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Weekend warms up, cooler weather to return

Stefan Sundin — Sat, 02 May 2026 05:00:00 GMT

Skies will be partly to mostly cloudy Saturday as temperatures finally crank up into the 50s. Southwest winds will stay light.

A little more sunshine will show itself Sunday, with a chance of reaching 60 degrees in the afternoon. Winds will be moderate and out of the northwest.

A few showers are possible Monday, and a slight northwest breeze sets the stage for highs in the 40s most of the workweek.

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Prep report: Harriman, Cloquet blank Duluth Marshall

Staff reports — Sat, 02 May 2026 03:54:43 GMT

Cloquet pitcher Bo Harriman had everything working on Friday, shutting out Duluth Marshall on a single hit and striking out nine Hilltoppers in a 7-0 game on Friday at Wade Stadium.

He was also 3-for-4 with a two-run triple in the victory. Marshall’s only hit was a two-out single from Evan Lammi in the second inning. Pitcher Alden Marsolek went six innings, allowing three runs (two earned) on seven hits and striking out 10.

Hermantown 10, Hibbing 8

Ethan McCubbin delivered a walk-off two-run homer to centerfield as the Hawks won Friday at Centricity Park at Fichtner Fields.

Drew Sonneson was 3-for-3 with two walks for Hermantown. Hunter Gustavsson and Dylan Vesel had two-hit games for Hibbing.

Brainerd 3, Duluth East 2

The Greyhounds didn’t have enough offense on Friday to overcome to early runs in Brainerd.

Brainerd added to its lead with a third run in the fourth inning and East only managed a Jake Kuklock sacrifice fly in the fifth inning and a two-out RBI single from Jackson Spoden in the seventh. Spoden had two of Brainerd’s six hits.

Cole Licari took the loss for East, allowing three runs on nine hits in 4 ⅓ innings.

Esko 17, Hinckley-Finlayson 6

Easton Harker went 4-for-4 for the winners, while three other players had three-hit games.

Esko didn’t pull away until late, scoring 13 of their 17 runs over the sixth and seventh innings.

Northwestern 15-9, Barron 3-7

The Tigers’ offense had a field day in a road Heart O’North Conference baseball doubleheader on Friday.

Mason Chell and Tysen Teal took over the doubleheader. In Game 1, Chell went 4-for-5 with four RBIs and Teal was 3-for-4 and scored four times. Teal tripled and had two stolen bases. Teal and Gage Nollet also worked together on the mound, combining to hold Barron to three runs on six hits.

In the second game, Northwestern coughed up a 7-2 lead but recovered to score the go-ahead runs in the bottom of the sixth on an RBI single by Teal and an RBI double by Chell.

Chisago Lakes 13, Rock Ridge 6

The visiting Wildcats matched Rock Ridge’s five-run fourth inning with five runs in their next at-bat to win on the road in Virginia on Friday.

Owen Hallin was 2-for-4 with a triple and three RBIs for the Wolverines.

Chisholm 11, Two Harbors 5

The Bluestreaks hung eight runs on the board in the top of the seventh to surprise the Agates on Friday in Two Harbors.

Shea Showalter was 2-for-3 and scored three times for the Bluestreaks. Six Agates had one hit apiece.

Mellen 12, Northwood/Solon Springs 4

N/SS led 2-0 after three but gave up seven runs in the fourth inning and five in the fifth.

N/SS had three hits, one of them by Isaiah Ahlberg, who scored three times.

SOFTBALL Duluth Denfeld 3, Esko 1

Denfeld pitcher Noelle Vesel held Esko to one run on six hits and opened the scoring with a solo homer on Friday.

Denfeld held that lead until Coco Flaig’s two-run double in the fifth inning.

Keira Leach had an RBI double for Esko.

Denfeld went on to claim two wins over Stella Maris later in the day.

Esko 3, Mesabi East 2

Lucy Barta’s RBI single in the fifth inning broke a 2-2 tie on Friday after both sides had early two-run innings.

After allowing two Giants to score in the first, Leach settled in, allowing only two Mesabi East hits the rest of the way. Leach also had two hits, including a two-run homer, for her own cause.

Hibbing 10, Duluth East 9

Isabella Shay was 3-for-4 with four RBIs as the Bluejackets came out on top in a back-and-forth affair at Ordean East Middle School.

Julia Plombon had two hits and three RBIs for the winning side. Both teams had six-run innings. East opened the bottom of the seventh by drawing two walks. A sacrifice bunt and a groundout brought one run in and put the tying run on third but a pop-up ended the threat.

Viv Berrisford had two hits and two RBIs for East.

Moose Lake/Willow River 7, South Ridge 6

Jessie Volk’s homer in the fifth inning put the Rebels into the lead on Friday.

Kendall Volk had a two-run double in a 3-for-3 day.

Ellie Fish, Maya Vanderscheuren and August Bernard had two-hit games for the Panthers.

Northwestern 7-11, Barron 5-4

The Tigers claimed two Heart O’North Conference wins on Friay in Maple.

In the opener, a seven-run first inning proved to be just enough, with Mallory Siddiqui and Gianna Giessler recording two hits apiece.

In the second game, Siddiqui had two more hits and four RBIs as the Tigers scored in each of their first six at-bats.

Eau Claire North 10, Superior 2

A wild pitch and an RBI single from Cora Cockerham put the Spartans into an early lead in Eau Claire but that was all the good news to come from Friday’s game.

Superior was outhit only 6-5 but struggled defensively. Cockerham, 2-for-3, was Superior’s lone player with multiple hits.

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Simeon Woods Richardson’s woes continue in 7-3 loss to Toronto

Mike Cook / Special to the St. Paul Pioneer Press — Sat, 02 May 2026 03:39:43 GMT

Kazuma Okamoto homered twice, Yohendrick Pinango had three hits in just his fifth career game, and the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Minnesota Twins 7-3 Friday night at Target Field.

Lenyn Sosa also had three hits to tie a career high, and Patrick Corbin allowed two earned runs in 5⅓ innings to get his first win with the Blue Jays. Maplewood’s Louis Varland struck out Ryan Jeffers with two on in the ninth to end the game.

Byron Buxton homered for the fourth time in five games, but Minnesota lost for the 12th time in 15 games.

Okamoto hit a solo shot to lead off the fourth inning and added a two-run shot in the fifth to make it 6-2. It is the first multi-homer game for Okamoto, who signed a four-year, $60 million contract with Toronto in January. He hit 248 home runs during his 11-year career in Japan.

He nearly added a third home run in the ninth inning, but the ball was caught on the warning track.

Corbin (1-0), who made 30 starts for Texas last year and signed with Toronto on April 3 to help a rotation battered by early season injuries, scattered six hits and struck out four.

Minnesota loaded the bases with one out in the seventh inning against Jeff Hoffman but only scored one run on Ryan Jeffers’ sacrifice fly.

For the sixth time in seven outings, Twins starter Simeon Woods Richardson (0-5) failed to go more than five innings, allowing six runs — four earned — in 4⅔ innings, pushing his ERA to 6.49.

Buxton golfed a two-run home run in the third to tie the score 2-2. His nine home runs since April 13 are tied with Munetaka Murakami for the most in baseball.

