Author: Nathan Bloechl

By: Nathan Bloechl — sports@kilj.com 

KILJ Baseball and Softball Schedule Announced:

With summer sports starting up statewide June 15th, KILJ will air 10 games over the course of 24 days during the baseball and softball regular season.

Here’s a look at the schedule:

• Monday, June 15th — Mount Pleasant Baseball vs. Fort Madison — 5:30 p.m.
• Thursday, June 18th — Mount Pleasant Softball vs. Washington — 5:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
• Tuesday, June 23 — New London Baseball at Iowa City Regina — 5:30 p.m.
• Wednesday, June 24th — Mount Pleasant Softball at New London — 7:00 p.m.
• Monday June 29th —- Mount Pleasant Baseball vs. Burlington — 5:30 p.m.
• Wednesday, July 1st — Mount Pleasant Baseball vs. Marion — 7:00 p.m.
• Monday, July 6th — Mount Pleasant Softball vs. Washington — 5:30 p.m.
• Tuesday, July 7th — Mount Pleasant Baseball at Mediapolis — 7:00 p.m.
• Thursday, July 9th — Mount Pleasant Baseball at Knoxville — 5:30 p.m.

Of course start times are approximate.

We look forward to bringing live sports back to the KILJ-FM airwaves!

Pair of Cyclones Earn Academic All-American Honors:

Iowa State track and field/cross country’s Cailie Logue and Thomas Pollard have been named to the 2020 College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) Academic All-District Men’s and Women’s Track & Field and Cross Country Team, CoSIDA announced last Friday.

Both are first-time honorees and are now eligible for the CoSIDA Academic All-America Team, which will be announced later in June.

Logue and Pollard have both received numerous accolades for their accomplishments in the classroom, being multiple-time Academic All-Big 12 and USTFCCCA All-Academic honorees.

During the 2019 cross country season, both Logue and Pollard were named their respective Big 12 Scholar-Athletes of the Year.

NBA Eyeing October Finals?

As the NBA models a 22-team format for the season’s proposed resumption beginning July 31 in Orlando, Florida, a timeline shared with teams as a last possible date for a Finals Game 7 lands on Oct. 12, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarski reports.

Commissioner Adam Silver is expected to have a proposal to take to a vote of the NBA’s board of governors on Thursday.

The expectation is that the NBA draft and the opening of free agency would follow in sequential order in October, sources said.

The NBA has been advancing on a plan that would include regular-season, play-in and playoff games for the 16 teams currently holding a playoff position — and six more teams within six games of the eighth seed in each conference, sources said.

The top seed currently in the East are the Milwaukee Bucks, while the Western Conference’s top seed is the Los Angeles Lakers.

By: Nathan Bloechl — sports@kilj.com 

2020 Preseason Softball Rankings Announced:

The Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union has announced its 2020 pre-season softball rankings and there is some area flavor among the top-15 teams per class.

In 2A, 3A state runner-up Louisa-Muscatine drops down and grabs hold of the #2 spot in the class behind only North Linn, who finished last year 42-4.

L-M returns several from last year’s 35-5 team.

In 4A, both Southeast Conference foes Fairfield and Washington are represented.

Fairfield checks in at #11 while Washington is #12.

The Trojans went 22-19 last season but return gobs of talent, while Washington ended last year 22-15.

1A’s top team is Collins-Maxwell, 3A’s is perennial power Davenport Assumption, 4A’s top squad is Carlisle, while 5A’s is Fort Dodge.

2020 Shrine Bowl Cancelled:

The annual Iowa Shrine Bowl Football Classic has been canceled due to concerns over COVID-19.

The game was slated to be held July 18th at the UNIDome in Cedar Falls.

The Shrine Bowl board held out as long as possible, hoping that we would be able to host this game and related events that are so important to The Shriner’s Hospitals for Children.

Unfortunately, there were just too many unknowns at this time and they could not jeopardize the safety of any participants, guests or staff at this event.

Mediapolis’ Kye Borrison was scheduled to play in the bowl game, representing Team South.

To date, the Iowa Shrine Bowl has raised over $2,600,000 for The Shriner’s Hospitals for Children.

Funds for The Shriner’s Hospitals for Children are developed by ticket sales, advertising in the Shrine Bowl program, merchandise sales, contributions and sponsorships.

Cyclones Pick Up Kansas City Prep WR:

Iowa State picked up a big recruiting win yesterday when Missouri prep wide receiver Jaylin Noel announced his commitment to Iowa State over Nebraska on Sunday.

Noel starred at Park Hill High School last year as a junior, recording 42 receptions for 769 yards and nine touchdowns.

