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Hawkeyes Fall to Auburn, 7-5

Sports

February 24th, 2024 by admin

JACKSONVILLE, Florida – The 18th ranked University of Iowa baseball team fell to Auburn, 7-5, on Saturday morning at 121 Financial Park.

The Hawkeyes got out to a 3-2 lead through four innings as Brody Brecht gave them a quality start on the bump.

Brecht threw six innings allowing two hits and two runs (one earned) while striking out 11 and walking four.

Jack Whitlock was tagged with the loss allowing three runs in 2/3 of an inning. Zach Voelker allowed two earned runs in 1/3 of an inning.

Elliot Cadieux-Lanoue threw an inning walking one and striking out one.

Sam Petersen was 1-for-4 with a two-run home run. Kyle Huckstorf and Michael Seegers each tallied two hits for the Hawkeyes, and both recorded an RBI. Blake Guerin was 1-for-2 with an

RBI. Iowa loaded the bases in the first inning as Guerin walked in a run. The Hawkeyes played small ball in the second inning as Huckstorf tripled and Seeger slayed down the sacrifice bunt.

The Tigers singled in a run in the third after a pair of walks. Iowa responded with a double from Gable Mitchell and RBI single from Huckstorf.

Auburn cut the lead in half in the bottom of the sixth, and they took the lead with a pair of home runs in the seventh. A home run and a sacrifice fly extended the Tiger lead in the eighth.

Petersen homered with two outs in the ninth, but the Hawkeyes were unable to continue the rally.

UP NEXT:

Iowa (3-2) returns to action tomorrow against No. 14 Virginia in the JAX College Baseball Classic at 3 p.m. (CT).

Another field fire reported in Montgomery County

News

February 24th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Red Oak, Iowa) – Officials with the Red Oak Fire Department report, that at around 4-p.m. Friday, Red Oak Fire was dispatched to the area of 160th x L Ave for a reported field on fire. Automatic mutual aid was requested from the Stanton and Elliott Fire Departments. The first crews on the scene found flames moving slowly through several grazed pasture fields as well as fence lines and several small brush piles. The fire was quickly contained. Crews remained on scene for roughly 90 minutes putting out smoldering trees and brush piles. Approximately 25 acres was consumed in fire. The cause of fire is undetermined at this time.
At the same time of the initial call and while fire crews were enroute to the 160th x L Ave fire call, fire crews witnessed smoke coming from the Anderson Conservation area. Additional fire crews were redirected and responded to find a small rekindle within the area of the previous burn from Wednesday afternoon. That fire was also quickly contained with no further incident.
Agencies assisted in handling the incident include the aforementioned Stanton and Elliott Fire Departments, Montgomery County Sheriff’s Deputies and Montgomery County 911, along with the Montgomery County Emergency Management Agency. (Photos from the Red Oak FD Facebook page)

Creston man injured in a motorcycle accident

News

February 24th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Creston, Iowa) – One person was transported to the hospital in Creston, Friday night, following a motorcycle accident. Creston Police say 76-year-old Michel Joseph Spaulding, of Creston, was operating a 2012 Harley Davidson motorcycle northbound on Cherry Street south of Mills St, at around 10:20-p.m., when the machine struck a curb. The cycle scraped along a yard and a road before coming to rest. Police found Spaulding sitting next to his motorcycle, alert and conscious, but bleeding from the head.

The man admitted to officers that he had consumed alcohol. He was transported by EMS to the Greater Regional Hospital in Creston. The motorcycle sustained an estimated $7,000 damage. No citations were issued.

Barn destroyed by fire near Menlo

News

February 24th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Stuart, Iowa)  – Officials with the Stuart Fire Department report crews from the department along with Menlo fire, were dispatched to a barn fire at around 8:35-a.m., Friday. The first crews arriving on the scene from Stuart advised all other responding units that the barn was fully involved. Around that same time Dexter fire was requested for mutual aid (for personnel & water). Firefighters battled the wind and got the fire under control.

Guthrie County REC crews were requested to remove an overhead power line, to ensure the safety of the fire personnel on the ground. Authorities say the barn sustained significant damage, and collapsed. It was deemed a total loss. No injuries were reported.

