Recent content from Joel Rippel
Team worse than the Twins? White Sox arrive for four games.
The Chicago White Sox are off to the worst start in franchise history with a major league-worst record of 3-18. They visit Target Field for four games starting Monday night.
Twins-Tigers series preview: Former Twin Urshela playing well for Detroit
The Tigers are above .500 and recently split a four-game series with the Twins at Comerica Park.
Official who helped MSHSL on pioneering ventures dies at 89
As an associate director, John Bartz helped the league start state tournaments in girls hockey and adapted sports.
Twins-Orioles series preview: Baltimore displaying its young talent
Baltimore has shown an ability to rally late in games, coming from behind in seven of its nine victories this season.
Twins-Tigers series preview: Twins open seven-game trip with four in Detroit
The Twins stopped a four-game losing streak by beating the Dodgers on Wednesday.
Twins vs. Dodgers series preview: Ohtani makes first Target Field appearance on new team
The NL West leaders are coming off a series loss against the Cubs to close a six-game road trip.
Guardians lead the American League in runs scored entering series with Twins
It's the home opener for the Twins on Thursday afternoon, with Pablo López on the mound.
Twins, Brewers bring hot starts to early season Border Battle
The Twins will get an early look at Jackson Chourio of the Brewers, the major leagues' youngest player who has a huge contract to boot.
Former Gophers pitcher Max Meyer returns to major league mound with Marlins on Monday
The righthander had Tommy John surgery in the summer of 2022 and missed all of 2023.
Twins-Royals series preview: Pablo López looks to give Minnesota opening lift
The Twins and Royals will begin their seasons with a three-game set starting Thursday in Kansas City.
Transfers make major impact at boys basketball tourney — and people noticed
All four state champions — two public schools and two privates —benefited from players who transferred. That and more from the weekend.
Prep Athletes of the Week: Turnaround results in trip to state
Poet Davis made certain Minneapolis South, winner of six games last season, ended its tournament drought this season.
Qualifiers for girls basketball state tournament come with a tale or two
Hopkins is back again, as are all of the top section seeds in Class 4A. Coaches Wendy Kohler and Mike Dreier carry special marks to state, and Jim Lien's there for the first time in his 45 years of coaching.
Gophers baseball expects big improvement for Anderson's finale
The Gophers open with 22 games on the road, but their roster has better pitching depth to bounce back after last year's 18-34 finish.
Coach who compiled Hall of Fame credentials in 6½ seasons has died
Phil Frerk, who led St. Louis Park to five state tournament appearances and two titles, went 152-21 in his short tenure.
Prep Athletes of the Week: Girls hoops record-setter isn't letting up
Laura Hauge of St. Croix Lutheran broke Minnesota's mark for three-pointers and keeps going back for more.
Pine City's Jusczak, Ogilvie's Heins each surpass 60 points in same game
Grace Heins scored 62 points for Ogilvie in an 89-82 victory at Pine City, which got 63 points from Karly Jusczak.
Lynx-Seattle preview: Storm feature WNBA scoring leader Jewell Loyd
Seattle was 1-6 after seven games but now is 4-9.
Lynx return to Vegas to face defending champion Aces
The Lynx, winners of two in a row, pay a visit to Sin City, where the Aces look like contenders to repeat.
Prep Athletes of the Week: North St. Paul softballer is understated force
"A quiet player," her coach calls Madelyn Anthony, but she's 11-2 in the circle and hitting .551 with power.
Lynx face Griner, Phoenix in first game since release from detention
Brittney Griner has scored 18 and 27 points in two games since returning to the U.S. after nearly 10 months in Russian detention.
Twins return to AL opponents with visit to L.A. Angels
After three consecutive series against interleague opponents, the Twins (24-20) still lead the AL Central.
Prep Athletes of the Week: STMA's JaKahla Craft is far more than a fallback plan
A junior, she provided her girls basketball team key help in the state tournament.
Gophers men's hockey heads to Bemidji State for first time since 2013 for exhibition
The Beavers are coming off a sweep over Minnesota State Mankato. This will be the Gophers' second exhibition in three days.
U men's hockey team set for exhibition vs. U.S. Under-18 team
The U.S. Under-18 team has five Minnesotans on its roster and is 10-0 against Division I teams.
St. Thomas football signs 12 Minnesotans on signing day and goes national, too
Coach Glenn Caruso said the work being done is helping attract more players from outside Minnesota.
Prep Athletes of the Week: A record roll for Rosemount diver Lucas Gerten
Gerten, a sophomore state champ, set a pool mark and a school mark last week.
Central Minnesota coach sets all-time state record for wins on Friday
Mike Dreier, in his 45th season as the girls basketball coach at New London-Spicer, passed a Chisholm coaching legend Friday night.
