Morning State Sports Briefs: UW's Taylor expected to be ready by opener

• University of Wisconsin

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MADISON - University of Wisconsin linebacker Mike Taylor is expected to be ready for the Badgers’ season opener two weeks from tonight at home against Nevada-Las Vegas.

Taylor has missed the last four practices with soreness in his surgically-repaired right knee. Linebackers’ coach Dave Huxtable said after yesterday’s practice that the coaching staff is trying to be smart in how they deal with Taylor’s condition. The junior tore an ACL ligament in his right knee in 2009, and had a minor injury to his left knee last season. Huxtable says Taylor has had a great pre-season camp. Meanwhile, quarterback Jon Budmayr has seen a nerve specialist about a problem in his right elbow – and coach Bret Bielema says more tests are planned early next week. Budmayr is expected to be the main back-up to Russell Wilson. But he’s been out since August ninth. Bielema says Budmayr cannot throw until he gets a strong feeling back in his arm.

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Mankato will host Battle Creek tonight in the opener of the Northwoods League championship series. Battle Creek advanced by sweeping Green Bay in the South Division Finals. And Mankato punched its ticket last night with a 5-3 victory over Alexandria, as the Moon Dogs won the North Division Finals two-games-to-one. Mankato overcame a 2-nothing deficit with four runs in the fifth inning. The Summer Collegiate World Series is a best-of-three. It starts tonight in Mankato, with Games Two-and-Three set for the next two nights in Battle Creek. Both teams are going for their first Northwoods championship.

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The Green Bay Packers will hold one more practice today before playing the Arizona Cardinals tomorrow night in the Lambeau Field exhibition opener. Erik Walden has spent two straight days practicing with the Number-One defense. And he appears to have the edge at the moment to start at right outside linebacker over Frank Zombo and Brad Jones. Walden and Zombo traded starts last season after Jones got hurt. Walden said he was pumped about winning the job this year – but nothing’s certain until the regular season begins.

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SCORES

In the Midwest League…

Wisconsin 7, Peoria 4

Beloit 10, Kane County 1

Quad Cities 12, Clinton 10

Burlington 4, Cedar Rapids 2

Dayton 5, Great Lakes 1

Bowling Green 3, Lansing 2

South Bend 6, Lake County 5

West Michigan 8, Fort Wayne 4

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In the American Association

Winnipeg 7, St. Paul 4

Fargo-Moorhead 5, Sioux City 2

Lincoln 7, Sioux Falls 2

Wichita 6, Kansas City 5

Shreveport-Bossier 11, Gary 9

El Paso 10, Amarillo 7

Fort Worth 11, Grand Prairie 6

Tags: wisconsin sports, sports, proam