MN Timberwolves Secure No. 1 Pick in 2015 NBA Draft for First Time in Franchise History

Minneapolis/St. Paul – The winning lottery combination came up Minnesota's way tonight as the Timberwolves won the top overall selection in the 2015 NBA Draft for the first time in franchise history. Owner Glen Taylor represented the Wolves at tonight's Draft Lottery held at the New York Hilton Midtown in New York City. The 2015 NBA Draft will be held on Thursday, June 25, at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y., and broadcast on ESPN beginning at 6:00 p.m. CT.
"This is a great day for our franchise and our fans. We're excited about the opportunity to have the top pick in the draft for the first time in franchise history," said Flip Saunders, Timberwolves President of Basketball Operations. "The No. 1 pick is a fantastic asset to have as we look to add more talent to our team."
Originally slated to draft in the first position, the Wolves entered tonight's Draft Lottery with a 25.0 percent chance of winning the top overall pick and 64.28 percent chance of landing a top-three selection. Previously, Minnesota had never selected higher than second.
The first pick in the NBA Draft has produced a number of basketball legends over the years, including 11 players on the NBA's 50 Greatest Players list (Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Elgin Baylor, Patrick Ewing, Elvin Hayes, Magic Johnson, Hakeem Olajuwon, Shaquille O'Neal, Oscar Robertson, David Robinson, Bill Walton and James Worthy). More recently, Allen Iverson, Tim Duncan, LeBron James, Dwight Howard, Derrick Rose, Blake Griffin, John Wall, Kyrie Irving and Anthony Davis all entered the league as No. 1 picks. Current Timberwolves teammates Andrew Wiggins and Anthony Bennett were also selected No. 1 overall.
Along with the first overall pick, the Wolves also hold two second round picks, 31st (first pick in the second round) and 36th (Sacramento's selection, acquired from Houston on Dec. 19, 2014 via the Troy Daniels and Corey Brewer trade).

Pitino Announces Men’s Basketball Staff Changes at U of M

University of Minnesota head men’s basketball coach Richard Pitino announced Tuesday that Nate Pomeday has been promoted to assistant coach while Ryan Livingston was named the director of basketball operations. Pomeday, who spent the 2014-15 season as the Gophers’ director of operations, replaces Dan McHale who was named head coach at Eastern Kentucky University

“Nate was the natural choice for a variety of reasons,” Pitino said. “He’s hardworking, loyal and understands what our culture is about on a daily basis. He proved to be a great recruiter at Oregon State and understands the landscape of the Big Ten.”

Prior to his arrival in Minneapolis, Pomeday spent six seasons as assistant coach at Oregon State. He helped lead the Beavers to three postseason tournament berths, five nationally-ranked recruiting classes and several marquee victories. At Oregon State, Pomeday assisted in all aspects of the program, including national and international recruiting, scouting reports, game plans, practices and working with community and booster clubs. Pomeday was also head coach at Calumet College (Ind.) of St. Joseph and an assistant at Lake Forest Academy in Illinois.

A 1999 graduate of Northwestern, he was a standout guard for the Wildcats for four seasons and received his bachelor's degree in communications and master's degree in sports administration. Pomeday and his wife Heidi, along with their two daughters Everley and Ailani, reside in Minneapolis.

Livingston arrives at Minnesota after three seasons at Villanova, where he served as the Wildcats’ special assistant to the head coach. In that role, Livingston had oversight of all video operations including scouting, team breakdowns, and advanced statistics.  His prior experience includes one season as the head varsity coach at Hawthorne (N.J.) Christian Academy and seven years on the coaching staff at his alma mater, Eastern University in St. David’s, Pa. Livingston played four years and was twice team captain, and also competed and coached on several foreign tours with Athletes in Action.

“Ryan worked for a program and a coach that I have respected all my life in Jay Wright and Villanova basketball,” said Pitino. “He will be able to step in from day one and make an impact on our basketball program. He brings an outsider’s perspective that will help move our program forward in the right direction.”

Livingston, who is engaged to his fiancé Megan, is a 2004 graduate of Eastern, where he also added a Masters in Education in 2009 along with a Masters in educational leadership from Villanova.

UND Men's Hockey 2015-16 Schedule

GRAND FORKS, N.D. – University of North Dakota head men’s hockey coach Brad Berry announced on Tuesday morning his team’s complete 2015-16 schedule.

