Iowa
Iowa Cubs outfielder Darius Hill finds inspiration from little brother’s perseverance
‘Close to-perfect’ Mickey Mantle baseball card sells for record-breaking $12.6 million
A 1952 Mickey Mantle baseball card, initially purchased for $50,000 in 1995, simply shattered a file for the most costly sports activities memorabilia bought.
Anthony Jackson, USA TODAY
Tyus Hill sat in his electrical wheelchair at his household’s kitchen desk watching the tv as his brother, Darius, strolled to the plate for his first at-bat with the Iowa Cubs on Might 31. Tyus, who watches most of Darius’ baseball video games, could not miss this one.
It was Darius’ Triple-A debut for Iowa.
“I used to be a bit of bit nervous at first,” Tyus mentioned.
The nervousness didn’t final lengthy. Moments after Darius dug in for his first at-bat within the backside of the primary, he crushed the primary providing of the sport, a 95 mile per hour fastball, from St. Paul Saints pitcher Jordan Balazovic. into the precise subject bleachers at Principal Park.
“My mother and I,” Tyus mentioned, “we went loopy.”
It was the primary of many hits for Darius throughout his first stint at Triple-A. And Tyus, now 20-years-old, has been there nearly each step of the best way. Tyus, who suffers from a genetic dysfunction that is required him to make use of a wheelchair for over a decade, isn’t simply solely Darius’ largest fan.
He’s his largest inspiration
“On a regular basis, he simply brings probably the most constructive perspective and he is a pleasure to be round and that is one thing that is actually simply impressed me, it doesn’t matter what’s happening,” Darius mentioned.
Tyus turns into Darius’ largest fan
Tyus by no means bought the alternatives to play sports activities like Darius.
When Tyus was about 2-years-old, he was identified with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, a muscle dysfunction that causes weak point and degeneration. Finally, it led to bother strolling.
“I’ve had so many blessings and been in a position to take action many issues,” Darius mentioned. “And to see him form of have a distinct life-style than what I have been capable of do, it’s actually onerous for me typically.”
Darius helped him by way of it.
The 2 performed whiffle ball collectively of their Texas dwelling. Darius went on walks with Tyus and held his hand to forestall him from falling. He’d hoist his youthful brother on his shoulders to assist him shoot baskets. By 14, Tyus was in a wheelchair full-time. Darius was an enormous help, serving to get Tyus out and in of mattress at occasions.
PREVIOUSLY: Brennen Davis rejoins Iowa Cubs after lengthy stint on injured record
“The factor that helps me get by way of it’s simply seeing his constructive perspective and his pleasure that he takes into life each day,” Darius mentioned.
Plenty of that pleasure stems from his love of sports activities. Though Tyus could not play them, he stayed concerned. He did play-by-play of their Marcus’ highschool basketball video games on-line for family and friends members of the group. The brothers, together with their mother, Simone, and pa, Eddie, scoured the nation, visiting almost each Main League Baseball stadium for Tyus to see.
“He loves sports activities,” Eddie mentioned.
Considered one of Tyus’ largest passions was baseball and watching Darius play. Tyus cheered him on in center college. He was at Darius’ video games in highschool. Tyus even made the journey for some faculties video games when Darius performed at West Virginia. When he wasn’t there, he was watching from afar.
It has carried on into Darius’ professional profession after the Chicago Cubs chosen him within the twentieth spherical of the 2019 draft and despatched him to the minors. Tyus watched video games from dwelling and visited Darius when he may. He’d come to video games together with his mother and father and repair canine.
“I like watching him play,” Tyus mentioned.
This season has been additional particular.
For each of them.
Tyus comes alongside for Darius’ particular season
Darius has turn into one of many largest success tales for the Cubs’ farm system this season.
He hit .308/.306/.486 in 44 video games with Double-A Tennessee to earn his first promotion to Triple-A In Might. Darius’ scorching hitting hasn’t stopped. By means of his first 65 video games with Iowa, he tallied a slash line of .333/.372/.463.
Tyus has stayed concerned visiting in the course of the season and watching each recreation on-line that he is not at. Throughout Iowa’s highway journey to Indianapolis earlier this season, the household hit up the famed Hinkle Fieldhouse for Tyus to see. When Iowa was enjoying at dwelling, they took an off-day journey to Ames so he may go to Jack Trice Stadium.
“I am an enormous stadiums man,” Tyus mentioned.