The 5-foot-11, 170-pound prospect is ranked as the 136^th receiver in the country and the No. 18 player in the Show-Me State.

He’s the fourteenth commit for Iowa State’s Class of 2021, which currently ranks #29 in the nation and #3 in the Big 12.

MLB Mulling Players’ Association Counterproposal:

Unable to yet reach a return-to-play agreement, Major League Baseball has discussed playing a shorter schedule in which it would pay members of the MLB Players Association their full prorated salaries, ESPN’s Jeff Passan reports.

Players have held out for a full prorated portion of their salaries, based on a March 26 agreement with the league, and in an offer Sunday proposed a 114-game schedule that would cover 70.3% of their original salaries.

A 50-game schedule with full pro rata would pay the players 30.8% of that number.

The league, which has contended that it will lose money each game it plays without fans and with players making their full pro rata, has pushed for a shorter season because of fears of a second wave of the coronavirus potentially wiping out its postseason and the revenue that comes with it.

While the MLB is seemingly losing traction, both the NBA and NHL seem to be on the verge of concrete plans to return, with the NBA playing out it’s postseason with players sequestered in Orlando and the NHL operating its playoff in various hub cities.

By: Nathan Bloechl — sports@kilj.com 

High School Baseball and Softball Begins Today:

After nearly a three-month hiatus, high school sports resume in Iowa today with the beginning of practice for high school baseball and softball.

Today marks the start of a truncated, two-week practice schedule that leads up to the first games being played on June 15^th.

There have been no events since the end of the boys’ state basketball tournament.

Area teams getting underway today include: Mount Pleasant, Winfield-Mount Union and New London.

WACO co-op’s with Mount Pleasant.

Iowa Finalizes 2024 Schedule:

The University of Iowa has added Troy University to its 2024 football schedule. The announcement was made Friday by the Iowa Athletics Department.

The addition of Troy visiting Kinnick Stadium on Sept. 14, 2024, completes Iowa’s 2024 schedule and marks the first football game between the two programs.

Additional non-conference games include Iowa hosting Illinois State to open the season Aug. 31, and Iowa State visiting Kinnick Stadium on Sept. 7 for the annual Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Series contest.

The date of the Iowa State game had not previously been announced. Iowa visits Iowa State on Sept. 6, 2025.

In addition to the contract completing the 2024 schedule, Iowa also announced a change to the 2023 schedule.

Home dates with Western Michigan and Utah State have been exchanged from previous contracted dates.

Utah State will visit Iowa City Sept. 2, 2023, with Western Michigan playing at Iowa on Sept. 16.

Iowa’s Big Ten Conference schedule in 2024 includes home dates with Northwestern, Maryland, Wisconsin, and Nebraska, while the Hawkeyes travel to Purdue, Rutgers, Illinois, Indiana, and Minnesota.

UNI’s King Named Track and Field All-American:

UNI track and field junior Darius King was named an indoor track and field All-American in the shot put by the USTFCCCA Tuesday.

King qualified for the NCAA Indoor Championship in the shot put after throwing a career-best mark of 19.58m (64-feet-3) while breaking the facility and UNI record at the Jimmy Grant Invite hosted by the University of Iowa on Dec. 14.

He closed the season ranked 14th in the NCAA and earned AA honors for the first time of his career.

He won the MVC title, leading the UNI throws crew who took five of the top seven spots.

King is one of just two Missouri Valley Conference athletes to earn All-American honors, the other being Southern Illinois’ Alexis Roberson in the female weight throw.

MLB Proposes 114-Game Schedule:

The Major League Baseball Players Association delivered a return-to-play proposal to MLB on Sunday that includes a 114-game season, deferred salaries in the event of a canceled postseason and the option for all players to opt out of a potential 2020 season due to coronavirus concerns, ESPN’s Jeff Passan reports.

The 114-game season, which under the union’s proposal would run from June 30 to Oct. 31, is expected to be immediately dismissed by the league, Passan reports.

MLB proposed an 82-game season and suggested that the more games teams play this year, the more money they lose.

The union remains steadfast that players should receive their full prorated salaries, while MLB’s plan included significant pay cuts that affected the highest paid players the most but covered all levels.

By: Nathan Bloechl — sports@kilj.com 

McCaffery Granted Hardship Waiver:

University of Iowa forward Patrick McCaffery’s hardship waiver petition has been approved by the Big Ten Conference.

McCaffery saw limited action in the first two games of his true freshman campaign before missing the remainder of the 2019-20 season due to residual health and wellness issues related to his thyroid.

