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KGFW Sports – Big Ten Schedules May Change, Virus Impact on NCAA and Legion Baseball Update

By News Jul 9, 2020 | 7:15 AM

Former BTN reporter Tom Dienhart says a 10-game, conference-only schedule is looking more and more likely in the Big Ten. According Dienhart, a Power-5 coach told him league officials are meeting today to discuss that option. If the Big Ten decides to move from a 12- to a 10-game schedule, each school would eliminate their three non-conference games. The 10 games probably would be played over 13-14 weeks.

In other Big Ten news; Ohio State is pausing voluntary workouts in football and several other sports because of positive COVID-19 tests. The school has not released the number of athletes who tested positive for the virus. Ohio State football players have been back on campus and participating in voluntary workouts since June 8th.

Wisconsin says seven of its athletes have tested positive for the coronavirus since the school started testing a month ago. School officials previously had said two tested positive out of the 117 athletes who were part of the initial group of tests. The school now has conducted 428 total tests. Wisconsin officials aren’t specifying which sports are affected by the positive tests.

The Ivy League won’t have any sports this fall, and the return of athletics in the conference won’t be entertained until January at the earliest. The decision announced Wednesday removes the league’s entire fall college football season, and it’s the first Division I conference to do so. The decision comes as other athletic departments and college conferences nationwide weigh whether to begin the 2020 football season on time, and is seen by some as a bellwether of what’s to come. The announcement Wednesday also means men’s basketball — which typically begins in November — will not start for the conference until Jan. 1st at the earliest. A decision from the Ivy League on the remaining winter and spring sports competition calendar, and on whether fall sport competition would be feasible in the spring, will be determined at a later date.

Stanford will cut 11 of its varsity programs at the conclusion of the 2020-21 academic year as it deals with the ongoing financial ramifications of the coronavirus pandemic. The 11 sports that will be discontinued are men’s and women’s fencing, field hockey, lightweight rowing, men’s rowing, co-ed and women’s sailing, squash, synchronized swimming, men’s volleyball and wrestling. Coaches and athletes were notified of the decision via Zoom conferences on Wednesday.

Shrine Bowl officials say this year’s “Beyond the Field” session with the players and patients will be conducted virtually on Friday between 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. The players will hear some of the patients’ individual stories and health struggles, and learn about the Shriners’ treatment programs and ongoing research. It is believed Saturday’s game at UNK is the first football game played at the high school, college or pro level in the United States since the COVID-19 pandemic brought the sports world to a halt in mid-March. Kickoff is at 2:00 at UNK’s Ron and Carol Cope Stadium.

The Hastings Sodbusters have hired JM Kelly as head coach to fill the position left vacant by Bill Clay. Kelly is entering his second season with Northern Oklahoma College. In his first year with the program, he helped coach the team to a 23-4 record and a final ranking of #2 in the nation while also finishing in the Top 10. Outside of his coaching and recruiting responsibilities, he is also an Associate Scout with the Houston Astros. Kelly spent the summer of 2019 as the manager of the El Dorado Broncos of the Sunflower Collegiate League. The team finished the season with a record of 22-14 and narrowly missed the NBC World Series.

Legion Baseball Results and Schedules;

Kearney Runza Seniors (11-4)
Wednesday
– Single Game vs. McCook @ Memorial Field
Runza Seniors 13, McCook 0
Friday
– Double-Header vs. Elkhorn Mt. Michael @ Memorial Field – 2:00/4:00
Saturday
– Single Game vs. Millard North @ Memorial Field – 6:30

Kearney Post 52 Juniors (8-9)
Friday/Sunday
– @ Lincoln Junior Tournament

Kearney Jerseys Seniors (4-9)
Tuesday
– Single Game vs. St. Paul @ Memorial Field
Jerseys Seniors 10, St. Paul 12
Thursday
– Single Game vs. Palmer/Wolbach/Greeley @ Memorial Field – (Postponed)
Sunday
– Double-Header vs. North Platte @ Bill Wood Field – 2:00/4:30

Kearney Five Points Bank Juniors (12-3)
Tuesday
– Single Game vs. St. Paul @ Memorial Field
Five Points Bank Juniors 12, St. Paul 6
Thursday
– Single Game vs. Palmer/Wolbach/Greeley @ Memorial Field – (Postponed)
Friday
– Double-Header @ McCook – 5:30/7:30