After years of waiting, Indianola has finally done it.

In the program’s fifth-ever trip to the Iowa high school baseball state tournament and its first-ever state championship game, Indianola claimed the program’s first state championship with a 9-6 win over Pleasant Valley on Friday, July 24.​

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“This means everything,” said Indianola senior Zach Benge. “A lot of people sleep on the Indy boys, but we are here to play. We are here to compete.” ​

Now, the 2026 Indianola baseball team is cemented as the best team in school history, surpassing the historic 1969 team. But it took some time, unity, and understanding about what the next steps were to reach their goal. ​

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“I had a conversation with (former MLB star and Indianola native) Casey Blake about three years ago,” said Indianola coach Nathan Carlin. “I was the head coach at Bondurant-Ferrer at the time and (Casey) just said, ‘I want you to be our next head coach,’ and we just kind of bought into each other. His kids, his nephews, bought into me. The entire team, the entire community bought into what we were trying to do.”

​After last season’s substate final loss to Iowa City West, there was immediate conversation matched with hunger to get better, to learn from that loss.​

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“We took our lumps three years ago with a young team; last year we put it together. We had a really nice team, but we learned there was another level that to be a champion,” Carlin said. “That just motivated us for the next 365 days. We had a picture of City High holding the 4A state trophy in my classroom and in our dugout for the last year, and every day the kids walked by and looked at it and just knew they had to put in a little more.”​

More: Iowa high school state baseball tournament 2026: Scores, brackets

After Thursday night’s state semifinal win over Valley, Carlin said he wanted to keep things as normal as possible in preparation for the state title game.

​“We’re going to eat a good dinner, let them sleep a little bit, have a good breakfast, and then go lift,” Carlin said. “Some of our staff will stay, get a good scouting report done, and then we’ll go ahead and go through the same routine that we’ve done for every game.”​

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But what Carlin forgot to mention was his team would get a chance to take a tour of Carver-Hawkeye Arena and shoot some hoops – that’s how they finished their preparation before arriving at Veterans Memorial Stadium.​

And it turned out the pregame shootaround worked well and Indianola rushed out to a 5-0 lead after the first two innings.

But slowly Pleasant Valley began to make noise. Dawson Bales blasted a solo home run in the top of the third, and it ignited the Spartans. Mason McCaw singled to bring in Jackson O’Melia, and it was suddenly 5-2.​

But Indianola answered right back. Brody Merema doubled to bring in two runs in the bottom of the third, and a wild pitch scored Dallas Harlan. Things looked stable again for the No. 2 seed in the tournament.

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More: VOTE: Most outstanding player at 2026 Iowa state baseball tournament

But in the top of the sixth, the Spartans put pressure on Indianola pitcher Jackson Foust, ending his outing after 5 ⅔ innings and 79 pitches.​ Gavin Barber singled to bring in a run, then on a deep hit to right field, Bales came through again with a bases-clearing, three-RBI double. Pleasant Valley has all the momentum and was only down two runs, 8-6.​

Indianola used three pitchers in the sixth, from Foust to Joey Crabb, who went just six pitches, and then finally Jacob Orey, who got Indianola out of the sixth-inning jam. Pleasant Valley left two on after Orey struck out Evan Barr, but with an inning left, the game was far from over.

​”We were trying to stay after it, win every pitch,” said Pleasant Valley coach Derek Stecklein. “At that point, don’t worry about what happened earlier in the game, and focus on where we were and focus on every pitch.”

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Indianola added an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth as Benge added to his three-RBI day, sending out a home run to the left field patio seats.

“I was so excited, got the barrel extended, and I didn’t even feel it off the bat,” he added.​

More: Des Moines Register seeks fall high school sports intern

That final run was all Indianola needed to secure its first state title. While the 27 players on the roster are thrilled with their accomplishment, they’re even more excited to finally bring a state title back to the nearly 17,000 people who reside just south of Des Moines.