PREVIOUSLY: How Matt Mervis turned one of many largest shock tales for the Cubs
There might be extra for him to go to quickly if Darius retains hitting the best way he does. Darius, who has flown below the radar early in his profession as a non-prospect, is instantly turning heads together with his spectacular performances on the plate. It has been particularly spectacular whereas he is one quick step away from from the majors.
“His bat-to-ball expertise are simply unbelievable,” Iowa supervisor Marty Pevey mentioned. “I swear he appears on the protection and tries to hit it the place they are not enjoying.”
It has been enjoyable for Tyus to see whereas he tunes into video games from Dallas. Darius credit the assist of Tyus for having a big impact on him. Tyus’ life provides Darius a novel perspective on issues, particularly sports activities. Darius admits it helps him after tough video games.
There’s at all times a reminder of Tyus. Darius will wave to Tyus when he is within the stands. When Tyus is not at a recreation, Darius is aware of he’ll normally get a textual content from him afterward.
“It is particular,” Darius mentioned. “Any time you will have any form of assist, you attempt to think about them and take a look at to do this for them. However with him, it is an much more particular case realizing that he actually needs he may on the market himself and that you simply’re actually his illustration virtually. That is one thing that is actually particular and I do not ever take that calmly.”
Darius continues to assist Tyus when he is again residing together with his mother and father within the low season. He nonetheless helps get Tyus out and in of mattress. The 2 additionally compete in opposition to one another in video video games. However most significantly, Darius supplies assist.
“(It) helps me quite a bit emotionally,” Tyus mentioned.
The dysfunction, which can doubtless assault his coronary heart and lungs, is terminal. However with the assistance of recent remedies, Eddie mentioned his organs are doing effectively.
In the meantime, Darius is having fun with maybe his greatest season within the professional but. However he is not alone.
He is bought Tyus cheering him on.
And provoking him alongside the best way.
“I really feel like I’ve numerous blessings in my life and I can look to my very own youthful brother simply to know that,” Darius mentioned.
Tommy Birch, the Register’s sports activities enterprise and options reporter, has been working on the newspaper since 2008. He is the 2018 and 2020 Iowa Sportswriter of the Yr. Attain him at tbirch@dmreg.com or 515-284-8468. Comply with him on Twitter @TommyBirch.
SOUTH BEND, Ind. – The University of Iowa men’s golf team finished two rounds of play at the Fighting Irish Classic on Sunday. The Hawkeyes currently sit in sixth place out of 15 teams.
Sophomore Noah Kent and junior Gage Messingham are both leading the Hawkeyes, tied for 8th place overall. Kent shot 1-over (71) in the first round and 1-under (69) in the second round, finishing with a total score of 140. Messingham join Kent as the only other Hawkeye to go under-par today in a round.
Sophomore Max Tjoa is tied for 37th place, shooting rounds of 74 and 72, with a total score of 146. Senior Chance Rinkol posted scores of 71 and 77 in the first and second rounds, respectively, and sits tied for 51st place with a score of 148. Senior Josh Lundmark recorded rounds of 79 and 71, finishing tied for 64th place with a total score of 150.
HAWKEYE SCORECARD
| 6/15 | Team | +5 | +3 | 148 |
| T8 | Gage Messingham | -1 | +1 | 140 |
| T8 | Noah Kent | +1 | -1 | 140 |
| T37 | Max Tjoa | +4 | +2 | 146 |
| T51 | Chance Rinkol | +1 | +7 | 148 |
| T64 | Josh Lundmark | +9 | +1 | 150 |
HEAR FROM HEAD COACH TYLER STITH
“Today was a very strong team performance with Noah and Gage leading the way. We showed a lot of grit all day but especially down the stretch. We’re in a great position heading into the final round.”
UP NEXT
The final round of the Fighting Irish Classic is set to tee off on Monday morning.
Nebraska volleyball entered October a perfect 38-0 against Iowa all-time. That number is now 39-0.
The No. 2 Huskers (14-1, 4-0 Big Ten) swept the Hawkeyes (8-8, 2-2 Big Ten), 25-17, 25-11, 25-13. This is the eighth-straight sweep for Nebraska over Iowa and 11th-straight win since falling at SMU.
Nebraska’s offense hit a blistering .404, led by 10 kills on .400 hitting from Merritt Beason.
The story of the day was the middles, though. With Andi Jackson out again, Leyla Blackwell earned the start alongside Rebekah Allick. The pair notched nine kills each, with Blackwell hitting .692 and Allick hitting .583. They also combined for five blocks.
