NEWTON, Iowa (AP) – Chase Elliott is in the midst of one of the best rookie seasons in NASCAR Nationwide series history. The race Saturday at the Iowa Speedway could go a long way in determining whether Elliott ends such a promising year with a title.

Though Elliott has three wins in 19 races this season, his points lead has been reduced to just four heading into this weekend in Iowa. Elliott has finished outside the top five in four of his last five races. This week he learned that his crew chief, Greg Ives, is leaving to fill the same position on Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s Sprint Cup team in 2015.

Elliott says he isn’t worried the impending departure of Ives will be a distraction to the No. 9 team, which remains on track to make Elliott the first rookie to win a NASCAR series title.

CLASS 1A STATE TOURNAMENT
Saturday, August 2
Championship
Noon — Newman Catholic (36-3) vs. Twin Cedars (35-0)

CLASS 2A STATE TOURNAMENT

Saturday, August 2
Championship
2 p.m. — North Polk (31-5) vs. Beckman Catholic (29-13)

CLASS 3A STATE TOURNAMENT
Friday, Aug. 1 Semifinals
Assumption 8, Waverly-Shell Rock 5
Dallas Center-Grimes 2, Sergeant Bluff-Luton 1

Saturday, August 2
Championship
6 p.m. — Assumption (25-15) vs. Dallas Center-Grimes (24-14)

CLASS 4A STATE TOURNAMENT
Friday, Aug 1st Semifinals
Iowa City West 7, Johnston 6
Southeast Polk 5, Dubuque Hempstead 2

Saturday, Aug 2
Championship
8 p.m. — Iowa City West (34-9) vs. Southeast Polk (31-13)

Persons interested in bow hunting deer in Atlantic are advised to pick up their instruction packet from the Atlantic Police Department. The information packets are available Monday through Friday, from 8-a.m. to 4-p.m. Once the packet is filled-out by the hunter, it must be signed by Police Chief Steve Green. If you are already qualified to hunt, you won’t have any further issues to contend with.
It’s the third year the City is making bow hunting available within the City limits. Lt. Dave Erickson with the A-PD says the number of deer harvested each year continues to grow, with last year being very successful. Erickson says bow hunting is made available to the public, with certain exceptions and requirements.

New hunters not previously qualified may still pick up their packet, but they must also make an appointment to shoot with Lt. Erickson at the P-D. The packet explains the rules and City Ordinance. He says the hunting seasons mirror those established by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. Hunters must be 18-years of age or older and have a State of Iowa hunting license. They also must have a deer tag or tags issued by the DNR.

Erickson says the one thing they are requesting is that anyone who wants the public to hunt deer on their property, please call the police department Monday through Friday and submit their name. The list of property owners’ names who will allow hunting will then be made available for hunters to contact and provide information as to when they would like to request permission to do so.
Anterless tags will be available.

Hunters must take a doe first before being allowed to hunt a buck within the City limits. If you wish to continue hunting Does – antlerless – the City will reimburse for the tag you purchased through the DNR. You will need to call the Police Department at 712-243-3512 when you harvest a deer. The police will verify that it was taken within the city limits. The hunter then brings the tag to City Hall, where they will be reimbursed for the doe tag. The maximum reimbursement is $28.50. Up to six doe tags per person are allowed for reimbursement.

There are restrictions are where bow hunting will be allowed. For instance, No hunting on City parks of City property. Among the things to note this year: Hunting will not be allowed if your paperwork is not filled out and copies are on file at the Police Department; All hunters must respect the property lines of the land they are hunting on, and be courteous to residents of adjoining properties; Hunters must carry a cell phone with them in case a law enforcement officer needs to contact them with regard to any complaints; Hunter should use safety harnesses while hunting from an elevated stand; Field dressings must be done outside the City limits of Atlantic.

Persons needing to qualify for the in-City hunt will be required to pass a verbal and skill test conducted by the A-PD and Atlantic Archers. The applicant must be able to shoot at 3-d targets up to a maximum of 30-yards from an elevated stand, and successfully hit with 3 out of 5 arrows.