“Indianola is a type of town where you get sucked in, and you don’t want to leave because it’s such a tight-knit community that has each other’s backs and is so supportive of you, and a baseball town,” Carlin said.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Indianola tops Pleasant Valley, wins program’s first Iowa baseball state title

Mar 28, 2026; Seattle, Washington, USA; UFC CEO Dana White talks to the press after the fight between Israel Adesanya (red gloves) and Joe Pyfer (blue gloves) during UFC Fight Night at Climate Pledge Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-Imagn Images

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Former world champion Tony Bellew has compared the resumes of Joe Calzaghe and Carl Froch, while also naming a winner of their hypothetical prime-for-prime showdown.

While we will never know the true result of their fantasy fight, most would argue that Calzaghe’s Hall of Fame career was superior to that of Froch.

This is largely because he boasts the all-time record (21) for most consecutive successful world title defences at 168lbs, just five behind heavyweight legend Joe Louis’ pound-for-pound record.

Two of his most notable victories came against Mikkel Kessler and Jeff Lacy, while his light-heavyweight debut saw him outpoint a still-serviceable version of Bernard Hopkins in 2008.

Yet despite these high-profile performances, Bellew remains convinced that Froch crafted the more impressive resume during his own super-middleweight campaign.

Before losing to Kessler in 2010, ‘The Cobra’ had outpointed Jean Pascal for the WBC world title, which he defended with a stunning 12th-round finish over Jermain Taylor and a split decision triumph against Andre Dirrell.

Froch then eventually dethroned Lucian Bute after losing to Andre Ward, with further significant victories arriving against Kessler and George Groves.

But while believing that the Nottingham man generally faced a higher calibre of opposition, Bellew has told Fight Your Corner that Calzaghe would have ultimately beaten him.

“Carl has got a better resume than Joe Calzaghe, he has. I don’t think that he would have beaten Joe Calzaghe, but he has got a better resume than him.”

“Carl’s career, on paper, is better than Joe Calzaghe’s.”

Managing to defeat every opponent with a masterful southpaw style, Calzaghe eventually retired with an unblemished record of 46-0 (32 KOs).

Source: Polaris

To be the best, you’ve got to beat the best. Polaris is claiming they are such, and the company is so confident that it’s putting money on it. And not small change, either; we’re talking about $50,000 here. The brand is putting a big ‘ol $50k smackaroos up for grabs for any non-Polaris driver that can beat them in the Baja 400, and if nobody can, that purse carries over to the Baja 1000. Any takers?

Source: Polaris

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Polaris’ SCORE Challenge is more than the actual race itself, and it is leaning heavily on the RZR Factory Racing team to kick ass and take names. the Pro UTV Class is its domain, and it has Brock Heger, Cayden MacCachre, Ethan Groom, and Joe Terrana to do battle on its behalf. Consider Polaris locked and loaded.

“The goal of the SCORE Challenge is to reward top racers for racing Baja and create even more opportunities for head-to-head competition at the highest level,” said Alex Scheuerell, Polaris’ Director of Off-Road Motorsports. “When the best teams and drivers compete, everyone benefits-the sport grows, the competition gets stronger, and the fans get the racing they want to see.

So, long story short, Polaris is offering up $50k to any racer that can beat it on what is effectively its home turf. We wouldn’t wage that battle, but we do know other manufacturers might. And to take that whole “king of the castle” notion, there’s a lot of mindset behind it.

Anyways, we salute Polaris for the challenge they set. We’ll let Muse do the rest of the talking for us:

Best, you’ve got to be the best

You’ve got to change the world

And use this chance to be heard

Your time is now (your time is now)

You heard them. Now.

Former Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo was arrested Thursday in Milwaukee after being accused of driving while intoxicated.

The 46-year-old CBS Sports analyst performed poorly on field sobriety tests during a traffic stop shortly after 6 p.m. on Interstate 43, according to the arrest-detention report obtained by The Independent.

