A big economic development project in eastern Iowa is thriving after just a year in operation with plans to add to the staff. The $50 million TBK Bank Sports Complex opened in Bettendorf last April and now attracts between 2,500 and 5,000 people each week. Marketing director Mick Dalton says … [Read more...]
Charles City schools approve plan for new baseball/softball complex
The Charles City School district has approved a sports complex the district says will solve a 20 year flooding issue. The district will be relocating their baseball and softball diamonds from the swamped Sportsman’s Park to the school's campus. The two teams each played just seven home games due … [Read more...]
Bettendorf complex becomes first to use new tax break for baseball fields
The Enhance Iowa Board made its first award today under a new program for baseball and softball fields. The board awarded a $2.5 million tax rebate -- the most allowed -- to the BettPlex in Bettendorf. Under the program, a baseball or softball complex with a construction cost of at least $10 … [Read more...]
Investigation: former Earlville Athletic Association treasurer took money
A special investigation by the state auditor's office has identified all sorts of improper transactions by the former treasurer of the group that runs youth sports programs in the northeast Iowa town Earlville. State Auditor Mary Mosiman the Delaware County Sheriff asked for the investigation after … [Read more...]
Special Olympics Summer Games get underway in Ames
From all corners of Iowa, hundreds of athletes with intellectual disabilities will be headed for Ames today for the start of the Iowa Special Olympics Summer Games being held in Hilton Coliseum at Iowa State University. Special Olympics Iowa spokeswoman Stephanie Kocer says the event has grown … [Read more...]
New leader of IGHSAU says educational value of sports is important
The board that oversees the organization which runs the high school sports and activities for girls in the state has chosen a Winteset native to become its next leader. University of Northern Iowa interim athletic director Jean Berger will take over as the executive director of the Iowa Girls High … [Read more...]
Iowa softball team becomes talk of nation at Little League World Series
A softball team from central Iowa became the center of a national debate Tuesday in a controversy at the Little League Softball World Series in Portland, Oregon. The Iowa team of 11 and 12 year olds from Polk City beat Canada Monday to finish pool play at 3-1. They then watched as it appeared the … [Read more...]
IGHSAU searching for new officials
The Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union is weighing options in the hopes of attracting new officials for the various sports. Lisa Brinkmeyer of the girls' union says over the last five or six years they have lost more than 400 officials. "We have a lot of older officials that are retiring and … [Read more...]
Cascade makes it into the 2A title game
Cascade and 10th ranked Iowa City Regina will collide for the class 2A title at the state softball tournament. Cascade scored four runs in the first and two more in the second in a 6-2 win over IKM-Manning. "Defensively you have to play and make the plays you need to make and that was hug for … [Read more...]
Urbandale in state softball tournament after motivating loss last year
Urbandale will be making its 17th trip to the state softball tournament next week, but is first since 2002, when the J-Hawks play fifth ranked Waukee in a class 5A quarterfinal on Monday afternoon. Most of the previous trips to Fort Dodge came under legendary coach Gary Page back in the 1970s and … [Read more...]