The CAM baseball season ended Tuesday night in a 3-2 home loss to Newell-Fonda in the second round of the postseason. Both teams had their aces on the mound and made it a thrilling baseball game to watch. Newell-Fonda had disciplined at bats throughout the course of the game including seven hit batsmen. The Cougars trailed by two and hit a late solo home run to cut the lead but was not enough in the end.

Senior Lukas James fell into trouble in the top of the first walking the first batter he sees followed by three hit batsmen. The Mustangs only scored once despite the bases loaded and no outs situation. Catcher Brayden Chester tossed a runner out followed by James’ first strikeout of the night.

Early in the game, CAMs runners came sporadically as they faced Mustang ace Senior Max Carlson. Carlson, entering the game with an earned run average below two allowed two hits and a walk in his first two innings on the hill. After two, it was a 1-0 lead for Newell-Fonda.

In the third, eighth-grader Andrew Greenfield took on James for an 11-pitch at bat and eventually drew a leadoff walk. Later in the inning, Mustang Senior Mason Hoberman smacked an RBI double into the left center gap to double the Newell-Fonda lead after three.

Down two in the middle innings, CAM capitalized on the only error the Mustangs committed in the game. A two-out misplay by the second baseman and a chuck in the first base dugout gave the Cougars another life in the fourth. Next batter, Sophomore Kayden Winther blooped an RBI single into right center to drive in Collin Bower.

James hit the first two batters he saw in the fifth and first baseman, Carson McKee relieved in on the mound. Freshman Gunnar Baron gave Newell-Fonda that two-run lead right back after smoking an RBI double in the left center gap.

CAM, down to their final out in the seventh brought Chase Spieker to the plate. Spieker, already with two doubles on the game, lifts one deep to left field and over the fence to make it a 3-2 game. Carlson finished off his complete game by fielding a groundout to secure the one-run win.

Cougar Head Coach Mick Long complimented Carlson and said the walks and hit batsmen was the difference.

Going with McKee out of the bullpen was always the move for Long.

The four seniors in the program made a significant impact.

CAM ends their season at 18-4 and had their best winning percentage since 2022.

CHICAGO, Ill. – The Big Ten Network today announced Lisa Leslie, a three-time All-American at USC, four-time Olympic Gold Medalist and three-time WNBA MVP, as the Grand Marshal of the 2025 BTN Big 10K.

The 14th annual BTN Big 10K returns to Soldier Field on Saturday, July 12, where the in-person 10K and 5K races have now sold out. The top five male and female 10K finishers overall will receive a cash prize. In addition, there will be a Big Ten Bonus Prize for the top three male & female 10K finishers who are a current or former student at a Big Ten university.

Following a remarkable career as a three-time All-American at USC, where she also was named the 1994 Naismith College Player of the Year, Leslie went on to have a historic career in the WNBA and as an Olympian. Leslie’s professional resume includes two WNBA Championships, three MVP awards, eight First Team All-WNBA selections, two Defensive Player of the Year awards and eight All-Star appearances. As an Olympian, Leslie captured four Gold Medals in Atlanta, Sydney, Athens and Beijing.

BTN Big 10K post-race festivities will include food and beverages, music, games, giveaways and photo opportunities with Big Ten mascots and cheerleaders. The Chicago-based Big Ten Alumni chapters will also be on hand to give away school-specific swag to their fans and alumni.

The official charity partner for the 2025 BTN Big 10K is Special Children’s Charities. Founded in 1969, Special Children’s Charities develops and funds a wide range of recreational, educational and social activities that encourage physical and mental health for children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

To learn more about the event, visit btnbig10K.com.

Iowa State football coach Matt Campbell says an early start to the season provides an opportunity for his program but it also offers some unique challenges. The Cyclones will play Kansas State on August 23rd in Dublin, Ireland, to kick off the college football season. Campbell was at the podium today at Big 12 Media Days in Dallas.

Campbell believes a key to the season will be how the Cyclones handle that game, win or lose.

Campbell says the entire off season was designed to fit the early start.

The Cyclones must replace several key players from last year’s team that recorded a school record 11 wins. Quarterback Rocco Becht returns for his third year as a starter. Becht passed for more than 35 hundred yards and 25 touchdowns last season and has started the last 27 games under center.

Campbell says Becht was at his best with the game on the line.

Iowa freshman guard Addie Deal has quickly adjusted to life in Iowa. The native of Irvine, California, was rated as a five star recruit and one of the top 20 players in the country as a senior in high school.

Deal says the team chemistry is building during summer workouts.

Deal started receiving offers as a freshman in high school and she reached out to the Iowa coaches to express an interest.

Kansas State football coach Chris Klieman says a short summer is almost over. The Wildcats will play Iowa State on August 23rd in Dublin, Ireland to kick off the college football season.

Klieman made his comments at Big 12 Media Days in Dallas and admits there were discussions about giving up a home game to take part.

