The baseball postseason gets started tonight for Class 3A and 4A schools. Atlantic opens up on the road against Carroll in 3A Substate 8. Here is a look at all the area contests. All games are set to start at 7:00 p.m.

CLASS 3A

Substate 8

Greene County @ Dallas Center-Grimes
Atlantic @ Carroll
Creston @ Harlan
Glenwood @ Denison-Schleswig

Substate 7

Perry @ Ballard
Saydel @ Bondurant-Farrar
Newton @ ADM
Nevada @ North Polk

Substate 6

Knoxville @ Winterset
Pella @ Centerville
Carlisle @ Norwalk 4:30 p.m.
Grinnell @ Oskaloosa

CLASS 4A

Substate 8

Des Moines North @ CB Thomas Jefferson
CB Abraham Lincoln @ Lewis Central

Playoff softball continues on Friday with Regional Semifinals in Classes 1A, 2A, and 3A. We’ll have a Class 3A Region 3 Semifinal between Atlantic and Red Oak on KJAN. Pregame at 6:45 p.m. First pitch at 7:00 p.m. Here is a look at all the area match-ups tonight. All games start at 7:00 p.m. unless otherwise noted.

CLASS 3A

Region 2

Greene County @ Humboldt
OABCIG @ MOC-Floyd Valley

Region 3

Creston @ North Polk 5:00 p.m.
Red Oak @ Atlantic – ON KJAN

CLASS 2A

Region 1

St. Albert @ West Monona
Logan-Magnolia @ Underwood

Region 2

Woodward-Granger @ Mount Ayr
Van Meter @ Earlham

CLASS 1A

Region 2

Audubon @ Newell-Fonda
West Harrison @ Exira-EHK 5:00 p.m.

Region 3

Lenox @ Wayne
Central Decatur @ Twin Cedars

Region 5

Southeast Warren @ Collins-Maxwell
Grand View Christian @ Martensdale-St. Marys

Here is the latest Mid-America sports news from The Associated Press

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Djimon Colbert says the death of George Floyd and revelations of mistreatment of Black players in the Iowa football program is prompting him to confront issues he used to put to the side. The Hawkeyes’ linebacker said the summer has been liberating for him. He’s participated in protests in downtown Iowa City, and he’s found his voice as a member of the Hawks’ 21-player Leadership Group. Dozens of former players have alleged racial bias in the program run by Kirk Ferentz. The coach has taken steps to make the program more inclusive. Colbert said he’s seen positive developments.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Men’s and women’s college basketball coaches are proposing the NCAA eliminate standardized testing requirements from initial-eligibility standards. The coaches call exams such as the SAT and ACT “longstanding forces of institutional racism.” The proposal comes out of the new committee on racial reconciliation formed by the National Association of Basketball Coaches in response to the Black Lives Matter movement and other social justice initiatives to wear warmup jerseys with “Black Lives Matter” and “Say Her Name.”

NEWTON, Iowa (AP) — Scott Dixon is giving team owner Chip Ganassi quite the celebration of his 30th anniversary in IndyCar, winning three of the first four races headed into this weekend’s doubleheader at Iowa. The only interruption in that streak? When his Swedish teammate Felix Rosenqvist went to victory lane for the first time last weekend at Road America. Throw in a fourth-place run for their other teammate, Marcus Ericsson, and the Ganassi bunch has everybody trying to play catch-up.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Not long ago, pitcher Tim Hill was wrapping up eight brutal months of chemotherapy to treat colon cancer. If anybody had a reason to opt out of baseball’s restart, it would be him. Yet there he was, on a blazing evening at Kauffman Stadium, throwing pitches to Kansas City Royals teammates as they prepared for the start of their 60-game season next weekend in Cleveland. One after another, the lanky left-hander with the easy grin, infectious personality and sinker-style delivery left the woefully out-of-sync hitters baffled. Turns out, he caught San Diego’s eye at some point, too. The Padres acquired Hill from Kansas City in a trade Thursday night.

UNDATED (AP) — Oklahoma State junior running back Chuba Hubbard has been named the Big 12 preseason offensive player of a year. The selection comes only weeks after the NCAA rushing leader lashed out at coach Mike Gundy and suggested he might boycott the Cowboys program. West Virginia senior defensive lineman Darius Stills was tabbed as the preseason defensive player of the year.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Djimon Colbert says the death of George Floyd and revelations of mistreatment of Black players in the Iowa football program is prompting him to confront issues he used to put to the side. The Hawkeyes’ linebacker said the summer has been liberating for him. He’s participated in protests in downtown Iowa City, and he’s found his voice as a member of the Hawks’ 21-player Leadership Group.

Dozens of former players have alleged racial bias in the program run by Kirk Ferentz. The coach has taken steps to make the program more inclusive. Colbert said he’s seen positive developments.

IOWA CITY, Iowa — The University of Iowa men’s basketball team will return to South Dakota for a nonconference game against Oregon State on Dec. 22, 2020. The Hawkeyes and Beavers will meet at the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

Tickets will go on sale on sale at a later date. Television coverage will determine a start time.

The contest will be Iowa’s second trip to the Pentagon, which has hosted 28 NCAA Division I men’s college basketball games since opening in 2013. The Hawkeyes defeated Colorado, 80-73, on Dec. 22, 2017. This will be Oregon State’s first visit to the Pentagon.

Major Division I games take many months to negotiate and finalize, and this matchup was in the works well before COVID-19 concerns developed. The Sanford Pentagon will work closely with the schools and individual states and be ready to adjust based on guidelines and safety measures for all involved.

