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LOCAL SPORTS
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RHINELANDER - High school football doesn't kick off for another few weeks, but you wouldn't have known it Thursday in Rhinelander.
Football players from Rhinelander, Lakeland, and Northland Pines High Schools came together for a 7-on-7 scrimmage at Rhinelander High School. It was the last of several games played over the last few weeks.
The passing league gives players a less intense way to prepare for the upcoming season.
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THREE LAKES - "I said what the heck is pickleball, and he said come on, I'll show you," exclaimed Melody West of the Eagle River Pickleball Association.
The sound of pickleball's connecting with paddles can be heard every day of the week in Three Lakes.
Gillian Hough and Candy Lamb of Summerfield, Florida explain, "It's kind of a combination of ping pong, and badminton or tennis."
Three Lakes pickleball promoter Chuck Radtke added, "The court is smaller than a tennis court. It's easy on the knees, easy on the ankles."
The sport has a huge following in Florida and Arizona, but people in the Northwoods are catching on quickly.
"In Three Lakes we play more pickleball than anywhere else in the state. Our courts are open 24/7 and it's free for all," said Radtke.
Three Lakes hosted 120 players in their first national tournament last weekend.
John Kobach of Three Lakes was pleased with the event. Kobach said, "Two healthy days of healthy exercise and having fun and being competitive with each other."
The game is most popular in retirement communities, but local schools are starting to get the younger generation involved.
"They are teaching it in the high school system in both Eagle River and Three Lakes as part of the racquet sport curriculum," explains Kobach.
Most importantly, it helps get people off the couch.
"They say move it or lose it. So we'll keep moving as long as we can," exclaimed Gillian and Candy.
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EAGLE RIVER - Last Saturday, the Northwoods Combat Challenge showcased a dozen Mixed Martial Arts bouts.
Seven bouts were a Border Battle series between competitors from Wisconsin and Michigan. The winning state, would earn a trophy.
"It just went phenomenal," Dave Sixel of Sixel's Fight Club said. "I'm happy to see Wisconsin win the trophy. We'll probably hold two MMA cards in Wisconsin, and two in Michigan."
For some of the competitors, the even was about more than this. One Sugar Camp fighter is raising money for her animal rescue.
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EAGLE RIVER - Many high school graduates can take their time preparing for college life this summer. But some athletes will be reporting to camp soon at their respective colleges, including Eagle River's Caitlin Riley.
Caitlin signed a national letter of intent to go to Wisconsin and play soccer for the Badgers starting this fall.
She attended Northland Pines her freshman and sophomore years and then moved to Minnesota to play for Shattuck-St. Mary's School. Riley played foward throughout her high school career.
Shattuck-St. Mary's is one of the top prep soccer programs in the country and helped Caitlin get ready for this next step.
"It's really a home away from home. Everyone there is there for your best interests, they want what's best for you. They want to help you get where you want to be," Caitlin explains. "Academically, athletically, just becoming a better person is what they want to help you become."
Caitlin was looking at many different colleges, but Wisconsin always had a special place in her heart.
"When I was in 8th grade I went to one of their soccer camps and I remember texting my mom after I'd just been in the stadium and saying I'm going to play here one day," says Caitlin.
Riley has high hopes for her time on the team and is confident they can go far if they keep a positive attitude.
"One of our big things at Madison is that it's all in your mindset. If you think you're going to win, you want to win and have the will, then there's nothing holding you back."
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EAGLE RIVER - Eagle River Derby Track held the Northwoods Combat Challenge Saturday night.
A dozen Mixed Martial Arts bouts were on the card.
Hundreds of fans enjoyed the action under the big tent.
In the Main Event - Stef Schneider of Sugar Camp faced Missy Pontbraind from Norway, MI.
The 3-round bout went to the scorecards.
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RHINELANDER - Ever wish you could relive your glory days from high school? Well, baseball players who went to Rhinelander had the chance to do just that.
Recent graduates and some from as far back as the Class of 1980 laced up their cleats Saturday. This was the second annual alumni get together.
The game was sponsored by the Hodag Diamond Club and gave the former Hodags a chance to reconnect and brush up on their skills.
"Everyone after high school kind of goes their own way, so it's nice we all have this in common," explains Tyler Henkel. "To all come back and get on the field one more time with all your friends from high school is really fun."
Many of the players had the chance to get on the field with relatives for the first time and of course that led to some healthy competition.
"Playing with the nephew is great. I watched him growing up and watched him play all the time," says Todd Henkel. "I think I've still got it, so I get to show him how to do it today."
The even numbered graduating classes took home the win, 9-4.
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EAGLE RIVER - Friday was a huge night of racing at Eagle River Speedway. 82 cars were competing - the most at the track in recent years. Some lucky kids got the chance to ride on the track during the National Anthem.