Stuart FD Facebook post photo

Stuart Fire thanks Menlo fire, Dexter fire, Guthrie county REC, Guthrie county Dispatch, and Stuart Rescue for their support at the scene.

ORVILLE KEITH DENTON, 93, of Avoca (Private Svcs.)

Obituaries

February 24th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

ORVILLE KEITH DENTON, 93, of Avoca, died Friday, Feb. 23, 2024, at Avoca Specialty Care. A private, family memorial service will be held for ORVILLE DENTON on Tuesday, Feb. 27th. Pauley-Jones Funeral Home in Avoca is assisting the family.

Burial will be in the Denton Cemetery in Denton, KS., at a later date.

ORVILLE DENTON is survived by:

His wife – JoAnn Denton, of Avoca.

His sons – Steve (Marge) Denton, of Avoca, and Scott (Coronne) Denton, of Red Oak.

His brother – Byron (Carolyn) Denton, of Orland, CA.

4 grandchildren, and 9 great-grandchildren.

Skyscan Forecast for Atlantic & the Nishna Valley: Saturday, Feb. 24, 2024

Weather

February 24th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

Today: Sunny & breezy. High near 58. S/SW winds 10-25 mph.
Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 31. S/SW winds 5 to 10 mph.
Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 63. West wind 5 to 10 mph becoming north northwesterly.
Sunday Night: Clear, with a low around 37.
Monday: Sunny & breezy. High near 73.
Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 42.
Tuesday: A slight chance of rain before noon, then a slight chance of snow. High near 59.
Tuesday Night: A 30% chance of snow. Low around 15.

Friday’s High in Atlantic was 56. The Low was 15. Last year on this date, the High in Atlantic was 21 and the Low was 4. The Record High for Feb. 24th was 76 degrees, set in 1930. The Record Low was -15, in 1894. Sunrise: 7:02. Sunset: 6:04.

Gray wolf found dead on the northwest edge of Davenport

News

February 24th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Iowa DNR News)  – A large canine found lying in the median of I-80 in Scott County Monday morning has been identified as a young adult male gray wolf. The animal, estimated to be around two years old, was seen laying in the I-80 median near the interchange with I-280 by State Conservation Officer Brooks VanDerBeek who collected it for examination.

The wolf was taken to the Iowa State University Veterinary Diagnostic Lab in Ames, and received a full necropsy on Wednesday to confirm cause of death and assess overall health. The DNR is planning to send tissue samples for DNA testing to verify if it’s a true wolf or hybrid, and its population of origin.

Based on the examination, state furbearer biologist Vince Evelsizer and state wildlife veterinarian Dr. Rachel Ruden are confident it is a gray wolf. “He was in fair shape physically, with not much fat under the hide but a good amount of fat internally,” Ruden said. “He was also moderately parasitized by tapeworms, including Echinococcus, which is not unexpected as wild canids are the definitive host. However, this particular parasite can infect people through the ingestion of eggs in feces, so this serves as a good reminder for our hunters, trappers and wildlife rehabilitators to take care when handling coyotes and foxes.”

This wolf likely originated from the Great Lakes population in Wisconsin and Minnesota, Evelsizer said. “Wolves have a complex social structure and will naturally disperse, typically in the fall or winter, not necessarily associated with breeding. We received a quality daylight photo of a gray wolf from a trail camera in Delaware County in November, and this wolf appears to have similar coloring, but we don’t know for sure it’s the same animal or not,” said Evelsizer. “We are thankful Officer VanDerBeek spotted this animal and picked it up.”

The Great Lakes wolf population has been steady to slightly increasing in recent years and is the closest population to Iowa. Over the last five years, Iowa averages from one to five wolves roaming through. Iowa does not have a breeding population of wolves. “While it is rare for wolves to be in Iowa, this serves as a reminder to coyote hunters to be very sure of your target before pulling the trigger,” Evelsizer said.

Coyotes typically weigh 25-40 pounds whereas wolves typically weigh 70-110 pounds. For comparison, this wolf weighed 77.5 pounds, and measured 62 inches long from nose to tip of the tail. Wolves are protected in Iowa and there is no open season.