Klieman is a native of Waterloo who played at Northern Iowa and says he has enjoyed being part of the series against ISU.

FRISCO, Texas – BYU’s Meghan Hunter (track and field) and Colorado’s Travis Hunter (football) were selected as the recipients of the third annual Bob Bowlsby Award.

Established by the Big 12 Board of Directors, the Bob Bowlsby Award is the Conference’s highest individual honor. Named for former Commissioner Bob Bowlsby, the award recognizes one male and one female student-athlete who exemplify excellence and leadership both on and off the field.

The winners were determined by a vote of the league’s athletics directors.

This marks the second consecutive year a BYU student-athlete has received the honor, while Colorado celebrates the award in its first season back in the Big 12.

Hunter, a track and field standout at BYU, maintained a 3.95 GPA while earning a graduate degree in communications disorders. She earned 2024 Academic All-Big 12 honors.

The 2024 Dr. Gerald Lage Academic Achievement Award honoree won the 2025 Big 12 title in the 800m, setting both a meet and school record (1:58.99). Hunter also contributed to a Distance Medley Relay team that broke NCAA and BYU records (10:37.58) in the 400m leg.

The Provo native procured First Team All-America recognition in the 800m after placing third at the 2025 NCAA Outdoor Championships.

In 2019, shortly after signing her letter of intent with BYU, Hunter was involved in a devastating car accident that resulted in a broken neck. Doctors initially said she would never run again. A CWSA Honda Inspiration Award finalist, she defied expectations through intense physical and mental rehabilitation, eventually returning to become an All-American. Hunter’s experience is viewed as an inspiration to her teammates and coaches.

Colorado’s Travis Hunter delivered one of the most decorated individual seasons in college football history, being named the consensus National Player of the Year while becoming the Buffaloes’ second Heisman Trophy winner.

The native of Suwanee, Georgia, was named the National Defensive Player of the Year (Bednarik, Lott IMPACT Trophy), became the first repeat winner of the Paul Hornung Award (most versatile) and captured the Biletnikoff Award as the nation’s top receiver. He was a unanimous first-team All-American, earning seven first team honors across major publications.

A psychology major, Hunter was selected No. 2 overall in the 2025 NFL Draft and remains on track to graduate in December.

The cover star of EA Sports College Football 25 was named the Division I Football Academic All-American of the Year and is a two-time first-team Academic All-America honoree. A frequent member of CU’s 4.0 GPA Club, he has balanced elite athletic performance with a deep commitment to academics.

Off the field, Hunter is the epitome of a teammate and a good citizen. He regularly visited schools and community centers and helped families in need by purchasing Christmas gifts. After sustaining an injury during the Colorado State game his sophomore season, he reached out to support the opposing player – who had received online threats – by recording a joint video to defuse the situation.

Each Big 12 institution was permitted to nominate one male and one female student-athlete of any classification who compete in a Conference-sponsored sport during the 2024-25 academic year.

During his tenure as Commissioner from 2012-22, Bowlsby successfully navigated television rights deals, protected student-athletes’ well-being and innovated the field of college athletics. Most recently, Bowlsby led the way for BYU, UCF, Cincinnati and Houston to join the league, while his inaugural year saw him successfully navigate the addition of TCU and West Virginia into the Conference.

FRISCO, Texas – Arizona State claimed the Big 12 Conference’s inaugural Commissioner’s Cup for the 2024-25 academic year, announced Tuesday by Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark.

The Commissioner’s Cup was created to recognize Big 12 athletic departments for their efforts in fostering an environment that develops student-athletes both on and off the field. Points are determined by a combination of NCAA Graduation Success Rate, Big 12 regular and postseason titles, plus on-campus programs offered that focus on community engagement, mental health and career development.

“Our schools continue to provide world-class experiences for our student-athletes on and off the field,” said Commissioner Yormark. “I applaud everyone, including our coaches, who have helped elevate our student-athletes’ collegiate journeys. Congratulations to President Crow, Graham Rossini, and the entire Sun Devils community.”

The Sun Devils tallied 449 points during their debut season in the league, which included the volleyball regular season title and three Big 12 Championships in football and men’s and women’s swimming and diving.

Throughout the 2024-25 academic year, the Conference’s 7,750 student-athletes engaged in thousands of hours in community service, career development and training programs, along with mental health programming among all 16 member institutions.

“The administrators at our institutions dedicated countless hours of planning and execution to ensure that student-athletes were offered continuous opportunities to develop holistically and as well-rounded individuals,” stated Big 12 Chief Impact Officer Jenn Hunter. “Our graduation rates continue to remain high and mirror the success rate of their peers on campus, with some schools nearing an almost 100% student-athlete graduation rate.”

