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

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Paul Goldschmidt homered, Adam Wainwright pitched six solid innings, and the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 9-1 on Saturday. Wainwright pitched out of a bases loaded, no-out jam in the second, giving up just one run. He retired 14 of the final 15 batters he faced as the Cardinals beat the Pirates for the 12th time in their last 13 games. The Pirates managed just three hits. Josh Bell had a single and scored Pittsburgh’s lone run.

CLEVELAND (AP) — Greg Holland struck out the top of Cleveland’s order to strand the tying run at second base and Maikel Franco hit a sacrifice fly in the 10th inning to give the Kansas City Royals a 3-2 win over the Indians in just the third major league game decided by the debated extra-inning runner rule. Holland fanned César Hernández, José Ramírez and Francisco Lindor for the unique save. Jorge Soler and Salvador Pérez hit back-to-back homers in the first for Kansas City. Royals right-hander Brady Singer pitched five solid innings in his major league debut.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes acknowledges there is “some risk” in returning to the team facility for training camp. But he is comfortable with the protocols established by the NFL and its players’ union to ensure a safe environment leading to the season. Mahomes spoke with a group of local reporters on Zoom on Saturday. The Super Bowl MVP was at the facility along with rookies and select veterans one day after the league and union agreed to a proposal opening camps in earnest next week.

KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — Matt Crafton won his first race in three years Saturday when the three-time and reigning Trucks Series champion held off Christian Eckes over the final 20 laps to win the second race of a doubleheader at Kansas Speedway. The 19-year-old Eckes, chasing his first career win, came across in second for the second week in a row. Grant Enfinger was third, Tanner Gray fourth and Ben Rhodes rounded out the top 5 on a stifling afternoon under the sun.

KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — NASCAR Hall of Fame member Maurice Petty has died. He died Saturday and no cause was given. He was the son of Lee Petty and brother of Richard Petty, and his ability to turn a wrench earned him the nickname “The Chief” in the garage. Maurice Petty was the first engine builder to be inducted into the Hall of Fame. He helped the Petty family dynasty win 198 races and seven championships in NASCAR’s premier series. Maurice Petty was 81 years old.

NORMAN, Okla. (AP) — Oklahoma has moved its football opener against Missouri State up a week to Saturday, Aug. 29. The Sooners said the NCAA approved a waiver request from both schools to change the date to allow more schedule flexibility amid the coronavirus pandemic. Oklahoma is set to face Tennessee in another home game Sept. 12, then travel to Army for a Sept. 26 contest.

Saturday 7/25/20 –

Newman Catholic, Mason City 6, St. Albert, Council Bluffs 5

Down 5-2 after five innings, three-time defending state champion Newman Catholic rallied to take the lead and then held off late-inning threats by Council Bluffs St. Albert for a 6-5 win in a thrilling Class 1A first-round game Saturday at Principal Park. Freshman Max Burt started the game — batting second for the Knights — with a towering home run to left field. He finished the game on the mound, pitching the final two innings to pick up the win.

The sixth-seeded Knights — the lowest seed in their 15 appearances at Principal Park — advance to the semifinals at 18-5. Newman is now 27-8 in state tournament games at Principal Park. St. Albert (21-2) was the third seed in their fourth trip to Principal Park and 11th state tournament appearance overall. Newman took a 1-0 lead on Burt’s home run, but the Falcons rallied for a 3-1 lead after three. Newman scored in the fourth to close within 3-2, but St. Albert scored twice in the fifth for a 5-2 edge.

Newman took a 6-5 lead in the top of the sixth with four runs on three hits. Burt had a two-run double to cut the gap to 5-4, then Sam Kratz crushed a two-run double off the left field wall to put the Knights ahead 6-5. The Falcons left two runners on base in both the sixth and seventh innings. Burt’s home run was the 59th hit at Principal Park during state tournament play.

St. Mary’s, Remsen 11, Notre Dame, Burlington 1 (5 inn.) 

Blaine Harpenau tossed a three hitter as second ranked Remsen St. Mary’s cruised to an 11-1 win over Burlington Notre Dame in a 1A quarterfinal. The Hawks improve to 2-0. Remsen St. Mary’s took advantage of five Notre Dame errors. It was Notre Dame’s first trip to the tournament in 18 years and senior third baseman Drew Chiprez says given everything that has happened he appreciates it even more.

Friday, 7/24/20

Kingsley-Pierson 3, Martensdale-St. Marys 2 Kingsley-Pierson (8 inn.)