Cyclones Split First Day of Rawlings Classic

Sports

February 23rd, 2024 by admin

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Iowa State (7-4) split its Friday games as part of day one of the Rawlings Classic, falling to Delaware (6-4) in a nearly five-hour game before topping Lehigh (2-6) in the afternoon by a run. The story of game number one was the two-plus hour weather delay. Pitching got sloppy in the fourth, leading to an influx of runs, but after the break, both teams were back to dealing.

Iowa State’s second game was won purely in the fifth inning, as a five-run frame was enough to outlast the Mountain Hawk’s four runs. 

Delaware 8, ISU 5
In a wet, muddy open to the Rawlings Classic, Iowa State fell to Delaware by a score of 8-5. The game started slow but picked up with the rain, as pitchers began to lose control over the ball, resulting in multiple wild pitches, passed balls and walks.

The game featured a two-hour, 20-minute delay in the fourth, which came right in the middle of a Cyclone rally. Once play resumed, neither team was able to get anything going at the plate, resulting in a scoreless fifth, sixth and seventh.

Seven Cyclones had a hit on the afternoon, while Angelina Allen led the team with three RBI. Both Milaysia Ochoa and Alesia Ranches also had RBI on the day.

 How it Happened
The game started with an empty first inning, as neither side was able to do much. Iowa State snuffed out a Delaware runner at third who attempted to tag up on a flyout to earn an inning-ending double play.

ISU again held Delaware scoreless in the top of the second inning as rain started to fall in Charlottesville. In the bottom of the frame, Alesia Ranches uncorked her third homer of the season, a solo shot, to center, putting the Cyclones up 1-0.

The Blue Hens got on the board in the top of the fourth, stringing together a pair of singles and a fielder’s choice to load the bases with two outs. A single back to the pitcher brought one in and kept the bases juiced for Morgan Hess. Hess sent a well-struck ball to the left-center gap, clearing the bases and putting Delaware up 4-1.

Milaysia Ochoa was hit by a pitch in the top bottom of the frame, putting a runner on for the Cyclones. Angelina Allen then smacked her fourth homer of the season over the center field fence to make it 4-3 in favor of the Blue Hens. Ochoa’s HBP was the 28th of her career – tying an ISU career record.

The field conditions worsened in the fourth, as ISU pitchers struggled to control the ball. A leadoff walk and two straight advancements on wild pitches put a runner on third. Delaware tried to score on another Wry pitch, but a perfect bounce back off the backstop allowed for an out. Delaware drew three more walks in the inning and used a two-run homer to score four runs for the second-straight inning as it went up 8-3.

In the bottom of the fourth, Iowa State started the inning off with a double and a single to get two runners on. An Olivia Wardlow single would load the bases with one out, bringing Ochoa up to bat. She would draw a walk to bring one with Allen following her. Allen was three pitches into her at-bat when the umpires called for a delay in action (at 11:40 EST).

Two hours and twenty minutes later (2 p.m. EST), the game resumed where it left off, with the basses loaded and Allen at the plate. She would send a screeching grounder to the first baseman, who was only able to get Allen out at first. The inning ended with a Cyclone strikeout, concluding a two-and-a-half-hour bottom of the fourth. ISU trailed 5-8.

After everyone came back from the break, pitchers started to gain more control over the ball and both offenses struggled to get hits. Neither team scored in the final three innings as the game ended with a three-run win for Delaware. Iowa State was able to bring the tying run to the plate in the bottom of the seventh with two on, but a groundout ended the potential comeback.

 Friday Notes
Home Runs
Iowa State: Alesia Ranches (3), Angelina Allen (4)
Delaware: Gianna Costaro (4)

 WP – Emily Winburn (4-1): 4.2 IP, 5 hits, 2 runs (0 earned), 3 walks, 4 strikeouts
SV 
– N/A
LP 
– Jaiden Ralston (0-2): 3.0 IP, 6 hits, 4 runs, 1 walk, 1 strikeout

 ISU 5, Lehigh 4
A five-run fifth inning was the difference in the second game of the first day of the Rawlings Classic for the Cyclones. Five different “Clones had a hit on the afternoon, with four earning RBI. It was just the second game of the season that Iowa State did not register a homer. Aziza Rodriguez picked up her second win on the afternoon, going a career-high five innings on the day.