Bergen Reilly dished out 35 assists.
Iowa managed to hit just .155, but did have the player with a match-high for kills: Michel Urquahart at 11.
Nebraska is back in action Friday, hosting No. 10 Purdue.
MORE: Andi Jackson Out, Taylor Landfair to Start Again for Nebraska Volleyball
MORE: Nebraska Football Continues to Receive Votes in Coaches, AP Polls
MORE: Nebraska’s James Williams Shares Emotional Journey After Standout Game Against Rutgers
MORE: Ball-Busting Blackshirts and Buschini Bombs in the Blistering Heat are Homecoming Heroes for the Huskers
MORE: Big Ten Football Week 6 Capsules
Stay up to date on all things Huskers by bookmarking Nebraska Cornhuskers On SI, subscribing to HuskerMax on YouTube, and visiting HuskerMax.com daily.
Video: Jay Higgins on Iowa’s defensive performance in loss to Ohio State
Jay Higgins discusses a variety of topics after Iowa’s 35-7 loss to Ohio State.
COLUMBUS, Ohio — Iowa football coach Kirk Ferentz made his view of the quarterback position pretty clear after Saturday’s 35-7 loss at Ohio State.
No, the Hawkeyes are not headed for a change at quarterback, Ferentz said.
“We’re not ready, I think, to have a controversy at that position,” the longtime head coach said.
The loss to Ohio State again illustrated the gap between Iowa and national powerhouses. The Hawkeyes haven’t beaten one of the three giants of the Big Ten — Penn State, Michigan or Ohio State — since a 2021 win over the Nittany Lions. Against ranked opponents last season, Iowa was beaten a combined 92-0.
Perhaps you could point to the fact that Iowa at least scored on Saturday as progress. But in reality, Saturday’s margin was similar to those three games last season.
More: Leistikow: Rating concern levels for Iowa football at quarterback, offensive line, defense
The quarterback position wasn’t good enough on Saturday. Cade McNamara finished the game 14-of-20 passing for 98 yards and three turnovers — two fumbles and one interception. Just like the game itself, the quarterback play fit an old, tired narrative.
When, if ever, will Iowa’s quarterback woes finally be solved?
To be clear, quarterback production was not the only deficient area on Saturday. The Hawkeyes were beaten in the trenches — on both sides of the ball — and outgained 203-116 on the ground. Iowa’s defense also gave up four touchdowns through the air.
After Iowa trailed just 7-0 at the break, it got ugly in the second half. Ohio State is a legitimate national championship threat, and the Hawkeyes didn’t do much in the third and fourth quarters to show they could compete at that level.
“The bottom line is, you’ve got to play clean football against a team like this,” Ferentz said. “We weren’t able to do that. They get some credit on that, too.”
Kirk Ferentz on Cade McNamara after loss to Ohio State: ‘Cade will be fine’
Kirk Ferentz discusses a variety of topics after Iowa’s 35-7 loss to Ohio State.
Since the 2019 departure of Nate Stanley, Iowa’s quarterback struggles have been no secret. Whether it be Spencer Petras or Alex Padilla or Deacon Hill, Iowa hasn’t gotten necessary production from that position. There was optimism that McNamara, once a prized transfer from Michigan, would be the solution.
Through the first 10 games of his Iowa career, McNamara has fallen short of that.
The lowest bar for McNamara to clear as Iowa’s quarterback — taking care of the ball — is something he was unable to do on Saturday.
McNamara’s turnovers came on three consecutive possessions to open the second half, all but erasing any first-half hope that Iowa had managed to build.
Because Iowa lives in such thin margins, avoiding turnovers is paramount, even more so against a team like Ohio State. The lack of ball security was a reason the quarterback position was such a disaster at Iowa last season. Hill finished the season with a ratio of eight interceptions to five passing touchdowns.
McNamara’s touchdown pass-to-interception ratio this season is now 3-to-3. He was without a turnover against Illinois State, Troy and Minnesota, but coughing up the ball proved costly against Iowa State and Ohio State. An early second-half turnover against Iowa State this season gave the Cyclones life. Three against Ohio State on Saturday shut the door on a possible upset.
“We evaluate every position week to week,” Ferentz said about quarterback. “But we’re comfortable. I think Cade’s improving. I really do. It sounds funny with the turnovers today, I think he seems more comfortable. His timing seems better. And he was getting the ball out really well in the first half. We have to improve as a collective offense.”