1A Region 8 First Round 

• Martensdale-St. Marys – 10 vs ACGC – 0
• Madrid – 4 vs North Tama – 1

1A Region 3 First Round 

• Ar-We-Va – 13 vs Coon Rapids-Bayard – 5
• St. Marys, Storm Lake – 4 vs Boyer Valley – 2
• IKM-Manning – 10 vs River Valley – 2

1A Region 1 First Round 

• Moravia – 5 vs Twin Cedars – 2
• Keota – 12 vs Moulton-Udell – 0
• Pekin – 19 vs Mormon Trail – 2

1A Region 4 First Round 

• Melcher-Dallas – 12 vs Belle Plaine – 4

2A Region 6 First Round 

• Underwood – 5 vs AHSTW – 3
• St. Albert – 5 vs Tri-Center – 0

2A Region 1 First Round 

• Kuemper Catholic – 9 vs Nodaway Valley – 1
• Earlham – 10 vs Central Decatur – 0

2A Region 4 First Round 

• Panorama – 19 vs Colfax-Mingo – 9

Missouri River Conference 

• Sioux City East – 5 vs Abraham Lincoln – 1
• Sioux City East – 14 vs Abraham Lincoln – 7
• Le Mars – 12 vs Sioux City North – 0
• Le Mars – 10 vs Sioux City North – 0
• Le Mars – 7 vs Sioux City North – 1

West Central Activities Conference

• Ogden – 7 vs Des Moines Christian – 5

Non-Conference 

• Thomas Jefferson – 7 vs Denison-Schleswig – 4
• Creston – 6 vs Chariton – 0
• Missouri Valley – 9 vs Glenwood – 3
• Lewis Central – 5 vs Bishop Heelan Catholic – 0
• Wayne – 6 vs Clarke – 2
• Storm Lake – 10 vs Sioux City West – 2
• Storm Lake – 7 vs Sioux City West – 1
• Sergeant Bluff-Luton – 9 vs Spencer – 0

1A District 16 First Round 

• Logan-Magnolia – 6 vs Exira-EHK – 0
• ACGC – 3 vs AHSTW – 2
• St. Albert – 11 vs Boyer Valley – 1
• Woodbine – 13 vs West Monona – 1

1A District 11 First Round

• Wayne – 15 vs Seymour – 8
• North Mahaska – 14 vs Mormon Trail – 4
• Twin Cedars – 12 vs Moulton-Udell – 4

1A District 12 First Round 

• Southeast Warren – 8 vs Madrid – 0

2A District 16 First Round 

• West Central Valley – 11 vs Nodaway Valley – 1
• Ogden – 5 vs Panorama – 1

Non-Conference 

• Greene County – 9 vs Atlantic – 7
• Sioux City East – 6 vs Harlan – 1
• Thomas Jefferson – 5 vs Denison-Schleswig – 2
• Sergeant Bluff-Luton – 2 vs Spencer – 0
• Le Mars – 16 vs Boyden-Hull/Rock Valley – 8
• Des Moines Christian – 10 vs Perry – 1

Playoff baseball is remembered by late inning drama sparked with a little magic. That was the case in Woodbine Monday night as ACGC walked-off AHSTW in the bottom of the seventh to win 3-2. Despite AHSTW entering the bottom of the sixth ahead 2-0, the Chargers tied the game in the fifth powered by four baserunners reaching and three of them with a walk. ACGC’s momentum and patience carried into the seventh with two free bags and two singles to secure the victory.

Two aces took the mound in this playoff matchup as Senior Noah Kading threw for ACGC while Senior Aiden Akers was on the bump for the Vikings. AHSTW struck first blood in the first inning with a double followed by an RBI single to give the Vikings a 1-0 lead. Aikers retired the first eight hitters he faced but finally cracked on a base hit to left off the bat of Senior Payton Policky.

Kading despite being down his entire outing, held himself together and kept ACGC in the ballgame. It wasn’t until the fifth inning Aikers began to lose his command he had previously in the game. The Chargers had four runners reach with a one-0ut single followed by three consecutive walks. Kading had his moment at the plate as well poking one down the first base line driving in the tying run.

Five innings was all for Kading on the mound and was replaced by Sophomore Colton Clark. In the two innings of work, Clark allowed two baserunners. One on a hit and the other on a hit by pitch.

2-2 and the bottom of the seventh comes around. First pitch of the half inning nails Jackson Pfrang on the foot. The bottom of the order set the table for the Chargers in the seventh as Policky hits one up the middle to move Pfrang to third after his stolen base. Viking Head Coach Trey Brix made his first and only pitching change of the day by bringing in eighth grader, Kiptyn Lamp. Lamp came in an excruciating position down 3-1 in the count. Next pitch, fellow eighth grader for ACGC Will Skram blooped one over the middle of the infield to walk the ballgame off for the Chargers.

Head Coach Nick McCool said the patience down the stretch was key.

Fast starts haven’t necessarily been a common theme for ACGC, but the Chargers never gave up.

Clark has been one of the more trustworthy arms this season.

ACGC’s season continues as they will play another elimination game Tuesday.