FARGO, ND – The West Fargo Patriots begin play today at the Central Plains Region Tournament in Rapid City, SD. The Patriots play the third game of the first round against Sioux Falls, SD at 3:30 pm. The Central Plains Region Tournament runs through Sunday. The winners of each of the eight regions advance to the 95th American Legion World Series, Aug. 11-16 in Shelby, N.C.
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NDSU-MVFC PRESEASON

 

ST. LOUIS (NDSU) – North Dakota State is picked to win the Missouri Valley Football Conference according to a preseason poll of the league’s coaches, media and sports information directors. NDSU received 39 of 41 first-place votes followed by South Dakota State, which had two votes. Missouri State was picked third followed by Southern Illinois fourth, Northern Iowa fifth, South Dakota sixth and North Dakota seventh. Illinois State, Youngstown State, Indiana State and Western Illinois rounded out the poll in order eighth through 11th.

 

North Dakota State returns 13 full-time starters from last year’s 14-1 team that won the program’s ninth NCAA national championship in 11 seasons. The Bison claimed their 10th MVFC title with a 7-1 record in conference play.

 

Twelve NDSU players were named to the Preseason All-MVFC Team including four on the first team: fullback Hunter Luepke, left tackle Cody Mauch, defensive tackle Eli Mostaert and safety Michael Tutsie. NDSU’s eight preseason second-team honorees were running back Kobe Johnson, tight end Noah Gindorff, left guard Nash Jensen, defensive end Spencer Waege, linebacker James Kaczor, cornerback Destin Talbert, safety Dawson Weber and return specialist Jayden Price.

 

North Dakota State is scheduled to host Drake in the season opener at 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 3, at Gate City Bank Field at the Fargodome.
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TWINS-TIGERS

 

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Riley Greene had two hits and two RBIs as the Detroit Tigers spoiled Minnesota’s big trade deadline day, beating the Twins 5-3 on Tuesday night. Minnesota made big moves to bolster its hopes for a division title by acquiring starter Tyler Mahle and right-handed relievers Jorge López and Michael Fulmer before the deadline. Fulmer made the short walk from one clubhouse to the other after the trade from Detroit was announced. But it was the last-place Tigers, who were sellers, who earned a win on a sweltering night, snapping a three-game losing streak.

 

Jason Foley (1-0) earned his first career win with a scoreless inning in relief of starter Matt Manning, who was activated off the 60-day injured list before the game after missing three months with right shoulder inflammation. Gregory Soto earned his 20th save.
Griffin Jax (5-3) retired just one batter and allowed three runs on three hits in the seventh for Minnesota. Mark Contreras hit his first career homer for the Twins, who have lost five of seven. Minnesota’s lead in the American League Central remained one game over Cleveland and the Chicago White Sox closed within two games.

 

UP NEXT

 

RHP Joe Ryan (7-4, 3.78 ERA) will start the series finale this afternoon for Minnesota. Detroit will have LHP Tyler Alexander (2-4, 4.10) start. Ryan is coming off his worst start of the season, giving up 10 runs in 4 2/3 innings against San Diego. Alexander will make his second straight start after two months in the bullpen.
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VIKINGS-TRAINING CAMP

 

EAGAN, Minn. (AP) — Minnesota Vikings tight end Irv Smith Jr. will miss the remainder of the preseason after having surgery on his injured thumb. Coach Kevin O’Connell announced that Smith had the procedure done Tuesday after getting hurt during practice Monday. He’s on track to return for the first game on Sept. 11 against Green Bay. “We still feel very strongly about our process to get him back and hopefully have him, barring any setbacks, available for that opener,” O’Connell said. Smith missed the entire 2021 season after surgery on his injured knee, and the Vikings are counting on him as their top player at the position this year. Smith has 676 yards and seven touchdowns over two NFL seasons, after being drafted in the second round out of Alabama in 2019.

 

Backup running back and kickoff returner Kene Nwangwu has also been sidelined in the second week of training camp with a lower leg injury, O’Connell said. “We’re just trying to be smart and make sure we don’t turn a short-term setback into what could be a longer-term deal,” O’Connell said.
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MLB-TRADE DEADLINE

 

CHICAGO (AP) — Juan Soto is joining Manny Machado and Fernando Tatis Jr. in San Diego. Jorge López, Michael Fulmer and Tyler Mahle are going to Minnesota. Noah Syndergaard, David Robertson and Brandon Marsh are heading to Philadelphia, and Joey Gallo is looking for a fresh start with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Baseball’s trade deadline day was an action-packed affair — 27 trades in all — and no one had more fun than the Padres.

 

San Diego made the biggest splash, acquiring Soto in a massive deal with the Washington Nationals. The sweet-swinging Soto, still just 23 years old, joins Machado in the middle of the Padres’ order, and Tatis is on his way back after being sidelined by a broken left wrist. “It’s pretty impressive to have those three types of guys on one team in the same lineup,” said Wil Myers, the Padres’ longest-tenured player. “Excited to see that trio, hopefully in the next week or two.”’

