Photo Atlantic Softball

The Atlantic Trojans softball team starts their Class 3A State Tournament run tonight against the Humboldt Wildcats and we’ll have it on KJAN. The Trojans (30-5) are the 5th Seed in the 3A bracket and will be facing 4th-seeded Humboldt (30-3).

The two teams come into the match-up with very similar numbers on the season. Atlantic has a .377 team batting average compared to a .374 average for Humboldt. Both teams have 15 home-runs on the season. The Trojans have put up 242 runs on the season and the Wildcats 245. Atlantic starting pitcher Ally Anderson has a 1.10 ERA with 196 strikeouts and 19 walks. Humboldt ace Ellie Jacobson has a 0.94 ERA with 235 strikeouts and 49 walks.

With so many similarities it looks like a match-up that could come down to the details and some players stepping up from their season averages to deliver the winning plays. We’ll have coverage of the game with pregame starting at 6:30pm and first pitch set for 7:30pm at Harlan Rogers Park in Fort Dodge. Catch the game on-air, online, or on the KJAN mobile app.

IOWA CITY, Iowa — University of Iowa junior defensive end Anthony Nelson has been named to the 2018 Bednarik Award Trophy Watch List.

The Bednarik Award, presented annually by the Maxell Football Club, is given to the nation’s top college defensive player. Iowa has had four semifinalists for the award since 2005, with former defensive back Desmond King being the most recent in 2016.

A year ago, Nelson (6-foot-7, 271-pounds) started all 13 games and recorded a team-leading and career-high 7.5 sacks to earn third-team All-Big Ten honors. The Urbandale, Iowa, native totaled 41 tackles, including 9.5 for loss, while also recording four pass break-ups, two forced fumbles, and a blocked field goal. His fourth-quarter strip sack against Boston College quarterback Darius Wade ultimately led to Iowa’s game-winning touchdown in the Pinstripe Bowl.

Earlier this summer, Nelson was named one of 42 candidates for the Lott IMPACT Trophy, an award former linebacker Josey Jewell won in 2017. Nelson, who was named to Iowa’s 2018 Leadership Group, is a two-time Academic All-Big Ten selection, a first-team Academic All-American, and was most recently honored as a Big Ten Distinguished Scholar.

The Bednarik award has been presented to the nation’s top defensive player since 1995, and was named after Chuck Bednarik, a former standout and a member of the College Football Hall of Fame since 1969.

The award, in conjunction with the NCFAA, will announce semifinalists on Oct. 29, while finalists will be revealed Nov. 19. Winners will be announced Dec. 6 as part of the Home Depot College Football Awards Show.

Nelson and the Hawkeyes begin their season against Northern Illinois on Sept. 1. For ticket information visit hawkeyesports.com/fightforiowa .

IOWA CITY, Iowa — University of Iowa junior quarterback Nate Stanley has been named to the 2018 Maxwell Award Watch List.

The Maxwell Award is presented annually to College Football’s Player of the Year by the Maxwell Football Club. Stanley is one of 11 Big Ten players named to the 84-man list. A quarterback has won the award in eight of the last 10 years.

Stanley (6-foot-4, 242-pounds) led Iowa’s offense last season with 2,437 passing yards and 26 touchdowns. The Menomonie, Wisconsin, native became the only Iowa quarterback in program history to have two five-passing touchdown games in the same season, and his 26 touchdown passes ranked third in the Big Ten last season and tied for the second most in a single season at Iowa.

An All-Big Ten honorable mention, Stanley garnered multiple player of the week honors following performances against Iowa State and Ohio State. As a junior, Stanley ranks 18th in program history in career passing yards (2,499) and 11th in career passing touchdowns (26).

The Maxwell Award has been awarded to College Football’s Player of the Year since 1937 and is named in honor of Robert Maxwell for his contributions to the game as a player, sportswriter, and official.

Akrum Wadley was named to the Maxwell Award preseason Watch List last season. Two Hawkeyes — Nile Kinnick in 1939 and Chuck Long in 1985 — have won the award, while former quarterback Ricky Stanzi was the most recent semifinalist in 2010.

The award, in conjunction with the NCFAA, will announce semifinalists on Oct. 29, while finalists will be revealed Nov. 19. Winners will be announced Dec. 6 as part of the Home Depot College Football Awards Show.

Stanley and the Hawkeyes open their season against Northern Illinois on Sept. 1. For ticket information visit hawkeyesports.com/fightforiowa .

The Iowa Girls Coaches Association released the 2018 All-District Softball Teams over the weekend.

Locally in Class 1A the following players were named to the Southwest District team:
Exira-EHK: Sophia Peppers, Kealey Nelson.
Coon Rapids-Bayard: Jade Hays, Katelyn Winnett.
Glidden-Ralston: Talia Schon, Avery Schlaback, Hannah Whitver.
CAM: Ericka Stender.
West Harrison: Cassidy Hatcher.
Sidney: Olivia Larsen, Camryn McClintock.
East Mills: Rachel Schafer.
Griswold: Hannah Boucher, Madison Potter, Mateya Peters.
Riverside: Allison Reicks.
Audubon: Gianna Knueven.
Essex: Kelsi Leininger.
Coach of the Year: Kevin Schon, Glidden-Ralston

In Class 2A local players named to the Southwest District were:
IKM-Manning: Peyton Gross, Paige Gaskill, Payton Sporrer.
Logan-Magnolia: Kylan Straight, Megan Wilson.
Treynor: Sydni Huisman, Bella Dingus.
Mount Ayr: Caroline McAlexander, Alyssa Johnson.
Coach of the Year: Joy Gross, IKM-Manning.

