The top four batters in the Twins lineup (Denard Span, Joe Mauer, Justin Morneau and Jason Kubel) were 10-for-15 with all 11 runs scored and produced 10 RBI in yesterday’s 11-3 win over Cleveland. Kubel, who hit two home runs and drove in six runs, had been 0-17 at the plate until he got a fourth inning hit in Wednesday night’s game.
Vikings’ coach Brad Childress said yesterday that unlike past years, his team will not have a scrimmage this summer in River Falls, Wisconsin against the Chiefs.
The Monter Draft News describes the needs of each NBA team for the June 25 draft, with the Wolves’ to-do list focusing on small forwards and point guards. Chris Monter’s top three small forwards are DeMar DeRozan, Earl Clark and Austin Daye. He rates Ricky Rubio, Jrue Holiday and Tyreke Evans as the three best point guards.
Minnesota’s Ralph Sampson III is among 17 players invited to participate in the tryout for the USA under-19 national team competing this summer in New Zealand. Sampson, a 6-11, 220-pound center who recently completed his freshman year with the Gophers, will take part in a three-day tryout camp from June 16-18 at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs. The final roster will consist of 12 players and compete in the world under-19 junior championships in New Zealand from July 2-12.
That was St. Paul native Ken Mauer Jr. who was one of the officials working last night’s opening NBA Finals game between the Lakers and Magic.
The Lakers, playing in Minneapolis and Los Angeles, have won 14 NBA championships in franchise history. That total is second to Boston’s 17. The Lakers are making a record 30th NBA Finals appearance.
The Big Ten Conference has named 22 student-athletes Outstanding Sportsmanship Award winners for the 2008-09 academic year. Representing the Gophers are basketball’s Jamal Abu-Shamala and track’s Ladia Albertson-Junkans. Recipients were chosen from a group of 276 student-athletes honored throughout the academic year who had displayed positive sportsmanship.
The first 2,500 fans through the gates tomorrow night for the Lynx’s home and season opener at Target Center will receive a Lynx magnet schedule.
Grant Potulny told KFAN’s Paul Allen on Wednesday that he expects coach Don Lucia’s Gophers to compete for a national championship next year. Potulny, a former Gopher standout, was recently named a volunteer assistant coach for the Gophers who were 17-13-7 last season.
Scott LeDoux, the former boxer who is battling ALS, will be inducted into the UMD Sports Hall of Fame on October 3, according to his friend Mike Woodley who wrote via e-mail that LeDoux played three years of football for the Bulldogs. Woodley helped with an ALS benefit concert in April that featured LeDoux and nationally known rock artists. Woodley has concert DVD’s and t-shirts for sales with proceeds helping LeDoux renovate his home to accommodate his needs. Woodley can be contacted at mike@broitlight.com.