(Radio Iowa) — The popularity of a sport called “pickleball” is spreading in Iowa. Rick Kramer, director of parks and recreation in New Hampton, heard about pickleball at a recent conference. “It is so new to us that I really don’t know what it is,” Kramer says. “It is table tennis on a floor, or on the ground.” The sport combines tennis, badminton and ping-pong. It is played with a paddle and a plastic ball with holes. Enthusiasts can play indoors or outdoors on a badminton-sized court, hitting the balls over a 36-inch high net.  “Sometimes you just have to change things up a little bit,” Kramer says. “It’s for people that don’t want to do the tennis and the racketball…Another way to get (people) out in the parks, getting them enjoying the fresh air and a little exercise.”

Photo from USA Pickleball Association.org.

Kramer used social media to announce a pickleball court was available in New Hampton and six people soon showed up to play. “And then we put a picture on Facebook and got a lot of comments that people have been waiting for it,” Kramer says. The Enhance Iowa Board recently awarded nearly 22-thousand dollars in a CAT grant to a project for the construction of six pickleball courts on a currently underutilized tennis court located on the Mount Pleasant Middle School property. Iowa Economic Development Authority spokesperson, Jessica O’Riley, says it’s not the first time they’ve helped build the courts. She says they also have given an award to Keokuk for pickleball courts. “This one is sort of spearheaded by the school. They started a pickleball club that sort of caught on and they have community pickleball.”

O’Riley says it has created some unique pairings in Mt. Pleasant.  “They mentioned that the senior citizens are playing with the high schoolers and it has really brought a sense of community across the courts there,” according to O’Riley. She says the latest project has found a solution to a problem. “It was a tennis court that wasn’t getting used, but now the pickleball court is getting use and is an asset to the community instead of an eyesore,” she says.

The U-S-A Pickleball Association says the game was invented by three fathers trying to keep their kids busy on a beach in Washington state — but it soon became an adult activity. According to the Sports and Fitness Industry Association, more than three-point-three MILLION Americans played pickleball at least once last year — making it one of the lastest-growing sports in America.

In addition to the new court in New Hampton, the U-S-A Pickleball Association has a list of 31 other Iowa cities and towns with pickleball courts. Among them, is Atlantic, Glenwood, Neola, and Red Oak. For information about Pickleball in Atlantic, contact the Atlantic Parks and Recreation Department.

The 7:20-a.m. Sportscast with Sports Director Chris Parks.

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

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Kansas City Chiefs and LeSean McCoy have agreed to a $4 million, 1-year deal to reunite the two-time All-Pro running back with coach Andy Reid, according to a person with knowledge of the talks. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because McCoy still must pass a physical. That could be done as early as Sunday, allowing McCoy a full week to prepare for the season opener in Jacksonville. McCoy spent his first six seasons in Philadelphia, four of them under Reid.

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Nick Senzel and Phillip Ervin hit solo home runs, Luis Castillo pitched six effective innings and the Cincinnati Reds beat the St. Louis Cardinals 5-3 to end a four-game losing streak and salvage a split of their doubleheader. With the 4-3 win in the first game and the Chicago Cubs’ 4-0 loss to Milwaukee, the Cardinals gained a half game in the NL Central to increase their division lead to three games.

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Cincinnati Reds third baseman Eugenio Suarez left the second game of a doubleheader against the St. Louis Cardinals after being hit by a pitch. Daniel Ponce de Leon plunked Suarez on the left hand with his first pitch of the at-bat in the fifth inning. He hit his 40th home run in the first game.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Adalberto Mondesi matched a career high with four hits and stole three bases in his return from the injured list, leading the Kansas City Royals past the Baltimore Orioles 6-4. Meibrys Viloria drove in the go-ahead run for the Royals with a two-out single in the seventh inning.

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Harrison Bader hit a game-ending single to lift the St. Louis Cardinals to a 4-3 win over the Cincinnati Reds on Sunday in the first game of a day-night double-header. St. Louis, which has won nine of 10, pushed its lead over the Chicago Cubs to three games in the NL Central. Eugenio Suarez homered for the Reds, who have dropped four in a row.

Bader, facing five infielders with no one out, lofted a fly ball off Michael Lorenzen (0-4) to deep right field to bring in pinch-runner Tyler O’Neill. Jose Martinez began the rally with a walk. Yadier Molina followed with a ground rule double to set the stage for Bader’s first career walkoff hit.

St. Louis scored single runs in the seventh, eighth and ninth for its second consecutive walkoff win following a 3-2 triumph on Saturday. Carlos Martinez (4-2) picked up the victory by striking out the side in the ninth. Cincinnati starter Tyler Mahle, who was added to the roster from Triple-A Louisville earlier in the day, gave up two runs, one earned, on two hits over 6 1-3 innings. He struck out five and did not walk a batter. He was making his first appearance since July 19.

