By: Nathan Bloechl — sports@kilj.com
Prep Softball: IGCA Announces 2021 All-Stars:
The Iowa Girls’ Coaches Association has released their 2021 All-Stars and two local talents have been selected.
Competing for the Red All-Stars will be Winfield-Mount Union ace Madie Anderson.
Anderson, an Indian Hills recruit, has been dominate and borderline unhittable all season for the Lady Wolves — who enter postseason play ranked No. 13 in Class 1A.
The fireballing right-hander pitched her capstone performance just two nights ago throwing a perfect game against Lone Tree, where she struck out 20 of 21 hitters.
She has pitched every inning for Winfield-Mount Union this year, a true workhorse.
The other area selection is Louisa-Muscatine superstar Kylee Sanders.
Sanders, who will join her older sister on the UNI softball team, has been equally as dominant in her senior campaign.
The left-handed slugger is hitting an almost unthinkable .658 this year with three home runs and 25 runs batted in.
She has seven doubles, five triples and is getting on base at a .716 clip.
Sanders has also taken up the mantle of the club ace.
This year in 11 starts, Sanders is 6-4 with an 0.79 ERA.
The All-Star games will be played July 24th at Waukee High School.
Prep Baseball: Class 1A, 2A Pairings Released:
Area teams now their first round matchups for the upcoming Iowa High School baseball playoffs.
First round action will get underway on Saturday, July 10th.
In Class 1A, District 9, New London is the top-seed.
The 18-0 Tigers will await the winner of Tri-County and Moulton-Udell who are a combined 1-31.
That game will be aired on FM 105.5.
Danville will begin against Keota, while Winfield-Mount Union will get the Savages of Sigourney, who are 14-4.
Last year’s area state qualifier, Notre Dame will open their 2021 postseason on the road against Moravia.
In Class 2A, area teams are competing in District 11.
Mediapolis will begin at home against Louisa-Muscatine on Saturday, July 10th.
Meanwhile West Burlington will play Regina Catholic.
The winner of Mediapolis-Louisa Muscatine will get Williamsburg on July 13th, while the victor of Regina-West Burlington will play top-seeded Mid-Prairie.
In District 12, Central Lee will play Davis County in their first round matchup.
The Hawks are 8-8.
Should they advance they’ll get a second round date with conference foe Van Buren County, who is currently 10-9.
Second round action will be July 13th.t
College Basketball: Iowa State Announces Non-Con Schedule:
Iowa State has announced its men’s basketball nonconference schedule for the 2021-22 season, head coach T.J Otzelberger’s first season leading the program.
The schedule features 10 home games and is highlighted by games against Iowa in the Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Series, Missouri in the Big 12/SEC Challenge and 2021 Elite Eight participant Oregon State.
Otzelberger’s debut comes on Tuesday, Nov. 9 against Kennesaw State at Hilton Coliseum. The Cyclones then host Oregon State on Friday, Nov. 12.
The annual game against Iowa will return to Hilton Coliseum on Thursday, Dec. 9.
College Basketball: Drake To Play in Holiday Hoopsgiving Tournament:
After advancing to to the NCAA Tournament last year, Darian Devries’ Drake Bulldog men’s basketball team will compete in this year’s quadruple header tournament at Atlanta’s State Farm Arena.
The tournament is being dubbed as Holiday Hoopsgiving.
Drake will battle against Clemson with tip time undisclosed as of now.
Other matchups include Auburn-Nebraska, LSU-Georgia Tech and Ole Miss-Western Kentucky.