Trying to throw out Daulton Varsho at home on a fielder’s choice, a throwing error by first baseman Josh Bell allowed Varsho and Sosa to score for a 2-0 second-inning Toronto lead.

Up next

RHP Dylan Cease (1-1, 2.87 ERA) starts for Toronto on Saturday, and LHP Connor Prielipp (1-0, 4.00 ERA) pitches for Minnesota. First pitch is set for 1:10 p.m.

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Frederick: When Ant Man goes down, Jaden McDaniels becomes Timberwolves’ superhero

Jace Frederick / St. Paul Pioneer Press — Sat, 02 May 2026 00:05:00 GMT

MINNEAPOLIS — Jaden McDaniels wasn’t interested in rehashing the comments that became the focal point of Minnesota’s entire first-round series with Denver. Yes, he said essentially everyone on the Nuggets’ roster was a “bad defender” after a Game 2 victory. No, it wasn’t an attempt at a mind game, nor was it to fulfill any role as the villain of the series.

McDaniels says what he thinks. In the moment, that’s what he thought.

“I just didn’t care,” he said. “I said what I said. I’m not going to say it again.”

Because talk is cheap. It does little more than fill a local talk radio station segment. Off-handed comments don’t create substance that fulfills lasting legacies. Performances do, and McDaniels delivered on Thursday night.

McDaniels’ dominant, two-way showcase in a series-clinching Game 6 at Target Center was about nothing more than reminding the Nuggets, and anyone else watching NBA basketball, of the player the 25-year-old wing can be.

“It’s fun to see all the attention that he’s getting, but the way that he was playing, it was even more impressive,” Wolves guard Mike Conley said. “Outside of stuff that the fans were talking about, what he was doing on the court was special.”

With a capital S. McDaniels is a superstar hiding in plain sight.

He scored 32 points to go with 10 rebounds on Thursday. Defensively, he had two steals and a blocked shot while holding Jamal Murray, a likely All-NBA selection this season, to 4-for-17 shooting. All series, the Wolves’ wing stopper sucked the life out of Murray with his relentless full-court pressure.

For 45 minutes on Thursday, McDaniels ran from one side of the floor to the other, dominating each end of play. In the playoffs. To send home the No. 3 seed in the West.

“You love to play the whole game,” McDaniels said. “There’s nothing more I could ask for; almost the whole game, I mean. I’m solid. I’m not tired at all.”

That was evident in his finishing kick. McDaniels tallied 12 points and four boards in the fourth quarter. With Denver desperate for stops, the 6-foot-9 forward dissected the defense, routinely getting to his spots to knock down jumpers.

When the Nuggets finally put two defenders on McDaniels, he comfortably hit Rudy Gobert in the pocket, which led to an open kickout triple for Terrence Shannon Jr. McDaniels frequently insists he’s a point guard. When given the role, he fits the bill. He had zero turnovers in Thursday’s win.

It’s top-20-player-in-the-world-type stuff.

Minnesota is Anthony Edwards’ team. He has the ball. He is the center of the offense. There are many times when McDaniels gets lost within that ecosystem. But whenever the Wolves’ superstar is absent, McDaniels steps in and thrives. The defensive stopper has played in 20 games without Edwards dating back to last season, and is averaging 20.8 points in those contests.

The Timberwolves are now 11-5 this season in games in which Edwards sat, but McDaniels still played. When Ant Man goes down, Clark Kent puts on the cape.

“I think that’s what made us so comfortable about tonight’s game,” Conley said. “We know what Jaden is capable of. … We have guys that we know sit in the shadow a bit, don’t say anything, wait for their opportunities. And when they get them, they can pounce. … Especially Jaden, who can do multiple things and comes to work every day. And when he gets his opportunity, he makes the most of it.”

McDaniels has the playmaking, ball-handling, scoring and decision-making to be the sun of his own galaxy, and the stamina to continue to do what separates him from the field on the other end of the floor. In an era where everyone is searching for two-way talents, the Timberwolves have one of the very best.

His name was thrown around in trade rumors ahead of the February deadline, the wing linked to a potential blockbuster trade involving Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo. Should such a deal ever take place, McDaniels looks well-equipped to prosper in a lead role.

In the second round, the Wolves need to win at least one game against the dominant Spurs to put purpose behind the small hope of an Edwards return. They will not achieve that feat without more heroics from their slender assassin.

And when Edwards does return, McDaniels will very likely lurk back into the relative darkness: the spare star player maintained on layaway in case of emergency. When needed to lead the way, he’ll likely deliver, with little to say about it in the aftermath.

Words aren’t necessary when your game does this much talking.

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Wild’s first-round playoff celebration was a long time coming

Jess Myers / St. Paul Pioneer Press — Fri, 01 May 2026 23:35:00 GMT

ST. PAUL — In a state where the most recent men’s pro sports title was celebrated in 1991, seeing die-hard fans in tears is sadly not uncommon. But as he makes his way through his first crack at the NHL playoffs, Minnesota Wild goalie Jesper Wallstedt noticed a new kind of emotion expressed in the deafening final two minutes of his team’s 5-2 win over Dallas on Thursday night.

“For me, it’s the only feeling I’ve had of NHL playoffs (but) obviously I know the history of everything,” Wallstedt said after he helped push the Wild to the second round for the first time since he was 12.

“I see our fans when we scored our fourth goal. I looked back through the glass, and I see someone crying in the stands. I realize how big this is for our fan base. Not just us. There’s so many more people who are with us on this road and this journey. The excitement and joy to get past the first round is huge.”

It was 2015 when Wild fans last got to experience that joy of winning a playoff series, April 26, 2015, to be exact. The Wild torched St. Louis goalie Jake Allen and beat the Blues 4-1 to advance to Round 2. Until Thursday, it was the only time in 25 years that this franchise had clinched a playoff series at home.

Wild veteran forward Vladimir Tarasenko, who scored a vital tying goal versus Dallas in the 2026 first-round finale, remembers that day in 2015. He was a relative NHL newcomer at the time, playing for the Blues and experiencing the decibel levels produced in downtown St. Paul.

“Being on the winning side is better,” he said after Thursday’s game. “I can’t complain.”

Being on the winning side comes after five frustrating and fruitless trips to the postseason in the previous six years. After first-round exits to teams like Vancouver (2020), Vegas (2021), St. Louis (2022), Dallas (2023) and Vegas again (2025), the refrain was familiar.

They were close. They were learning. They just needed a few more breaks to go their way. And on and on.

Matt Boldy, who sealed the series win with a pair of empty-net goals on Thursday, just turned 25 last month, but is playing playoff hockey like a seasoned veteran. Speaking following the first series-clinching win of his career, he said learning how to thrive in the postseason definitely takes time and experience.

“I think you learn so much throughout those other playoff series. Not that I’m old, but I feel like I was young during those and didn’t know what to expect or what the expectation was and stuff,” Boldy said. “I think it was just a group of guys that were ready to take that step. … You learn the ways that you need to play in order to make that jump. I think from Game 1, that was the mindset — that we weren’t going to let that happen again.”