St. Louis starter Miles Mikolas gave up three runs on four hits over six innings. He struck out five, did not walk a batter and retired the last 10 hitters he faced. Suarez broke a 1-1 tie with a two-run shot in the third, his 40th homer of the season. Bader cut the deficit to 3-2 with a run-scoring single in the seventh. Paul DeJong’s sacrifice fly tied the game in the eighth. Joey Votto added a run-scoring sacrifice fly in the third for the Reds.
BACK-TO BACK
The Cardinals are playing back-to-back doubleheaders for the first time since Aug. 20-21, 1998 at the New York Mets. St. Louis won both games on Saturday. Cincinnati is playing back-to-back doubleheaders for the first time since Sept 10-11, 1968.
TEMPER, TEMPER
Cincinnati INF Freddy Galvis drew the ire of Mikolas after Galvis jogged over the pitcher’s mound after flying out to center in the fourth inning. Mikolas appeared to yell at Galvis. Players from both dugouts came on the field and words were exchanged, but no punches were thrown. Molina served as peacemaker.
TRAINER’S ROOM:
Cardinals: C Matt Wieters suffered a calf injury on Saturday. He is listed as day-to-day. C Joe Hudson was added to the roster from Triple-A Memphis.
UP NEXT:
Reds: RHP Anthony DeSclafani (9-7, 4.05) will face Philadelphia LHP Drew Smyly (2-6, 6.95) on Monday in the first of a four-game series in Cincinnati. DeSclafani has given up two earned in his last 18 innings over three starts.
Cardinals: RHP Adam Wainwright (9-9, 4.52) will face San Francisco RHP Tyler Beede (3-8, 5.56) in the first of a four-game set against the Giants in St. Louis. Wainwright is 6-7 with a 3.31 ERA in 16 career appearances against San Francisco

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

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Nate Stanley threw for 252 yards and three touchdowns, Mekhi Sargent ran for 91 yards and a score, and No. 20 Iowa beat Miami (Ohio) 38-14 in their season opener on Saturday night. The Hawkeyes got off to a slow start, but that was erased by the consistent ground game and some big plays from Stanley, who finished 21 of 30 in Iowa’s sixth straight season-opening win.

AMES, Iowa (AP) — Sheldon Croney Jr. scored from a yard out in triple overtime and 21st-ranked Iowa State rallied to stave off Northern Iowa 29-26. La’Michael Pettway had a pair of touchdown catches for the Cyclones (1-0), who barely survived the season’s first major upset after entering the season ranked for the first time in 41 years.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska scored two defensive touchdowns and one on special teams, bailing out a sluggish offense and leading the No. 24 Cornhuskers to a 35-21 victory over South Alabama. The five-touchdown favorite Huskers led only 14-7 at half and totaled just 66 yards in the second half. But their defense had five takeaways. The Huskers had three non-offensive touchdowns for the first time since 2005.

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Matt Carpenter and Harrison Bader hit run-scoring singles during St. Louis’ two-run ninth inning, and the Cardinals beat the Cincinnati Reds 3-2 for a sweep of their day-night doubleheader. St. Louis improved to 8-1 in its last nine games and moved 2½ games ahead of the second-place Chicago Cubs in the NL Central.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Whit Merrifield hit a tiebreaking sacrifice fly in the eighth inning after Kansas City loaded the bases on three bunts, and the Royals beat the Baltimore Orioles 7-5. Bubba Starling hit his first homer at Kauffman Stadium after growing up about 30 miles away, and Hunter Dozier connected for the 24th time this season for Kansas City. Anthony Santander went deep twice for the Orioles, who fell apart defensively in the eighth when Kansas City tried to play small ball.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Chiefs wide receiver De’Anthony Thomas was suspended for the season opener for violating the NFL’s substance-abuse policy, and the club made a pair of trades on what became a busy cut day. The Chiefs sent backup running back Carlos Hyde to the Houston Texans for Martinas Rankin, who is expected to provide depth along the offensive line. They also sent defensive back Mark Fields to the Minnesota Vikings for a seventh-round pick in the 2021 draft.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Nate Stanley threw for 252 yards and three touchdowns, Mekhi Sargent ran for 91 yards and a score, and No. 20 Iowa beat Miami (Ohio) 38-14 in their season opener on Saturday night.

The Hawkeyes got off to a slow start, but that was erased by the consistent ground game and some big plays from Stanley, who finished 21 of 30 in Iowa’s sixth straight season-opening win.