Eighth-seeded Kingsley-Pierson rallied from a 2-0 deficit and stunned top-seeded and top-ranked Martensdale-St.Marys 3-2 in eight innings in the Class 1A opener of the 2020 state tournament on a hot, steamy, sweaty Friday afternoon at Principal Park. The Panthers advance to the semifinals at 16-2. MSTM ends at 26-2.

Don Bosco, Gilbertville 3, South Winneshiek, Calmar 1

Fifth-seeded Don Bosco broke a 1-1 tie with two runs in the top of the fifth inning to defeat fourth-seeded South Winneshiek 3-1 in a Class 1A first-round game at Principal Park. The teams’ pitchers combined for 20 strikeouts.

The Class 2A Quarterfinals take place Monday, July 27th at Principal Park in Des Moines:

10:30—Van Meter vs. Treynor

1:30—Mid-Prairie, Wellman vs. West Lyon, Inwood

4:30—North Linn, Troy Mills vs. Durant

7:30—Dike-New Hartford vs. Des Moines Christian

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources and Edible Outdoors are partnering to offer a virtual introduction to fly fishing and fly tying. John Motoviloff, who wrote the book on fly fishing in Iowa and Wisconsin, and Eric Cabunoc, a passionate fly fisher, will talk about fly fishing philosophy, safety and its relation to conservation. A Jay Winter, with more than 20 years of experience teaching fly tying, will give hands-on fly-tying instruction. The class will end with learning about a few favorite fish cooking techniques. This class is geared towards adults and is open to everyone regardless of experience. You don’t want to miss out on this unique class!

For more information and/or to register visit:  https://www.register-ed.com/events/view/161336. Registration cost will cover the fly-tying materials you will need – which will be sent to your home – for the hands-on instruction.

Registration Options: 

Workshop & Fly-Tying Kit: $55 (limited to 50 registrants)Kit contains a copy of the Flyfisher’s Guide to Wisconsin & Iowa, fly tying vice and all materials needed to make all of the fly types demonstrated during the hands-on instruction portion of the workshop.  All kits for the participant and any guests registered will be mailed directly to the address provided during the registration process.

Workshop Only:  $15 (unlimited registrants)*Note: 45 minutes of this workshop will be hands-on fly-tying instruction

Once paid, registration fees for the virtual workshop are non-refundable.

Participants in this virtual workshop will need the following items:

• Access to a Computer
• Internet
• Zoom (download the Zoom Client for Meetings desktop application for the best experience)
• Table (to attach vice to if you are purchasing the kit)

Agenda:

7:00-7:15PM: Introductions

7:15-7:40PM: Fly Fishing Safety, Ethics, Sustainability, and Philosophy

7:40-7:45PM:  Break

7:45-8:30PM: Fly Tying Instruction

8:30-8:35PM:  Break

8:35-8:50PM:  Cooking Techniques

8:50-9:00PM: Questions

The Becoming an Outdoors Woman Beyond BOW program is offering three virtual seminars focusing on fly fishing. While the seminars are geared towards women, they are open to any adult who would like to attend. Participants may choose to attend any or all of the seminars. The Iowa DNR says the programs, which are made possible by the Iowa Becoming an Outdoors Woman Program, include:

25 Rivers with the Mayfly Siren August 12, 7 to 8:30 p.m.

In 2018, California BOW fly fishing guide Carla Lemon embarked on her solo journey to fish 25 rivers across the western states. In that time, she traveled roughly 8,000 miles over 120 days with just her trailer and her pup, chasing some of the best fish in the world. She’ll share the lessons she learned and tells stories of the amazing women she met on her journey. Additional seminar information including the Zoom Link will be sent out to all confirmed participants by Monday, August 10. Registration Link:  https://www.register-ed.com/events/view/161337

The Driftless Area, Equipment, and Tactics September 9, 7 to 8:30 p.m.

Join author John Motoviloff and Iowa Department of Natural Resources urban fisheries biologist Tyler Stubbs, as they discuss fishing the Driftless Area of Wisconsin and Iowa, equipment needed to get out fly fishing and how best to fish the river. Additional seminar information including the Zoom Link will be sent out to all confirmed participants by Monday, September 7. Registration Link:  https://www.register-ed.com/events/view/161338

Cleaning and Cooking your Catch October 14, 7 to 8:30 p.m.

Did you know that Iowa stocks trout in urban ponds and lakes in the fall? Join author John Motoviloff and Iowa Department of Natural Resources urban fisheries biologist Tyler Stubbs, as they discuss locations near home to try fishing. Additionally, they’ll talk about cleaning trout and favorite recipes. Additional seminar information including the Zoom Link will be sent out to all confirmed participants by Monday, October 12. Registration Link:  https://www.register-ed.com/events/view/161339

The 7:20-a.m. Sportscast with Ric Hanson.