Game 1, a 6-1 blowout in Dallas, which had Stars fans heading for the American Airlines exits in the third period, set the tone: the Wild were not going to be intimidated by the moment.

Over the course of the next five contests, they dealt with fluky bounces that tested Wallstedt’s mettle, a power outage on their power play, a Dallas man-advantage squad that had Minnesota fans cringing every time the penalty box door opened, a 2-1 deficit in the series, and the loss of veteran defenseman Jonas Brodin to an injury in Game 5.

Through it all, Wild coach John Hynes kept his team calm and focused, not looking back at what had gone wrong, but fully trained on the next game, the next shift, the next shot, the next save.

After all the challenges sent their way by a talented Dallas team, which had been to the Western Conference final for three years running, one could scarcely hear the final horn sounding at the end of Game 6, when the 19,273 inside Grand Casino Arena let out a symphony of noise that was equal parts jubilation and relief.

The chance to watch their hockey team play on Fishing Opener weekend and beyond hasn’t come around in Minnesota for a while. So, a few tears of joy were absolutely acceptable.

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Though velocity is down, Twins’ Bailey Ober is thriving on ‘the lost art of pitching’

Betsy Helfand / St. Paul Pioneer Press — Fri, 01 May 2026 23:05:00 GMT

MINNEAPOLIS — Bailey Ober did not throw a pitch on Thursday night that topped 90 mph. Only three of his 88 pitches touched 89.

Yet Ober threw six-plus innings of one-run ball in the series opener against the Toronto Blue Jays at Target Field. It was his third consecutive quality start as Ober learns not just to survive with lower velocity, but to thrive.

Just a couple of years ago, he averaged 91.7 mph with his four-seam fastball. He’d touch 94. That number dropped sharply last year as Ober dealt with a hip issue that plagued him throughout the season and contributed to the most difficult season of his career results-wise. The velocity has been down again this year, and yet, after Thursday’s start, Ober has a 3.55 ERA across seven starts.

“I think it’s just pitching. The lost art of pitching. People are trying to throw as hard as they can all the time. Right now, obviously, I don’t have my best velo,” Ober said. “Being able to mix off-speed to get it to my location, getting the changeup down, and when needed, throw some fastballs up and in, and try to get guys off balance. That’s the name of the game.”

Ober has never been the hardest thrower, so he’s been less reliant on getting by on velocity than others. But not throwing as hard as he used to has changed the way he goes about setting up hitters.

When he had 92-94 mph in his back pocket, he could “just let it ride to the top” with his fastball. Now, he’s not necessarily doing that. He’s instead picking at the corners more. The walks are a bit high, he acknowledges — his 3.1 walks per nine innings is up from his career 2.0 — but he’s usually able to limit those and locate well.

He also believes his hand positioning is way better this year, a credit to his hip finally being healthy.

“I’m not second-guessing my landing spot or where my hand is going to be. My release point is a lot more consistent compared to last year,” Ober said. “I think that’s just allowing me to manipulate, set guys up and throw it to the spots that I want.”

And that has helped him become effective.

“Guys that throw a hundred still aren’t guaranteed success in this league,” Ober said. “You still have to pitch. I feel like, right now, I’m doing a pretty good job of that. I look forward to staying on that plan of attack.”

Luis García’s wild day

Luis García woke up at 7:30 a.m. on Tuesday morning.

By the time the day was over, the veteran reliever, who has pitched in parts of 14 major league seasons, had earned a promotion to the big leagues, welcomed his second child and pitched in a major league game.

“It was a long day,” the reliever said.

Yes, it was.

Garcia, whom the Twins signed to a minor league deal on April 21, started the day as a member of the St. Paul Saints, who played a game that began at 11:08 a.m. Sometime in the afternoon, he got word that he was needed at Target Field after Garrett Acton landed on the injured list.

On his way to Target Field, his second child, a daughter named Adhara, was born back home in the Dominican Republic, which he watched over FaceTime. Both mom and girl are doing well, he said. Adhara came early — her due date was May 5 — and the reliever was unable to be in attendance. Instead, he was at the ballpark, hours later, making his Twins debut against the Seattle Mariners.

How’d he sleep after all that?

“Not good. But it was good,” Garcia said. “I was excited I (had) my baby and excited because I got called up.”

Briefly

Connor Prielipp (1-0, 4.00 ERA) will take the ball on Saturday against the Blue Jays. Dylan Cease (1-1, 2.87) will start for Toronto. Prielipp is making his third major league start. In his last, he picked up his first win, giving up two runs on one hit in five innings pitched.

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James Rodriguez to miss Loons-Columbus match for ‘routine’ procedure

Andy Greder / St. Paul Pioneer Press — Fri, 01 May 2026 22:30:00 GMT

When: 6:30 p.m. Saturday

Where: Scotts Miracle-Gro Field, Columbus, Ohio

Stream: Apple TV

Radio: KSTP-AM, 1500

Weather: 51 degrees, cloudy, 10 mph south wind

Form: MNUFC (5-3-2, 17 points) has lost two straight: 1-0 to LAFC in MLS play last weekend and 4-2 to San Jose in the U.S. Open Cup round of 16 on Tuesday. Columbus (3-4-3, 12 points) has won three in a row: 2-0 vs. Philadelphia last Saturday and 4-1 over One Knoxville SC in the USOC on Wednesday.

Recent matchups: Tani Oluwaseyi scored in the 95th minute of stoppage time to snag a 1-1 draw against the Crew at Allianz Field in the 2024 season opener. That goal kick-started his ascent to being sold for more than $8 million to Spanish club Villarreal last summer. The 25-year-old Canadian has two goals and two assists in 777 minutes this season as he prepares for the FIFA World Cup.

Storyline: Another unexpected twist has come in the James Rodriguez saga. The Loons flew to Columbus on Friday afternoon without the Colombian attacking midfielder.

The club said Rodriguez is not on the road trip “due to a previously scheduled routine medical procedure — not related to any injury. He will rejoin the team in training next week.”

Rodriguez participated during the open portions of training in Blaine on Friday, and it appeared he would be available to play in his third straight match against the Crew.

Rodriguez subbed into the U.S. Open Cup match on Tuesday, playing 14 minutes in the defeat. Last weekend, Rodriguez made his first MLS start and was special in creating five scoring chances in a 63-minute shift in the LAFC loss.

Members of the Colombian men’s national team coaching staff made a special trip to Allianz Field for that match. With the World Cup around the corner in June, they certainly want more playing time for their prized No. 10. But it won’t come this weekend.

James missed two games due to “extreme dehydration” in early April, was out another game due to a foot contusion in early March, and he was absent for the season opener as he obtained his work visa in February. He has played 104 total MLS minutes out of a possible 900 so far this season.

Absences: Rodriguez (procedure), Carlos Harvey (lower body), Peter Stroud (quad) and Julian Gressel (toe) are out. Michael Boxall (adductor) is questionable.

Stat: Minnesota has posted its highest possession numbers in years over its last two games — 63% against LAFC and 58% vs. San Jose — but hasn’t been lethal enough in front of the net to win the matches.

