The main sports story in the region is the Vikings and their selections in the NFL Draft. I did a quick break down of their selections, which you can see here.
The Vikings weren't the only local angle about the draft though. There were also the NDSU players vying for the distinction of being selected this year. Somewhat surprisingly, none of them were taken before the Broncos claimed Mr. Irrelevant. Within hours of the draft going final though, Landon Lechler was reportedly going to be getting a shot with the Bengals while nothing has yet been announced for Zach Johnson or Jack Plankers. It's a slower start then I would have expected for them but like their predecessors, any shot they are given will be utilized well!
But Football now takes a backseat for a while. To some, myself included, the coming months are like a sports abyss. Little to talk about, little to think about, a lot of waiting. The Timberwolves will find out their lottery selection and the NBA will have their draft not too long from now, but those are fleeting distractions. If the sports world is to remain at at least a simmering temperature then the Baseball teams will have to carry the load.
The Redhawks start up again in a week and they'll be the primary option for viewing and conversation locally but they are not the lone acts on the stage. Despite the snow and cold of the past few days, Baseball on both the high school & college levels has continued on.
NDSU has an important series against Oral Roberts next weekend which will have a major impact on seeding the Summit League tournament. I haven't been overly impressed by the base path Bison but they've had a couple quality offensive showings recently and their pitching has had some bright spots. Friday/Saturday/Sunday will be very much like a make or break series for them as they near the end of their regular season.
Across the river, the Cobbers are also closing in on the end of their Baseball season and have to this point managed eight more victories then losses. After playing four games this weekend - a pair of double headers, they're surely ready for a break. They haven't yet qualified for their playoffs but the remaining three games leave the door open. Their 8th street neighbors (MSUM) surprisingly don't have a baseball program, though it's a wise financial decision that more colleges and universities are having to make. So not to ignore Softball or the various Track & Field events but the NDSU & Concordia Baseball teams are going to have to lead the way until the Hawks land back at home, May 29 - with several exhibition games sprinkled through out the month of May.
Suffice it to say that it's a slow time of year for sports but with high school & college level playoff races heating up or just beginning, it's not devoid of things deserving of attention! If all else fail, at least the Twins have gotten off to a better start and have been able to sustain it for a few weeks.