The Audubon Baseball team beat the Exira-EHK Spartans 6-4 powered behind a five-run sixth inning. Despite the Spartans having the game-winning run at the plate, a couple of Brody Schultes strikeouts secured the Wheeler victory.

Head Coach Eric Borkowski said the win was needed after recent struggles.

Exira-EHK tacked on the first run of the game in the bottom of the first. Junior Austin Rasmussen led off with a walk and was driven in by a Josh Nelson single which led to a throwing error.

Starting pitchers Adam Obrecht and Spartan ace Alex Hanson brought their A-game as the two struck out a combined 17 hitters.

In the second, Senior Gabe Jensen drew a lead-off walk for the Wheelers and tied the game at one by scoring on a Spartan fielding error. After that, zeroes were put up on the scoreboard until the bottom of the fourth.

In that fourth inning, five-hole hitter Anthony Young steps into the batter’s box and squared up a baseball heading deep towards the left field corner and flies over the fence for a solo home run. As the rest of his team met him at home plate, Exira-EHK took a 2-1 lead and Young hit the second home run all season for the Spartans.

Later in the sixth, the bats got hungry for Audubon. A pair of base hits followed by reaching on a fielding error created a bases loaded opportunity for pinch-hitter Brody Weber.

Weber found the gap in right center and drives in two to give the Wheelers a 3-2 lead. Nine-hitter Aiden Kjergaard copies Weber and brings another pair home. All of a sudden, Audubon had a four-run lead with three outs to go. Senior Mason Steckler contributed heavily to the offensive effort for the Wheelers by going 3-4. Steckler says this was a big confidence booster after his recent slump.

In the bottom of the seventh, three consecutive walks forced Borkowski to make a pitching change. He turned to Schultes who gave up a two-run single right awayoff the bat of Spartan hitter Josiah King to make it a 6-3 ballgame. Schultes settled back in striking out the next two batters he faced and finished with a ground ball out in the infield.

Borkowski complimented Schultes’ grit under pressure.

The Wheelers win their sixth game of the year and face CAM Wednesday night. Meanwhile for the Spartans, they begin postseason play Saturday.

LAS VEGAS – Iowa State’s first two opponents for the Players Era Men’s Championship in Las Vegas have been announced. Iowa State will take on St. John’s and Creighton in its first two games, both teams that are ranked in ESPN’s Way-Too-Early Top 25. A third game will be played against an opponent to be determined following the first two days of competition.

The arena for all three games will be announced later this summer.

Iowa State will face St. John’s at 3:30 p.m. (CT) on Monday, Nov. 24. The Red Storm are ranked No. 5 in ESPN’s Way-Too-Early Top 25. It will be the third all-time meeting between the two teams, having most recently played in 2022 as part of the Big 12-Big EAST Battle. Iowa State won the game in Hilton Coliseum 71-60. In the only other meeting, St. John’s beat Iowa State 71-47 in 1948 in New York.

In the second game of the tournament, Iowa State will take on Creighton Tuesday, Nov. 25. The Bluejays are ranked No. 22 in ESPN’s Way-Too-Early Top 25. Tipoff is set for 1:30 p.m. (CT). Iowa State holds a 17-15 advantage in the all-time series. The last time the two teams met was in 2021, a 64-58 Cyclone victory in Omaha. The Cyclones and Bluejays will also face each other in an exhibition game Oct. 17 in Omaha this season.

The third game of the tournament will be held either Wednesday, Nov. 26 or Thursday, Nov. 27. The top six teams in the eight-team pool will play a third game on Wednesday, while the bottom two teams will play the last game of the tournament on Thursday. The start time for Wednesday’s game would be 6 p.m. (CT), 7 p.m. (CT), 8:30 p.m. (CT) or 9:30 p.m. (CT). If the game is played on Thursday, tipoff would be 3:30 p.m. (CT).

Tiebreakers for the pool play standings will be: 1) Head-to-head 2) Total Point Differential (each game capped at +/- 15) 3) Total Points Scored 4) Fewest Points Allowed 5) AP Ranking on Monday, Nov. 24.

Iowa State has played in four previous tournaments in Las Vegas, as well as facing UNLV in a road game in 1976. The Cyclones are 2-7 all-time in games played in Las Vegas.

