Minnesota Sports Briefs: Lynx move to 2-0 on season

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NEWARK, N.J. -- Minnesota Lynx star Seimone Augustus scored a game-high 22 points and paced the defending WNBA champs to an 80-62 win over the New York Liberty last night in New Jersey.

Augustus missed some of Sunday's season opening win after crashing into a sideline chair in the third quarter. She returned last night and played 31 minutes in the win. Maya Moore added 15 points and seven assists. The Lynx are now 2-0 on the season and will return home for a game tomorrow night against Los Angeles in the Target Center.

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The Los Angeles star Candace Parker racked up 21 points and 10 rebounds to lead the Sparks past the Seattle Storm 74-61 in WNBA action last night Los Angeles visits Minnesota tomorrow to play the Lynx, while Seattle visits the Target Center on Sunday for a game against Minnesota.

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The Big Ten/ACC Women's Basketball Challenge announced the pairings for 2012. The University of Minnesota will host Virginia in a game on Thursday, November 29th. This year is the sixth season on the Challenge in women's basketball. Last year, the two leagues tied the 12-game series by winning six contests apiece. The men's basketball teams from the same two conferences have been playing an annual series for 13 years. The Golden Gopher men will play at Florida State on November 27th.

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The Minnesota Twins released struggling starting pitcher Jason Marquis yesterday morning and called up a local product to take his spot. Marquis gave up eight runs in less than two innings in Sunday's loss to the Brewers and has struggled to a 2-and-4 record in 2012 with an 8.47 earned run average. Marquis said after Sunday's loss that he isn't making enough quality pitches to win games, and even when he does throw a quality pitch, it is getting hit. Marquis signed a three-million-dollar, one-year contract in the offseason. To fill the roster void, Minnesota called up Eden Prairie native Cole DeVries from Class AAA Rochester. The former Golden Gopher pitcher was 1-and-4 with the Red Wings in eight starts this year. He had a 4.24 earned run average. He will wear jersey No. 38 and will start Thursday's game in Chicago.

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The Chicago White Sox signed former Twin Orlando Hudson to a one-year contract prior to last night's game. He got a hit and scored a run while playing third base in the contest. The 34-year-old hit .211 with five triples, one home run and 11 RBI in 35 games with San Diego this season before being released last Thursday. Hudson is a career .276 hitter in 11 seasons with the Blue Jays, Diamondbacks, Dodgers, Twins and Padres. He helps fill the void left by third baseman Brent Morel, who has been placed on the 15-day disabled list with a back strain. Game two of a three-game series between Minnesota and Chicago is tonight.

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Here are the scheduled pitching pairings for the remaining two games of the three-game series between the Twins and White Sox in Chicago (Twins pitcher listed first):

Wednesday - Scott Diamond (3-0, 1.40 ERA) vs. Chris Sale (4-2, 2.91 ERA)

Thursday - Cole DeVries (0-0, 0.00 ERA) vs. Phillip Humber (1-2, 5.31 ERA)

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Hall of Famers, former managers and current and former players will help usher in Major League Baseball's next wave of talent. Each team has selected two representatives to help with the promotion of the draft. The Twins will showcase former player Tony Oliva and regional draft scout John Wilson during the upcoming First-Year Player Draft The participants will sit at their respective team's table and assist in phoning in the club's draft selection. The three-day draft begins June 4th in New Jersey. The Twins will have five of the first 72 picks in the draft.

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Minnesota Timberwolves rookies Ricky Rubio and Derek Williams have been honored as All-Rookie selections. Rubio made the first team unit, while Williams was on the second team. Joining Rubio on the first team was Klay Thompson of Golden State, the son of former Golden Gopher star Mycal Thompson. Also on the first-team was Kyrie Irving of Cleveland and Kenneth Faried of Denver. New York's New York's Iman Shumpert, San Antonio's Kawhi Leonard and Detroit's Brandon Knight tied for the final spot.

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The annual charity hockey game to benefit the "Defending The Blue Line" organization is scheduled for Wednesday, June 20th at Ridder Arena on the University of Minnesota campus. The charity game and autograph session features several NHL players, most of whom are from Minnesota. Included in the preliminary roster of stars to take part is Zach Parise of the Devils, Jamie McBain of the Hurricanes, Matt Hendricks of the Capitals, and Wild players Josh Harding and Nate Prosser. Tickets are 20-dollars in advance or 25-dollars on gameday. "Defending The Blue Line" is an organization designed to help military families with costs associated with playing hockey. The group provides financial assistance to those who need it by helping with registration fees, equipment costs, hockey camp tuition, and tickets to Wild games. The charity game and autograph session is set to start at 5:30 p.m. on June 20th.

