Jeff Johnson

Iowa Hawkeyes center Logan Jones was placed into an impossible situation last football season, moving from the defensive line to starting center. He struggled a lot, questioned himself a lot, but has made it through the transition and is a key piece to what should be an improved offensive line.

Hall of fame football coach Butch Pedersen died in early April at the age of 73 after a battle with a blood cancer. His coaching staff and players still consider him to be West Branch’s head coach.

Jesse Winker of the Milwaukee Brewers was a starting outfielder in the 2021 Major League Baseball All-Star Game for Cincinnati. He struggled last season with Seattle and again this season. Injury rehabbing with the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers of the Midwest League, he hopes a defensive switch to first base helps his overall game.

Cedar Rapids Kernels outfielder Carson McCusker is 6-foot-8 and 250 pounds. The former Oklahoma State University player is getting a shot in affiliated professional baseball after parts of three seasons in independent ball. He’s got 14 home runs since signing with the Minnesota Twins, including four in eight games with Cedar Rapids.

Iowa Hawkeyes defensive lineman Noah Shannon spoke with reporters Friday at the team’s media day about the gambling probe of Iowa and Iowa State student-athletes in which he is involved. Shannon took responsibility for his actions and vows to be ready when he is allowed to play.

Cedar Rapids Kernels right-handed relief pitcher Miguel Rodriguez has found himself pitching primarily at the end of games this Midwest League season. He has found success there, leading the league with 14 saves.

Here’s a look at area Iowans in the minors. These are players in affiliated professional baseball from Eastern Iowa and the University of Iowa. There are some additions to this list in recent draft picks.

Jonas Lovin has a master’s degree from the University of Nebraska-Omaha. He always pictured himself as a college baseball coach, but he has decided to dip his toes into professional baseball now and is co-pitching coach for the Cedar Rapids Kernels.

Cedar Rapids Kernels infielder Keoni Cavaco struggled the first three months or so of the Midwest League season. The parent Minnesota Twins placed the 2019 first-round draft pick on the Development List in late June. He was able to head home to California for a couple of days, mentally regroup, make some adjustments to his swing and get back after it.

The Iowa High School Athletic Association and University of Northern Iowa have announced an extension of their agreement to house the IHSAA prep football playoff semifinals and championships at the UNI-Dome.

Sites for the 2024 Iowa high school baseball state tournament are in flux because the University of Iowa’s Banks Field in Iowa City will be undergoing a complete remodel. The facility has hosted the Class 3A and 4A portion of the tournament the last three years. The Iowa High School Athletic Association said it has received a proposal from the city of Cedar Rapids to potentially use Veterans Memorial Stadium as the 3A-4A site next year.

Catcher Noah Cardenas is widely considered the nicest guy on this Cedar Rapids Kernels team. He was honored with a Harmon Killebrew Award last season while with low-Class A Fort Myers for his community service. The kid also can play the game, going 3-for-3 Sunday as the Kernels walked off Peoria, 7-6.

As a team bonding thing, players on Western Dubuque’s baseball team began wearing cowboy hats to and from games as the postseason began. Friday night they were wearing championship caps after a 6-2 win over North Polk gave the Bobcats their second consecutive state title.

Defending champion Western Dubuque keeps defending, advancing to the Class 3A state baseball tournament championship game with a 7-4 win Wednesday night over Dubuque Wahlert in a semifinal at Banks Field in Iowa City. WD and North Polk play Friday for it all.

The Iowa Heartlanders professional hockey club has been purchased by a group headed by Michael Devlin, who is majority owner of the United States Hockey League’s Des Moines Buccaneers