Scouting report: Since Wesson Abou Ali tore his ACL in mid-April, Diego Rossi has become the clear leading man of the Columbus attack. But former Philadelphia forward Daniel Gazdag has found the scoresheet in two of the last three matches.

View: MLS policy states for locker rooms to be open to media members to do interviews postgame, but reports are coming out about how the majority of teams buck this rule.

Meanwhile, MNUFC has always followed league policy.

While it’s abnormal for reporters to go into dressing rooms in global soccer, access to that space follows U.S. customs and provides chances to gather anecdotes and build relationships with players to tell better stories for fans.

Prediction: After going winless in its first five games, Columbus has won four of its last six in MLS play. The Loons’ defensive lapses were glaring in San Jose, making it hard to pick the visiting side. Columbus victorious in a 2-1 result.

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House ethics committee drops complaints, but restates the 'norms' of lawmaking

Mary Murphy — Fri, 01 May 2026 22:27:24 GMT

ST. PAUL — The Minnesota House Ethics Committee heard and later unanimously voted to dismiss three ethics complaints on Friday, May 1.

While the hearing didn't have much teeth in terms of disciplinary action, it raised questions about lawmaking “norms”: How present lawmakers should be during their work, whether certain work actually “matters” and what ties to lobby groups are too tight.

Engen, Hudson complaints

House Democrats filed an ethics complaint in early April against Reps. Elliott Engen, R-Lino Lakes, and Walter Hudson, R-Albertville, for leaving the Education Finance committee early on March 26 for lunch and a drink at a nearby restaurant, and soon after making an appearance for a debate on the House floor.

In the early morning hours of March 27, Engen was arrested and has since been charged with DWI. The ethics complaint does not have to do with his DWI, only his conduct at the Legislature on March 26.

“I conducted myself in a way that I would be proud of that day," Engen said during the ethics hearing. "That evening, it's a different story."

Engen said that he feels “remorse, shame and regret” for his actions on March 27. Several lawmakers have DWIs, including Sen. Tou Xiong, a Democrat from Maplewood and Rep. Dan Wolgamott, DFL-St. Cloud, who is also running for state Auditor against Engen.

But DWI aside, Engen stood on defense Friday for his actions while at the Capitol, asserting he did not miss any committee votes, was not inebriated and that it’s not uncommon for lawmakers to leave during committee.

“This is common practice,” Engen said. “We all know how little time we have throughout the day to eat, use the facilities, make a phone call, meet with a constituent. Those are all normative practices of this institution. And to say otherwise, I think, is disingenuous.”

House floor Leader Jamie Long, DFL-Minneapolis, has told the media that he’s not aware of members of his caucus doing the same. He said Friday that the institution and public “deserve better.”

“In no other job is it acceptable to leave in the middle of the work day to go drinking, and it should not be acceptable at the Capitol either,” Long said.

“I had a burger, and then I had a beer, and I'm having to litigate this as if it's some sort of a high crime or misdemeanor? I ate lunch,” Engen said.

Engen said he left committee because he “didn't see need to sit through a committee in which MDE advocates for money for MDE.”

“Having had a single beer, it did not in any way, shape or form, change my duties or my actions,” Engen said. “I spoke on the House floor that evening for over nine minutes, and I genuinely care about the substance of the bills that were before the House floor that day.”

Hudson, who also spoke on the House floor, asserted that with two drinks as a 6-foot-4 and 250-pound man, he “couldn't possibly have been legally impaired.”

Engen’s attorney, Chris Madel, also offered a spirited presentation, during which he showed photos of other lawmakers this session with beers at nearby Sweeney’s Saloon.

Hudson backed Engen's claim that it’s standard practice to be absent on occasion. He mentioned the frequency of such during long floor sessions where members push “yes” and “no” vote buttons for each other.

He was asked whether he has evidence that members who leave the House floor go to drink.

Hudson said, if given more time, maybe he could have found someone “who could testify to the number of vodka shooters that they find in the women's restroom off the retiring room” at the Capitol.

Hudson said he actually thinks the way the Legislature functions “incentivizes disengagement.”

“The reason why people are so eager to leave the House floor is because none of it matters,” Hudson said. “Everybody knows how they're going to vote. It's all been caucused. It's all been pre-programmed. Nobody's going to be convinced by anything that anyone is saying, and we all know it.”

Another question — not directed at Engen — was whether his actions brought “dishonor or disrepute to the house.”

“I’d love to answer that,” Engen said.

“I would say that Minnesotans don't trust this institution. It has no honor right now,” he said. “Politicians are as trustworthy as gas station sushi right now,” he said, before explaining how he doesn’t want to engage in “inauthenticity.”

Not only did Hudson assert absences were routine, but he also asserted it’s not out of the norm for a lawmaker to grab a beer. He referenced all the posts from the Sweeney’s event from earlier this session.

“That's strange, isn't it?” Hudson asked. “I mean, if there's this enforced expectation that members never drink during the day during legislative business, why would so many members eagerly document violations of that norm on their own social media accounts?”

He then pointed to the Democratic boycott at the start of the 2025 session.

“If there truly existed an absolute duty of perfect attendance at every moment of official activity, then one must ask what ethical standard applied to Rep. Engen and I taking a lunch break that did not apply to the entire House Democrat caucus when they boycotted,” Hudson said.

“The impact was significantly GREATER,” he said. "They denied a quorum, paralyzed the house, and collected more than $130,000 in taxpayer salaries while doing so.”

Falconer's complaint

Also heard Friday was a House GOP ethics complaint against Rep. Alex Falconer, DFL-Eden Prairie. The complaint cites an article by Alpha News, arguing Falconer’s position as a former lobbyist for the Northeastern Minnesotans for Wilderness raises concerns about his push for bills regarding the Boundary Waters.

Falconer terminated his lobbyist registration on Dec. 31, 2024, before he was sworn into the House, though he still works for them in a different capacity.

Falconer’s lawyer, David Zoll, who also worked for Senate President Bobby Joe Champion during his ethics complaint, called the complaint non-coincidental and “intended to distract.”

Falconer said Friday that his bills to advocate for the Boundary Waters are no surprise.

“I literally did campaign with a canoe on my car,” he said. “Protecting the boundary waters was the top three issue, if not the top issue, among everything else I campaigned on. Voters know my employment background.”

Clarifying 'norms'

The hearing ended with a unanimous vote that there was no probable cause for all three of the ethics complaints, meaning no further action will be taken. However, in the case of Engen and Hudson, the committee wanted to clarify the “norms.”

Ethics Committee Chair Kelly Moller, DFL-Shoreview, read from a letter signed by all four members of the committee.

“House members are expected to attend assigned committees, unless excused, do the work of the committee and treat testifiers with dignity and respect," Moller read. "It is incumbent upon members to bring honor to the body and to uphold the public trust."

None of the members of the Ethics Committee spoke to the media afterward. Engen and Hudson had already left the committee.

Falconer said the whole debacle was not a good use of his time and that if anything, it distracted him from his legislative work.

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Report: Minnesota, Cincinnati favored to host future NFL drafts

Field Level Media — Fri, 01 May 2026 21:40:00 GMT

The favorites to host future NFL drafts are Minnesota in 2028 and Cincinnati in 2029, Sports Business Journal reported.

