Twins ‘targeting Opening Day’ for Byron Buxton, Jorge Polanco; Alex Kirilloff could be behind

Published Thu, 26 Dec 2024 23:45:28 GMT

Twins ‘targeting Opening Day’ for Byron Buxton, Jorge Polanco; Alex Kirilloff could be behind Byron Buxton and Jorge Polanco have yet to make their way into a Grapefruit League game this spring as they work their way back from respective knee injuries. But there isn’t a reason right now to believe both won’t be in the lineup on March 30 when the Twins begin their season in Kansas City, president of baseball operations Derek Falvey said Saturday.Buxton and Polanco have been doing their work on the backfields, getting at-bats during live batting practice.“I would say in Byron and Polo’s case, we’re targeting Opening Day, for sure,” Falvey said. “Relying on our medical folks on what they think are the best next steps … but they’re still telling us that’s in play barring anything changing. And both guys’ feedback has been positive.”That may not be the case for first baseman Alex Kirilloff, who the Twins are being cautious with as he works his way back from his second consecutive season-ending wrist surgery. At times, Falvey said, Kirilloff has wanted to cut back on his live at-b...

Women’s hockey: Gophers blank Duluth, earn trip to Frozen Four

Published Thu, 26 Dec 2024 23:45:28 GMT

Women’s hockey: Gophers blank Duluth, earn trip to Frozen Four There won’t be any more boats causing the famed Lift Bridge to raise and lower. The classic sound of the fog horn will not be heard, and most of the major tourist attractions will still be snowed in next week. But for the Minnesota Gophers, an all-expenses-paid trip to Duluth in March is something they have dreamed about.Minnesota forward Abbey Murphy (18) is tripped by Minnesota Duluth forward Mary Kate O’Brien (3) during the NCAA Regional championship at Ridder Arena on Saturday, March 11, 2023, in Minneapolis. (Clint Austin / Duluth News Tribune)Those dreams came true on a cloudy Saturday afternoon at Ridder Arena as Minnesota got opportunistic goals and stellar defense, beating in-state rival Minnesota Duluth 3-0 in their NCAA regional final, and earning the Frozen Four trip that goes along with it.Madeline Wethington scored a goal and set up another, while goalie Skylar Vetter had 30 saves as Minnesota improved to 30-5-3, and earned a date with another conference rival – ...

PHOTOS: 2023 Denver St. Patrick’s Day Parade

Published Thu, 26 Dec 2024 23:45:28 GMT

PHOTOS: 2023 Denver St. Patrick’s Day Parade Spectators gathered in downtown Denver to watch performers, dancers and musicians as they participated in the 2023 Denver St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Saturday, March 11, 2023.

CIF state basketball championships: What’s up with those Lakers-style uniforms?

Published Thu, 26 Dec 2024 23:45:28 GMT

CIF state basketball championships: What’s up with those Lakers-style uniforms? SACRAMENTO — There is no truth that the Lakers were on the Golden 1 Center court.But there is a fun story behind Valencia’s purple-and-gold road uniforms that looked quite a bit like the ones worn by the storied NBA franchise during the Magic Johnson showtime era.Let’s give Valencia coach Bill Bedgood the floor to tell how it happened.First, he needs to stop laughing.“I’m going to be so completely honest about this one, these guys do not like these uniforms,” Bedgood said after his team defeated Half Moon Bay 89-59 on Saturday for the Division IV state title. “It is my design. I am going to take full credit or responsibility, depending on how you look at it.“I thought it was the coolest thing ever and the looks on their faces when we handed them out were like, ‘Are you kidding me? Everyone’s going to make fun of us.’ That’s what they kept saying.“I go, ‘No, no, no. It’s cool. It’ll be awe...

Fernando Tatis Jr. gets 1st hits for Padres since 2021

Published Thu, 26 Dec 2024 23:45:28 GMT

Fernando Tatis Jr. gets 1st hits for Padres since 2021 A hit is a hit, even if it’s only spring training. For Fernando Tatis Jr., it’s been a long time coming.The San Diego Padres star had been 0 for 16 this spring before hitting a smash shot off the glove of Chicago White Sox shortstop Erik Gonzalez for a single in the first inning Saturday at Peoria, Arizona. The hit came against former teammate Mike Clevinger. Tatis later added a two-run double. They were the first hits in 526 days for Tatis, who missed all of last season. He was on the cusp of returning from surgery on his left wrist when he was suspended for 80 games by major league baseball after testing positive for a performance-enhancing drug. “He hasn’t played in a while. He’s going to hit,” manager Bob Melvin said earlier in the week when asked about Tatis’ slump. “I’m sure he’s a little frustrated right now, and he’s doing a lot of work, too. The last thing I’m worried about is Fernando Tatis hitting or not.”Tatis isn’t e...

PSG striker Mbappe nets late goal as Brest beaten 2-1

Published Thu, 26 Dec 2024 23:45:28 GMT

PSG striker Mbappe nets late goal as Brest beaten 2-1 PARIS (AP) — Paris Saint-Germain refocused on its last shot at silverware this season in the French league and beat Brest 2-1 with a late Kylian Mbappe goal on Saturday.Mbappe beat the offside trap to collect a throughball from Lionel Messi in the 90th minute and rounded goalkeeper Marco Bizot to slot into an empty net.The France striker was lucky to still be on the pitch after kicking Haris Belkebla, who was on the ground in the 85th.“We’re not saying that we lost because of that, but I’d like to know whether all the players would get the same treatment if they did that,” Brest midfielder Pierre Lees-Melou said. “I asked the referee for an explanation. He said that it was tame. So, I’d like to see what’s a real kick.”Mbappe initially fouled Belkebla from behind. Belkebla fell to the ground and held onto Mbappe’s leg. In an act of petulance, Mbappe kicked Belkebla in the stomach. The referee showed only yellow cards to Mbappe and Belkebla for that incident.PSG was knocked out ...

