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

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

ATLANTA (AP) — The NL East-leading Atlanta Braves snapped a four-game skid with a 7-3 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals as Freddie Freeman hit a two-run homer and Touki Toussaint pitched into the sixth inning. The Cardinals, leading for the second wild-card spot, ended a three-game winning streak.

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Chris Archer pitched seven strong innings, and the Pittsburgh Pirates completed a three-game sweep of the Kansas City Royals with a 2-1 win. In his most impressive start since being acquired from the Tampa Bay Rays on July 31, Archer allowed one run on six hits with eight strikeouts and one walk. The right-hander made it out of the sixth inning for the first time in nine starts for the Pirates, who traded for him in hopes of making a playoff run.

AMES, Iowa (AP) — Teammates and others who knew an Iowa State University student-athlete who was killed this week while playing golf near the campus shared stories about her and lit candles in her memory. The vigil Wednesday evening to remember 22-year-old Celia Barquin Arozamena drew a large crowd to the Ames campus. Several speakers, including women’s golf coach Christie Martens, talked about the star golfer from Spain. Barquin, an engineering student, was the Big 12 women’s golf champion this year.

AMES, Iowa (AP) — Relatives of a star collegiate golfer from Spain who was stabbed to death by a stranger on an Iowa golf course say they are distraught. Miriam Arozamena says it was terrible fate that her 22-year-old daughter, Celia Barquin, crossed paths with her killer on Tuesday morning. Collin Daniel Richards has been charged with murder in Barquin’s death. Speaking from her residence near Torrelavega in northern Spain, Arozamena told broadcaster Tele 5 on Wednesday that her daughter had “such bad luck.”

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Chiefs were desperate for help at cornerback this offseason when general manager Brett Veach made the curious decision to spend what remained of his salary cap on Sammy Watkins. Well, that questionable move paid off last Sunday, when the full depth of the Chiefs’ offensive arsenal was on display in Pittsburgh. Now, the pressure is on opposing defense to figure out a way to stop it.

ATLANTA (AP) — Freddie Freeman spent the previous four seasons playing for an Atlanta team that averaged 90 losses a year.

Now that the Braves are back challenging for a division title, the All-Star first baseman knows his club can’t afford any long losing streaks.

“It’s been four days, so I thought this was a big win for our team,” Freeman said. “I thought we played a quality baseball game today and hopefully we can carry that into this Philly series.”

Freeman hit a two-run homer and drove in three runs, Touki Toussaint pitched into the sixth inning and the NL East-leading Braves snapped a four-game skid with a 7-3 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals on Wednesday.

It was a big win for Atlanta, which began the day with a 5½-game lead over Philadelphia and opens a four-game home series against the Phillies on Thursday.

The Braves need any combination of six victories or Philadelphia losses to clinch their first division title since 2013.

St. Louis, which had won three straight, began the day leading Colorado by 1½ games for the second wild-card spot.

Closer A.J. Minter, working in a non-save situation in the ninth, walked two to load the bases, but he ended it by striking out Jose Martinez and getting Paul DeJong to pop up.

Freeman’s 23rd homer, an opposite-field shot to left-center, put the Braves up 2-0 in the fourth against Jack Flaherty. Freeman went 3 for 3 and is hitting .405 over his past 11 games.

“He’s getting the ball in the air, and it’s carrying, and that’s always a good thing,” manager Brian Snitker said. “That’s a welcomed sight if we can get him going.”

Toussaint (2-1) allowed five hits, two runs, three walks and struck out eight in 5 2/3 innings. A rookie making his fourth career start, Toussaint was chased after Yadier Molina’s RBI single cut the lead to 5-2 in the sixth.

“We survived the first couple of innings with essentially zero fastball command, then suddenly we had some decent command of it and were able to flip the script and challenge guys with some early contacts,” Braves catcher Tyler Flowers said. “If he gets ahead of guys, it’s a tough arsenal to defend.”

Flaherty (8-8) gave up five hits, a season-high five runs and two walks with six strikeouts in 4 2/3 innings. Facing the Braves for the first time, Flaherty began the game as the NL rookie leader in strikeouts, winning percentage and opponents’ batting average. He had gone 4-1 with 1.69 ERA in his previous eight starts.

Flowers doubled to begin the three-run fifth and scored on a wild pitch. Freeman chased Flaherty with an RBI single, and the lead swelled to four runs on a double steal by Ender Inciarte and Freeman. The Braves successfully challenged to get the call overturned that Freeman had been tagged out.

“I thought things went well early, then Freeman put a good swing on a ball and then in that one inning things kind of got away,” Flaherty said. “I put a couple of guys on base with walks and then Freeman put another good swing on the ball.”

Atlanta added a run to make it 6-2 in the seventh. Inciarte doubled and scored when second baseman Kolten Wong threw errantly to first on a potential double play grounder.

Jedd Gyorko’s sacrifice fly in the eighth cut the lead to 6-3. Flowers’ eighth homer in the bottom half of the inning made it 7-3.

