(KWMN)- The Winona Sports Network Daily Round-Up is the one place to get all the headlines from the sports world, and local sports world. An extension of the morning sports updates from “In the Know” with Jason Melilo on KNWO, every weekday morning at 7:00 a.m.
Local Sports
The Winners of Minnesota’s Mr. Baseball and Ms. Softball were announced. Taking home the Mr. Baseball award was Easton Breyfogle, an outfielder for Benilde-St. Margarets, and taking home the Ms. Softball award was Jessa Snippes, pitcher for Rosemount. Winona Senior High’s Makayla Steffes missed out on the award after being named one of seven finalists. She was instead rewarded with a first-team all-state selection. She was joined on the first team by fellow teammates, Ava Hamsund and Macy McNally. Olivia Poulin of the Winhawks earned an honorable mention honor.
Just being a finalist for the award should be enough to feel some pride and recognition for Steffes. It’s hard to win these awards, there’s thousands of players each year and hundreds of schools, and hundreds of players that could probably be labeled as deserving, to be one of seven to make the list is an extraordinary achievement.
MCWS
The LSU Tigers are your 2023 MCWS champions after throttling the Florida Gators 18-4 in game three. The Tigers win their seventh national title. Over the last two games of the MCWS there was a total of 50 runs scored, and that’s with two of the top pitching staffs in the nation.
Twins
The Twins fought hard in game one of the three game set with the Braves, but it wasn’t enough as they fall 4-1. Sonny Gray goes 6 and 2/3 innings, allowing three runs. Gray was pulled after giving up a solo shot and a single in the seventh, at that time it was 2-1. With two outs in the seventh Baldelli called Emillio Pagan from the pen, he faced Ronald Acuna right away and gave up a two-run shot. The bullpen issues are continuing to be the face of this Twins team, and that bullpen got thinner, as Jose DeLeon will now have Tommy John surgery for the second time in his career and will be sidelined for at least one year. I don’t think the answer for the bullpen lies with someone(s) on this roster, the bullpen is somewhat, mostly, the same from last season and the issues are persisting. With the deadline approaching the Twins have an interesting choice; take advantage of the lousy division that is the AL Central and become buyers to improve the team or believe the only reason they’re in contention for the playoffs is BECAUSE the division is so lousy and become sellers. I’d assume it’ll be the former, because this team is not looking to rebuild. There are a plethora of relief pitchers and even more bats they could acquire, it just depends on if they have enough assets to get both at the deadline. The fact is, if they want to actually be feared come the postseason, they gotta add some players. That and Carlos Correa, Byron Buxton and Max Kepler to stop having career worst years. Either would go a long way.
NHL
The NHL award show was held last night, and the star of the show was, to no surprise, Connor McDavid. McDavid, having already earned the Art Ross trophy with having the most points scored in the season, McDavid took home the Hart trophy for the MVP and the Ted Lindsey trophy, the MVP as voted on by the players. McDavid earned his third Hart trophy, becoming just the ninth player to do in NHL history, he won his fourth Ted Lindsey and Art Ross trophies. McDavid was most proud of the Ted Linsdey trophy, as he said that it means the most coming from your peers. Keep in mind, McDavid is 26, he’s got plenty of hockey left and he’s still searching for Stanleys Cup.
Other awards were handed out to Erik Karlsson as the James Norris recipient for top defenseman, Matty Beneirs won the Calder trophy for top rookie, Linus Ullmark wins the Vezina for the best netminder and two more bruins, head coach Jim Montgomery wins the Jack Adams for best coach, and Patrice Bergeron takes home his sixth Selke trophy for best defensive forward.
The NHL draft is also right around the corner, the first two rounds will be held Friday night.
NBA
The Timberwolves introduced their two new draft picks during a press conference yesterday, Leonard Miller picks #33 for his jersey, Jaylen Clark will be #0. Tim Connely referred to these players as the right players, hardworking, having the right attitude and more words along those same lines. Keep in mind with these two rookies, they are developmental players, so don’t expect too much too soon. Clark is also still rehabbing his Achilles tear, so we won’t see him for quite some time, if at all next season.
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