center field in the 10th inning for the first walk-off hit of his career to drive in Jo Adell and give the L.A. Angels a 2-1 win over the Athletics.
DAKOTA WESLEYAN
Men’s Basketball: Elite Camp (Saturday, June 14)
A high-intensity camp for high school athletes (classes of 2025–2028) seeking to compete at the next level. Includes drills, skill instruction, and evaluations by DWU coaching staff.
Football Prospect Camp (June 22) Sunday
Time: 11:00 a.m. – 4:45 p.m.
Open to athletes in grades 9–12
This camp offers college evaluation and instruction, including a combine assessment. Includes lunch, dinner, and a camp T-shirt.
Girls’ Basketball: Tiger Team Camp (Monday, June 30)
A great opportunity for girls’ basketball teams to compete in multiple games in one day.
MITCHELL KERNELS
— Mitchell will host a Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) football camp on Wednesday, June 25th from 9 am to 3 pm at Joe Quintal Field. Camp is for players entering grades 5-8 this fall and the cost is $20.