The National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC) had previously unveiled the 2015-16 conference schedule in April. Today, Berry announced the addition of 12 non-conference games and two exhibition tilts to round out next year’s schedule.

UND’s 36-game regular season schedule features 17 home games and 19 road games, including seven non-conference opponents from three different conferences: Alabama-Huntsville (WCHA), Bemidji State (WCHA), Lake Superior State (WCHA), Maine (Hockey East), Michigan State (Big 10), Vermont (Hockey East) and Wisconsin (Big 10).

UND will open its first regular season under Berry at the Ice Breaker Tournament Oct. 9-10 in Portland, Maine, where it will face Lake Superior State and the host Maine Black Bears.

The non-conference schedule also features home series against Wisconsin (Nov. 6-7) and Alabama-Huntsville (Jan. 1-2), road dates at Vermont (Oct. 23-24) and Michigan State (Nov. 27 & 29), and a home-and-home series with Bemidji State (Oct. 16-17). The second game of the BSU home-and-home will serve as UND’s regular-season home-opener.

The docket also includes exhibition games at home against the University of Manitoba (Oct. 3) and the U.S. Under-18 Team (Jan. 9).

Remaining start times will be announced at a later date.

2015-16 UND Men’s Hockey Schedule

Date            Opponent                                   Time (CT)

Oct. 3         Manitoba (exh.)                       7:07 pm

Oct. 9          vs. Lake Superior State^             3:30 pm

Oct. 10        vs. Maine^                                    7:00 pm

Oct. 16        at Bemidji State                            7:37 pm

Oct. 17       Bemidji State                           7:07 pm

Oct. 23        at Vermont                                           TBA

Oct. 24        at Vermont                                           TBA

Oct. 30        at Colorado College*                         TBA

Oct. 31        at Colorado College*                         TBA

Nov. 6        Wisconsin                                  7:37 pm

Nov. 7        Wisconsin                                  7:07 pm

Nov. 13      Miami*                                       7:37 pm

Nov. 14      Miami*                                       7:07 pm

Nov. 20       at St. Cloud State*                              TBA

Nov. 21       at St. Cloud State*                              TBA

Nov. 27       at Michigan State                                TBA

Nov. 29       at Michigan State                                TBA

Dec. 4         Denver*                                     7:37 pm

Dec. 5         Denver*                                     7:07 pm

Dec. 11        at Minnesota Duluth*                  7:07 pm

Dec. 12        at Minnesota Duluth*                  7:07 pm

Jan. 1         Alabama-Huntsville                7:37 pm

Jan. 2         Alabama-Huntsville                7:07 pm

Jan. 9         US. Under-18 Team (exh.)            TBA

Jan. 15       Omaha*                                     7:37 pm

Jan. 16       Omaha*                                     7:07 pm

Jan. 22       Colorado College*                   7:37 pm

Jan. 23       Colorado College*                   7:07 pm

Jan. 29        at Western Michigan*                  6:00 pm

Jan. 30        at Western Michigan*                  6:00 pm

Feb. 12        at Denver*                                           TBA

Feb. 13        at Denver*                                           TBA

Feb. 19       Minnesota Duluth*                 7:37 pm

Feb. 20       Minnesota Duluth*                 7:07 pm

Feb. 26        at Omaha*                                    7:07 pm

Feb. 27        at Omaha*                                    7:07 pm

Mar. 4        Western Michigan*                 7:37 pm

Mar. 5        Western Michigan*                 7:07 pm

Mar. 11-13  NCHC Quarterfinals (Best of 3)

Mar. 18-19  NCHC Frozen Faceoff (Minneapolis)

Mar. 25-27  NCAA Regionals

Apr. 7-9       NCAA Frozen Four (Tampa)

* NCHC game

^ Ice Breaker Tournament (Portland, Maine)

All times Central

Home games in bold

Schedule subject to change

Brad Berry named head coach of UND men’s hockey program

GRAND FORKS, N.D. – University of North Dakota Director of Athletics Brian Faison announced today that longtime assistant coach and former UND letterwinner Brad Berry has been hired as head coach of the men’s hockey program.

