Twins lose again, still lead AL Central by one game

After Byron Buxton praised the Minnesota Twins’ lineup as “nasty” and “dangerous” following a victory over the Dodgers on May 16, the team’s fortunes took a downturn. Despite reaching a season-high five games over .500 with a record of 24-19, the Twins have since lost 19 of their last 31 games. Their recent 10-4 loss to the Red Sox saw Boston dominate with a five-run seventh inning, highlighted by Christian Arroyo’s impressive performance of a bases-clearing, three-run double. Arroyo went on to finish the night 5-for-5 with four RBI, just one hit away from hitting for the cycle. Despite their struggles, the Twins still hold a narrow one-game lead over the Cleveland Guardians in the AL Central division, with both teams sitting below a .500 win-loss record.

Former Twins reliever Frazier dies at age 68

George Frazier, a World Series champion who had a nearly three-decade run as a television broadcaster, has died at age 68.

The Denver Post reported he died Monday in Tulsa after a recent illness.

In two collegiate seasons at the University of Oklahoma, Fraizer played on College World Series teams in 1975 and 1976 and was 12-4 with eight saves and a 2.62 ERA. Frazier played parts of 10 big league seasons with five clubs. He appeared in the 1981 World Series with the New York Yankees, who held a moment of silence in his memory before last night’s game against Seattle.

Frazier helped the Chicago Cubs win their first division title in 1984 and became a World Series champion with the 1987 Minnesota Twins, pitching two scoreless innings in Game 4 against St. Louis. He had a 4.20 ERA with 35 wins and 29 saves in 415 major league appearances.

After that, he spent 18 years as a television broadcaster with the Colorado Rockies. Following his time in Denver, he returned to his alma mater as a TV color commentator for his Oklahoma Sooners.

Collier Leads Lynx To Win Over LA Sparks

The Minnesota Lynx emerged victorious with a 67-61 win over the Los Angeles Sparks. Napheesa Collier’s 26 points and 14 rebounds led the way for the Lynx. Bridget Carleton contributed 14 points to the Lynx’s victory. It was Minnesota’s third win against Los Angeles in a span of nine days, with the previous two victories secured by a five-point margin each.

Collier’s clutch jumper and subsequent free throw in the final minutes sealed the win for Minnesota. Tiffany Mitchell played a key role with five steals and eight points, while Diamond Miller was sidelined due to an ankle injury.

Despite shooting struggles from beyond the arc, with only 6 of 25 successful attempts, the Lynx capitalized on a season-high 12 steals. For the Los Angeles Sparks, Nneka Ogwumike stood out with 20 points and nine rebounds, but her efforts couldn’t prevent their third consecutive loss. Jordin Canada chipped in with 10 points for Los Angeles.

Kovash, Schmidt named to Baseball All-Tournament Team

Evan Kovash and Blaiz Schmidt of Perham were both named to the Class AA All-Tournament Team at the State Baseball Tournament last Friday.

Kovash hit .363 (4-11) in the tournament with two RBI while holding down shortstop for the Jackets. Schmit played two games at catcher and was the starting pitcher in the semifinal game against Fairmont. Schmidt hit .444 over the three games (4-9) with two RBI and three walks. He also struck out seven and allowed two earned runs over 6.1 IP in the win over Fairmont.

Vikings prioritizing Jefferson extension

The Minnesota Vikings are reportedly prioritizing a contract extension for star wide receiver Justin Jefferson. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler noted that Jefferson’s next deal could potentially make him the highest-paid non-quarterback in the NFL. With the wide receiver market seeing significant increases, Fowler speculated that Jefferson could command a salary of around $31 million per year, rivaling top earners like Tyreek Hill and Davante Adams. The Vikings’ long-term strategy at quarterback may affect these negotiations, as paying Jefferson a top salary could make it challenging to retain Kirk Cousins or find another experienced veteran for the role.

Justin Jefferson, who is currently signed through the 2024 season, has already established himself as one of the league’s premier receivers. In his first three seasons, he has amassed impressive statistics, including 324 receptions for 4,825 yards and 25 touchdowns. His average of 96.5 receiving yards per game is on track to be the highest in NFL history. While it remains to be seen if the Vikings will be the team to give Jefferson a lucrative extension, their recent draft choices, such as selecting wide receiver Jordan Addison in the first round and waiting until the fifth round to take a quarterback, could indicate their future plans.

Olympic Gold Medalist Steveson eyes return to Gophers

Gable Steveson, the Olympic gold medalist and two-time NCAA heavyweight champion, has expressed his intention to return to collegiate wrestling. However, it remains uncertain whether he will be allowed to return and what obstacles he may face. Steveson, who holds a contract with WWE, technically has a fifth year of eligibility due to the COVID-19 waiver from 2020, but his decision to take last year off might impact his eligibility status. Despite this, Steveson has been actively involved in wrestling, preparing for the freestyle world championships and the 2024 Summer Games in Paris, where he hopes to compete.

Steveson, at the age of 23, believes that his best performance is yet to come. He attributes this to his physical development and newfound strength. Initially, he downplayed the idea of a collegiate return, expressing his reluctance to be an older competitor in his fifth year. However, in May 2022, there were reports that he was considering using his final year of eligibility during the spring semester of the Gophers’ 2022-23 season. Although it didn’t happen then, the speculation surrounding his potential return has resurfaced.