The Missouri Valley Conference has signed a ten-year extension to its media rights deal with ESPN that will include increased exposure on the network’s on-line platform ESPN3. MVC Commissioner Doug Elgin says the new deal will lead to more than 800 Valley events beiing produced on an annual basis.

Elgin says the new deal will have no impact on local and regional television deals for Missouri Valley basketball. Drake University Associate Dean David Wright says the new deal also opens up educational opportunities because the on-line content will rely heavily on student run productions.

(Radio Iowa)

Thursday, July 23rd
Class 1A semi-finals:
Logan-Magnolia 4, New London 1
AGWSR 9, River Valley 1

3rd place game today at 5:30-p.m., New London vs. River Valley
CLASS 1A CHAMPIONSHIP at 7-p.m., Lo-Ma vs. AGWSR

Class 2A semi-finals:
Iowa City Regina 4, Ft. Dodge/St. Edmond 1
Cascade 6, IKM-Manning 2

3rd place game today at 9:30-a.m., Ft. Dodge/St. Edmond vs. IKM-Manning
CLASS 2A CHAMPIONSHIP today at 10-a.m.: IA City Regina vs. Cascade

Class 3A semi-finals:
Solon 7, Center Point-Urbana 1
Benton Community 8, Greene County 1

3rd place game today at 11:30, Center Point-Urbana vs. Greene County
CLASS 3A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP today at 12:15: Solon vs. Benton Community.

Class 4A semi-finals:
Winterset 10, Creston 0
Dallas Center-Grimes 9, Pella 3

3rd place game today at 1:30, Creston vs. Pella
CLASS 4A CHAMPIONSHIP today at 2:30: Winterset vs. DC-Grimes

Class 5A semi-finals:
Waukee 4, West Des Moines Valley 3 (9 innings)
Johnston 2, Cedar Rapids/Jefferson 1

3rd place game today at 3:30, WDSM Valley vs. CR/Jefferson
CLASS 5A CHAMPIONSHIP today at 4:45, Wauke vs. Johnston

ST. LOUIS (AP) — John Lackey threw seven strong innings after a shaky beginning, Trevor Rosenthal escaped his own jam in the ninth and the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Kansas City Royal 4-3 on Thursday night. Randal Grichuk and Matt Carpenter hit two-run homers as the Cardinals won in the makeup of a rainout last month.

As in the originally scheduled game, St. Louis and Kansas City led their league in wins and Lackey (9-5) and Chris Young (8-6) were the scheduled starters. Rosenthal, pitching for the third straight day, took over to begin the ninth with a 4-2  lead. Alex Rios led off with a single and Omar Infante followed with a triple.

The Royals went on to put runners on second and third with no outs, but Rosenthal held on for his 30th save in 32 chances. Mike Moustakas grounded out to end it.

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Rookie Stephen Piscotty was scratched from the St. Louis Cardinals lineup Thursday, due to a stiff neck. Dan Johnson replaced Piscotty playing first base and batted eighth against the Kansas City Royals on Thursday night. Piscotty was 2 for 8 with a double in two starts, the first appearances of his career since his contract was purchased from Triple-A Memphis.

Johnson, whose contract was purchased from Memphis earlier this month, was 2 for 10 in six games. Mark Reynolds, who has gotten the bulk of playing time at first base, was out of the lineup. He entered the game 2 for 14 in his career against Royals starter Chris Young.

The 7:20-a.m. Sportscast w/Jim Field.

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CLASS 3-A:
Harlan 5, Carroll 2
Boone 4, Humboldt 2
Dallas Center-Grimes 8, Bondurant-Farrar 4
Pella 7, Oskaloosa 4
Sergeant Bluff-Luton 2, Spencer 0
Vinton-Shellsburg 5, Williamsburg 3
Dubuque Wahlert 2, Central Clinton 1 (8 innings)
Waverly-Shell Rock 9, West Delaware 8

CLASS 4-A:
Sioux City East 10, Lewis Central 0 (6 innings)
Cedar Rapids Kennedy 18, Cedar Falls 1 (4 innings)
Davenport North 4, Davenport Central 1 (8 innings)
Des Moines East 4, Johnston 1
Iowa City West 5, Cedar Rapids Prairie 2
North Scott 3, Dubuque Senior 1
Southeast Polk 2, Dowling Catholic 1
Waukee 5, West Des Moines Valley 0

NEWTON, Iowa (AP) — IndyCar rookie Sage Karam’s biggest step forward was overshadowed by altercations with veteran Ed Carpenter Karam wasn’t penalized by IndyCar for his driving. Carpenter wasn’t penalized for losing his temper. But the incident put Karam in the brightest spotlight of his burgeoning career.

Carpenter said after the race that Karam “didn’t have a clue.” Karam maintains that he wouldn’t change a thing if he had to race the final 20 laps over again, and he finished third in Saturday’s race at Iowa.

Class 1-A
Newell-Fonda 5, Don Bosco 4
Lynnville-Sully 11, Marquette Catholic 0
5th Place – Lynville-Sully 12, Newell-Fonda 3
7th Place – Marquette Catholic 5, Don Bosco 3

Class 2-A
Durant 6, Interstate-35 4
North Union 4, Central Springs 3
5th Place – Durant 9, North Union 0
7th Place – Central Springs 6, Interstate 35 2

Class 3-A
Clarke 12, Boyden-Hull/Rock Valley 9
Mount Vernon 2, Crestwood 1
5th Place – Mount Vernon 11, Clarke 4
7th Place – Boyden-Hull/Rock Valley5, Crestwood 0

Class 4-A
5th Place – Fairfield 4, Mount Pleasant 3
7th Place – Fort Dodge 10, Waverly-Shell Rock 0

Class 5-A
Urbandale 6, Ankeny 5 (9 innings)
Bettendorf 3, Linn-Mar 1
5th Place – Bettendorf 5, Urbandale 1
7th Place – Ankeny 9, Linn-Mar 0

CINCINNATI (AP) – The Cubs restocked their bullpen for a doubleheader against the Cincinnati Reds on Wednesday, calling up Yoervis Medina from Triple-A Iowa. In addition, Chicago called up Dallas Beeler to start the second game. He’ll be the 26th man. Beeler also was called up to start in a doubleheader against St. Louis on July 7.

The Cubs were coming off a 13-inning, 5-4 win on Tuesday night that depleted the bullpen. Medina appeared in three games for the Cubs in June, throwing five scoreless innings. Starter Clayton Richard was designated for assignment. The Cubs got him from Pittsburgh on July 3 for cash, and he went 1-0 with a 5.40 ERA in two starts and one relief appearance.