Berry was introduced as the 16th head coach in the program’s history – and the sixth former UND player to take over the program -- at a news conference this afternoon at Ralph Engelstad Arena. He replaces Dave Hakstol, who was named head coach of the National Hockey League’s Philadelphia Flyers earlier today.

“We are excited to have Brad take leadership of the UND men’s hockey program,” said Faison. “He is an effective recruiter, has an outstanding reputation as a teacher of the game, and brings a tremendous energy and passion to the position. His core values and his understanding of the unique culture that has made UND hockey so successful are the traits that make him the right coach to carry the program forward.”

Possessing a wealth of professional and collegiate coaching and playing experience, Berry recently completed his ninth season as an assistant coach at UND. He served two stints in that role, first from 2000-01 through 2004-06 and again from 2012-13 through 2014-15. The former NHL defenseman has also spent time as an assistant coach with the NHL’s Columbus Blue Jackets (2010-12) and the American Hockey League’s Manitoba Moose (2006-08).

“I’m very humbled and honored to be the next head coach at the University of North Dakota,” said Berry. “Men like Dave Hakstol, Dean Blais and Gino Gasparini have put that foundation in place for the program to be as successful as it has been. Myself, as well as Coach (Dane) Jackson and the rest of our staff, plan on carrying that torch to keep the program at the highest level.”

--more

In his nine years as a UND assistant coach, Berry helped lead the program to eight NCAA Tournament appearances, five NCAA Frozen Four berths, three regular-season conference titles (2014-15, 2003-04, 2000-01) and one conference tournament championship (2005-06).

Berry oversaw the team’s defensemen during both of his stints at UND and routinely produced one of the top defensive units in Division I hockey. In each of the last two seasons, UND led the nation in points and points per game by defensemen. At the other end of the ice, UND allowed a league-low 2.24 goals against per game in 2014-15 and has ranked among the top three in the conference in that category in five of Berry’s last six seasons with the program.

Nine of Berry’s former UND defensemen have gone on to play in the NHL, including 2004-05 UND captain and two-time Stanley Cup champion Matt Greene of the Los Angeles Kings.

Berry returned to Grand Forks prior to the 2012-13 season for his second stint at his alma mater. He had previously served as the program’s associate head coach from 2004-06 and assistant coach from 2000-04. He was also a defenseman at UND from 1983-86.

Before returning to UND, Berry spent two seasons (2010-12) as an assistant coach with the NHL’s Columbus Blue Jackets. Prior to that, Berry founded The Hockey Academy in Grand Forks, which focuses on developing and training youth hockey players within Grand Forks and surrounding areas. During that time (2008-10), he doubled as a part-time scout with the NHL’s Vancouver Canucks.

Berry was an assistant coach with the Manitoba Moose from 2006-08 and helped lead the Vancouver Canucks AHL affiliate to a playoff appearance in each of his two years, including a North Division title in 2006-07.

Berry was a standout defenseman at UND from 1983-86, collecting 74 points (12 goals, 62 assists) in 112 collegiate games under head coach John “Gino” Gasparini. Berry also won a gold medal with Canada at the 1985 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship.

A second-round draft pick (29th overall) of the Winnipeg Jets in 1983, Berry went on to play in 241 NHL games over eight years, including stints with Winnipeg, Minnesota and Dallas. His professional playing career also included stops in the Swedish Elite League and the International Hockey League (IHL). While with the IHL’s Michigan K-Wings, Berry was a three-time IHL All-Star and was named the K-Wings’ Defenseman of the Year three times.

After his playing career ended, Berry was a professional scout with the 1999-2000 Dallas Stars team that advanced to the Stanley Cup Finals.

A native of Bashaw, Alberta, Berry’s family includes his wife, Suzanne, daughters, Brianna and Brooke, and son, Bauer.

