⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The week began with the loss of the 10th pick to a torn meniscus and ended with the emergence of the 2022 first round pick in the second preseason game. It remains to be known whether Lewis Cine's standout performance in Cleveland will be enough to get him back above the cut line. Even a duplicate effort in the preseason finale might not make that happen. With what he showed he now has a path to a spot somewhere in the League for this season, maybe even on a 53 for a team that needs more talent. It's not the outcome that anyone saw coming but the surprise makes it that much more sweet!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The team also made a splash Sunday morning, adding Stephon Gilmore as they continue a shopping spree for defensive backs with three weeks remaining until game one. It should be just enough time for him to get into game shape and become refreshed with Brian Flores before the opener.
And if he shows that he doesn't have anything left then it will only be a one-year investment. So they will be back at the drawing board for more corners in the long-run either way.
In other words, it's minimal risk, possibly high reward.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The welcome developments continued as Post 2 was back in the Legion World Series. They struggled in the opener but then a historically-long second game proved to be the spark they needed as they got back to even after 14 innings and 1 AM local time! When they got back on the field that afternoon they pounded-out seven runs in the first three innings and cruised to a 12-3 win!
It came to a screeching-halt Sunday evening as they lost a tie-breaker to continue playing by a single run scored against them. To say it's a tough way to be done is putting it mildly but it's even worse when stacked up with the 2020 seasons that weren't, when many of these boys were just beginning their high school competition. It's as imperfect an ending as anyone could have drawn up.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
From that ending to NDSU soccer beginning, as they opened their season in Wisconsin with a win and a scoreless draw. Coming off of a 5-6-6 2023 season it is an encouraging start, with room for improvement from the second match.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Redhawks continued to have a contentious relationship with success as they 3-3 over the week. Even for the exceedingly average result they now sit one win behind Winnipeg and are matched in the W column with Sioux Falls. With two more losses in hand they will need some help to make up the ground but it's far from insurmountable with more than two weeks remaining on the docket.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
It's also going to be a muddy fight to the end for the Minneapolis team as Cleveland is just ahead of them and Kansas City remains in the hunt. If you're like me and have made them an after-thought this season because of the mismanagement then you may not care how the standings finish, but being that it's the slowest time of the year, they're still in the mix.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Another distinctive week for the Fargo area sports scene.
Commentaires