Also joining Iowa State in the pool are No. 14 Auburn, Baylor, No. 8 Michigan, Oregon and San Diego State. No. 17 Alabama, No. 19 Gonzaga, No. 3 Houston, No. 21 Kansas, Maryland, Notre Dame, Rutgers, Syracuse and No. 23 Tennessee are in other pool. (All rankings from ESPN’s Way-Too-Early Top 25, where Iowa State is No. 18).

Television selections will be announced at a later date.

2025-26 Iowa State Men’s Basketball Non-Conference Schedule
Oct. 17 – at Creighton (Exhibition) – Omaha, Neb.
Oct. 26 – Northwestern (Exhibition) – Hilton Coliseum
Nov. 3 – Fairleigh Dickinson – Hilton Coliseum
Nov. 6 – Grambling State – Hilton Coliseum
Nov. 10 – vs. Mississippi State – Sioux Falls, S.D.
Nov. 17 – Stonehill – Hilton Coliseum
Nov. 24 – St. John’s (Players Era Men’s Championship) – Las Vegas, Nev.
Nov. 25 – Creighton (Players Era Men’s Championship) – Las Vegas, Nev.
Nov. 26 or 27 – Players Era Men’s Championship – Las Vegas, Nev.
Dec. 3 – Alcorn State – Hilton Coliseum
Dec. 6 – at Purdue – West Lafayette, Ind.
Dec. 11 – Iowa (Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Series) – Hilton Coliseum
Dec. 14 – Eastern Illinois – Hilton Coliseum
Dec. 21 – Long Beach State – Hilton Coliseum
Dec. 29 – Houston Christian – Hilton Coliseum

Iowa offensive lineman Beau Stephens is hoping to have a big senior season for the Hawkeyes. The native of Blue Springs, Missouri started 12 games at left guard for an Iowa team that finished 8-5. Stephens felt his junior year was a big step for him.

Stephens says the offense feels much more comfortable heading into year two under offensive coordinator Tim Lester.

Stephens feels like they have a head start on next season because of it.

The Hawkeyes open the season at home on August 30th against the University of Albany.

The PGA Tour returns to the Quad Cities this week with Thursday’s opening round of the John Deere Classic. Former University of Illinois standout Nick Hardy will be in search of his second win on the PGA Tour this week.

Davis Thompson returns to defend his title at this week’s John Deere Classic in the Quad Cities. George McNeilly reports.

DES MOINES, Iowa – Drake women’s basketball has rounded out its coaching staff with the hiring of new assistant Lisa Carlsen, Suzie Glazer Burt Head Coach Allison Pohlman announced today.

Carlsen joins assistants Kelli Greenway, Whitney Moia, and the newly-hired Kristin Rotert, as well as Director of Operations Cortni Rush and Director of Basketball Analytics & Player Development Becca Hittner, on staff.

“Our program is ecstatic to welcome Lisa Carlsen to our Drake University coaching staff,” Pohlman said. “Her extensive experience as both a player and coach, along with her commitment to developing student-athletes, makes her an exceptional addition to our team. Lisa brings a unique perspective and a passion for the game that will undoubtedly help elevate our program. We’re all excited for the positive impact she will have on our student-athletes both on and off the court.”

Carlsen joins the Bulldog staff after a lengthy head coaching career at three previous stops. Most recently, Carlsen spent the last 10 seasons at Northern Illinois where she led the Huskies to a 147-155 record. Prior to her time at NIU, Carlsen led Division II squad Lewis to a 148-89 over eight seasons after starting her head coaching career with a 4-year stint at Omaha. Overall, she served as an NCAA head coach for 22 years and amassed a record of 331-318.

While leading the Huskies, Carlsen led NIU to a national postseason tournament for the first time in six years with a berth into the Women’s Basketball Invitational. Her squads were also excellent academically with multiple teams finishing inside the top 10 in collective grade point average while leading the fast-paced Huskies on the hardwood.

In her eight seasons at Lewis, she headed the Flyers to four NCAA Division II Tournament appearances and a pair of Great Lake Valley Conference championships.

Her first head coaching gig came at Omaha where she was promoted to the top job after serving as an assistant on the Mavericks’ staff. She guided Omaha to its best finish in a decade and postseason play in 2003. After her tenure at Omaha, Carlsen served as an assistant at Winona State for three seasons before returning to the head coaching ranks.