The BRAD BERRY File

Birthdate

·    April 1, 1965

Hometown

·    Bashaw, Alberta

Education

·    Bachelor’s Degree, Business Admin. (UND ’02)

Family

·    Wife, Suzanne

·    Daughters, Brianna & Brooke

·    Son, Bauer

Coaching Experience

·    2000-04: Assistant Coach, UND (NCAA)

·    2004-06: Assoc. Head Coach, UND (NCAA)

·    2006-08: Assistant Coach, Manitoba (AHL)

·    2010-12: Assistant Coach, Columbus (NHL)

·    2012-15: Assistant Coach, North Dakota (NCAA)

Other Experience

·    1999-00: Scout, Dallas (NHL)

·    2008-10: Scout, Vancouver (NHL)

·    2008-10: Director, The Hockey Academy

Playing Experience

·    1983-86: North Dakota

·    1985-90: Winnipeg Jets (NHL)

·    1990-91: Canadian National Team

·    1990-91: Brynas IF Gavle (Swedish Elite League)

·    1991-93: Minnesota North Stars (NHL)

·    1993-94: Dallas Stars (NHL)

·    1994-95: Kalamazoo K-Wings (IHL)

·    1995-96: Michigan K-Wings (IHL)

T-Wolves Andrew Wiggins Named to NBA All-Rookie First Team

Zach LaVine Earns Second Team Honors sota Timberwolves forward Andrew Wiggins has been named to the 2014-15 NBA All-Rookie First Team while guard Zach LaVine has been named to the 2014-15 All-Rookie Second Team, the NBA announced earlier today. Wiggins was the lone unanimous choice, receiving 130 First Team votes.

Wiggins led all qualified rookies in scoring with 16.9 ppg, and was 4th in steals (1.05 spg) and 5th in rebounding (4.6 rpg). He was the only rookie, and one of just 11 players, to start all 82 games this season and finished with a Wolves rookie record 2969 minutes played, second-most in the NBA (James Harden, 2981). Wiggins finished the season strong by averaging 23.0 points, 6.0 rebounds and 4.0 assists in April. Wiggins was named the Western Conference Rookie of the Month four times this season, becoming the first player in Wolves history to earn the honor multiple times. He tallied a rookie-leading 31 20+ point games this season, the most such games by a rookie since Damian Lillard in 2012-13.

LaVine averaged 10.1 ppg, 2.8 rpg and 3.6 apg in 77 games (40 starts), shooting 42.2% from the field, 34.1% from three-point range and 84.2% from the line (good for 30th in the NBA). He finished 2nd among rookies in assists, 4th in scoring and 1st in FT accuracy. LaVine set the franchise rookie single-game scoring record when he tallied 37 points April 11 at Golden State, surpassing the 35 points scored by Christian Laettner vs. Boston on Dec. 15, 1992. LaVine scored a game-high 22 points in the BBVA Rising Stars Challenge as part of All-Star Weekend in New York, and then won the Sprite Slam Dunk Contest the following night.

The voting panel consisted of 130 sportswriters and broadcasters throughout the United States and Canada who were asked to select five players for the first team and five players for the second team, regardless of position.  Two points were awarded for first team votes and one for second team votes.

Wiggins joins Pooh Richardson, Christian Laettner, Isaiah Rider, Stephon Marbury, Wally Szczerbiak, Randy Foye and Ricky Rubio as Wolves rookies to earn All-Rookie First Team honors.

LaVine joins Felton Spencer, Kevin Garnett, Craig Smith, Kevin Love, Jonny Flynn, Wes Johnson, Derrick Williams and Gorgui Dieng as Wolves rookies to earn All-Rookie Second Team honors.

Below are the 2014-15 NBA All-Rookie First and Second Teams:

2014-15 NBA ALL-ROOKIE FIRST TEAM

Player	Team	First (2 pt)	Second (1 Pt)	Total
Andrew Wiggins	Minnesota	130	-	260
Nikola Mirotic	Chicago	128	2	258
Nerlens Noel	Philadelphia	125	2	252
Elfrid Payton	Orlando	121	8	250
Jordan Clarkson	L.A. Lakers	74	52	200

2014-15 NBA ALL-ROOKIE SECOND TEAM

Player	Team	First (2 pt)	Second (1 Pt)	Total
Marcus Smart	Boston	28	86	142
Zach LaVine	Minnesota	22	91	135
Bojan Bogdanovic	Brooklyn	7	93	107
Jusuf Nurkic	Denver	3	91	97
Langston Galloway	New York	7	58	72

AP MN High School Baseball Rankings

The Associated Press poll for Minnesota baseball, provided by Let's Play Baseball newspaper.