The NFL's events committee is scheduled to meet next week to discuss the hosting rights, with an ownership vote expected at the May 19-20 meetings in Orlando, Fla.

The 2027 NFL Draft is taking place on the National Mall in Washington, D.C.

The Minnesota Vikings and Minnesota Sports and Events announced a bid to host the draft in March, with the action centered around U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis. Other events would take place in St. Paul, the Mall of America and the Viking Lakes development around the team's headquarters in Eagan, Minn., per the report.

The Vikings and the NFL declined to comment on the SBJ story published Thursday.

Buffalo also has expressed interest in hosting the 2028 draft.

If the league decides to award two drafts at the same time, Cincinnati reportedly has the inside track for 2029.

Commissioner Roger Goodell told "The Pat McAfee Show" last week that "we're going to probably have to start allocating the drafts a little further in advance" due to the event's size. Pittsburgh set an attendance record during last month's draft with 805,000 attendees, and D.C. officials have set a goal of 1 million fans attending the three-day festivities next year.

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Gophers quarterback Drake Lindsey arrested in Arkansas, records show

Andy Greder / St. Paul Pioneer Press — Fri, 01 May 2026 20:15:29 GMT

Gophers quarterback Drake Lindsey was arrested for underage drinking early Friday morning in Arkansas, according to the Washington County (Ark.) Sheriff’s Office.

Lindsey, 20, was arrested by the Fayetteville Police Department just after midnight and was booked at 1:13 a.m. Friday for misdemeanor offenses of “minor in possession of alcohol” and “possession of a fraudulent identification,” according to the sheriff’s office detention intake report. He was released on $470 bond at 8:28 a.m. Friday, records show.

Lindsey will be due back in Fayetteville District Court for a hearing at 8 a.m. June 29, records said.

The Gophers provided a statement to the Pioneer Press on Friday: “We are aware of the situation and will address it internally.”

According to a preliminary police report, a Fayetteville office was notified by staff at the Yeehawg bar for possible use of a fake ID. Lindsey was questioned by police, admitted to using a fake ID and said he consumed alcohol prior to arriving at the bar in downtown Fayetteville. After being handcuffed and taken to the juvenile detention center, another copy of the fake ID was located in Lindsey’s wallet.

Per the report, Lindsey continued to cooperate with police and signed a document acknowledging the use of a fraudulent or altered identification document form.

Lindsey, a Fayetteville, Ark., native, is a team captain entering his second season as the Gophers’ starter. As a redshirt freshman, Lindsey completed 63% of his passes for 2,382 yards with 18 touchdowns and six interceptions.

Lindsey, one of the highest-paid players on the team, is considered vital to the success of the Gophers in the 2026 season.

The team just concluded its 15 spring practices with a scrimmage at Huntington Bank Stadium last Saturday, then players and staff dispersed for a break.

Head coach P.J. Fleck has worked to instill a “life program” during his nine-plus years at Minnesota. Besides the athletic side, Fleck demands that his players develop off the field “academically, socially and spiritually,” and his players have had very few off-field incidents or issues since he was hired in January 2017.

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Minnesota veteran killed in WWII will be laid to rest Saturday after 80 years

Forum News Service staff — Fri, 01 May 2026 20:05:21 GMT

NEW ULM, Minn. — A Minnesota veteran killed in World War II will be laid to rest in his hometown on Saturday, May 2, after more than 80 years.

The remains of U.S. Army Capt. Willibald Charles Bianchi, 29, of New Ulm, were accounted for on Aug. 11, 2025, the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency announced last year.

Gov. Tim Walz on Friday ordered all United States and Minnesota flags to fly at half-staff at all state buildings from sunrise to sunset on Saturday in honor of Bianchi.

“After more than 80 years, Captain Willibald C. Bianchi is coming home,” Walz said in a news release. “His courage on the battlefield and his endurance as a prisoner of war represent the highest ideals of service. Today, we stand with his family and community to ensure his sacrifice is remembered with the dignity and respect it has always deserved.”

In 1942, Bianchi served as commander of Company D, 1st Battalion, 45th Infantry Regiment, Philippine Scouts, on the Bataan Peninsula in the Philippines, according to the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency. He volunteered to help clear a series of Japanese machine gun nests and, despite being wounded multiple times, he continued leading the attack, earning him the Medal of Honor.

On April 9, 1942, he was captured and held as a prisoner of war by the Empire of Japan in the Philippines, according to the agency.

Bianchi was killed on Jan. 9, 1945, after U.S. naval aircraft, unaware that there were prisoners on board, scored a direct hit on the Japanese transport ship Enoura Maru, in Takao Harbor, according to a Navy Times report.

A visitation gathering will be 10-11 a.m. Saturday at the New Ulm National Guard — Readiness Center in New Ulm, according to an obituary. A military tribute speech ceremony will be at 11 a.m. prior to the procession to the cemetery.

A graveside service and full military honors will be at noon in the Soldiers Rest Section of the New Ulm City Cemetery. A reception will follow at the Readiness Center.

Arrangements are with Minnesota Valley Funeral Homes of New Ulm.

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Niko Medved discusses Gophers' four transfer portal additions

Andy Greder / St. Paul Pioneer Press — Fri, 01 May 2026 19:00:00 GMT

MINNEAPOLIS — The Minnesota Golden Gophers men’s basketball program addressed its primary roster needs with the four new players signed out of the transfer portal this month.

Kyan Evans (North Carolina) will be a veteran combo guard taking over for departed senior Langston Reynolds and Chansey Willis, who transferred to Kent State.

Winters Grady (Michigan) represents a bigger wing with 3-point shooting prowess to help replace the exit of senior leading scorer Cade Tyson.

Nolan Groves (Texas Tech) is a versatile, two-way wing, while 7-foot-2 center Malick Kordel (Michigan) provides a true post presence and rim protector that the Gophers lacked last season.

Evans will look to bounce back from a down year with the Tar Heels, just like Tyson did a year ago. The to-be senior will reunite with head coach Niko Medved after the pair were together at Colorado State for Evans' freshman and sophomore seasons.

Grady, Groves and Kordel are coming off smaller roles at very successful programs and will have three years of eligibility to blossom into quality high-major players at Minnesota.

The Gophers still have two vacant roster spots and any further additions will be sought before summer workouts and classes begin in June. Based on last year’s roster makeup, those two spots might be filled by one player out of the portal, while the other could be what was traditionally known as a walk-on.

Here’s a look at each new addition with Medved’s comments on each this week:

Kyan Evans, 6-foot-2 guard (North Carolina)

“Kyan is such a competitor, with a high basketball IQ and (is) a great playmaker,” Medved said. “With his experience as a high-level player, Kyan has made a lot of big shots throughout his career. I have seen firsthand what he can do, and he knows the standards and expectations from the get-go. I can’t wait to bring that energy to Minnesota.”

Evans averaged 10.6 points and 3.1 assists per game with Medved in 2024-25, shooting 47% from the field, 45% from deep and 85% from the free-throw line. That Colorado State team came within a whisker of making the Sweet 16 two years ago.