He was booked on OWI and later released. Romo’s court date is set for September 21 at 8:30 a.m.

This incident remains under investigation, and a further statement could come later Friday, the Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office said. Additional details about his arrest and the circumstances behind it were not released.

This is Romo’s first arrest. A first-offense OWI in Wisconsin is typically a civil offense punishable by a $150 to $300 fine.

Romo attended Burlington High School in Wisconsin, about a 45-minute drive southwest from Milwaukee, where he played football, basketball and golf. He went on to star at Eastern Illinois University, winning the 2002 Walter Payton Award as the top offensive player in Division I-AA football.

After signing with the Dallas Cowboys as an undrafted free agent in 2003, Romo became the team’s starting quarterback in 2006 and spent his entire 14-year NFL career in Dallas. A four-time Pro Bowler, he retired in 2017 as the franchise’s all-time leader in passing yards and touchdown passes before joining CBS Sports as its lead NFL analyst.

Romo was back in his hometown this week to compete in the Wisconsin State Amateur golf tournament at West Bend Country Club, which he has participated in since 2018. He finished Thursday tied for 74th place.

“I’m competitive in both, I’m just better at football,” Romo told TMJ4 News from the golf course Thursday. “It’s the challenge of it. It’s as tough as you’re gonna play.”

He was also photographed giving a young fan golf pointers at the event, with images shared Wednesday on social media by Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reporter Jim Owczarski.

Romo and his wife Candice, 39, live in North Dallas, Texas, with their three sons: Hawkins, 14, Rivers, 12, and Jones, 8.

The Independent has contacted CBS Sports for comment.

Azzi Fudd put on a historic shooting display during her first WNBA All-Star weekend. The Dallas Wings guard won Friday night’s 3-point contest, becoming the first rookie in league history to win the event.

Fudd finished the first round with 30 points, 10 shy of the maximum possible score. Portland Fire star Bridget Carleton was eliminated after scoring 19 in the round. Fudd took 27 shots, missing just six of her attempts en route to winning the coveted title.

Fudd acknowledged she experienced some nerves Friday night. “You saw ‘only’ six shots, but I feel like that was a lot,” Fudd said. “But honestly, I was really nervous. I was excited.”

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Azzi Fudd of the Dallas Wings poses with the trophy after winning the Kia WNBA Skills Challenge STARRY 3-Point Contest at AT&T WNBA All-Star 2026 at Wintrust Arena in Chicago, Illinois, on July 24, 2026. (Geoff Stellfox/Getty Images)

Fudd added: “It’s fun to do because… and I don’t want to sound cocky… but it’s easy to me, just the set shot. Take the ball from the rack; it really is muscle memory. It’s what I’ve been doing since I was young.”

Fudd entered the All-Star break averaging 2.2 shots from beyond the 3-point arc this season. She’s knocked down 53 total 3-pointers so far during her rookie year.

LIBERTY’S SABRINA IONESCU ADDRESSES ABSENCE FROM WNBA 3-POINT CONTEST: ‘NEVER OFFICIALLY GOT INVITED’

While injuries impacted Fudd’s college basketball career, Dallas valued her overall talent and took her with the first selection in April’s WNBA Draft.

Azzi Fudd of the Dallas Wings shoots during the Kia WNBA Skills Challenge STARRY 3-Point Contest at the WNBA All-Star 2026 at Wintrust Arena in Chicago, Illinois, on July 24, 2026. (Geoff Stellfox/Getty Images)

Fudd also said her injury setbacks came with an unexpected benefit. The repetitive shooting she did during rehab helped sharpen her form and build the rhythm needed to knock down shots from the same spots in Friday’s 3-point contest.

“That was a lot of chair shooting, a lot of stationary shots, so you get really good at shooting off of a rack and being stationary and robotic and having to knock your shot down.”

