Minnesota Sports Briefs: Vikings open mini-camp for new players

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EDEN PRAIRIE - The first rookie mini-camp of 2012 is set for later this morning for the Minnesota Vikings first-year players.

There will be two practices today at Winter Park in Eden Prairie. The mini-camp will help get the rookies integrated into the system and help the coaches get an early read on how the rookies might stack up. The team drafted ten players late last month in the NFL draft, and have added several free agent rookies, as well.

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The Minnesota Twins have not recorded a hit in 15 consecutive innings, having been no-hit by Angels ace Jered Weaver Wednesday night, and not collecting a hit in the final six innings of Tuesday's loss in Anaheim. Since 1974, that is the most consecutive innings without a team collecting a hit in American League play. The most consecutive innings a team has gone without a hit since 1974 is 16 straight frames when the Dodgers went hitless against Houston in 1981. Los Angeles would later go on to win the World Series that season. Minnesota is at Seattle to begin a three-game series tonight.

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Twins manager Ron Gardenhire will not manage his club during their upcoming three-game series at Seattle. Instead, the 54-year-old skipper will be attending his daughter's graduation at Southwest Minnesota State this weekend. Bench coach Scott Ulger will serve as field manager in Gardenhire's place.

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Twins legend Harmon Killebrew passed away about a year ago this time, but his annual fundraising event will continue. Long time friends and fellow Twins legends Rod Carew, Tony Oliva, and Frank Quilici will host the ninth annual Harmon Killebrew Classic on June 27-28. A dinner and auction will take place at Target Field on June 27th, while the celebrity golf classic tees off at the Legends Golf Club in Prior Lake on June 28th. The dinner and golf outing raises money for the Twins Community Fund and the Miracle League of Minnesota.

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Kickoff times for two more University of Minnesota football games have been set. The Golden Gophers will kick off at 11 a.m. for their September 29th game at Iowa and for their October 13th game at home against Northwestern. It had previously been announced that the September 22nd home game against Syracuse would begin at 7 p.m. It is believed the opening game at UNLV will likely be an early evening kickoff, but there has been no official announcement regarding start time for that game in Las Vegas.

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Bemidji State men's hockey fans will pay a little less for season tickets next season. The school announced it will reduce the cost of a season ticket by $36-dollars for next year. Part of the reduction was to help offset an increased parking rate for Beaver home games next season. Bemidji State opens the season on October 7th against Manitoba.

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Several athletes from the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference were cited for their efforts last weekend. Gustavus Adolphus sophomore Tyler McMorrow of St. Cloud was named the Men's Golfer of the Week. St. Olaf freshman Maxine Carlson of Alexandria was the Women's Golfer of the Week. St. Olaf's Knute Gunderson of Bayside, Wisconsin was named the Men's Tennis Athlete of the Week, while St. Catherine senior Lauren Beadnell of Watertown, South Dakota, and Carleton sophomore Molly Hemes of Green Bay, Wisconsin were named co-winners of the Women's Tennis Athlete of the Week award.

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The WNBA Minnesota Lynx have waived guard Porsche Poole. The move shrinks the roster down to 17 players. There will be more cuts prior to the team's opening game against Phoenix on May 20th at the Target Center.

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Burnsville native Cameron Beckman fired an even-par-72 in yesterday's opening round of the PGA Tour event in Charlotte, North Carolina. That places him in a tie for 80th place. Ryan Moore, Stewart Cink, and Webb Simpson lead the tournament after shooting seven-under-par-65's yesterday. Round two is scheduled for today.

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Governor Dayton has signed into law a game-and-fish bill that increases the cost of hunting and fishing licenses in Minnesota. The fee increases were generally supported by a broad range of sportspeople's and environmental groups. But there's sharp disagreement over provisions that establish a wolf hunting season in Minnesota. Environmentalists warn it's too soon after the animal was taken off the endangered species list. But backers of a hunting season say wolf populations have rebounded dramatically and are now threatening livestock and even humans in some parts of the state.

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