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The Minnesota Vikings have signed six of their ten 2012 draft choices. The team announced they've reached agreement with receivers Jarius Wright and Greg Childs; defensive players Robert Blanton, Audie Cole, and Trevor Guyton; as well as kicker Blair Walsh. That leaves four players from the draft class yet to ink deals, including first round selection Matt Kalil of USC.

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The NFL is proposing several rules changes beginning in 2013. At the league meeting in Atlanta, owners have voted to extend the trade deadline two weeks. The change would allow teams to make trades until after Week Eight of the regular season. Another rule change would allow one player from each team's injured-reserve list to be added back to the active roster at a certain point in the regular season. Owners have also voted to make player use of thigh and knee pads mandatory. All the rules changes are subject to discussion with the Players' Association.

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University of Minnesota women's soccer coach Mikki Denny Wright has resigned her position to spend more time with her family. Denny Wright has been the head coach of the program since 2004 and led the Golden Gophers to the Big Ten title in 2008 and NCAA Sweet 16 tourney appearances in 2008 and 2010. She says she wants to spend more time with her husband Shane and two sons. She has been in coaching for 14 years and played for the Gophers for two seasons in 1995 and 1996.

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Here are Tuesday's results from games in the American Association:

Sioux Falls 5, St. Paul 3 (final)

Amarillo 8, Fargo-Moorhead 6 (final)

Laredo 3, Winnipeg 1 (final)

Sioux City 15, Lincoln 6 (final)

Gary 3, Kansas City 2 (final)

Wichita 3, New Jersey 2 (final)

Grand Prairie 8, El Paso 4 (final)

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Two Minnesota-based college baseball teams leave today to take part in their respective NCAA College Baseball World Series. Minnesota State-Mankato's baseball team will bus to the Twin Cities this morning and fly to North Carolina for the NCAA Division II national tournament, which begins on Saturday in Cary, North Carolina. The Mavericks play Southern New Hampshire on Saturday afternoon. And, St. Thomas will leave this afternoon via charter bus for the NCAA Division III national tournament, which begins on Friday in Appleton, Wisconsin. The Tommies play Christopher Newman on Friday afternoon.

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Division II World Series

(Cary, NC) -- Here is this week's schedule of first round games at the NCAA Division II Baseball World Series in Cary, North Carolina:

Saturday: Minnesota State-Mankato (48-10) vs. Southern New Hampshire (42-13), 4pm

Saturday: West Chester (42-10) vs. Chico State (40-17), noon

Sunday: Catawba (43-15) vs Indianapolis (46-16), noon

Sunday: St. Mary's of Texas (48-9) vs. Delta State (46-13), 4 p.m.

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Division III World Series

(Appleton, WI) -- Here is this week's schedule of first round games at the NCAA Division III Baseball World Series in Appleton, Wisconsin:

Friday: St. Thomas (38-8) vs. Chris Newport (34-8), 4:30 p.m.

Friday: Webster (35-12) vs. Wheaton (38-9), 10 a.m.

Friday: SUNY-Cortland (39-7-1) vs. Kean (37-10), 1:15 p.m.

Friday: Marietta (42-7) vs. Whitworth (30-14-1), 7:45 p.m.

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The Miami Heat are just a win away from reaching the Eastern Conference finals. The Heat hammered the Indiana Pacers 115-83 in Game Five of their semifinal series last night. Miami grabbed a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven set with the blowout win. The Pacers will try to avoid elimination when they host Game Six on Thursday. Meanwhile, the Celtics will try to close out the Sixers tonight as they play Game Six of the Eastern Conference semifinals in Philadelphia. Boston grabbed a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven set with a 101-85 win on Monday. If necessary, the Celts will host a deciding Game Seven on Saturday.

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The Los Angeles Kings secured a spot in the Stanley Cup Final for the first time since 1993 Tuesday night. Dustin Penner scored with 2:18 left in overtime to give the Kings a 4-3 win over the Coyotes in Game Five of the Western Conference finals last night. The Kings are 8-and-0 on the road and 12-and-2 overall in this year's playoffs. Los Angeles will either face the New York Rangers or the New Jersey Devils for the right to hoist the Cup. The Eastern Conference finals are currently tied at two games apiece. Game Five in the best-of-seven set is tonight in New York.

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The NHL announced Tuesday that the Stanley Cup Final will begin on Wednesday, May 30th. While the Los Angeles Kings secured a spot in the Final on Tuesday night, the Eastern Conference will have home-ice advantage based on regular-season point totals. The best-of-seven East finals between the New York Rangers and New Jersey Devils is tied at two games apiece. Game Five in that series is tonight.

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