“I could not be more excited to be at Drake University,” Carlsen said. “The opportunity to join Allison and her staff to continue to build on the rich tradition of Drake Women’s Basketball is an honor and a privilege. The chance to be at a place that values and supports women’s basketball the way Drake does is truly a blessing. The warm welcome from everyone in the department, the fans, donors and season ticket holders as well as the entire Drake community has been outstanding, and I can’t wait to meet each and every avid Bulldog supporter.”

A native of Earling, Iowa, Carlsen graduated from Northwest Missouri State University in 1992. While at NWMSU, she was a four-time all-conference honoree on the basketball court and earned All-Conference and All-Region honors on the softball diamond. During her senior season, Carlsen was recognized as the 1992 Championship NCAA Female Athlete of the Year.

She eventually earned her master’s degree from the University of Nebraska Omaha in 1994 and continued to play basketball professionally for the Nebraska Express of the Women’s Basketball Association where she was named an All-Star in 1995.

Prior to coaching collegiate hoops, Carlsen was the head softball coach at the College of St. Mary (Neb.) from 1994-97 and earned the Midlands Collegiate Athletic Conference Coach of the Year twice. She then served as an assistant volleyball coach and head softball coach at Wayne State (Neb.) from 1997-98.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (KCRG) – Former Iowa Hawkeye Luka Garza has signed a 2-year, $5.5 million deal with the Boston Celtics. That’s according to ESPN’s Shams Charania. Garza has spent the last three seasons with the Minnesota Timberwolves after playing for the Detroit Pistons his rookie year.

The former Iowa star appeared in 39 games for the Timberwolves last season, averaging 3.5 points and 1.4 rebounds per game.

Non-Conference 

• Atlantic – 1 vs Bishop Heelan Catholic – 0
• Exira-EHK-Audubon – 8 vs Woodbine – 4
• West Monona – 5 vs AHSTW – 1
• Missouri Valley – 11 vs Westwood – 3
• Underwood – 8 vs Abraham Lincoln – 0
• Lenox – 8 vs Lamoni – 5
• Melcher-Dallas – 7 vs Lynnville-Sully – 6
• Van Meter – 5 vs PCM – 4 (14 innings)

Hawkeye Ten Conference

• Shenandoah – 2 vs Denison-Schleswig – 1
• Denison-Schleswig – 2 vs Shenandoah – 1
• Harlan – 19 vs Red Oak – 6
• Harlan – 20 vs Red Oak – 3
• Clarinda – 7 vs Lewis Central – 2 
• Lewis Central – 6 vs Clarinda – 3 
• Glenwood – 10 vs Kuemper Catholic – 1 
• Glenwood – 4 vs Kuemper Catholic – 2
• Creston – 9 vs St. Albert – 0 
• Creston – 15 vs St. Albert – 2 

Corner Conference

• Griswold-CAM – 12 vs Essex – 0
• Fremont-Mills – 14 vs East Mills – 5

Western Iowa Conference

• Treynor – 12 vs Tri-Center – 2 

Pride of Iowa Conference

• Martensdale-St. Marys – 11 vs Nodaway Valley – 1
• Central Decatur – 14 vs East Union – 7
• Wayne – 10 vs Southeast Warren – 8 

Rolling Valley Conference

• Glidden-Ralston – 10 vs Boyer Valley – 0 

West Central Activities Conference

• Madrid – 8 vs ACGC – 2
• Des Moines Christian – 3 vs Earlham – 2 (10 innings)
• Pleasantville – 6 vs Interstate-35 – 4 (8 innings)
• Ogden – 12 vs Panorama – 2
• West Central Valley – 5 vs Woodward-Granger – 2

Missouri River Conference

• Le Mars – 10 vs Sioux City West – 0 
• Le Mars – 10 vs Sioux City West – 0

Hawkeye Ten Conference

• Shenandoah 9 Denison-Schleswig 5
• Denison-Schleswig 7 Shenandoah 5
• Harlan – 7 vs Red Oak – 4
• Harlan 11 Red Oak 8 (11 inn)
• Lewis Central – 11 vs Clarinda – 5
• Lewis Central – 11 vs Clarinda – 0
• Glenwood – 7 vs Kuemper Catholic – 3
• Glenwood – 12 vs Kuemper Catholic – 2
• St. Albert – 10 vs Creston – 5
• St. Albert – 2 vs Creston – 1