Class AAA – May 14, 2015

1. MOUNDS VIEW

2. Chaska

3. Chanhassen

4. Maple Grove

5. Lakeville North

6. Mahtomedi

7. Cretin-Derham Hall

8. Eden Prairie

9. St. Michael-Albertville

10. Minnetonka

11. Totino-Grace

12. Anoka

13. Bloomington Jefferson

14. St. Francis

15. Wayzata

16. Northfield

17. North St. Paul

18. Hutchinson

19. Mankato West

20. Bemidji

Also receiving votes: Edina, Shakopee, Waconia, Woodbury, Sartell, Stillwater Area, Rochester John Marshall, Red Wing, Robbinsdale Armstrong, Eastview, Alexandria, East Ridge, Sauk Rapids-Rice, Centennial

Class AA – May 14, 2015

1. ST. CLOUD CATHEDRAL

2. Rochester Lourdes

3. Fairmont

4. Minnehaha Academy

5. Marshall

6. Holy Angels

7. Delano

8. Glencoe/Silver Lake

9. Albany

10. Perham

11. Rocori

12. Holy Family Catholic

13. Blake

14. Little Falls

15. Kasson-Mantorville

16. Winona Cotter

17. Minnewaska Area

18. Aitkin

19. Hawley

20. Litchfield

Also receiving votes: La Crescent, Maple Lake, Byron, Duluth Marshall, Ottertail Central, Providence Academy, Cloquet, Melrose, Cannon Falls, Belle Plaine, Albert Lea, East Grand Forks, St. Paul Como Park, Pequot Lakes, Detroit Lakes, Dassel-Cokato, Pipestone Area, Esko

Class A – May 14, 2015

1. NEW LIFE ACADEMY

2. BOLD

3. Windom Area

4. Sleepy Eye St. Mary’s

5. Springfield

6. Mankato Loyola

7. Kenyon-Wanamingo

8. Hayfield

9. New Ulm Cathedral

10. Janesville-Waldorf-Pemberton

11. Chatfield

12. Medford

13. Lac qui Parle Valley

14. Ely

15. ML-GHEC-Truman

16. Heritage Christian

17. Upsala/Swanville Area

18. Lewiston-Altura

19. Nevis

20. Browerville

Also receiving votes: Blackduck, Randolph, New York Mills, Mesabi East, Red Lake County, Bertha-Hewitt-Verndale, Adrian, Norman County, Minneota, Badger-Greenbush-Middle River

23 UMC Student-Athletes Earn NSIC Spring All-Academic

BURNSVILLE, Minn.-  The Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference announced that 636 student-athletes have earned NSIC All-Academic honors for the 2015 spring athletic season. The University of Minnesota Crookston had 23 student-athletes earn placement on the team with eight from softball, six from baseball, four from men’s golf and women’s golf and one from women’s tennis.

To be eligible for this honor, the student-athlete must be a member of the varsity traveling team and have a cumulative grade point average of 3.20 or higher. Furthermore, the athlete must have reached sophomore athletic and academic standing at her/his institution (true freshmen, red-shirt freshmen and ineligible athletic transfers are not eligible) and must have completed at least one full academic year at that institution.

For the baseball team, Marcus Campbell (Jr., St. Croix Falls, Wis./Golf and Turf Management), Ryan Haggstrom (Jr., Apple Valley, Minn./Accounting), Colton Haight (Jr., Rogers, Minn./Sports and Rec Management), Richie Navratil (Sr., Blansko, Czech Republic/Management), Jesse Jennings (Sr., Robbinsdale, Minn./Criminal Justice) and Travis Magdzas (Sr., Duluth, Minn./Criminal Justice) earned placement on the team.

For the softball team, Kaylin Beatty (Jr., Andover, Minn./Animal Science), Bailey Braatz (So., Buffalo, Minn./Sports and Rec Management), Allison Foley (Jr., Lockport, Ill./Accounting), Shelby Hollinger (Sr., Neudorf, Saskatchewan), Josee Plante (Sr., Manitou, Manitoba/Health Science), Brooke Vatthauer (Sr., Crookston, Minn./Health Science), Ashley Hoyle (Jr., Blaine, Minn./Animal Science) and Alexis Khoshaba (Jr., Richmond, British Columbia/Sports and Rec Management) earned spots on the All-Academic team.