At least for one game, Atlanta played well at home, where it had dropped 14 of 18 and has won just one of its past seven series.

Freeman, who became the first Braves first baseman with 20 homers and 10 stolen bases in a season since Dale Murphy in 1978, wants his teammates to enjoy the pennant race and not press.

“It’s fun. It really is,” Freeman said. “This is what you work for six, seven months. To be in this situation this year, it’s the greatest feeling there is.”

UP NEXT

Cardinals: RHP John Gant (7-6, 3.53 ERA) will start when St. Louis, following a day off, opens a three-game home series against San Francisco. He allowed six hits and six runs in his previous start, a 17-4 loss to the Dodgers.

Braves: RHP Kevin Gausman (10-10, 3.92 ERA) will make his ninth start since being acquired in a trade with Baltimore as Atlanta tries to pad its lead on the Phillies. He is 3-0 with a 2.45 ERA in four starts at SunTrust Park.

The IATC also released their updated individual cross country rankings including action up through this past Sunday. Here is a look at area ranked runners.

3A Boys

14. Jalen Petersen, Atlantic

3A Girls

5. Janette Schraft, Glenwood
7. Taylor McCreedy, Atlantic
22. Raegan Anderson, Denison-Schleswig
24. Greichaly Kaster, Harlan

2A Boys

3. Jerry Jorgensen, Treynor
8. Jordan Hustak, Missouri Valley

2A Girls

6. Ella Waddle, Panorama

1A Boys

6. Joshua Baudler, Nodaway Valley
9. Noah Nelsen, AC/GC
12. Justin Ambrose, Boyer Valley
13. Louden Foster, West Central Valley
18. Noah Jorgensen, Sidney
26. Leo Garrigan, St. Albert

1A Girls

1. Emma Lucas, Bedford
2. Peyton Pogge, Tri-Center
3. Courtney Sporrer, Logan-Magnolia
4. Taylor Sporrer, Logan-Magnolia
5. Kate Crawford, AC/GC
16. Gracie Springman, St. Albert
22. Reagan Weinheimer, Nodaway Valley
24. Lauryn Embleton, AC/GC
28. McKinna Hogan, Lenox
29. Alexis Post, Riverside

Full rankings here.

The Iowa Association of Track Coaches released their latest Cross Country rankings on Tuesday evening. Here is a look at area teams that are ranked this week.

GIRLS 1A

1. Logan-Magnolia
14. AHSTW

Teams to Watch: AC/GC

BOYS 1A

2. Nodaway Valley
12. AC/GC
15. Tri-Center
Teams to Watch: Woodbine

GIRLS 2A

15. Shenandoah

BOYS 2A

Teams to Watch: Red Oak

GIRLS 3A

2. Harlan
7. Glenwood
9. Atlantic

BOYS 3A

Teams to Watch: Atlantic

Check out the full rankings here.

The Creston Cross Country Invite was held on Tuesday night. Atlantic’s Taylor McCreedy was Runner-Up in the Girls Class A race and the Trojans placed third as a team. In the Boys Class A race Atlantic’s Jalen Petersen finished in 3rd place and the Trojans were 4th in the team race.

Girls Class A Team Top 5

1. Harlan 41
2. Glenwood 58
3. Atlantic 87
4. Creston 120
5. Winterset 134

Girls Class A Individual

1. Janette Schraft, Glenwood 18:27.0
2. Taylor McCreedy, Atlantic 18:45.8
3. Brielle Baker, Creston
4. Kaia Bieker, Harlan
5. Braelyn Baker, Creston

Girls Class B Team

1. Earlham 31
2. Nodaway Valley 63
3. East Union 94
4. Mount Ayr 95
5. Southwest Valley 106
6. CAM 139
7. Bedford 179

Girls Class B Individual

1. Reagan Weinheimer, Nodaway Valley 20:41.8
2. Sophia Broers, Nodaway Valley 21:12.4
3. Carly Schaffer, Earlham
4. Cassidy Nelson, Lenox
5. Katie Noah, Earlham

Boys Class A Team Top 5

1. Lewis Central 60
2. CB Thomas Jefferson 66
3. Glenwood 66
4. Atlantic 101
5. Winterset 151

Boys Class A Individual

1. Trey Gross, Harlan 16:45.7
2. Aidan Booton, CB Thomas Jefferson 16;47.4
3. Jalen Petersen, Atlantic 16:57.3
4. Aiden Rudloff, Lewis Central
5. Wynn Yeager, Winterset

Boys Class B Team

1. Nodaway Valley 41
2. Earlham 45
3. Mount Ayr 79
4. Bedford 85
5. Martensdale St. Marys 110
6. CAM 170
7. Clarinda Academy 187
8. Southwest Valley 245

Boys Class B Individual

1. Joshua Baudler, Nodaway Valley 16:37.7
2. Isaac Timmerman, Mount Ayr 17:02.4
3. Chase Smith, Mounty Ayr 17:27.2
4. Michael Allen, Earlham 17:29.5
5. Zach Dixon, Earlham 17:38.9

Full Results: Creston XC 2018

DUBUQUE, Iowa (AP) — A man accused of driving onto and damaging the eastern Iowa baseball field made famous by the 1989 movie “Field of Dreams” has changed his plea to guilty. Dubuque County court records say 21-year-old Austin Pape, of Dyersville, entered the plea Monday, the day his trial was to begin on a felony charge of criminal mischief. His sentencing is scheduled for Nov. 13.

