PRESS & DAKOTAN ■ THURSDAY, AUGUST 16, 2012 PAGE 9 Refreshing To Hear King Felix Admit To Knowing Of Perfect Game Press&Dakotan BY JEREMY HOECK The 26-year-old Venezuelan admitted later that yes, he realized what was going on. “It was in my mind, the [email protected] whole game, it was in my mind,” he said. DAILY DOSE Think of all those times you hear pitchers say they had no idea how many outs there were or that they had no If you will allow me to branch away from local topics (which we usually discuss in this space), I feel it neces- clue they had a no-hitter. It’s hard to believe that sometimes (given all the superstitions about people ignoring them sary to comment on a significant sports story from Wednesday. in the dugout), but on the other hand, if they’re so focused on the game, maybe they truly were clueless. By pure definition, a perfect game in baseball should be rare, right? Instead, such performances are becom- In Hernandez’s case, though, he knew. Doesn’t that put more pressure on him, knowing that literally every pitch Daily opinions from the P&D could break up the no-hitter? I would have to say it did. Sports Staff on local and na- ing commonplace this summer. Seattle ace Felix Hernandez shut down the Tampa Bay Rays in order Wednesday, 1-0, for the 23rd perfect Too many times in professional sports we hear the canned answers; those tired old cliches made famous by tional high school, college game in MLB history — the third occurrence this season. What was most impressive to me, however, was what Kevin Costner’s character in “Bull Durham” — you know, the “play it one day at a time” line. I hear lines like that “King Felix” said after the game. quite frequently with high school and college coaches, and I tend to ignore them. and professional sports. But with Hernandez, it was refreshing to hear the truth. Yankton Man Competes In PBA season Coaches Poll released on Wednesday. Minnesota State was picked as the team to beat in the The switch from KSTP to FM 96.3 K-TWIN for the 2013 pristine fields at the World Series. The Coyotes, who finished 7-11 in league play last sea- NSIC, receiving 11 first-place votes and 221 total points. season was finalized Wednesday. Uganda is one of eight international teams in the 16- Event son, received 33 points in the poll. North Dakota State, the Winona State was chosen second, followed in the top five The Pohlad family businesses include Northern Light team field. HAMMOND, Ind. — Patrick King of Yankton qualified defending league champion, was tabbed to win the league by Minnesota-Duluth, St. Cloud State and Augustana. Broadcasting, which has a studio at the Ford Center build- The pint-sized sluggers from Kearney, Neb., are mak- as No. 18 in a field of 124 professional bowlers in the Sen- for the third time in four years with 62 points. ing across the street from Target Field and owns 96.3, ing history, too, in the U.S. bracket as the first team from ior PBA South Shore Open, held recently in Hammond, Head Coach Matt Houk will return 10 players from last All NDSU Football Games Tele- which describes its playlist as up-tempo, mass-appeal Nebraska to make it to the series. The tournament starts Ind. season’s 14-18 squad, including second-team All-Summit adult hits. More programs are moving to FM these days Thursday. King was defeated in match play by PBA champion League choice Kendall Kritenbrink. The sophomore led vised For First Time to take advantage of richer sound. Harry Sullins, 3-1, but earned $1,050. the league in kills per set last season with 4.23. FARGO, N.D. (AP) — North Dakota State University ath- KSTP, which has broadcast the games since 2007, will Cubs Fire VP Of Player Personnel The Coyotes will also return junior hitter Natalie letic officials say all 11 of the team’s regular season football continue to host some Twins programming like manager CHICAGO (AP) — The Chicago Cubs have fired vice Lakeview Thursday League Fun Walseth, junior setter Tori Kroll and sophomore libero/de- games will be televised for the first time in school history. Ron Gardenhire’s weekly question-and-answer show. Out- president of player personnel Oneri Fleita. fensive specialist Riley Haug. Kroll was sixth in the league Nine of the 10 games for the defending Football Cham- state and out-of-state affiliates are unaffected by the President of baseball operations Theo Epstein said Night Tonight in assists with 1,206, while Haug was third in total service pionship Subdivision champions will be on the North change. Wednesday that more front office changes were imminent CROFTON, Neb. — The Lakeview Golf Course