Iowa opened the scoring with a 21-yard field goal by Keith Duncan, but trailed in the second quarter after RedHawks quarterback Brett Gabbert — brother of NFL quarterback Blaine Gabbert — picked apart the Iowa secondary on a 77-yard scoring drive. Gabbert finished 17 of 27 for 186 yards, two touchdowns and an interception.

The Hawkeyes used a combination of Sargent and Toren Young on the ground and Stanley finding 10 different receivers to counter and slowly pull away. Sargent had 14 carries and Young finished with nine for 48 yards and one touchdown.

Two moments stood out in particular for Iowa, for different reasons. Starting left tackle Alaric Jackson left the game in the first quarter with an apparent right knee injury. Conversely, Michigan transfer Oliver Martin caught his first pass with the Hawkeyes, a nine-yard touchdown from Stanley. He finished with two catches for 14 yards and the score.

UP NEXT
Iowa stays home next week, opening Big Ten play by hosting Rutgers on Saturday.
Miami (OH) returns hosts Tennessee Tech on Saturday.

(2-0) AHSTW 21-21, CAM 11-13
(2-0) AHSTW 21-21, Essex 9-12
(2-0) Ankeny 25-25, Lewis Central 20-18
(2-0) Ankeny Centennial 21-22, Lewis Central 16-10
(2-1) Atlantic 16-22-15, Earlham 21-20-4
(2-0) Atlantic 21-21, Riverside 18-16
(2-1) Baxter 16-21-15, Nodaway Valley 21-19-10
(2-0) CAM 21-21, Essex 15-11
(2-0) CAM 21-21, Riverside 17-16
(2-0) Carroll 21-21, Burlington Notre Dame 19-13
(2-0) Carroll 21-21, North Polk 16-17
(2-0) 23-21, Gilbert 21-18
(2-0) Coon Rapids-Bayard 21-21, Colfax-Mingo 14-13
(2-0) Coon Rapids-Bayard 29-21, Baxter 27-7
(2-1) Council Bluffs Jefferson 16-21-15, Atlantic 21-16-11
(2-1) Council Bluffs Jefferson 19-21-15, Riverside 21-13-6
(2-1) Council Bluffs Jefferson 21-19-15, AHSTW 19-21-11
(2-0) Council Bluffs Lincoln 21-21, East Sac County 7-9
(2-0) Council Bluffs Lincoln 21-21, Logan-Magnolia 6-7
(2-0) Council Bluffs Lincoln 21-21, St. Albert 11-10
(2-0) Council Bluffs Lincoln 21-21, Underwood 8-15
(2-0) Council Bluffs Lincoln 21-23, Glenwood 18-21
(2-1) Denison-Schleswig 21-12-15, AHSTW 12-21-11
(2-0) Denison-Schleswig 21-21, Atlantic 18-9
(2-0) Denison-Schleswig 21-21, CAM 17-10
(2-0) Denison-Schleswig 21-21, Essex 12-18
(2-0) Harlan 21-21, Treynor 13-17
(2-0) Holy Trinity Catholic 21-21, Carroll 15-16
(2-1) Kuemper Catholic 15-25-15, Humboldt 21-23-11
(2-0) Kuemper Catholic 21-21, Emmetsburg 15-3
(2-0) Kuemper Catholic 21-21, Fort Dodge 17-18
(2-0) Kuemper Catholic 21-21, Grand View Christian 17-12
(2-0) Kuemper Catholic 21-21, South Central Calhoun 12-12
(2-0) Lewis Central 21-21, Waukee 17-15
(2-1) Central 21-21-20, Nevada 17-23-18
(2-1) Logan-Magnolia 21-14-15, Treynor 16-21-11
(2-0) Nodaway Valley 21-21, Colfax-Mingo 8-9
(2-0) Nodaway Valley 21-21, Coon Rapids-Bayard 10-16
(2-1) Red Oak 21-15-15, Des Moines Roosevelt 12-21-11
(2-0) Red Oak 21-21, Ames 15-14
(2-0) Red Oak 21-21, Bondurant-Farrar 14-17
(2-0) Red Oak 21-21, Gilbert 10-16
(2-0) Red Oak 21-21, Williamsburg 10-16
(2-0) Riverside 21-21, Earlham 17-8
(2-0) Riverside 21-21, Essex 9-9
(2-1) Sidney 19-21-15, Tri-Center 21-13-11
(2-1) Sidney 21-12-15, Treynor 19-21-11
(2-0) Sidney 21-21, Harlan 11-7
(2-0) Sidney 21-21, Indianola 17-16
(2-0) Sidney 21-21, St. Albert 13-12
(2-0) Treynor 27-21, Tri-Center 25-14
(2-1) Underwood 17-21-15, Sidney 21-19-10
(2-0) Underwood 21-21, Harlan 18-15
(2-0) Underwood 21-21, Treynor 15-19
(2-0) Underwood 21-21, Tri-Center 19-15
(2-1) Underwood 24-19-15, Indianola 22-21-13
(2-1) Waverly-Shell Rock 21-12-15, Red Oak 15-21-10
(2-0) Waverly-Shell Rock 21-22, Carroll 18-20

GRAND FORKS, N.D. (AP) — Backup quarterback Andrew Zimmerman threw for two scores, Nate Ketteringham threw for another and North Dakota spoiled coach Todd Stepsis’ debut by beating Drake 47-7 in Saturday’s season opener for both teams.