For the men’s golf team, Zach Cymbaluk (Sr., Crookston, Minn./Natural Resources), Michael Roedl (Sr., Minneapolis, Minn./Management), Jesse Roscoe (Sr., Big Stone City, S.D.) and Matt Bjorgo (Sr., Crookston, Minn./Information Technology Management) earned placement on the team.

For the women’s golf team, Baillee Hauser (So., Raymond, Minn./Health Management), Mary Mikutowski (Sr., Stillwater, Minn./Health Science), Rikki Roscoe (Jr., Big Stone City, S.D./Communications) and Katie Sheetz (Jr., Grand Rapids, Minn./Biology) were named to the All-Academic team.

And for the women’s tennis team Catherine Brown (Jr., Powell Butte, Ore./Animal Science) earned a spot on the team.

For more information, visit the Golden Eagle Athletics website at www.goldeneaglesports.com.

Follow the Golden Eagles on Facebook at Golden Eagle Sports and on Twitter at @UMCAthletics.

MN Lynx News

Minnesota Lynx Sign Darxia Morris 

MINNEAPOLIS/ST. PAUL – The Minnesota Lynx today announced the signing of guard Darxia Morris. Per team policy, terms of the contract were not disclosed.

Morris, 25, averaged 1.5 points, 0.8 rebounds and 0.8 assists in four games with the Los Angeles Sparks last season. Morris also played with Artego Bydgoszcz (Poland BLK) in the 2014-15 season, averaging 13.8 points and 1.2 assists in 25 games. Prior to signing with the Sparks, Morris averaged 19.1 points, 5.1 rebounds and 2.6 assists in 21 games with Azzurra Orvieto (Italy) in the 2013 season. In her undergraduate career at UCLA, the 5-8 guard averaged 12.2 points, 3.2 rebounds and 2.5 assists in 33 games as a senior.

The first chance fans have to see the 2015 Lynx team is at the Target Center on Monday, June 1 at 7 p.m. when it faces the New York Liberty in preseason play. Tickets for the game are available by visiting lynxbasketball.com/lynxtix or by calling the Lynx at 612-673-8400.

The Lynx will tip off the 2015 regular season at home against Tulsa on Friday, June 5 at 7 p.m. Full-season and half-season memberships are available by visiting www.lynxbasketball.com/lynxtix or by calling 612-673-8400.

Lynx Acquire Rights of Asjha Jones from Connecticut

MINNEAPOLIS/ST. PAUL – The Minnesota Lynx today announced the team has acquired exclusive negotiating rights to Asjha Jones from the Connecticut Sun in exchange for Minnesota’s 2016 2^nd round draft pick. 

Jones, a 6-3 forward, has played 11 seasons in the WNBA, the last nine with Connecticut. She spent two years in Washington after being selected by the Mystics in the 1st round (4th overall) of the 2002 WNBA Draft, and was subsequently traded to the Sun on Mar. 25, 2004 in a three-team deal that also included Phoenix. Jones did not play during the 2013 WNBA season due to lingering injuries and missed the 2014 season after suffering a rupture of her left Achilles tendon.

A two-time WNBA All-Star (2007, 2009), Jones set a then-franchise single-season record for scoring average in 2008 (17.0 ppg) while grabbing 6.1 rpg and hitting a career-best 48.4% en route to being named to the All-WNBA Second Team. In 337 career games, Jones is averaging 11.4 ppg (45.1%), 5.0 rpg and 1.7 apg, while adding 9.6 ppg and 4.4 rpg in 39 postseason appearances.

Jones earned gold medals with Team USA at both the 2010 FIBA World Championship for Women and the 2012 Summer Olympics. She was also named MVP of the FIBA EuroLeague Final Eight in 2012 while playing for Spanish club Rivas Ecópolis. Most recently, Jones finished the 2014-15 winter campaign with Elitzur Ramla (Israel), where she tallied 12.1 ppg (47.4%), 5.3 rpg and 2.2 apg in 18 games. She has also played professionally in Russia, Italy, China, Turkey and Slovakia.

The Lynx will kick off their 2015 season at home against Tulsa on Friday, June 5 at 7:00 p.m. Full-season and half-season memberships are available by visiting www.lynxbasketball.com/lynxtix or by calling 612-673-8400.