 How it Happened
Both teams were scoreless in the opening frame, with each team registering just one hit. The Mountain Hawks were the first team on the scoreboard, tacking on one run in the top of the second thanks to a Julia Mrochko sacrifice fly. Like the first, both the third and fourth were scoreless on both sides. A leaping grab from McKenna Andrews and subsequent toss to second doubled up Lehigh to end the fourth frame.

The Mountain Hawks had two hits in the top of the fifth but were unable to convert, maintaining their 1-0 lead. The Cyclones exploded in the bottom of the fifth, piling on five runs to take a four-run lead. An RBI double from Tiana Poole and a pair of RBI singles made it 3-1 in favor of the Cyclones, as they had bases loaded with one out. Ranches drew a bases-loaded walk to score Wardlow from third. Moving from second to third was Ochoa, who, smartly, rounded the base and sprinted in to score – catching Lehigh off guard as ISU scored two on the walk.

LU fought back in the top of the sixth, plating three, but was unable to get over the final hump and tie/take the lead as it went on to fall by one run.

Friday Notes
Home Runs
Iowa State: N/A
Lehigh: N/A

WP – Aziza Rodriguez (2-0): 5.0 IP, 8 hits, 2 runs, 1 walk, 0 strikeouts
SV – N/A
LP – Katelyn Young (1-3): 5.0 IP, 5 hits, 5 runs, 3 walk, 5 strikeouts

On Deck

Iowa State will be back at Palmer Park tomorrow, Feb. 24, for another pair of games in the Rawlings Classic. The Cyclones open Saturday play early against Delaware again at 9 a.m. CT and then play tournament-host Virginia at 2:30 p.m. CT.

4 Hawkeyes Finish in Top 20 at Big Ten Championships

Sports

February 23rd, 2024 by admin

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – University of Iowa Swimming and Diving secured four top-20 finishes on day three of the Big Ten Championships inside the Morgan J. Burke Aquatic Center on Friday.

Freshman Jenna Kerr was a ‘B’ finalist in the 200-freestyle event, qualifying with a personal best of 1:47.30 in the preliminaries. Kerr, a native of Barrington, Illinois, would finish 16th overall following her 1:49.07 in the finals.

Freshman Olivia Swalley reached her second final of the week, earning a spot in the ‘C’ final of the 400 individual medley. Swalley, a four-time conference freshman of the week honoree, improved Iowa’s second all-time mark with a 4:14.42 and 19th-place finish in the finals.

Sophomore Scarlet Martin was a ‘C’ finalist qualifier in the 100 butterfly, clocking a 54.25 in the first round. Martin would improve her time in the finals, placing 20th overall with a 54.11.

The Hawkeyes earned their fourth top-20 finish with Kennedy Gilbertson’s performance in the 100 backstroke finals. Gilbertson entered the ‘C’ final after a 54.24 qualifying time. The fifth year from Plover, Wisconsin, bettered her time in the evening session, placing 20th with a 54.16.

In the three-meter diving competition, junior Makayla Hughbanks scored points for the Hawkeyes. Hughbanks, also named Iowa’s Big Ten Sportsmanship award honoree, amassed 249.30 points to add to Iowa’s team total.

“We had great performances throughout the day,” head coach Nathan Mundt said. “Having finalists in the 100 Fly, 100 Back, 200 Free, 400 IM and 3M Diving all in the same session is tremendous progress for our program. We’re excited for a new day tomorrow and look to capitalize on the opportunity to finish strong.”

After day three of competition, the Hawkeyes are in 11th place with 217 points.

The Hawkeyes conclude competition at the Big Ten Championships on Saturday, beginning at 9 a.m. (CT).