In the portal, Evans took a huge compensation package from North Carolina last winter, but played a much smaller role on a team that lost in the first round of March Madness. His playing time went from 28 minutes with the Rams to 17 per game with the Heels, and he averaged only 4.0 points and 2.5 assists a season ago.

Similar to Tyson last winter, Evans will figure prominently into Medved’s plans next winter, and he will be motivated to also show his time in Chapel Hill, N.C., was an aberration.

Winters Grady, 6-6 wing (Michigan)

“Winters is an elite shooter who just has a knack for scoring the ball,” Medved said. “He is a tough, confident athlete that can shoot from deep and with range. Winters has great size and can impact the game on both sides of the ball. A former top-100 recruit, he is a three-level scorer and also came from a winning program last year. We’re looking forward to him being a Gopher.”

As a true freshman for the national champion Wolverines, Grady played only 54 total minutes across nine games. He averaged 2.9 points and one rebound, while shooting 35% from the field, 31% from deep and 86% from the stripe.

Coming out of powerhouse Prolific Prep, which was then in Napa, Calif., Grady was considered a four-star recruit who garnered a lot of recruiting interest. Medved also tried to recruit him to Colorado State, with a reported offer in May 2024, but he took a chance in the Big Ten.

Now at another Big Ten program, Grady will likely compete for a starting role with returning wing Bobby Durkin.

Nolan Groves, 6-5 wing (Texas Tech)

“I’m really excited to have Nolan come back home to represent his state and the University of Minnesota,” Medved said. “Nolan is very versatile, both offensively and defensively. He’s a skilled player with a high basketball IQ who can guard (positions from the point guard to the power forward). As a part of winning programs both in high school and college, Nolan is a great fit for what we are building here at Minnesota.”

As a true freshman on a Red Raiders team that advanced to the second round of the NCAA tournament, Groves played in 23 games, averaging 5.8 minutes and 0.9 points, 1.2 rebounds and 0.3 steals.

Groves told the Pioneer Press in early April how much he now prides himself on the defensive end. “By the end of (my freshman) year, I really started to get the hang of it, and it kind of became my calling card on the team,” he said. “One of my strong suits is guarding the ball and guarding multiple positions. I have the speed to guard quick guards, but also the physicality to guard bigger positions, too.”

The three-star recruit out of Orono High School was honored as Minnesota’s Gatorade Player of the Year in 2024-25 after averaging 34.1 points, 8.5 rebounds, 6.0 assists and 3.0 steals per game.

Malick Kordel, 7-2 center (Michigan)

“Malick is an intimidating, athletic big, who moves really well for his size,” Medved said. “He’s a great lob threat, a rim protector and adds depth to our frontcourt. Spending a year at a high-level program, Malick knows what it’s like to be on a winning team, and we’re excited to add him to the roster.”

A native of Germany who played handball in Europe before first picking up basketball in 2021, Kordel was a sub on the title-winning Wolverines squad last year, playing only 58 total minutes over 14 games. He averaged 1.2 points, 1.5 rebounds and 0.4 blocks in 4.1 minutes per contest.

Anything from Kordel will be more than the Gophers got out of the center position last season. Starter Robert Vaihola suffered a season-ending knee injury in November, and backup Nehemiah Turner never significantly contributed before being dismissed from the team.

That void forced Minnesota to go small, using players out of position to end the season, so having a true big in the middle — regardless of how raw he still might be — will be a stark contrast next winter.

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Minnesota Rep. Kristin Robbins drops governor bid

Forum News Service staff — Fri, 01 May 2026 15:36:54 GMT

ST. PAUL — Minnesota Rep. Kristin Robbins has ended her bid for Minnesota governor.

"After much thought and prayer, I have decided to suspend my campaign for Governor of Minnesota," the Republican lawmaker from Maple Grove said in a Friday, May 1, news release.

Robbins, 58, is a fourth-term representative who was first elected to the House in 2018. She chairs the newly created Fraud Prevention and State Agency Oversight Committee and is vice chair of the Ways and Means Committee.

"Our state government and political system are broken, and after fighting for Minnesotans from the inside for the past eight years, I have determined that the best way for me to fight for the future of our state is from the outside," Robbins said. "I believe more than ever that it’s going to take a grassroots coalition of common-sense Minnesotans to save our state. And that starts with our families, faith and communities, not government."

The race for the Republican nomination for governor includes speaker of the House Lisa Demuth, MyPillow founder Mike Lindell and health care tech executive Kendall Qualls. U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar is seeking the DFL nomination for governor.

The candidates hope to replace outgoing DFL Gov. Tim Walz, who decided not to run for a third term amid scrutiny over fraud in the state.

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Nearly a decade after he left for a work trip, his remains were identified in a Minnesota shed

Trisha Taurinskas — Fri, 01 May 2026 14:45:00 GMT

ROSEMOUNT, Minn. — For nearly a decade, James Everett's loved ones wondered where he went.

He left his New York state home for a work trip in September 2013 — and never returned.

A year later, unbeknownst to Everett's friends and family members, his body was discovered by a Union Pacific worker in a Rosemount, Minnesota, railroad utility shed.

Investigators didn't find identification with his remains, leaving them unaware of his name or background information. The only clues that accompanied him were receipts from 2013, which told officials he had likely been in the shed since then.

The Medical Examiner's Office determined he was a white man, between the ages of 40 and 60, who stood 5 feet, 6 inches tall and had long brown hair.

The description was entered into the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System, and law enforcement submitted his DNA into the nationwide Combined DNA Index System database. Despite the efforts, investigators were not able to match the identity of a missing person.

Initially, Everett had been reported missing when he failed to return home in 2013, but law enforcement located him in Montana — where they determined he was safe and acting on his own accord.

By the time his body was found, he was no longer on the missing persons registry.

After chasing nearly 600 leads with no answers, Everett's body was buried and a funeral was held.

Still, authorities in Hennepin County continued searching for his identity.

Working with Parabon Nanolabs and the DNA Doe Project, forensic genealogy led the Rosemount Police Department to a family member in New York. Investigators followed the trail of relatives until they had their match in 2022: 48-year-old James Everett.

“Our search to identify this man was important,” said Shawn Wilson, department administrator for the Hennepin County Medical Examiner’s Office, said in a press release. “We all had questions, and we couldn’t begin to tell his story until we knew his name. But the story of James Raymond Everett is not ours to tell. It is his family’s, and they now have an ending.”

At the end of the investigation, Rosemount and Hennepin County authorities did not give any indication that foul play was suspected in his death.

Authorities contacted his wife, Patricia Everett, who for years had been searching for her spouse.

"Please be assured that we, especially me, never gave up searching," she said in a statement. "We were always on the lookout for him when out and about and frequently did a lot of online searching for any indication of activity or other clues as to his whereabouts."

Patricia Everett described her husband as a brilliant man whose passions included technology, cooking, music and sports. His favorite teams were the Denver Broncos and the Buffalo Sabres.

In her statement, Patricia Everett expressed gratitude for the many people who cared about her husband throughout the years — from investigators and medical examiners, to those who took part in his funeral.

"For those who are missing a loved one, I hope this story provides hope that your loved one may also be found," she stated.

For more information on the DNA Doe Project, visit https://dnadoeproject.org/.