 

The Cardinals and Yankees swapped big leaguers, with Gold Glove-winning center fielder Harrison Bader going to New York in exchange for left-handed starter Jordan Montgomery. The Atlanta Braves geared up for their title defense by sending former closer Will Smith to the Houston Astros for right-hander Jake Odorizzi, and then acquiring reliever Raisel Iglesias in a deal with the Los Angeles Angels.

 

The Toronto Blue Jays got second baseman Whit Merrifield in a trade with Kansas City — it’s unclear if Merrifield plans to be vaccinated against COVID-19 in order to play in Canada — and fortified their bullpen by adding Anthony Bass and Zach Pop in a deal with the Miami Marlins. The Brewers added reliever Trevor Rosenthal in a trade with San Francisco.

 

San Diego acquired Soto and first baseman Josh Bell from Washington for rookie left-hander MacKenzie Gore, first baseman/DH Luke Voit and prospects James Wood, C.J. Abrams, Robert Hassell III and Jarlin Susana. After landing Soto, a generational talent who helped Washington win the 2019 World Series, San Diego also acquired infielder Brandon Drury from Cincinnati. The Padres sent minor league shortstop Victor Acosta to the Reds for the 29-year-old Drury, who has a career-high 20 homers this year. “The atmosphere here is they want to win, and not just go to the playoffs but win a World Series,” said All-Star closer Josh Hader, who was obtained by San Diego on Monday in another big deal with Milwaukee.

 

Eric Hosmer was part of the Soto deal before he vetoed the move, and San Diego ended up trading the first baseman to Boston along with two minor leaguers and cash in exchange for minor league left-hander Jay Groome.

 

The Twins bolstered their pitching staff with three trades, acquiring López in a deal with the Baltimore Orioles and Mahle in a swap with rebuilding Cincinnati. Fulmer came over from Detroit for minor league right-hander Sawyer Gipson-Long. The 29-year-old López is in the middle of a breakout season, with a sparkling 1.68 ERA and 19 of his 20 career saves. The 27-year-old Mahle is 5-7 with a 4.40 ERA in 19 starts. Fulmer has a 3.20 ERA and two saves in 41 appearances. “Just completely life-changing. I’m just really thankful for the Orioles and what they’ve been doing, and I’m glad it’s coming to a new chapter with the Minnesota Twins,” López said on a conference call with reporters. The Twins, who took a one-game lead in the AL Central into Tuesday night’s game against Detroit, have a 5.30 team ERA since the All-Star break. Baltimore received minor league pitchers Cade Povich, Yennier Cano, Juan Nuñez and Juan Rojas from Minnesota for López. Cincinnati got the bigger haul of prospects — infielders Christian Encarnacion-Strand and Spencer Steer, and left-handed pitcher Steve Hajjar.

 

The Yankees and Cardinals are both eyeing October and they pulled off an old-school baseball trade. A speedy 28-year-old from Bronxville, New York, Bader has not played since June 26 because of plantar fasciitis in his right foot. When he returns, he likely would share center field with newly acquired Andrew Benintendi in a move that would put Aaron Judge back in right and see Aaron Hicks and Benintendi split time in left, with Giancarlo Stanton as the designated hitter. Montgomery, who could make his Cardinals debut against the Yankees this weekend, is 22-20 with a 3.94 ERA in six big league seasons.

 

Looking for its first playoff appearance since 2011, Philadelphia added Robertson to its bullpen in a trade with the Chicago Cubs, and got Marsh and Syndergaard from the Los Angeles Angels. Philadelphia sent minor league pitcher Ben Brown to the Cubs for the 37-year-old Robertson, one of the top relievers on the market ahead of the deadline. The Phillies got Marsh from the Angels in exchange for catching prospect Logan O’Hoppe, then separately acquired Syndergaard for outfielders Mickey Moniak and Jadiel Sanchez. Robertson is 3-0 with a 2.23 ERA and 14 saves in 36 appearances this year. The right-hander finalized a $3.5 million, one-year contract with the Cubs on March 16. Marsh is a lefty-hitting, righty-throwing 24-year-old with speed and power projection. He ranked among Los Angeles’ top prospects before debuting in the majors last season, but he has struggled in the big leagues. Syndergaard, the former Mets star, is 5-8 with a 3.83 ERA in his first full season since 2019 due to Tommy John surgery.

 

Also on the move: Gallo was traded by the New York Yankees to the Dodgers for minor league right-hander Clayton Beeter, and Darin Ruf went from the Giants to the New York Mets for J.D. Davis and three pitching prospects. The Mets also acquired reliever Mychal Givens from the Chicago Cubs for a minor league pitcher.