Investigators say Pape acknowledged driving onto the field Jan. 22. Court records say the owner estimated the damage at more than $5,500. The vehicle left deep gashes in the field and damaged sprinklers.

The field sits just outside Dyersville, which is 140 miles northeast of Des Moines. Thousands of people visit the property every year, running around the bases and walking to the surrounding cornfields.

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

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Hawkeye Ten Conference

(3-2) Glenwood 25-18-19-25-15, Denison-Schleswig 19-25-25-11-8
(3-0) Kuemper Catholic, Carroll 25-25-25, Creston 12-17-14
(3-0) Lewis Central 25-25-25, Harlan 14-22-14
(3-1) Shenandoah 25-24-25-25, Clarinda 23-26-16-15

Western Iowa Conference

(3-0) IKM-Manning 25-25-25, Riverside, Oakland 18-19-22
(3-0) Treynor 25-25-26, AHSTW, Avoca 18-20-24
(3-0) Tri-Center, Neola 25-25-25, Audubon 9-11-14
(3-0) Underwood 25-26-25, Missouri Valley 17-24-18

Rolling Valley Conference

(3-1) Ar-We-Va 20-25-25-25, Paton-Churdan 25-19-18-20
(3-0) CAM, Anita 25-25-25, Exira-EHK 11-9-12
(3-0) Coon Rapids-Bayard 25-25-25, Woodbine 16-22-22

Corner Conference

(3-0) Heartland Christian 25-25-25, South Page 21-23-20
(3-0) Fremont-Mills 25-25-25, Essex 18-15-23
(3-0) Sidney 25-25-25, East Mills 16-13-19
(3-0) Stanton 25-25-25, Griswold 18-11-12

Pride of Iowa Conference

(3-0) East Union 25-25-25, Wayne 11-19-19
(3-0) Nodaway Valley 25-25-25, Bedford 13-20-20
(3-0) Southwest Valley 25-25-25, Lenox 15-11-19
(3-2) Southeast Warren 22-21-25-25-25-15, Central Decatur 25-25-18-21-13

Other Scores

(3-0) ADM, Adel 25-25-25, Ballard 12-18-10
(3-1) Carroll 25-26-25-25, Carlisle 16-28-23-19
(3-0) Des Moines Christian 25-25-25, ACGC 15-12-18
(3-0) Sergeant Bluff-Luton 25-25-25, Council Bluffs, Abraham Lincoln 14-20-11
(3-0) West Central Valley, Stuart 25-25-25, Interstate 35, Truro 4-20-21
(3-2) Westwood, Sloan 25-25-14-18-15, Ridge View 20-15-25-25-9
(3-0) Woodward-Granger 25-25-25, Earlham 19-12-21

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

ATLANTA (AP) — The St. Louis Cardinals won their third straight game behind Paul DeJong’s two-run homer and Yadier Molina’s two-run single, handing the NL East-leading Atlanta Braves a fourth consecutive loss. Austin Gomber pitched five effective innings as the Cardinals won their 36th game since the All-Star break.

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Pinch-hitter Ryan Lavarnway drove in the winning run with a single in the 11th inning, Jameson Taillon struck out a career-high 11 and the Pittsburgh Pirates beat the Kansas City Royals 2-1. It was just the second at-bat of the season for the 30-year-old Lavarnway, the Pirates’ fourth-string catcher. He hit .288 in 77 games in with Triple-A Indianapolis. Lavarnway has played 142 career games with five teams.

UNDATED (AP) — Iowa believes it has the defense to compete for the Big Ten West title. What the Hawkeyes really need to do is sort out their passing game. After sluggish efforts in its first two games, Iowa threw for 338 yards and two touchdowns in a 38-14 win over Northern Iowa last week. It was an encouraging sign heading into Saturday’s game against No. 18 Wisconsin.

AMES, Iowa (AP) — Celia Barquin Arozamena was a top amateur golfer from Spain who was finishing her degree at Iowa State University. Collin Daniel Richards was a former inmate from small-town Iowa with a history of violence. Investigators say their contrasting lives intersected in the most violent way when Richards allegedly attacked and stabbed Barquin to death at a golf course on Monday.

AMES, Iowa (AP) — Zeb Noland always understood his responsibility as Iowa State’s backup quarterback. Be prepared, because you never when you’ll become the starter. It has happened to Noland twice and he has responded both times, most recently with a career-best performance in the Cyclones’ 37-27 loss to No. 5 Oklahoma. He has kept the starting job this week as Iowa State prepares for Saturday’s home game against Akron.