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'Take a Mom Fishing Weekend' planned in Minnesota

Andrew Weeks — Fri, 01 May 2026 14:45:00 GMT

David Tauchen remembers growing up in the shade of the Rocky Mountains and how his mom would take the lead in planning and organizing the family’s fishing trips.

“I grew up fishing, and I can attest from my childhood that my mom was the one who organized a lot of the trips,” he said. “We did a lot of fishing in the mountains of Colorado, and my mom played a big part in that.”

Tauchen’s experience is not unlike many other families where mom takes the lead in planning and organizing. Many times, Tauchen said, it is mom who introduces her brood to fishing and helps them get started on a lifelong love for the outdoors.

In celebration of moms, fishing and the outdoors, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has planned a special event during Mother's Day weekend, May 9-10. Dubbed “Take a Mom Fishing Weekend,” Minnesota moms won’t need a fishing license but instead can fish for free at waters across the state.

The weekend encourages moms to get outdoors and introduce new anglers to fishing, according to Tauchen, integrated public relations supervisor for the DNR’s Division of Fish and Wildlife. The weekend will also feature the virtual 2026 Minnesota Moms Fishing Challenge, a collaboration between the Minnesota DNR, Student Angler Organization and Women Anglers of Minnesota.

The challenge involves moms taking a photo of themselves with each fish they catch during the weekend — catch and release is fine — and submitting them on the challenge’s Facebook page, facebook.com/groups/momsfishing2026. All photos for the contest must be submitted during Mother's Day weekend.

All moms who post a picture of their fish in the group that weekend will be entered into a drawing to win prizes provided by the Student Angler Organization and partners. A mom who enters one fish or five, no matter their size, will have the same chance to win. All species and sizes of fish are welcome; bag limits and regulations apply when fishing.

There also will be pre-challenge fishing webinars hosted by Women Anglers of Minnesota the week prior to the challenge. Additional information about the Minnesota Moms Fishing Challenge can be located on the DNR website at dnr.state.mn.us/fishing/take-mom-fishing.html.

Minnesota Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan, an avid angler, said fishing has always been one of her favorite traditions.

“There’s nothing like being out on the water and sharing that time with the people you love,” she said in a prepared statement. “Take a Mom Fishing Weekend is a great opportunity to carry that tradition forward and welcome more women into the outdoors. Whether it’s your first cast or your hundredth, we want every mom to feel like she belongs out on the water.”

This is the fourth year of the Take a Mom Fishing Weekend, which was established in Minnesota in 1988 to coincide with Mother’s Day. During the 2025 challenge, more than 2,700 Minnesota moms from across the state participated, catching 1,600 fish.

Tauchen said the weekend is a great way to introduce moms to angling if they’ve never been fishing, and that the webinars are good tools to brush up on skills. He also said the DNR website is a good place to go for regulations and tips about how to get started fishing.

Before heading to any open water, however, Tauchen said to plan ahead and keep safety at the forefront.

“Always remember to be safe on the water. If you're on a boat, remember to wear a life jacket. And remember that the waters are still cold this time of year,” he said. “ We just want folks to be safe.”

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Finding Faith: Blessed are the peacemakers

Devlyn Brooks — Fri, 01 May 2026 14:30:00 GMT

Friends, if we are to live in a truly faithful manner, we have to respect the lives of every single person. … Yes, even the lives of those whom we vehemently disagree with.

We are living in an age of political rage and violence that will not serve us well. There is no “winning” for anyone.

People are choosing sides and defending their political dogmas with lives on the line. And each act of violence only amps up the rage in the opposing ranks.

As faithful people we cannot condone it. We have to draw a line in the sand, and state emphatically that political violence is not an acceptable end to achieve an outcome.

Sure, I believe that nonbelievers alike should be willing to take such a stand as well, but you know, it’s good practice to clean up your own house before you start casting stones at others for how messy theirs is.

Jesus teaches a new way. He replaces the old scriptures that ask an eye for an eye with a new practice of turning the other cheek and loving our enemies. He teaches us that violence only breeds more violence, and that hate only breeds more hate.

“But, Pastor, the other side …,” I can already hear many shouting in response.

I know, I know. Regardless of which “side” you are on, there will always be an example of violent behavior. Dig deep enough and in enough places and you’ll eventually find justification for any act.

However, if we consider ourselves followers of Jesus, then there is no wiggle room. Jesus doesn’t give us a get out of jail free card for violent acts just because someone else is doing it.

Jesus even famously orders Peter to sheath his sword after the Roman guards come to arrest him. And he certainly knew what was to unfold next. Still, Jesus shows no violent response.

In his Sermon on the Mount, Jesus says that it is the peacemakers who will be blessed for their work to reconcile all of God’s beloved children. Notice there is no reward for those who call for domination and conquest. That wasn’t an accidental omission, friends.

We are living in unsettling times. The combination of unfettered access to media, the instantaneous ability to connect with millions in nanoseconds, the tribal insecurities about the others, and the growing chasm between “haves” and “have nots” are producing a tinderbox of public discourse and actions.

What we need are more courageous people to help quiet the ugly rhetoric and instill more civility in our interactions, not more warriors. Trust me, God would do fine in any actual battle God chooses to wage. That’s not where we’re needed.

Where we are needed as faithful people is in the role of peacemaker. Now, there’s something the world is in short supply of. Amen.

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Sunshine makes a return Friday

Robert Poynter — Fri, 01 May 2026 05:00:00 GMT

After a few cloudy and rainy days in a row, the sunshine is back for Friday. High temperatures reach the upper 40s before dropping just below freezing overnight.

Weekend highs will be in the mid-50s with more sunshine. Clouds and rain showers make a return for Monday.

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Down four players, Timberwolves out-will Denver to win series

Jace Frederick / St. Paul Pioneer Press — Fri, 01 May 2026 04:40:53 GMT

The Timberwolves put 48 minutes of grit, hustle and physicality on the floor Thursday at Target Center.

And took down the best offensive player in basketball because of it.

Minnesota dominated the glass, played harrassing defense and simply out-willed Denver to win Game 6, 110-98 and clinch the series, 4-2.

It’s the second time the Timberwolves have bounced the Nuggets in three seasons.

Minnesota next plays San Antonio in the conference semifinals. Game 1 is Monday in Texas.

It won’t have Anthony Edwards in that game, nor Donte DiVincenzo. It may not even have Ayo Dosunmu. It may not matter.

The Wolves were without all of those guys, as well as an ill Kyle Anderson on Thursday. But they had Jaden McDaniels, and an unrelenting will to win.

The former turned in a dominant performance, scoring 32 points — a new career high — to go with 10 rebounds in 45 minutes of action, all while stifling Jamal Murray on the other end. He talked the talk all series, and also walked the walk.

And his teammates had his back.

Minnesota swarmed the floor in every aspect. The Wolves out-rebounded Denver 50-33, with five guys grabbing at least six. They had 20 second-chance points to Denver’s four. They forced 13 turnovers that led to 16 points.

Rudy Gobert flirted with a triple-double, tallying 10 points, 13 rebounds and a stunning eight assists. Terrence Shannon Jr. had 24 points, supplying ample rim pressure for which Denver rarely had an answer.