Dallas Wings guard Azzi Fudd (35) reacts during the Kia WNBA Skills Challenge STARRY 3-Point Contest at the AT&T WNBA All-Star 2026 at Wintrust Arena in Chicago, Illinois, on July 24, 2026. (Geoff Stellfox/Getty Images)

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Before the 3-point contest, the WNBA debuted another All-Star event in Chicago — the Shooting Stars competition.

Replacing the past skills challenge, the Shooting Stars competition featured four three-person teams. Each roster included one former player designated as a legend, one current player and one rising young player. Team Washington defeated Team Seattle to win the inaugural event.

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Manchester United are continuing to be linked with a host of potential new signings during the summer transfer window

Manchester United have been informed they will not be able to complete the signing of Tyler Adams. This is after reports emerged claiming that the Reds had expressed an interest in signing the Bournemouth midfielder.

United have already had a busy summer transfer window, with three new signings completed over the last couple of weeks.

Andrey Santos completed a £50million switch to Old Trafford from Chelsea, while Youri Tielemans also signed from Aston Villa after United agreed to pay the £35million release clause in his contract.

Karl Darlow has also been signed by United as a free agent, and now it seems that the Reds are looking to continue strengthening their midfield options.

The Daily Mail have reported that United have joined the race to sign Adams on a permanent deal from Bournemouth, with the United States international thought to be valued at around £35million.

However, a subsequent report from talkSPORT has claimed that Bournemouth have made it clear that Adams is not for sale and would not be available for £35million even if they were to sanction a transfer.

Adams was recently with the United States squad at the World Cup, where he helped his country reach the last-16 stage of the tournament before they suffered a heavy defeat at the hands of Belgium

The report also claims that the Cherries also deem Eli Junior Kroupi and Alex Scott as not for sale this summer, with both players being heavily linked with a move away from the Vitality Stadium.

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Scott has been heavily linked with a move to United this summer, with Bournemouth believed to be keen to hand the 22-year-old a new contract.

However, talks between Scott and Bournemouth over a new deal are reported to have stalled, with suggestions that the midfielder is keen to secure a move to a new club instead.

This update handed United a major boost, but there have since been reports that Scott would prefer a move to Chelsea if he were to leave Bournemouth this summer.

It remains to be seen what other business United could look to complete during the rest of the summer transfer window, with multiple suggestions that signing another midfielder could be on the agenda.

The City of Brotherly Love has its newest star.

LeBron James announced on social media Friday that he would be joining the Philadelphia 76ers for his unprecedented 24th NBA season.

The move now makes the Sixers a legitimate threat in the Eastern Conference and is giving the city an additional boost to what already is filled with four solid sports teams, as the 76ers, Flyers, Eagles, and Phillies all made the playoffs in their most recent respective seasons.

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LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers and Jaylen Brown of the Boston Celtics look on during a game at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Dec. 25, 2023. (NBAE via Getty Images)

When James announced his “last decision,” several of his new teammates did not even bother to contain their excitement.

Eagles running back Saquon Barkley already wants to make plans on the links, as well.

James, 41, is reportedly signing a two-year, $8 million deal, taking a major discount, to join the 76ers, ESPN first reported.

James announced his decision in a post on X where he said he thought he was done at the end of last season and that he had likely played his final game. However, “I still truly love this game, and I have more to give.”

A view of LeBron James speaking onstage during The Shop Live panel at Fanatics Fest at Jacob Javits Center in New York City on July 17, 2026. (Roy Rochlin/Getty Images for Fanatics)

LEBRON JAMES MAKES NBA FREE AGENCY DECISION, ANNOUNCES PLANS TO SIGN WITH 76ERS

The 76ers will be the fourth team James has played for in his illustrious career. For Philadelphia, James is the second major star to join the team this offseason, as they acquired Jaylen Brown in a stunning trade with the Boston Celtics earlier this month.

Last season, the 76ers were swept by the New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference semifinals, and they hope the additions of James and Brown can propel them to a championship.