Thurs- aces with 41 last year. Junior Amber Aschoff also returns Dakota NBC Network, which includes stations in Fargo, for the 45-70 Cubs. day Men’s League will hold its end-of-season fun night as a starting right-side hitter. Bismarck, Minot, Dickinson and Williston. African Country To Make Debut Fleita joined the organization in 1995. He was the today (Thursday). South Dakota has also added five incoming freshmen. Six broadcasts will be available nationally, two on Fox manager of the club’s Class-A affiliate and also oversaw All subs and team players are welcome. You will be USD will start its season on Aug. 24 against Tennessee College Sports and four on EPSN3. At Little League WS extended spring training. golfing with your own team and playing your own ball. It is State and Stetson at the Alabama State ISTAP Invitational. The Oct. 20 game in Sioux Falls against the University SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. (AP) — Uganda will be After spending time as an area scout and coordinator also free steak night for team players and subs. Pin prizes of South Dakota will be televised by Midco Sports Network. making history at the Little League World Series. of Latin America operations, Fleita was promoted to di- will be available (entry required). Augie Women Picked Fourth In All six of NDSU’s home games are sold out. The Bison The Lugazi, Uganda team is the first squad from Africa rector of player development, where he helped groom open the season at home on Sept. 1 against Robert Morris. to advance to the series in the 66-year history of youth current closer Carlos Marmol and shortstop Starlin Cas- USD Volleyball Picked 6th In NSIC Poll baseball’s biggest tournament. tro. BURNSVILLE, Minn. — Augustana College was picked Twins Move Radio Broadcasts A separate team from Uganda did qualify last year, Fleita was given a four-year extension last September Summit League Poll to finish fifth, while Wayne State (Neb.) was picked 13th MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Minnesota Twins are mov- only to later be denied visas after the U.S. State Depart- before Epstein and general manager Jed Hoyer were VERMILLION — After placing sixth in its inaugural sea- and the University of Sioux Falls was tabbed 14th in the ing their radio broadcasts from AM to FM in the metro ment said there were discrepancies over players’ ages hired. son of Summit League play, the South Dakota volleyball pre-season Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference area, using a pop music station already owned by their and birth dates. Epstein says Fleita is “free and clear” to pursue oppor- team was picked to finish sixth in the Summit League Pre- (NSIC) women’s soccer coaches poll, released Wednes- Pohlad family owners to try to reach younger listeners. No such problems this time around. Third baseman tunities with other organizations. day. Ronald Olaa, who is 11, says he’s mesmerized by the SCOREBOARD AREA CALENDAR BOWLING Kevin Millwood (6 innings), Charlie Furbush Texas at N.Y. Yankees, 7:05 p.m. St. Louis 8, Arizona 2 Thursday, August 16 Saturday, August 18 SOCCER, BOYS’ JV Brandon Valley at Yankton (1 p.m.) (2-3), Stephen Pryor (1-3), Lucas Luetge (1-3), Chicago White Sox 9, Toronto 5 Colorado 8, Milwaukee 6 No activities scheduled GOLF, DAKOTAS TOUR Paradise Valley Inv. at Casper, SOCCER, GIRLS’ Brandon Valley at Yankton (3 p.m.) LAKEVIEW GC Brandon League (2-3), Tom Wilhelmsen (1), Oakland at Kansas City, 8:10 p.m. San Francisco 6, Washington 1 Friday, August 17 Wyo. SOCCER, GIRLS’ JV Brandon Valley at Yankton (1 p.m.) Seattle vs. L.A. Dodgers, 1-0, June 8. Cleveland at L.A. Angels, 10:05 p.m. TUESDAY LEAGUE Wednesday’s Games GOLF, DAKOTAS TOUR Paradise Valley Inv. at Casper, TENNIS, GIRLS’ R.C. Stevens/Watertown/Vermillion at Sunday, August 19 LOW GROSS: Eric Baily 35 Thursday’s Games Miami 9, Philadelphia 2 Wyo. YHS (9 a.m.) GOLF, DAKOTAS TOUR Paradise Valley Inv. at Casper, LOW NET: Eric Baily-Dan Graveland 32 PERFECT GAMES SINCE 2000 Texas (D.Holland 7-6) at N.Y. Yankees Chicago Cubs 7, Houston 2 SOCCER, BOYS’ Custer at Vermillion SOCCER, BOYS’ Brandon Valley at Yankton (3 p.m.); Wyo. FINAL STANDINGS: Baily-Kuchta 136 Felix Hernandez, Seattle vs. Tampa Bay, 1- (Nova 11-6), 12:05 p.m. Colorado 7, Milwaukee 6 TENNIS, GIRLS’ R.C. Stevens/Watertown at YHS (1 p.m.) Freeman Academy at Mitchell (league champions), Sailor-Graveland 125, 0, Aug. 15, 2012. Boston (Buchholz 10-3) at Baltimore (Till- Washington 6, San Francisco 4 Zavadil-Pooler 120, Wiebelhaus-Wiebelhaus Matt Cain, San Francisco vs. Houston, 10- man 5-2), 6:05 p.m.