The Fighting Hawks held the Bulldogs 13 total yards in the first quarter, 40 at halftime and 129 overall and scored a safety when a high snap on a Drake punt attempt rolled out of the end zone.

Ketteringham, 19 of 15 for 152 yards, capped North Dakota’s second drive with a 5-yard TD pass to Noah Wanzek and Zimmerman, 7 of 9 for 132, threw a 28-yard TD pass to Garett Maag and a 35-yarder to Travis Toivonen.

The Fighting Hawks had 439 total yards, including 136 rushing, with James Johannesson scoring on a 1-yard run, Cam Mckinney on a 4-yarder and Noah Grover on a 5-yarder.

Drake’s offense got going in the third quarter, with true freshman Ian Corwin capping and eight-play, 65-yard drive with a 10-yard TD pass to Devin Cates. Corwin was 8 of 20 for 55 yards with an interception.

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Matt Carpenter and Harrison Bader hit run-scoring singles during St. Louis’ two-run ninth inning, and the Cardinals beat the Cincinnati Reds 3-2 on Saturday for a sweep of their day-night doubleheader.

Each of St. Louis’ four batters reached in the ninth. Tommy Edman singled and Yadier

Molina was hit by a pitch from Raisel Iglesias (2-11) before Bader tied it at 2 with a single to left.

Kevin Gausman then came in, and Carpenter’s pinch-hit single drove in Molina for the dramatic victory.

St. Louis (75-59) improved to 8-1 in its last nine games and moved 2½ games ahead of the second-place Chicago Cubs in the NL Central.

Dakota Hudson led the Cardinals to a 10-6 victory in the opener, striking out eight in a career-high 7 2/3 innings. Dexter Fowler and Yadier Molina homered, and Kolten

Wong and Paul Goldschmidt each had two hits and two RBIs.

“Just trying to attack,” Hudson said. “We’ve got two doubleheaders coming up so trying to do as much as I could and get as deep into the game as I could. That was just part of my plan.”

St. Louis and Cincinnati will play another doubleheader on Sunday after the series opener was postponed by rain. Saturday’s doubleheader was needed after rain washed out their game on June 5.

The NL Central leaders and the Reds also play afternoon games Monday against different opponents.

Hudson (14-6) allowed four runs and four hits. John Gant (10-0) got the win in the second game after he escaped a bases-loaded jam in the ninth.

Cincinnati wasted a terrific performance in the nightcap by Sonny Gray, who allowed an unearned run and five hits in 6 2/3 innings.

Josh VanMeter drove Michael Wacha’s first pitch of the game over the wall in right, and Joey Votto went deep in the third for his first homer since coming off the injured list Tuesday.

But that was it for the Reds against Wacha, who struck out seven in seven innings, matching his longest outing of the season.

Reds right-hander Trevor Bauer (10-12) pitched just four innings in the opener. He was charged with six runs and seven hits.

Eugenio Suárez hit his 39th homer for Cincinnati, and Tucker Barnhart had two hits and three RBIs.

SEPTEMBER CALLUPS
The Cardinals recalled left-hander Génesis Cabrera as the 26th man for Saturday’s doubleheader and will activate right-hander Daniel Ponce de Leon before his start in the nightcap of Sunday’s doubleheader. Both will stay with the club.
St. Louis also announced outfielder Randy Arozarena, first baseman Rangel Ravelo, infielder Edmundo Sosa, right-hander Junior Fernandez, catcher Andrew Knizner, right-hander Mike Mayers will be called up from Triple-A Memphis. Fernandez, Knizner and Mayers will arrive Sunday, while Arozarena, Ravelo and Sosa will join the team Tuesday.

UP NEXT

Right-hander Tyler Mahle (2-10, 4.93 ERA) will start Game 1 for Cincinnati on Sunday. He faces Cardinals right-hander Miles Mikolas (8-13, 4.23 ERA), who is 0-3 with two no decisions in his last five start against Cincinnati.

Luis Castillo (13-5, 3.21 ERA) starts Game 2 for Cincinnati. The Cardinals counter with Ponce de Leon (1-1, 3.76 ERA), who is 0-1 with a 2.61 ERA in two career starts against Cincinnati.