Gophers women's hockey looks to avenge rare loss to St. Cloud State
The Huskies snapped a 61-game winless streak against the Gophers the last time they played. They'll meet again in a home-and-home series, starting Friday.
Bethel can't survive fourth-quarter comeback by Mary Hardin-Baylor in D-III playoffs
After the Royals scored on the second play of the fourth quarter to take an 11-point lead, the Crusaders started their comeback on the first play of their ensuing possession and won 41-28.
Live at noon: Watch Bethel vs. Mary Hardin-Baylor in NCAA quarterfinals
The Royals travel to Texas to face Mary Hardin-Baylor, which has lost only two of its last 60 games and went 11-1 this season. Tap here for live video and in-game stats.
Gophers women's hockey to face MSU Mankato team on upswing
The Mavericks fell to 0-6 after getting swept resoundingly by the Gophers in mid-October but have since gone 7-1.
Concordia (St. Paul) gears up for NCAA D-II volleyball quarterfinals
The Golden Bears, who are making their 12th appearance in the Elite Eight since Brady Starkey became coach, are making their first quarterfinals appearance since 2017.
Prep Athletes of the Week: Mayer Lutheran star gets one day off
The Crusaders' Madeline Guetzkow just finished a standout volleyball season then got a short break before joining the basketball team.
Live: Watch four Minnesota teams in Division II, III football playoffs
St. John's has a noon D-III home game. Bemidji State and Minnesota State travel for 1 p.m. kickoffs in D-II and Bethel goes to Oregon for a 2 p.m. start in D-III. Tap here for links to watch .
Gophers men's hockey set for series against quietly dangerous Arizona State
Minnesota has faced a string of top 10 opponents, but the Sun Devils have a win against North Dakota and other impressive results.
Gophers women's hockey heads to Henderson, Nev., for tournament
No. 3 Minnesota faces No. 12 Penn State in Friday's opener and will play either unranked Boston University or No. 5 Yale on Saturday.
Prep Athletes of the Week: Monticello's Adalynn Biegler is a state champ in eighth grade
She won two swimming titles Saturday, completing a season of improvement.
St. Thomas wins Pioneer Football League title outright with 27-13 victory at Butler
The Tommies won a league championship in their second year in Division I but remain ineligible for the FCS playoffs.
Winning Saturday would give Pioneer League football title outright to St. Thomas
The Tommies have won nine consecutive games since a season opening loss at Southern Utah, and are looking to clinch the title in their secind year after making the jump from Division III to D-I.
Gophers women's hockey set for weekend trip to No. 3 Wisconsin
The Gophers are still ranked No. 1, and Wisconsin is No. 3 in the latest USCHO.com poll. Minnesota went 3-0-1 against Wisconsin last season.
Northern Sun, MIAC, UMAC teams open playoffs in Division II, III
Highlights: Winona State gets a rematch with Bemidji State and Northwestern goes to St. John's after going undefeated in the UMAC — and winless in nonconference games.
Visitation makes move toward ninth consecutive Class 1A swimming title
The Blazers qualified 17 individuals and three relay teams for Friday's finals.
For state meet, Wayzata swimmer settles into pool she'll call home
Claire Reinke, a senior and defending champion, is going to compete for the Gophers in college.
No. 2 Gophers men's hockey heads to Michigan for series
The Gophers are No. 2 and Michigan No. 3 in the latest USCHO.com poll. This will be their first matchup since last season's Big Ten tournament championship game.
![Bethel running back David Geebli (28) ran for a big gain against St. John's in the third quarter Saturday, Sept. 24, 2022 in Arden Hills. ] MARK VANCL](https://arc.stimg.co/startribunemedia/E7NWDBQEQDKETFE6PK7YUFE6UM.jpg?h=120&w=180&fit=crop&bg=999&crop=faces)
St. John's, Bethel among six Minnesota teams in Division II, III football playoffs
Three schools from the NSIC are in the Division II field while the Johnnies and Royals are joined by UMAC champion Northwestern in Division III.
Gophers volleyball gameday: McCutcheon to coach final regular-season match at home
Minnesota will play Indiana at 2 p.m. Sunday at Maturi Pavilion. The Gophers close season with four road matches; McCutcheon announced he will resign when season ends.
Saturday's biggest games: Winona St. vs Mankato; St. John's vs. Bethel
The game at Minnesota State will decide the NSIC South title; The MIAC championship game winner will get an automatic bid to the D-III playoffs.
Gophers volleyball returns home for Friday match against Michigan
Minnesota is coming off a loss at Wisconsin but is 7-2 in its past nine games.
Area College Football: Augsburg, Bethel battle for MIAC title-game berth
The two teams are a combined 13-3 overall and will play for the MIAC's Skyline Division crown on Saturday. Meantime, St. Thomas looks to extend its run at Valparaiso.