HAWKEYE RESULTS
100 Backstroke prelims
21. Kennedy Gilbertson – 54.24, C Finalist qualifier
26. Annie Galvin – 54.87, SB
29. Hope Schimming – 55.40, SB
35. Addie Crain – 57.11
Exh. Anna Pfeiffer – 58.84

100 Backstroke finals
20. Kennedy Gilbertson – 54.16

100 Butterfly prelims
19. Scarlet Martin – 54.25, C Finalist qualifier
34. Annie Galvin – 55.42, PR
45. Leslie Wendel – 58.20, SB
46. Olivia Asay – 58.42, SB
47. Megan Hartlieb – 58.70

100 Butterfly finals
20. Scarlet Martin – 54.11

200 Freestyle prelims
14. Jenna Kerr – 1:47.30, B Finalist qualifier, PR
30. Sabina Kupcova – 1:49.31
34. Josie Hood – 1:51.11
35. Molly Pedersen – 1:51.33
Exh. Madison Stone – 1:53.33, PR

200 Freestyle finals
16. Jenna Kerr – 1:49.07

400 Individual Medley prelims
18. Olivia Swalley – 4:16.09, C Finalist qualifier
34. Mallory Kell – 4:26.82, PR
38. Olivia Frantum – 4:30.30, PR
39. Alix O’Brien – 4:32.57

400 Individual Medley finals
19. Olivia Swalley 4:14.42, PR + 2nd at Iowa

200 Freestyle Relay finals
10. Gilbertson, Kupcova, Pedersen, Galvin – 1:32.84

Three-Meter Dive prelims
21. Makayla Hughbanks – 249.30 points
26. Geneva Pauly – 241.35 points
30. Sarah Ballard – 233.95 points

No. 53 Oregon Outlasts No. 60 Iowa, 4-

Sports

February 23rd, 2024 by admin

IOWA CITY, Iowa — The nationally-ranked University of Iowa women’s tennis team fell to No. 53 Oregon on Friday at the Hawkeye Tennis and Recreational Complex. The loss snapped UI’s four match winning streak. In doubles, the Hawkeyes were swept by the Ducks, 6-1 on courts one and two. The match on court three, went unfinished where Oregon’s Aparisi and Young was leading, 5-1.

In singles competition, Oregon came out to capture the first match on court four. Iowa responded topping Oregon on courts one, two, and six. Dianne Hayashida and Marisa Schmidt captured straight set victories while, Vipasha Mehra battled all the way back in a tiebreaker to put the Hawkeyes in contention to win the match.

On court five, Pia Kranholdt dropped her match in heartbreaking fashion. Oregon’s Karin Young held serve to clinch the dual for the Ducks, 4-6, 6-3, 7-5.

HEAD COACH SASHA SCHMID
“It was a really hard-fought match today, and it’s always difficult on a clincher. I feel for our team because they battled hard, but we’ve definitely gotten better. We will be in these positions in the future, and hopefully we can just continue to learn from these difficult losses like this and that it will propel us to have some great ones.”

UP NEXT
The Hawkeyes will travel to Bloomington, Indiana, to take on the Hoosiers on March 2 at 10 a.m. (CT). Next Saturday’s match will take place at the Indiana University Tennis Center.

RESULTS

#53 Oregon 4, #60 Iowa 3

SINGLES
No. 1 – #110 Daianne Hayashida (UI) def. Sophie Luescher (ORE) 6-2, 7-6 (8)
No. 2 – Marisa Schmidt (UI) def. Nine Geissler (ORE) 6-3, 6-3
No. 3 – Jo-Yee Chan (ORE) def. Barbora Pokorna (UI) 7-6 (6), 4-6, 6-0
No. 4 – Uxia Martinez (ORE) def. Chelsea Bluestien (UI) 6-1, 6-4
No. 5 – Karin Young (ORE) def. Pia Kranholdt (ORE) 4-6, 6-3, 7-5

No. 6 – Vipasha Mehra (UI) def. Candela Aparisi (ORE) 4-6, 6-3, 7-6 (4)

DOUBLES
No. 1 – Jagare/Martinez (ORE) def. Mehra/Matthews (UI) 6-1
No. 2 – Chan/Luescher (ORE) def. Pokorna/Kranholdt (UI) 6-1

No. 3 – Aparisi/Young (ORE) vs. Schmidt/Hayashida (UI) 5-1, UF

Order of Finish: Singles (4, 2,1,3,6,5), Doubles (1,2)