THE PLAYERS Championship Scores

Published Thu, 26 Dec 2024 23:45:28 GMT

THE PLAYERS Championship Scores SaturdayAt TPC SawgrassPonte Vedra Beach, Fla.Purse: $25 millionYardage: 7,275; Par: 72Third RoundScottie Scheffler68-69-65—202Min Woo Lee68-70-66—204Cameron Davis69-70-67—206Christiaan Bezuidenhout68-70-69—207Tommy Fleetwood72-70-65—207Aaron Rai73-69-65—207Chad Ramey64-75-68—207Tom Hoge78-68-62—208Sungjae Im75-69-64—208David Lingmerth72-68-68—208Denny McCarthy68-72-69—209Taylor Montgomery70-73-66—209Justin Rose69-73-67—209Patrick Cantlay72-70-68—210Jason Day70-70-70—210Rickie Fowler72-70-68—210Ben Griffin67-71-72—210Adam Hadwin71-70-69—210Viktor Hovland69-71-70—210Taylor Moore70-75-65—210Collin Morikawa65-73-72—210Jordan Spieth69-75-66—210Justin Suh68-73-69—210Adam Svensson68-67-75—210Dylan Wu69-73-68—210Byeong Hun An71-70-70—211Wyndham Clark69-73-69—211Tony Finau73-72-66—211Tyrrell Hatton72-71-68—211Garrick Higgo70-73-68—211Max Homa72-72-67—211Si Woo Kim69-74-68—211Hideki Matsuyama74-70-67—211Brandon Wu73-69-69—211Tyler Duncan73-69-70—212Ryan Fox74-68-70—212Russell Henley72-74-66—...

No. 15 Texas, Iowa State will play for Big 12 tourney title

Published Thu, 26 Dec 2024 23:45:28 GMT

No. 15 Texas, Iowa State will play for Big 12 tourney title KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Shaylee Gonzales scored 17 points, Rori Harmon had a double-double and No. 15 Texas advanced to the Big 12 Tournament championship game by beating Oklahoma State 64-57 on Saturday.The Big 12’s top seed will face Iowa State for the tournament title on Sunday. DeYona Gaston scored 14 points, Shay Holle had 13 and Harmon scored 11 points and had 10 assists and seven rebounds for Texas (25-8). Texas moved its record to 21-0 when holding its opponents 59 points or less.Naomie Alnatas scored 13 points, and Lior Garzon and reserve Kassidy De Lapp each scored 11 for Oklahoma State (21-11). IOWA STATE 82, NO. 14 OKLAHOMA 72KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Ashley Joens scored 22 points, Lexi Donarski added 20 and Iowa State defeated Oklahoma in the Big 12 Tournament semifinals, setting up a matchup with No. 15 Texas. Nyamer Diew came off the bench for 19 points for the third-seeded Cyclones (21-9). Joens surpased 3,000 career points with her first basket of the second half; her...

Pickett, Penn State beat Indiana 77-73 in Big Ten semis

Published Thu, 26 Dec 2024 23:45:28 GMT

Pickett, Penn State beat Indiana 77-73 in Big Ten semis CHICAGO (AP) — Jalen Pickett scored 28 points, Seth Lundy had 16 and Penn State beat No. 19 Indiana 77-73 on Saturday to advance to the Big Ten Tournament championship.Andrew Funk added nine points as 10th-seeded Penn State (22-12) won for the eighth time in nine games. The Nittany Lions went 8 for 23 from 3-point range, compared to 2 for 14 for the Hoosiers.Next up for Penn State is top-seeded Purdue, which stopped Ohio State’s surprising run with an 80-66 victory in the first semifinal. The Nittany Lions were swept by the Boilermakers this season, losing 76-63 on Jan. 8 and 80-60 on Feb. 1.The deep Big Ten run has Penn State in position for its first appearance in the NCAA Tournament since 2011. The Nittany Lions looked as if they were going in 2020, but the tourney was canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic.Trayce Jackson-Davis had 24 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists for Indiana (22-11), and Tamar Bates had 14 points. The third-seeded Hoosiers shot 56% in the second half,...

Life in prison for sex offender whose previous case was overturned

Published Thu, 26 Dec 2024 23:45:28 GMT

Life in prison for sex offender whose previous case was overturned GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. (KDVR) -- The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado Friday said Michael Tracy McFadden, 51, of Grand Junction, was sentenced to life in federal prison on March 6. McFadden was "convicted of crossing state lines with intent to engage in a sexual act with a minor under the age of 12, and transportation of a minor with intent to engage in sexual activity," the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Colorado said in a release. McFadden was found guilty of the charges after two victims testified at his trial in November last year. The trial lasted five days before the jury made a decision on the case. Man charged with sexual assault on a child, police say more victims possible The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado said as a long-haul truck driver, McFadden took at least two kids out of Colorado multiple times over six years time and repeatedly sexually assaulted them at his home in Grand Junction, in his truck and in o...