Even down four guys, the will of Minnesota’s collective simply overwhelmed Denver. And, for the third-straight season, the Wolves are advancing to Round 2 because of it.

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Prep report: Superior baseball rallies past Rock Ridge

Staff reports — Fri, 01 May 2026 04:00:10 GMT

Superior used a four-run sixth inning to get out of a big hole and earn a fourth-straight baseball win, 8-5, on Thursday vs. Rock Ridge at NBC Spartan Sports Complex.

Going to the sixth down 5-3, Superior saw six consecutive players reach base and the seventh, pitcher Dawson Ahlborg delivered a sacrifice fly to cap the rally. Ahlborg ended up getting the win after allowing five runs on five hits in six innings. Jayce Rue was 2-for-3 and scored three times.

Rock Ridge had six hits from six different players.

Cloquet 16, Cherry 2

Cloquet baseball ran roughshod over host Cherry on Thursday night, piling up 15 hits in a big road victory.

Eleven different Cloquet players had at least one hit; Jackson Peterson had three, including a double, and scored twice.

Logan Baker was 2-for-4 with three RBIs.

Moose Lake/Willow River 5, Braham 0

Hayden Danelski spun a complete-game two-hit shutout as the Rebels won at home on Thursday, striking out eight and walking just one.

Eight MLWR players had one hit apiece, though Danelski’s was a two-run double that made it 3-0 in the fifth inning.

Hibbing 12-12, Duluth Denfeld 2-2

The Bluejackets put up matching 12-2 wins in a doubleheader against the Hunters on Thursday in Hibbing.

In Game 1, Dylan Vesel, Aiden Davey and Hunter Gustafson finished with two hits apiece, as the Hunters didn’t pull away until scoring four times in the fourth and fifth in the fifth, triggering the run rule.

Blake Kolden allowed two runs on six hits, two of which came from Denfeld’s Vinny Udd.

Game 2 went six innings, ending after the Bluejackets put up seven in the bottom of the sixth.

Kadin Augustin allowed two unearned runs on one hit for Hibbing, while Gavin Lamphere had a 4-for-4 offensive performance and drove in three. Easton Fisher added three hits.

Proctor 10, Two Harbors 0

Antrell Yoki shined under the lights, throwing a six-inning two-hit shutout under the lights at Terry Egerdahl Field on Thursday.

Owen Baker was 3-for-3 and drove in three for the Rails.

South Ridge 11, McGregor 0

Austin Olson tossed a five-inning one-hitter for the Panthers, striking out 10. He also had two hits, as did Kingsley Archambault and Carter Price.

GIRLS LACROSSE St. Paul-Two Rivers 10, Duluth Marshall 4

Ella Hron and Ciri Ciardelli had two-goal games for the Hilltoppers, but that was all the offense they could muster on the road on Thursday night.

SOFTBALL Silver Bay 12, Cromwell-Wright 2

The Mariners hung a loss on the previously unbeaten Cardinals on Thursday in Silver Bay, led by Kinley Nelson, who was 4-for-4 with a triple and three RBIs. Madison Ollman and Anna Klemmer added three hits apiece.

Berkley Hoff allowed two runs on five hits in six innings for the 12-1 Mariners.

The Cardinals got two hits from Clarissa Irving and Carys Borglund.

Esko 12, Carlton/Wrenshall 2

Hannah Roemer was 3-for-4 with an RBI single as Esko cruised to a win on Thursday.

Esko needed a few innings to break out, scoring four times in the third inning and five in the fourth.

Kennadi Foxx allowed just two unearned runs on five hits in five innings.

Superior 16, Duluth Marshall 3

Halle Visger had a single, double and triple, drove in three runs and scored four time as the Spartans dominated proceedings in Duluth on Thursday.

Four others had multi-hit games for the Spartans who had a team total of 17 hits.

Rock Ridge 10, Greenway/Nashwauk-Keewatin 2

The top of the Wolverines’ order proved unstoppable on Thursday, with one-through-four hitters Mattelyn Seppi, Mayme Scott, Ayla Troutwine and Ayla Lokken recording two hits each.

Rock Ridge took control early, scoring four times in the first inning and adding four more on in the fourth frame.

Lokken pitched, allowing two runs (one earned) on seven hits.

Moose Lake/Willow River 8, Mora 5

Jessie Volk had a three-run homer and struck out seven Mustangs to help the Rebels to a road win on Thursday.

Kara Lemieux and Kendall Volk had two-hit games.

Barnum 3, Aitkin 2

Barnum pitcher Alizondra Collelo struck out 11 Gobblers and worked out of a big jam in the seventh inning on Thursday.

The Bombers had held Aitkin scoreless through six innings and down to its last out before an error, double and single brought in two runs and put the tying run on base before a ground ball ended the threat.

Ava Nyquist had a three-hit game in the win.

Northwestern 4, Cameron 3

Adelle Holdsclaw singled in the seventh inning and scored the winning run on a passed ball on Thursday.

The Tigers were down 3-0 through 4 ½ innings before scoring three runs with two outs in the fifth. Claire Nielcen singled in a run and two more scored on an outfield error. Gabby Beger allowed three runs on five hits in a complete game.

Thursday’s game was supposed to be the first in a doubleheader, but the second contest was suspended due to darkness tied at 14 after seven innings.

TENNIS Hermantown 4, Aitkin 3

The Hawks swept all four singles flights in straight sets for a nonconference win on Thursday in Aitkin.

Zach Shingler of the Hawks won 6-2, 6-2 at No. 1 singles while Henrick Wikstrom, Max Christy and Brendan Bugliosi were also straight-set winners.

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Bailey Ober’s strong start leads Twins to win over Blue Jays

Betsy Helfand / St. Paul Pioneer Press — Fri, 01 May 2026 03:23:56 GMT

Twins 7, Blue Jays 1

Starting pitcher performance

Bailey Ober turned in his third consecutive quality start, limiting the Blue Jays to just one run in six-plus innings pitched. That one run came on a Daulton Varsho home run in the third inning, but otherwise, Ober limited the Blue Jays to just four hits in his outing.

Ober allowed a single to lead off the seventh inning, at which point he was replaced after yet another strong performance.

Player of the Game

Ober’s start laid the foundation for the Twins’ win, which bumped them to 14-18 on the season.

Key moment

After Varsho homered in the top of the fourth inning to give Toronto the lead, Trevor Larnach drew a walk to extend his on-base streak to 16. He then came around to score on Ryan Jeffers’ fourth home run of the season, a 404-foot blast to left-center field to give the Twins a lead they would hold the rest of the night.

All told, the Twins scored four runs off Blue Jays starter Kevin Gausman, a pitcher whom they historically hit well. Byron Buxton, who finished the day with three hits, also hit a home run off Gausman.

Up next

Simeon Woods Richardson (0-4, 6.30 ERA) will start on Friday night against the Blue Jays. Toronto will counter with Patrick Corbin (0-0, 3.72 ERA). The two faced off earlier this season with Woods Richardson, who was dealing with food poisoning at the time, giving up five runs in four innings against the Jays and Corbin allowing four in four innings.

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