UMC Men’s Basketball to Host Camps in Early June

CROOKSTON, Minn.-  The University of Minnesota Crookston men’s basketball program will host day camps from June 1-4 and June 8-11 at Lysaker Gymnasium. The camps will help to develop skills through drill work, contests and games, while each camper will receive a t-shirt ant camp ball and will get instruction from members of the UMC men’s and women’s coaching staffs.

“We are excited to have the opportunity to work with the youth in our community,” said UMC Head Men’s Basketball Coach Dan Weisse. “We are looking forward to having a first rate, top notch camp. We will give our campers the opportunity to meet new friends, learn the game of basketball, and have a lot of fun doing it. I will be at camp every day, as well as my assistants, Kamille Wahlin will be working with us, as well as a player or two. We are excited to get started.

The first camp will run from June 1-4 from 9 a.m. until 12 p.m. and will be for boys and girls ages 6-11. The second camp will run June 8-11 from 9 a.m. until 12 p.m. for boys and girls ages 12-14. The last day of both camps will culminate with a pizza party for the campers.

The camp will cost $40 per camper. Those interested in participating can send the registration form and payment to UMC Basketball - 142 Sports Center - 2900 University Ave. - Crookston, MN 56716. If you have any questions contact UMC Assistant Men’s Basketball Coach Bryan Beamish at 218-281-8431 or bbeamish@umn.edu.

For more information, visit the Golden Eagle Athletics website at www.goldeneaglesports.com.

AP HS Baseball rankings

The Associated Press poll for Minnesota baseball, provided by Let's Play Baseball newspaper.

Class AAA – May 7, 2015

1. MOUNDS VIEW

2. Chaska

3. Lakeville North

4. Maple Grove

5. Cretin-Derham Hall

6. Chanhassen

7. Mahtomedi

8. Eden Prairie

9. St. Michael-Albertville

10. Anoka

11. Minnetonka

12. Totino-Grace

13. Wayzata

14. St. Francis

15. Bloomington Jefferson

16. Northfield

17. Hutchinson

18. Bemidji

19. Stillwater Area

20. Sauk Rapids-Rice

Also receiving votes: Brainerd, North St. Paul, Waconia, Mankato West, East Ridge, Rogers, Shakopee, Champlin Park, Eastview, Apple Valley, Coon Rapids, Rochester John Marshall, Chisago Lakes, Red Wing, Alexandria, Monticello, Edina

Class AA – May 7, 2015

1. ST. CLOUD CATHEDRAL

2. Rochester Lourdes

3. Fairmont

4. Minnehaha Academy

5. Marshall

6. Delano

7. Albany

8. Glencoe/Silver Lake

9. Holy Angels

10. Perham

11. Holy Family Catholic

12. Blake

13. Rocori

14. Little Falls

15. Kasson-Mantorville

16. Aitkin

17. Winona Cotter

18. Minnewaska Area

19. Byron

20. DeLaSalle

Also receiving votes: New Ulm, Maple Lake, Detroit Lakes, Hawley, Albert Lea, La Crescent, Proctor, Providence Academy, Duluth Marshall, Belle Plaine, Pequot Lakes, Ottertail Central, Cannon Falls, Litchfield, St. Croix Lutheran, Esko, St. Charles

Class A – May 7, 2015

1. NEW LIFE ACADEMY

2. BOLD

3. Windom Area

4. Springfield

5. Sleepy Eye St. Mary’s

6. Hayfield

7. New Ulm Cathedral

8. Janesville-Waldorf-Pemberton

9. Chatfield

10. Medford

11. Ely

12. Mankato Loyola

13. Lac qui Parle Valley

14. Upsala/Swanville Area

15. ML-GHEC-Truman

16. Lewiston-Altura

17. Heritage Christian

18. Kenyon-Wanamingo

19. Nevis

20. Blackduck

Also receiving votes: New York Mills, South Ridge, Mesabi East, Wabasha/Kellogg, Randolph, Browerville, Bertha-Hewitt-Verndale, Southland, Norman County, Minneota, Badger-Greenbush-Middle River

R&J Broadcasting Twins Fun Bus Trip

R&J Broadcasting, Inc. is having a Fun Bus Trip to Target Field to see the Minnesota Twins vs the Chicago Cubs on Saturday, June 20^th. The Game begins at 1:10pm. The first bus pick up will be at Ultima Bank parking lot in Fosston, leaving at 6am. The second bus pick up will be in front of the KRJM studio in Mahnomen, leaving at approximately 6:45am. The bus will return to the same locations after the game.