Corner Conference

• Griswold – 27 vs Essex – 2
• Stanton – 13 vs Sidney – 6
• Fremont-Mills – 14 vs East Mills – 2

Rolling Valley Conference

• Woodbine – 8 vs Exira-EHK – 0
• Coon Rapids-Bayard – 3 vs CAM – 2
• Boyer Valley – 14 vs Glidden-Ralston – 9 (8 inn)

Pride of Iowa Conference

• Martensdale-St. Marys – 8 vs Nodaway Valley – 2
• Mount Ayr – 11 vs Southwest Valley – 5
• Southeast Warren – 12 vs Wayne – 2
• East Union – 19 vs Central Decatur – 15

West Central Activities Conference

• ACGC – 8 vs Madrid – 4
• Woodward-Granger – 6 vs West Central Valley – 1
• Van Meter – 17 vs Des Moines Christian – 6
• Des Moines Christian – 9 vs Earlham – 7
• Pleasantville – 5 vs Interstate-35 – 2
• Ogden – 6 vs Panorama – 4

Missouri River Conference

• Sergeant Bluff-Luton – 3 vs Le Mars – 2

Non-Conference 

• AHSTW – 2 vs West Monona – 1
• Tri-Center – 8 vs Woodbury Central – 1
• Bedford – 5 vs Underwood – 0
• Thomas Jefferson – 15 vs Treynor – 9
• Westwood – 12 vs Missouri Valley – 3
• MOC-Floyd Valley – 17 vs Le Mars – 3
• Dallas Center-Grimes – 8 vs Van Meter – 2

Iowa forward Cooper Koch hopes his health issues are behind him as he gets ready for a new season. Koch saw action in 10 games last season as a true freshman and averaged nearly 14 minutes per game before missing the rest of the season after suffering a collapsed lung. He was granted a medical redshirt.

Koch is the only scholarship player returning from last season and he is looking to carve out a role in new Hawkeye coach Ben McCollum’s system.

Koch says under McCollum the emphasis has been on defense during summer workouts.

The top ranked teams remain the same in the latest Radio Iowa/Baseball Coaches Association High School Poll. Todd Kimm reports.

Class 4A
1. Pleasant Valley (23-4), LW #1
2. Sioux City East (31-4), LW #4
3. Waukee Northwest (23-7), LW #6
4. Iowa City Liberty (24-6), LW #8
5. Johnston (17-9), LW #5
6. Iowa City High (21-7), LW #3
7. Cedar Rapids Prairie (24-7), LW #2
8. Waukee (20-8), LW #7
9. Ankeny Centennial (18-9), LW #9
10.Indianola (25-4), LW (X)

Class 3A
1. Dubuque Wahlert (26-5), LW #1
2. Pella (19-5), LW #2
3. Marion (18-5), LW #3
4. Ballard (20-6), LW #4
5. Sioux City Heelan (22-7), LW #4
6. Benton (20-5), LW #10
7. Carlisle (17-7), LW (X)
8. Saydel (20-6), LW #8
9. MOC/Floyd Valley (20-4), LW #7
10.Sergeant Bluff-Luton (22-11), LW #9

Class 2A (Final)
1. Underwood (19-1), LW #1
2. Pleasantville (23-1), LW #2
3. Van Meter (18-7), LW #3
4. Unity Christian (19-9), LW #7
5. Mediapolis (22-1), LW #6
6. Chariton (19-5), LW #5
7. West Lyon (14-4), LW #4
8. Iowa City Regina (19-4), LW #9
9. Grundy Center (17-3), LW #8
10.Sumner-Fredericksburg (15-3), LW (X)

Class 1A (Final)
1. Remsen St. Mary’s (17-1), LW #1
2. Sigourney (19-1), LW #2
3. Lynnville-Sully (19-2), LW #3
4. Coon Rapids-Bayard (21-3), LW #4
5. North Linn (21-2), LW #7
6. Saint Ansgar (15-5), LW #5
7. Martensdale-St. Mary’s (23-5), LW #6
8. Don Bosco (20-5), LW #10
9. Lansing Kee (24-10), LW #8
10.Mason City Newman (18-7), LW #9