McCaffery joined the Hawkeyes after finishing his prep career at Iowa City West High School as its all-time leading scorer.

He won a combined 86 games with the Trojans, including the 2017 4A State Championship, and runner-up finishes in 2016 and 2018. McCaffery was a three-time all-state honoree.

Iowa senior Jordan Bohannon and sophomore Jack Nunge had their hardship waiver petitions approved earlier this month.

Five of UNI Football Named Preseason All-Americans:

Five UNI Football players to the preseason All-American team as chose by Hero Sports.

Defensive end Elerson G. Smith earned first-team honors after an outstanding junior season that landed him in the top 10 for the Buck Buchanan Award final voting.

Isaiah Weston and Jared Brinkman were named to the second team and Spencer Brown and Xavior Williams received third team honors.

Smith had a breakout season in 2019. He tallied 14.0 sacks, 21.5 tackles for loss, five forced fumbles and set the school record with 14 quarterback hurries in a season. He also blocked a pair of field goals, had four pass breakups and five forced fumbles. He closed the season out with 63 total tackles.

Brinkman earned second-team honors after recording 83 tackles, including 14.5 tackles for loss and 7.0 sacks. He had five quarterback hits and three forced fumbles. Outside of his stats, he was a force on the inside, eating up blockers.

Isaiah Weston returned from an injury redshirt season in 2018 and became the number-one receiver for quarterback Will McElvain. He led the FCS in yards per reception at 24.49, catching 43 passes for 1,053 yards. He scored 10 touchdowns, including a TD in seven consecutive games. He went over 100 yards receiving in a game five different times. He missed three games and parts of others after going down with injuries.

Williams made the move from corner to safety in 2019 and didn’t take a step back. He tallied 50 tackles while also breaking up a team-high 13 passes. He had a fumble returned for a touchdown against Iowa State and tallied an interception against James Madison.

Spencer Brown started every game at right tackle and earned second-team MVC honors. The 6-9 senior anchors a Panther offensive line that returns four of five starters.

Iowa Soccer to Build New Complex:

The University of Iowa, pending approval by the Board of Regents, State of Iowa, will break ground in late fall on a $4 million state-of-the-art soccer operations facility on the west side of the Iowa Soccer Complex. This new space will open in time for the 2021 fall season — the 25th year of Iowa women’s soccer.

The proposed facility, funded entirely by private support, will include:

• A spacious locker room and lounge/team room that will dramatically improve Iowa soccer student-athletes efficiency and experience while creating a “one-stop home” for Iowa women’s soccer.
• A multi-purpose room, overlooking one of the best soccer fields in the Big Ten Conference, that creates a space for student-athletes to enjoy pregame and postgame meals, watch film, study, and socialize, as well as to host donors and other events before and after matches.
• An athletic training room, allowing student-athletes to receive treatments from sports medicine staff after a practice or game — without having to travel to another campus location.

Additional amenities including; coaches’ offices, visiting team and officials’ locker rooms, press box, and storage.

By: Nathan Bloechl — sports@kilj.com

Mount Pleasant’s Lowery Signs to Play Baseball at Grandview:

Mount Pleasant senior third-baseman Clayton Lowery is taking his talents to Des Moines.

Yesterday he made his commitment official, signing to play baseball at Grandview University.

Lowery was a lynchpin in Mount Pleasant’s success last year, hitting .333 with a team-best 26 runs batted in.

He’s expecting to begin his college career at third base, but is open to moving around the middle infield where the staff feels he is needed.

“I’ve always really wanted to play college baseball when I was little. I loved Grandview’s campus, their facilities are brand new. I’m excited to be able to be in Des Moines” he explained.

Lowery also considered Cornell College, Mount Mercy and Central College.

Mount Pleasant finished last year with a record of 21-11 and are presumptive favorites to compete for the top of the Southeast Conference this year.

Iowa AD Addresses Fall Concerns:

Iowa Director of Athletics Gary Barta met with media Thursday on an hour-long Zoom news conference, saying there are several reasons to feel positive steps are being taken in the battle against the coronavirus that has gripped the nation since March.

Perhaps the most encouraging news was when Barta spoke about the number of fans inside Kinnick Stadium on game day, where Hawkeye officials are preparing to allow as many fans back as possible.

Barta noted that season tickets are about 25% less than what they were comparatively one year ago.

Tailgating will be allowed for fall, Barta explained, with undisclosed modifications. He said meetings have already begun on campus dealing with the management of football game day.

The month of June will provide initial answers for programs across the country.

The Iowa Athletics Department is part of a pilot program that will allow student-athletes and essential staff to return to campus beginning with football June 8.