It might go against popular opinion but to Ferentz’s point, McNamara started Saturday’s contest well, completing 10 of his first 12 passes. There is, however, a gaping hole in that argument.
Completion efficiency is not McNamara’s biggest issue. In fact, in the last two games — against Minnesota and Ohio State — he was a combined 25-of-39, marking major improvement from a putrid 13-of-29 outing against Iowa State.
But that extremely efficient stretch against Ohio State matters less if it amounts to zero points and also means turning the ball over three times later on.
In his Iowa career, McNamara has not yet thrown a touchdown against a power conference opponent (granted, a redzone package with backup Brendan Sullivan was implemented earlier this season, making it more difficult for McNamara to do so). But more troubling than the lack of touchdowns are the fact that all three of his interceptions this season have come against power conference opponents (one was a last ditch heave against Iowa State). You can also add the two fumbles against Ohio State to that turnover tally.
Iowa didn’t get McNamara just to beat up on lower level programs. When the competition level rises, he needs to do so with it.
“We just can’t turn the ball over,” McNamara said Saturday. “We had three drives in a row with turnovers. That just can’t happen. They just came out in the second half and they played well. They’re are a good defense and they’re a good team.”
You can argue ad nauseam against Ferentz’s assertion that McNamara is improving. But bottom line is, the fact that this is even a discussion is a problem. It was reasonable to think that McNamara would’ve been better than this through five games.
Iowa doesn’t need its quarterback to be prolific. Running back Kaleb Johnson solves a lot for the offense with the way he’s been playing. Iowa just needs McNamara to take care of the ball and make defenses pay on occasion when the chance presents itself.
In critical moments, that hasn’t been the case.
Iowa running back Kaleb Johnson reacts to 35-7 loss at Ohio State
The Hawkeyes junior wound up rushing 15 times for 86 yards, but most of those came after the game was decided.
Through the first 10 games of his Iowa career — split between 2023 and 2024 due to injury — McNamara hasn’t done much to validate the excitement that once surrounded him. Ferentz has preached patience for someone who has been out for an extended period — on multiple occasions. That faith in him could still bear results.
But time is becoming of the essence for McNamara to change the narrative.
Said Ferentz: “Cade will be fine.”
Follow Tyler Tachman on X @Tyler_T15, contact via email at ttachman@gannett.com
Detroit Police form new unit to help violent crime victims and their families
NFL power rankings: Where 49ers stand after bad loss to Cardinals
Game Recap: Cowboys come back for 20-17 win
Miami Hurricanes Soccer Gets Another Win On The Season; First Alert: October 7, 2024
Thousands participate in 36th annual Jimmy Fund Walk in Boston
Colorado Rockies game no. 116 thread: Zac Gallen vs José Ureña
See it: Tesla crashes into Columbus convention center at 70 mph
Fox News Politics: Georgia the whole day through
Death of missing Oregon girl found in stream ruled homicide
At least 2 dead as tornadoes hit Alabama, damage homes across Southeast
Speaker Johnson addresses claims FEMA diverted funds to immigration efforts: ‘American people are disgusted'
European leaders call for ceasefire on anniversary of Gaza war
In Queens, N.Y., an immigrant street vendor is forced to confront crippling shyness
Video: The Fight for Rural America
Fetterman lauds Israel for leaving Iran ‘exposed and humiliated’ after strikes on Hamas, Hezbollah
-
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25439572/VRG_TEC_Textless.jpg "Charter will offer Peacock for free with some cable subscriptions next year")
Technology4 days agoCharter will offer Peacock for free with some cable subscriptions next year
-
World3 days agoUkrainian stronghold Vuhledar falls to Russian offensive after two years of bombardment
-
World4 days agoWikiLeaks’ Julian Assange says he pleaded ‘guilty to journalism’ in order to be freed
-
Technology3 days agoBeware of fraudsters posing as government officials trying to steal your cash
-
Health2 days agoHealth, happiness and helping others are vital parts of free and responsible society, Founding Fathers taught
-
Virginia5 days agoStatus for Daniels and Green still uncertain for this week against Virginia Tech; Reuben done for season
-
Sports2 days agoFreddie Freeman says his ankle sprain is worst injury he's ever tried to play through
-
News2 days agoLebanon says 50 medics killed in past three days as Israel extends its bombardment