LONG POND, Pa. (AP) — Kyle Larson set a track record of 183.438 mph to win his first career Sprint Cup pole Friday at Pocono Raceway. Denny Hamlin had set the record of 181.415 in June. Joey Logano joins Larson on the front row. Brad Keselowski, Kurt Busch and Jeff Gordon completed the top five. Gordon followed his fifth Brickyard 400 win with another strong qualifying run.

Keselowski is pulling double duty this weekend and will also drive in the Nationwide Series race at Iowa Speedway. Kevin Harvick, Kyle Busch, Jamie McMurray, Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Danica Patrick completed the top 10.

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (AP) — The Kansas City Chiefs received good news on the injury to All-Pro safety Eric Berry.

Berry, who left Thursday’s training camp practice with what the team said was a sore ankle, has a right heel injury according to team spokesman Ted Crews.

Berry did not practice Friday, but was observed walking without a noticeable limp.

“There’s just letting him have a few days just to let that relax,” Crews said.

The news, however, isn’t as good surrounding second-year defensive back Sanders Commings.

“He had very similar to a high ankle sprain, but to the extreme where he needed surgery to repair that high ankle sprain,” Chiefs head athletic training Rick Burkholder said.

“As his foot externally rotated on the play, he fractured his fibula.”

With KJAN Sports Director Jim Field.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (5.1MB)

Subscribe: RSS

CLASS 2-A Semifinals
North Polk 6, Roland-Story 2
Beckman Catholic 8, Van Meter 5

Saturday, August 2: Championship
2 p.m. — North Polk (31-5) vs. Beckman Catholic (29-13)

CLASS 1-A Semifinals
Newman Catholic 5, Don Bosco 4
Twin Cedars 11, Gehlen Catholic 0 (5 innings)

Saturday, August 2: Championship
Noon — Newman Catholic (36-3) vs. Twin Cedars (35-0)

CLASS 4-A Semifinals

Friday, Aug. 1
6 p.m. — Johnston (23-16) vs. Iowa City West (33-9)
8 p.m. — Dubuque Hempstead (37-5) vs. Southeast Polk (30-13)

Saturday, Aug 2.: Championship
8 p.m. — Semifinal winners

CLASS 3-A Semifinals

Friday, Aug. 1
Noon. — Waverly-Shell Rock (36-2) vs. Assumption (24-15)
2 p.m. — Sergeant Bluff-Luton (25-11) vs. Dallas Center-Grimes (23-14)

Saturday, Aug. 2: Championship
6 p.m. — Semifinal winners

SAN DIEGO (AP) – Shelby Miller and three relievers combined on a three-hitter, and Oscar Taveras hit a two-run homer for the St. Louis Cardinals, who beat the San Diego Padres 6-2 Thursday to avoid a three-game sweep. The Cardinals acquired right-hander John Lackey from Boston just before the trade deadline to bolster their rotation. They open a series Friday against NL Central-leading Milwaukee on Friday in St. Louis.

Miller (8-8) held San Diego to two runs and three hits in six innings, struck out five and walked none. He earned his first win since June 7. St. Louis roughed up San Diego rookie Odrisamer Despaigne a day after playing what manager Mike Matheny called the team’s ugliest loss of the season, a 12-1 defeat Wednesday night.

BOSTON (AP) – The Boston Red Sox have traded right-hander John Lackey to the St. Louis Cardinals for right-hander Joe Kelly and outfielder Allen Craig before Thursday’s deadline, a person with knowledge of the deal said. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because neither club announced the trade.

Earlier, the Red Sox sent their top starter, left-hander Jon Lester, to the Oakland Athletics with outfielder Jonny Gomes and cash for slugging outfielder Yoenis Cespedes and a 2015 draft pick. Lackey was 11-7 with a 3.60 ERA as the No. 2 starter in Boston’s rotation.

Kelly is 2-2 with a 4.37 ERA in seven starts. He has made four starts since being activated from the disabled list on July 11. Craig is batting .237 with seven homers and 44 RBIs.