Afternoon State Sports Briefs: Indy Car racing returns to Milwaukee Mile

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The Milwaukee Mile

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WEST ALLIS - Indy-Car racing returns to Milwaukee for the first time in two years. The Milwaukee-225 will be run on Sunday on the Milwaukee Mile at State Fair Park.

There had been talk about a sell-out when the race was first announced last September. But sponsors have added a 2-for-1 deal to some of their ticket offers. And promoter Chris McGrath said it was not a sign of desperation. He said his company, A-B Promotions, has a three-year plan to build up the Milwaukee event. He said this year was always thought to be a building year, with gradual growth expected the next two years. The track has 38,000 seats plus a few thousand more on the infield. The primo viewing sections in the grandstand are sold out or close to it.

The Milwaukee race used to be held the weekend after the Indianapolis-500, but that was ruled out for this year. Indy winner Dan Wheldon will not compete this weekend. Scott Dixon won the most recent Milwaukee event in 2009.

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The only defending champion at the state high school softball tournament went down to defeat this afternoon. Tigerton lost to Oakfield 3-2 in a Division-Four semi-final in Madison. Samantha Spoerke hit a two-run single in the second inning that put Oakfield in front for good. Oakfield will play Chippewa Falls McDonell for the D-4 championship tomorrow. McDonell advanced with an eight-inning, 3-2 victory over Highland in the other divisional semi-final. Alli Schufelt hit a run-scoring single in the top of the eighth to win it. In this afternoon’s Division-Three semis, Hurley was playing Poynette – and Stevens Point Pacelli was taking on Horicon.

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There will be a new Division-Three champion at the state girls’ high school soccer tournament. Last year’s titlist New Richmond lost today to Wisconsin Rapids Assumption 1-0 in the first D-3 semi-final in Milwaukee. Assumption will face Kettle Moraine Lutheran for the championship tomorrow. Lutheran edged Mayville today in a 1-0 overtime contest. Semi-finals in Division-Two were being played this afternoon. Defending champion Waukesha Catholic Memorial was taking on Madison Edgewood, and Green Bay Notre Dame was going up against Appleton Xavier. Semis in Division-One will be played tonight. Title games in all three divisions are set for tomorrow.

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The Class-“A” Midwest League is entering the final weekend of the season’s first half. Burlington easily won the first-half title in the Western Division – and they’ll host the Beloit Snappers starting tonight. The Snappers are in fourth place in the West, eight games behind the Bees, after beating Cedar Rapids 7-to-2 last night. The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers will close out the first half with a series at Cedar Rapids. The Rattlers are coming off a 2-nothing shutout of Peoria last night. Wisconsin is third in the West, seven games behind Burlington. The Eastern Division title remains up for grabs. Bowling Green has a one-and-a-half game lead over both Lansing and Great Lakes. Lansing plays at Dayton tonight. Great Lakes is at home against Fort Wayne. Peoria plays at Quad Cities. Clinton is at Kane County. Lake County travels to West Michigan. And South Bend entertains Bowling Green.

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In the Northwoods League, the Madison Mallards will host the Green Bay Bullfrogs again tonight. Both teams are tied for second in the South Division, just a half-game behind Battle Creek. Green Bay pounded the Mallards 9-0 last night. Battle Creek lost at Eau Claire 6-5, and that series resumes this evening. The Wisconsin Woodchucks will host Wisconsin Rapids, on the heels of a 7-4 ‘Chucks victory in Wausau. And La Crosse will try again to score against Waterloo, after losing 5-nothing at home on Thursday night. Mankato enters the weekend with a half-game lead over Brainerd in the North Division. Mankato hosts Duluth tonight. Brainerd entertains Alexandria. Saint Cloud is at Rochester. And Willmar plays at Thunder Bay.

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