“We’re excited to have a basketball game to talk about, and we hope it will be played in front of a full house on national television, but if that may not be the case, adjustments will be made,” said Steve Young, president of Sanford Sports.” It’s a thrill to welcome Iowa and their fans back to the Pentagon, and we know the Beavers and their fans will have a memorable experience as well.”

A member of the Big Ten Conference, Iowa is coming off a 20-11 season, and a fifth place conference finish with a mark of 11-9. The Hawkeyes were scheduled to play Minnesota in the Big Ten Tournament before the game and tournament were cancelled to due COVID-19 concerns.

Iowa is an unofficial preseason Top-5 team for the 2020-21 season. All-American center Luka Garza has declared for the NBA Draft, but has left open the possibility of returning to school for his senior season. The Hawkeyes have six other players returning with starting experience, including upperclassmen all-conference honorees Jordan Bohannon and Joe Wieskamp, and Connor McCaffery, who led all Division I players in assist-to-turnover ratio a year ago.

“We are thrilled to return to Sioux Falls and play another game at the Sanford Pentagon,” said Iowa head coach Fran McCaffery. “The community response to our last visit three years ago was overwhelming. We look forward to the opportunity to play against a well-coached Oregon State team.”

Oregon State, a member of the Pac-12 Conference, finished the 2019-20 season with an 18-13 record. The Beavers were scheduled to play the Oregon Ducks before the game and tournament were cancelled due to COVID-19 concerns.

“We’re really looking forward to being a part of such an incredible event,” said Oregon State head coach Wayne Tinkle. “We’ve heard nothing but great things about the Sanford Pentagon and the atmosphere around the game. We know we’re facing a very tough opponent in Iowa, but it should be a terrific experience for our team.”

The last time these two teams faced off on the basketball court was 37 years ago. The Beavers beat the Hawkeyes, 53-48, on Dec. 10, 1983, in Corvallis, Oregon.

IRVING, Texas – Three Iowa State players – Charlie Kolar (TE), Greg Eisworth (DB) and JaQuan Bailey (DE) – made the 2020 Preseason All-Big 12 Football Team, announced today by the Big 12 Conference.

The team was chosen by media representatives who cover the league.

ISU’s three members is tied for fourth in the league. Bailey and Eisworth made the preseason team for the second season in a row.

Without a doubt, Kolar is one of the best tight end targets in the country in 2020, earning second-team All-America accolades by the FWAA and First-Team All-Big 12 kudos after a breakout season in 2019.

A native of Norman, Okla., Kolar was one of eight semifinalists for the award in 2019. He led all Big 12 tight ends in receptions (51), receiving yards (697) and receiving touchdowns (7). His 697 receiving yards broke ISU’s season record for tight ends and ranked sixth nationally among FBS tight ends.

Kolar had five 70-yard receiving games in 2019 and 36 of his 51 catches went for first downs or touchdowns.

Pro Football Focus rates Kolar as the top returning tight end in the nation. He had the third-best overall grade (85.5%) for a tight end by PFF a year ago.

Kolar, who was also a first-team Academic All-American, has 10 career touchdown catches to tie for fourth among active FBS tight ends.

Eisworth is a two-time first-team All-Big 12 recipient, joining a list of just four Cyclones who have earned first-team honors by the Big 12 twice in their respective careers.

The team captain and 2018 Big 12 Defensive Newcomer of the Year tallied 65 tackles and 3.5 TFL in 2019 despite seeing limited playing time due to a shoulder injury.

Eisworth led the team and ranked sixth in the Big 12 in passes defended (11) in 2019 and has three double-digit tackle games in his career, including a career-high 15 vs. Iowa in 2019.

A native of Grand Prairie, Texas, Eisworth has 152 tackles, 15 pass breakups, two interceptions and two fumble recoveries in his outstanding career.

Bailey is one of the greatest defensive ends in school history. The two-time All-Big 12 selection, including a second-teamer in 2018, is currently tied with Shawn Moorehead for the most career sacks in Iowa State history (18.5). His 18.5 career sacks ranks third among active NCAA FBS players.

Bailey was able to secure a redshirt in 2019 after playing in just four games before suffering a season-ending injury

A native of Jacksonville, Fla., Bailey has started in 37 games in his Cyclone career. His 31.5 career TFL ranks fifth in school history and is 2.5 shy from the school record.

In 2018, Bailey led the team and ranked fourth in the Big 12 in sacks (8.0), the third-best season total in school history. He also led the team in TFL, registering the ninth-best season total in the Cyclone record book at 14.5.

2020 Big 12 Preseason Football Team

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Men’s and women’s college basketball coaches are proposing the NCAA eliminate standardized testing requirements from initial-eligibility standards. They are calling exams such as the SAT and ACT “longstanding forces of institutional racism.” The proposal Thursday came out of the new committee on racial reconciliation formed by the National Association of Basketball Coaches in response to the Black Lives Matter movement and other social justice initiatives. The committee is chaired by South Carolina coach Frank Martin and Harvard coach Tommy Amaker.

NEWTON, Iowa (AP) — Scott Dixon is giving team owner Chip Ganassi quite the celebration of his 30th anniversary in IndyCar, winning three of the first four races headed into this weekend’s doubleheader at Iowa. The only interruption in that streak? When his Swedish teammate Felix Rosenqvist went to victory lane for the first time last weekend at Road America.

Throw in a fourth-place run for their other teammate, Marcus Ericsson, and the Ganassi bunch has everybody trying to play catch-up.

The 7:20-a.m. Sportscast with Jim Field.

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