Subway in Fosston will provide the lunch on the bus and passengers are welcome to bring their own snacks and beverages too.

The cost for the Fun Bus Trip is $48, which includes the ticket to the game, lunch on the bus, and bus transportation to Target Field.  Sign up today by calling KKCQ Radio in Fosston at (218) 435-1919 or toll free (855) 436-5572. Make checks payable to KKCQ.

Registration Now Open For U of M “Boys Of Fall Elite Camp” In August

The University of Minnesota football program is hosting its second annual Boys of Fall Elite Camp in August. The three-day event will run from Aug. 7-9, 2015, and will coincide with the Gophers' pre-season training camp.

Registration will begin at 8:30 a.m. on Aug. 7 and the camp will end at 2 p.m. on Aug. 9. In addition to getting to know the team and staff on a personal level, attendees will also have unfiltered access to the day-to-day operations of Minnesota’s program.

Campers will receive an in-depth look at Coach Kill's offensive, defensive and special team's philosophy and will be able to attend all team, position and special teams meetings with student-athletes and coaches. Attendees will also attend practice each day and will partake in the team's training table. Each person who attends will also receive gifts, athletic gear and will be eligible for raffle prizes.

The camp, which will be limited to 25 total participants, costs $2,000 to attend. Registration is now open on CoachKillFBCamps.com.

Boys of Fall Elite CampStart Date: 8:30 a.m. on Aug. 7, 2015
End Date: 2 p.m. on Aug. 9, 2015
Cost: $2,000 ($500 non-refundable deposit due at registration)
Total Participants: 25

MN Lynx Announce 2015 FOX Sports North Telecast Schedule

MINNEAPOLIS/ST. PAUL – The Minnesota Lynx today announced its local televised schedule for the upcoming 2015 WNBA season. This season FOX Sports North will televise nine Lynx games locally. 

Six of the nine telecasts will feature Target Center dates, beginning with the Thursday, June 11 game against Seattle. 

Included in the six home games, FOX Sports North will broadcast Minnesota’s game against Phoenix on Saturday, June 27 for a rematch of the 2014 Western Conference Finals. FOX Sports North will also broadcast the July 12 game against San Antonio. 

This season marks the fifth consecutive season that Marney Gellner will serve as the television play-by-play announcer and the seventh year Lea B. Olsen will serve as the Lynx television color analyst for FOX Sports North.

FOX Sports North is in its 17^th year of telecasting Lynx games. In addition to the nine games on local television, the Lynx will also be featured on ESPN2 for three games this season. Full-season memberships, which include tickets to all 17 home games and priority playoff seating, are still available by visiting www.lynxbasketball.com/lynxtix or by calling 612-673-8400.

Redhawks Laber Announces Retirement from Baseball

FARGO, N.D. – The man with the most pitching victories in Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks history is hanging up his spikes, Fargo native Jake Laber has announced his retirement from professional baseball.

Laber, 28, ends his RedHawks career with a 46-36 record with a 4.00 ERA in 112 games (102 starts). In addition to topping the RedHawks career victory list, he is also the franchise leader in games started, innings pitched (648.1) and strikeouts (407).

Laber set the wins record on the final game of the 2014 season, when he pitched 8.0 innings of shutout baseball against the Sioux Falls Canaries at Newman Outdoor Field. The Labor Day game, dubbed “Laber Day,” capped a career that saw him top the ten win mark three times in five full seasons with Fargo-Moorhead.

Laber first joined the RedHawks in 2008 after finishing his college career at North Dakota State University. After seven game, he was traded to the River City Rascals of the Frontier League, where he finished the season and pitched a full year in 2009. He was reacquired in an off-season trade in 2010 and became one of the top starter in the Northern League. Laber was 11-4 with a 3.90 ERA in 21 games (19 starts) as he helped lead Fargo-Moorhead to the second of back-to-back championships.

“We are very thankful for the five-plus quality seasons Jake gave us both as a pitcher and as a person,” said RedHawks Manager Doug Simunic. “Jake became a front-line pitcher not only due to talent but to his relentless work ethic. He was an ironman for us who took the ball every fifth day and gave everything he had. He was and is a great example for young players looking to make their way in the game.”