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Class 1A Quarterfinals

Friday, July 24

Kingsley-Pierson 3, Martensdale-St. Marys 2 (8 innings)

Kingsley-Pierson pulled off an upset over No. 1 ranked Martensdale-St. Mary’s in the opening game of the tournament thanks to a two-run comeback in the sixth and a run in the eighth inning. The Blue Devils had five hits in the defeat, which came from the bats of Cole Cassady, Isaac Gavin, Carson Elbert, Kasey Carter and Jack Franey. Martensdale’s season comes to a close at 26-2.

Don Bosco, Gilbertville 3, South Winneshiek, Calmar 1

Saturday, July 25

10:30—St. Albert, Council Bluffs vs. Newman Catholic, Mason City

1:30—St. Mary’s, Remsen vs. Notre Dame, Burlington

The 2-A Quarterfinals begin Monday at Principal Park in Des Moines.

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

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Jack Flaherty pitched seven solid innings, Paul DeJong hit a two-run homer and the St. Louis Cardinals opened the season by beating the Pittsburgh Pirates 5-4. Tyler O’Neill and Dexter Fowler added solo homers for St. Louis in the first game of an unprecedented 60-game season shortened due to the coronavirus pandemic. Flaherty, who went 7-2 with an 0.91 ERA over his final 15 regular season starts last year, did not give up a run until Jacob Stallings hit two-out, two-run single just under the glove of first baseman Paul Goldschmidt in the seventh.

CLEVELAND (AP) — Shane Bieber dominated Kansas City’s hitters, striking out 14 in six innings as the Cleveland Indians beat the Royals 2-0 in their delayed home opener. Bieber has become Cleveland’s ace in no time. The 25-year-old began last season as the club’s No. 5 stater but appears ready to take over as the staff leader after two-time Cy Young winner Corey Kluber was traded last winter. Oscar Mercado and César Hernández drove in runs for the Indians. Cleveland’s players wore their blue road jerseys to make a statement for minorities as the Indians consider changing their name after 105 years.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Offensive lineman Laurent Duvernay-Tardif of the Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs became the first player to opt out of the upcoming NFL season due to the coronavirus pandemic. Duvernay-Tardif chose to put his medical degree to use on the front lines of the coronavirus pandemic. He has been working to fulfill his requirements to become a doctor in the offseason and has spent this summer working at a clinic in his native Canada. He said that experience helped him decide that if he was going to take any risks with his health, it would be to help patients dealing with the virus.

KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — Austin Hill dominated the longest green-flag run all the way to the checkered flag to win the opening race of the first NASCAR Truck Series doubleheader at Kansas Speedway on Friday night. Brett Moffitt won the opening stage before finishing second, nearly three seconds behind the winner. Grant Enfinger was third, reigning series champ Matt Crafton came across fourth and Derek Kraus finished fifth.

The Iowa High School Athletic Association has adjusted the 2020 high school football schedule. The board of control approved the change on Friday which will cut the regular season to a 7 game schedule and all teams will qualify for the postseason. The first practice date of August 10th and first competition date of August 27th will stay the same. The first two weeks will become optional dates and District play will start in Week 3. 4A schools will be creating their own schedules. Here is the full breakdown from the IHSAA.

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

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(Radio Iowa) – The 111th Drake Relays has officially been postponed to April 2021. Drake Relays officials announced Thursday that the 2020 relays were canceled due to Iowa’s ongoing COVID-19 outbreak.

Blake Boldon, the Franklin P. Johnson director of the Drake Relays, said in a news release that the event will be “postponed” to 2021 to “to preserve the safety and wellbeing of competitors, officials and fans.” The Drake Relays’ Grand Blue Mile and Drake Road Races will be contested virtually in September and October.

Drake Relays leadership first announced a delay in the events in March due to the pandemic. “Our entire staff has worked diligently to explore every possibility of hosting our events in 2020,” Boldon said. “The process has been challenging and the outcome is not what we desired. However, we have been reassured by the incredible show of support we’ve received from fans, coaches and athletes from Iowa, the nation and around the world.”

Drake Relays will return to Des Moines April 21-24, 2021. Organizers said ticket holders will receive an email from the Drake athletic ticket office detailing their ticketing options. Ticket holders may choose, by Aug. 17, to donate the value of their tickets as a tax-deductible donation, forward their tickets to the 2021 Drake Relays or request a refund.