Former Los Angeles Lakers’ LeBron James takes a spill vs. the Oklahoma City Thunder during the second round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Paycom Center. (Alonzo Adams/Imagn Images)

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While James may not be the force he once was, he still remains a productive player going into his 24th season. In 60 games with the Los Angeles Lakers last season, James averaged 20.9 points, 7.2 assists and 6.1 rebounds per game and was named an All-Star for the 22nd time, extending his NBA record.

Fox News’ Ryan Canfield contributed to this report.

This time, LeBron James delivered The Decision in a much more subtle way, but his announcement Friday that he intends to join the Philadelphia 76ers still had a massive impact on the basketball and betting worlds.

The 41-year-old James, who is the NBA’s all-time scoring leader and a four-time champion, announced his decision Friday on the social media platform X around the same time NBA insider Shams Charania broke the news for ESPN.

James reportedly signed a two-year deal worth $8 million after he earned a base salary of $52.6 million last season with the Los Angeles Lakers, his eighth season with the high-profile franchise. In his social media post, James said he was leaning toward retirement after last season but a little time away revealed a desire to return for a 24th NBA season.

“I still truly love this game, and I have more to give,” James wrote. “This is my last decision. I’m not going for money. I’m not going for family … I still want to compete, to win and have a chance at the feeling of winning another championship.”

76ers NBA Finals odds update (via FanDuel)

In an era of parity that saw the New York Knicks (+2200 in the NBA title odds before the postseason) recently become the eighth consecutive different champion, the addition of James puts the 76ers in the mix for the 2027 title. NBA future markets reacted swiftly to the move.

For instance, FanDuel had the 76ers at +2000 before Friday’s announcement but immediately moved to +1000, making Philadelphia the fourth favorite behind the Thunder (+260), Spurs (+270) and Knicks (+900). Caesars Sportsbook moved the 76ers from +1700 to +800 to win it all, while also moving them from +700 to win the East to +340, the second favorite behind the Knicks. They are also the second favorite (+200) behind the Knicks (+170) to win the Atlantic Division.

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The addition of James gives the 76ers one of the most formidable projected starting lineups in the NBA. He will play alongside rising stars Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe, 2024 Finals MVP Jaylen Brown and oft-injured but gifted center Joel Embiid, who won the league’s MVP award in 2023. Current 76ers coach Nick Nurse, who won the 2019 NBA title while leading the Toronto Raptors, is 116-130 in three seasons with the 76ers.

On July 6, the 76ers landed Brown in a blockbuster trade with the Boston Celtics that saw them send away Paul George and two future first-round picks. Most basketball analysts saw the deal as a steal for Philadelphia, which landed the five-time All Star without having to part with one of its rising stars in Maxey or Edgecombe. The acquisition of Brown moved the NBA title future odds for the 76ers from around +6000 in most markets to the +2000 range.

The polarizing James, who was one of the most celebrated prospects in the sport’s history, has won a championship at each of his four prior stops. He won back-to-back titles with the Miami Heat in 2012 and 2013, in 2016 with the Cleveland Cavaliers in his second stint with his hometown team and in the Covid-shortened 2020 season with the Los Angeles Lakers, his second year with the team.

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After spending the first seven years of his NBA career with the Cavaliers, the Akron native infamously announced his free agent destination on a made-for-TV spectacle titled “The Decision,” a self-celebratory extravaganza that concluded with James uttering the now-famous line, “I will take my talents to South Beach and join the Miami Heat.”

The “take my talents” phrase later morphed into popular culture lexicon and was often recited when someone voluntarily changed jobs. However, James has long maintained that participating in “The Decision” production is one the biggest regrets of his career.

Last season, James averaged 20.9 points, 7.2 assists and 6.1 rebounds in 60 games for the Lakers. His career averages are 26.8 ppg, 7.5 rpg and 7.4 apg. In addition to his perch as the NBA’s all-time scoring leader (43,440 points), James ranks No. 4 all time in assists with 12,016. He is also a 22-time All Star and four-time regular season MVP.