Danny Valencia drove in the winning runs with the bases loaded in last night’s 2-1 Twins’ victory over Cleveland. He is a career .500 (8-for-16) hitter with the bases loaded (21 RBI). He has 29 RBI this season in the seventh inning or later.
Joe Mauer is batting .373 (28-for-75) in 21 games since June 25. He is hitting .571 (12-for-23) during this home stand and .750 (6-for-8) in the Cleveland series. Mauer made his third start at first base last night. He is batting .583 (7-for-12) as a first baseman and has yet to commit an error in 33 chances.
St. Paul native and former Viking Matt Birk, now with Baltimore, turns 35 on Saturday.
Prep basketball authority Ken Lien reports that Eastview’s Joey King will accept a scholarship from Drake. He also said Wofford has offered a scholarship to Cretin-Derham Hall’s C.J. Neumann and that the South Carolina school is also interested in Zach Stahl from Hopkins. Duluth East’s Johnny Woodard has Minnesota, Wisconsin, Marquette, Tennessee, Utah and other big name schools interested in him, Lien said.
Kansas basketball coach Bill Self attended the Best Buy tournament at Bloomington Jefferson last week looking at players.
The WNBA All-Star game will be televised by ABC on Saturday and the roster of players includes Lynx forward Maya Moore, the first rookie voted to start in the game since 2002. The Lynx has a franchise record four players in the game (Moore, plus three reserves). Game time is 2:30 p.m. Minneapolis time.
Running back Duane Bennett, quarterback MarQueis Gray and linebacker Mike Rallis will represent the Gophers and be among 36 players participating in the 40th annual Big Ten Conference Kickoff Luncheon on July 29 in Chicago. The day prior, July 28, fans can watch Big Ten media day featuring conference coaches starting at 10 a.m. on the Big Ten Network.
June Stoll, the wife of former Gophers football coach Cal Stoll, passed away earlier this month. The two were passionate breeders of boxer dogs. Cal Stoll, who is also deceased, coached the Gophers from 1972-78 and had a .500 career record.
Dave and Linda Mona’s grandson Camden Mona has cystic fibrosis and the grandparents are involved with Camden’s Concert II, a benefit for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. The event is scheduled for August 17 at the Hopkins Center for the Arts and features entertainers Evans & Doherty. Ticket and other information are available at www.camdensconcert.com.
NHLers Taylor Chorney (Oilers), Derek Stepan (Rangers) and Jeff Taffe (Wild) have a charity hockey game that begins at 7 p.m. tonight at the Cottage Grove Ice Arena to benefit the Cottage Grove Hockey Association, the Hastings Hockey Association and Defending The Blue Line. Players scheduled to participate include: David Backes (Blues), Brent Burns (Sharks), Alex Goligoski (Stars), Matt Hendricks (Capitals), Phil Housley (U.S. Hockey Hall of Famer), Erik Johnson (Avalanche), Jamie McBain (Hurricanes), Ryan McDonagh (Rangers), Kyle Okposo (Islanders), T.J. Oshie (Blues), Zach Parise (Devils), Dan Sexton (Ducks), Drew Stafford (Sabres) and Blake Wheeler (Jets).
Players are available for autographs from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Autographed game jerseys will be auctioned off after the game. Tickets are $35 per person and can be purchased at the Hastings Ice Arena and the Cottage Grove Ice Arena. For more information visit www.hastingshockey.com or www.defendingtheblueline.org.