No. 1 Gophers men's hockey opens Big Ten schedule at Ohio State
The Gophers split their past two series — against Minnesota State Mankato and North Dakota — and now begin their conference slate with a road series.
Hockey showdown: No. 2 Gophers women travel to meet No. 1 Ohio St.
Both teams are unbeaten going into the Friday-Saturday series, with the No. 1 Buckeyes winning their first eight games and Minnesota winning its first six.
Minnesota college football: Tommies seek revenge against Toreros
Also on Saturday: Minnesota Morris faces Northwestern (St. Paul) for sole possession of first place in the UMAC and the Northern Sun is a Division II ratings powerhouse.
Prep Athletes of the Week: Versatility marks Elk River's Osterman
Senior Cade Osterman is a contributor at quarterback on offense, at safety on defense and all over on special teams.
Longtime Rochester Lourdes coach Myron Glass dead at 78
He coached the Eagles girls' basketball team to eight state championships and more than 700 victories, and he coached track and cross-country as well.
That other Border Battle: Top-ranked U hockey playing host to No. 7 UND
Minnesota moved up to No. 1 despite being idle last weekend. North Dakota is coming off a weekend tie and loss that dropped the Fighting Hawks from the third spot in the poll.
UMD, Bemidji State put winning streaks on the line; Tommies seek 6th straight
Area college football: The top two teams in the NSIC North will square off Saturday, while St. Thomas heads to South Carolina to play Presbyterian.
Bethel, St. Thomas, Carleton look to extend early-season success
The Royals are ranked 11th in D-III and the Tommies picked up a vote in the FCS poll. Meanwhile, Carleton is the only undefeated team still left in the MIAC.
Gophers women's hockey team aims to reclaim national prominence
Minnesota is ranked No. 2 and has its most experienced team in coach Brad Frost's 16 seasons.
Tommies get chance for revenge; Carleton goes for 5-0 in rivalry game
Area college football: Davidson defeated St. Thomas 42-15 last season and comes to St. Paul for a rematch Saturday. In Northfield, Carleton and St. Olaf have their annual battle for the Goat Trophy.
Twins at White Sox preview: Low stakes for rivals to finish season
The Twins are 9-7 against the Chicago White Sox this season with three games left to play.
Historical fact: The Vikings have conquered the world (in football)
The team has played games in England, Germany, Sweden and Japan since 1983. They're undefeated across the ponds.
U men's hockey opens No. 2 in nation with freshman-filled roster
Among the 11 freshmen on the Minnesota roster are two players, Logan Cooley and Jimmy Snuggerud, who were taken in the first round of the NHL draft in July.
Series preview: Twins at Detroit
The Twins play a three-game series against the Tigers in Detroit this season. Minnesota is 10-6 against the Tigers this season, 3-4 at Comerica Field.
Minnesota College Football: Winona State gets a visit from undefeated Wayne State
Two high-powered offenses will be on display, when these teams meet Saturday.
Series preview: Stumbling Central foes meet as White Sox visit Twins
The Twins close out the home portion of their 2022 schedule with a three-game series.
Series preview: Twins to face Ohtani in opener vs. Los Angeles Angels
ShoheiOhtani, who leads the American League with 11.92 strikeouts per nine innings, will make his first start on the mound at Target Field.
St. John's heads to Bethel for Saturday MIAC showdown
The Johnnies edged Bethel by one point for the conference championship last season, and both teams enter this one ranked.
Twins-Kansas City series preview: Twins have had Royals' number
The Twins have won the past seven meetings and are 12-4 against the Royals this season.
Area college football: Bemidji State looks to break out vs. Winona State
The Warriors are undefeated, but both of the Beavers' losses have come by narrow margins.
Twins-Cleveland series preview: A crucial five-game series
It's a five-game series, including two games which were originally scheduled for the first week of April but were re-scheduled after the start of the season was delayed.
Twins-Kansas City series preview: Looking to bounce back after sweep
The Twins have Joe Ryan, Sonny Gray and Dylan Bundy lined up to start against Kansas City at Target Field after dropping three consecutive games to the first-place Guardians.
Shipman leads St. Thomas past Michigan Tech 32-6 in home opener
Tommies running back Shawn Shipman rushed for 151 yards and two touchdowns in Division II matchup.
Shawn Shipman leads St. Thomas past Michigan Tech 32-6 in home opener
Tommies running back Shawn Shipman rushed for 151 yards and two touchdowns in Division II matchup.
After lopsided loss, St. Thomas prepares for home opener
Area college football: Michigan Tech will look for revenge after losing to the Tommies last year on a last-minute field goal. St. Thomas hopes to recover from a lopsided defeat to a team that went 1-10 last season.