In Class 3A local players named to the West District team were:
Atlantic: Alexis Handel, Ally Anderson, Alyssa Derby.
Kuemper Catholic: Kayla Venner.
Creston: Gracie Hagle.
Shenandoah: Logan Hughes.
Red Oak: Chloe Johnson.

In Class 4A Sarah Heilesen of Denison-Schleswig, Ashton Mohr of Lewis Central, Alex Mohr of Denison-Schleswig, Josie Shudak of Lewis Central, and Morgan Schaben of Harlan were named to the West District team.

Full teams for all areas can be found below:

1A Softball All District 2018

2A Softball All District 2018

3A Softball All District 2018

4A Softball All District 2018

5A Softball All District 2018

AMES, Iowa – Iowa State All-American running back David Montgomery and three-time All-Big 12 cornerback Brian Peavy were named to the Maxwell Award and Bednarik Award Watch lists, respectively, announced today by the Maxwell Football Club.

Since 1937, the Maxwell Award has been given annually to the nation’s best college football player by the Maxwell Football Club. The organization instituted the Bednarik Award for the best defensive player in the nation in 1995.

Montgomery became the 14th player in school history to crack the 1,000-yard barrier in 2017 when he rushed for 1,146 yards. He ranked third in the Big 12 in rushing yards per game at 88.2.

The Cincinnati, Ohio native was one of the toughest backs to bring down, forcing 109 missed tackles to earn First-Team All-American honors by Pro Football Focus and First-Team All-Big 12 accolades.

Montgomery tallied six 100-yard rushing games and 11 TDs a year ago.

He also proved to be a threat as a pass-catcher, ranking fifth on the team in receptions with 36, the second-best season total by a Cyclone back in school history.

Montgomery will enter his junior year with 1,709 rushing yards, eight 100-yard rushing games, 49 receptions and 425 receiving yards in his career.

A senior from Houston, Texas, Peavy enters his final Iowa State campaign as the active team leader in tackles (232), pass breakups (30) and interceptions (5).

Peavy was a Second-Team All-Big 12 selection in 2017, leading the team in takeaways (4) and ranking third in tackles (88). He also led the team and ranked 25th nationally in fumbles recovered (2).

The lockdown corner, who has 34 career starts, is the NCAA active leader in career passes defended with 35.

Both Montgomery and Peavy have been named to several preseason All-America teams and were honored as preseason All-Big 12 choices by the league’s coaches.

The 2018 State Softball Tournament begins for three classes today with Class 1A, 2A, and 3A playing all or some quarterfinal round games. Class 1A and 2A will play all quarterfinal round games today and two Class 3A will play two quarterfinal round games tonight. We’ll have one of those Class 3A games for you tonight on KJAN. The 5th seeded Atlantic Trojans will take on the 4th Seeded Humboldt Wildcats on Diamond #2 at Harlan-Rogers Park in Fort Dodge. We’ll start our pregame coverage at 6:30pm with first pitch set for 7:30pm.  Here’s a look at today’s schedule.

1A Quarterfinals
11:00 a.m. – Buena Vista University Diamond
#1 Collins-Maxwell (27-1) vs. #8 Newell-Fonda (25-13)

11:30 a.m. – Diamond 2
#4 Lisbon (33-8) vs. #5 Martensdale-St. Marys (24-14)

1:00 p.m. – Buena Vista University Diamond
#2 Akron-Westfield (26-4) vs. #7 New London (20-9)

1:30 p.m. – Diamond 2
#3 AGWSR (26-7) vs. #6 Janesville (26-11)

2A Quarterfinals
3:00 p.m. – Buena Vista University Diamond
#1 Louisa-Muscatine (35-6) vs. #8 Wilton (25-15)

3:30 p.m. – Diamond 2
#4 Central Springs (27-3) vs. #5 Logan-Magnolia (27-6)

5:00 p.m. – Buena Vista University Diamond
#2 Des Moines Christian (22-6) vs. #7 Earlham (27-11)

5:30 p.m. – Diamond 2
#3 Alta-Aurelia (22-3) vs. #6 Iowa City Regina (23-15)

3A Quarterfinals
7:00 p.m.- Buena Vista University Diamond
#1 Davenport Assumption (36-3) vs. #8 Benton Community (27-14)

7:30 p.m. – Diamond 2
#4 Humboldt (30-3) vs. #5 Atlantic (30-5)

Tuesday, July 17
11:00 a.m. – Buena Vista University Diamond
#2 Albia (31-4) vs. #7 Spirit Lake (28-7)

11:30 a.m. – Diamond 2
#3 Waterloo Columbus Catholic (38-2) vs. #6 Roland-Story (28-4)