Men’s and women’s basketball will follow June 15, then other sports will gradually phase in.

On the flip side, Barta gave grim updates on the athletics budget, expecting a seven figure shortfall. He explained that a hiring and spending freeze will go into effect soon.

Iowa State Women to Host South Carolina Next Year:

The Iowa State women will play host to one of the top programs in the country next year as a part of the Big 12-SEC Challenge.

The Cyclone women will welcome in South Carolina, who went 32-1 this past season — ending the year as the #1 team in the nation.

Bill Fennelly’s group ended last year with a record of 18-11, including a thrilling 57-56 upset over Kim Mulkey’s #2 ranked Baylor Bears.

Cyclone Football Adds DL Depth:

The Cyclone front-seven got a bit deeper yesterday when they secured a commitment from Richmond, Texas native Tyler Onyedim.

The three-star defensive tackle is ranked the #78 player at his position in the country and the 217^th best player in the Lone Star state.

Onyedim picked Iowa State over offers from Boston College, Colorado State and the Runnin’ Rebels of UNLV.

He’s the fourteenth commit for the Clones in the Class of 2021.

By: Nathan Bloechl — sports@kilj.com 

UNI Football Ranked #3 in Preseason Poll:

The UNI Football team enters next year as the #3 team in the Football Championship Subdivision, at least according to one poll.

HERO Sports announced their preseason rankings and Mark Farley’s group received high praise.

The Panthers return 15 starters from last year’s 10-5 squad that took Iowa State to overtime and advanced to the FCS National Quarterfinals.

UNI boast’s one of FCS’ deeper defenses with All-American players at all three levels.

Last year the Panther defense allowed just 17.7 points per game.

North Dakota State and South Dakota State — both conference opponents are ranked #1 and #2 respectively.

McCaffery, Meyer Take Home Iowa’s Sportsmanship Awards:

Redshirt sophomore Connor McCaffery (men’s basketball) and senior Makenzie Meyer (women’s basketball) have been selected as Iowa’s 2020 Big Ten Outstanding Sportsmanship Award winners.

The duo was chosen from Iowa’s list of 2019-20 Big Ten Sportsmanship Award winners, which had a representative from each varsity sport.

The Big Ten first awarded the Outstanding Sportsmanship honor in 2003. The student-athletes chosen were individuals who have distinguished themselves through sportsmanship and ethical behavior, were in good academic standing, and demonstrated good citizenship outside of the sports-competition setting.

Last year’s award winners was Iowa wrestling’s Alex Marinelli and women’s basketball standout Hannah Stewart — a two-time winner.

Drake Adds Former UWGB Star:

The Drake men’s basketball team got a big lift on the wing yesterday when former Wisconsin-Green Bay standout ShanQuan Hemphill announced his transfer to the program.

Hemphill, a native of Gary, Indiana, averaged 11.7 points and 5.6 rebounds per game in 38 games as a junior with the Phoenix.

Hemphill missed all but one game last year due to a lower-body injury.

He has petitioned the NCAA for a medical waiver that would grant him a sixth season of eligibility — barring any snags, that petition is to be honored allowing the swingman to contribute immediately for Drake.

Recruiting Dead Period Extended:

The Division I Council Coordination Committee extended the recruiting dead period in all sports through July 31.

The committee will regularly evaluate the dead period, continuing to be guided by medical experts.

Additionally, the committee decided to allow strength and conditioning coaches to virtually observe voluntary physical workouts for health and safety purposes but only if requested by the student-athlete.

The measure goes into effect June 1.

The strength and conditioning coach will be allowed to observe the workouts and discuss items related to voluntary workouts but not direct or conduct the workout.

The committee will continue to explore the opportunity for strength and conditioning coaches to conduct voluntary workouts virtually, as they do during in-person, on-campus voluntary workouts.

By: Nathan Bloechl — sports@kilj.com

KILJ — Mount Pleasant youth baseball will be played this summer and the registration is set for June 2nd. You can register online at  www.mpreccenter.com/baseball or at The REC Center. 

Girls are encouraged to sign up as well. 

Mount Pleasant Rec Center executive director Ryan Duffie issued this statement in accordance with youth sports getting underway this summer in Mount Pleasant: 

“The health and safety of our athletes, coaches, family members and other supporters remains our No. 1 priority.  We understand that the decision to return-to-play is a personal one, and we encourage families to make whatever decision is best for them at this time.  If you have registered and do not want to play, please call 385.2960 ASAP and we will give you a full refund.  We have established “return to play guidelines and restrictions” and it is critical that our teams, managers, coaches, directors and fans strictly adhere to them.”