Greg Maddux of San Diego broke former Minnesota Twins pitcher Jim Kaat’s record this week for the most Gold Glove awards by a pitcher or position player, according to mlb.com. Maddux, 41, was recognized with a 17th Gold Glove award. Second in Twins history for Gold Glove awards is outfielder Torii Hunter with seven. Hunter and pitcher Johan Santana (first time selection) are the two Twins announced this week to the 2007 American League Rawlings Gold Glove team. It’s the seventh consecutive season Hunter has won a Gold Glove, tying the club record set by Kaat from 1965-1972. The Gold Glove teams in both the National and American leagues are determined by a vote of managers and coaches.
KARE TV’s Randy Shaver, who every year spends long hours studying high school football, said Washburn’s junior tight end, Ra’Shede Hageman, is a superb college prospect. The University of Minnesota has reportedly offered Hageman a scholarship. Shaver’s son Ryan, a senior football star at Benilde-St. Margaret’s, is considering MIAC schools and has a particular interest in St. Thomas. Ryan might play safety, linebacker or fullback in college.
Vikings coach Brad Childress said at his Wednesday news conference that he wouldn’t identify an ideal range of carries per game for Adrian Peterson. He emphasized the importance of having “fresh legs” and noted that Peterson (22) is a young player.
Vikings wide receiver Bobby Wade is on KSTP 1500 AM every Monday night from 6 to 6:30 p.m. with Matt Thomas.
The Gophers hockey team is a 0-4 in WCHA games and has managed just one goal in each game. The Gophers play Minnesota State this weekend, at Mankato Friday night and at Maricucci Arena Saturday evening.
Gophers women’s basketball coach Pam Borton told Sports Headliners she has a top 40 team with the potential to be even better. The Gophers, who open their non-conference schedule tonight against UC-Riverside, were the second youngest team in the country last season and will have five sophomores among their top eight players, Borton said.
The Gophers have sold about 3,200 season tickets so far and expect to sell more. Borton said the Gophers were among the top 10 schools in the country in women’s basketball attendance last season and have ranked as high as top five.
Saint John’s is at Bethel Saturday in a 1 p.m. game with the MIAC title and an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament as rewards for the winning team. Saint John’s (7-0 MIAC, 9-0 overall) is ranked No. 2 in the nation among Division III teams, while Bethel (7-0 MIAC, 8-1 overall) is No. 16. An overflow crowd of 7,000 to 10,000 is expected, according to an e-mail from an MIAC spokesman.
The “World’s Toughest Rodeo,” an annual attraction on the Twin Cities entertainment calendar going back to Met Center days, comes to the Xcel Energy Center on February 1 and 2. Tickets went on sale last Saturday.