In a makeup feature - in the Pure Stocks, C.J. Hedges Junior of Tomahawk made a pass late in the race on the outside.
C.J. would go on to take the feature.
In another makeup feature in the Street Stocks... it was Jordan Curdey of Moose Crossing taking the checkered flag.
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REGIONAL SPORTS
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TAMPA BAY - Jake Odorizzi won his third consecutive start, James Loney had two RBIs and the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Milwaukee Brewers 2-1 on Monday night.
Odorizzi (7-8) allowed one run and three hits in seven innings to beat the team that took him 32nd overall in the 2008 draft.
Tampa Bay took a 2-1 lead in the sixth when Loney drove in two with a two-out, bases-loaded single off Kyle Lohse (11-5), who gave up two runs and four hits over six innings.
The Rays had won nine in a row before a 3-2 loss Sunday to Boston. The winning streak was the second longest in team history.
Mark Reynolds put the Brewers ahead 1-0 with his 18th homer of the season in the third.
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MILWAUKEE - Lucas Duda hit a two-run homer, rookie Jacob deGrom pitched well into the seventh, and the New York Mets split a four-game series with the Milwaukee Brewers with a 2-0 win Sunday.
Duda sent an 0-2 slider in the sixth from rookie Jimmy Nelson (1-2) into the second deck above right field to break a scoreless pitcher's duel. It was Duda's third homer in four days in Milwaukee.
The Brewers mounted a ninth-inning rally against Jenrry Mejia with two outs after Jean Segura's single put runners on first and second. Mejia got Lyle Overbay to ground out for his 15th save.
DeGrom (5-5) held the Brewers to four hits and two walks, exiting with one out in the seventh after allowing two singles. Vic Black got out of that jam.
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GREEN BAY - The Packers have signed receiver Jordy Nelson to a contract extension, securing their top player at a position that has had several high-profile departures in recent years.
Green Bay announced the deal Saturday after the first practice of training camp. Terms of the contract were not announced by the team, and NFL.com reported it was a four-year, $39 million deal with an $11.5 million signing bonus.
Nelson was a second-round pick in 2008 who posted career-highs of 85 catches and 1,314 yards last season. He has developed into one of the top receivers in the league with his ability to make sideline catches.
Word of Nelson's deal spread during Saturday practice, just after the wideout made a pretty touchdown catch on a long corner pass from Aaron Rodgers.
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MILWAUKEE - Wily Peralta earned his team-leading 12th win, and Mark Reynolds homered in the Milwaukee Brewers' 5-2 victory over the New York Mets on Saturday night.
Jonathan Lucroy, Ryan Braun and Khris Davis added run-scoring hits for NL Central Division-leading Milwaukee. Peralta (12-6) pitched 5 2/3 innings, giving up six hits and two runs. He walked three batters and struck out two.
Four relievers held the Mets scoreless the rest of the way. Francisco Rodriguez, who blew a save and took the loss against the Mets on Friday night, recorded his 30th save in 34 chances.
Curtis Granderson had a home run and a double for the Mets. Chris Young added two doubles and reached base three times.
Jonathon Niese (5-6) took the loss, giving up five hits and three runs in five innings. He walked two batters and struck out four.
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WASHINGTON, D.C. - Jayson Werth hit a game-winning RBI double in the bottom of the ninth after the Brewers tied it in the top of the inning and the Washington Nationals beat Milwaukee 5-4 on Sunday afternoon.
Washington's bullpen tossed five scoreless innings in relief of Gio Gonzalez until Rickie Weeks' RBI single in the ninth off closer Rafael Soriano (1-1), who earned the win despite blowing his third save in 25 chances.
Anthony Rendon reached on a fielder's choice against Rob Wooten (1-4) with two outs in the ninth. He scored from first on Werth's drive into the left field corner.
Washington took two of three in the series between teams that entered Sunday as division leaders.
Ryan Zimmerman had two hits, including a two-run homer, for the Nationals.
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WASHINGTON, D.C. - Matt Garza was knocked out in the first inning of his shortest major league start, and Ryan Zimmerman and Wilson Ramos drove in three runs apiece to lead the Washington Nationals over the Milwaukee Brewers 8-3 Saturday night.
Garza (6-7) faced eight batters and got just one out, allowing four singles, a double and two walks in the shortest of his 211 big league starts dating to 2006. His previous low was 1 1-3 innings at the Marlins on June 18, 2010, according to STATS.
Garza had been 4-2 with a 2.35 ERA in his previous eight outings, but Saturday's effort caused his season ERA to rise from 3.69 to 4.04. He dropped to 0-3 with a 7.33 ERA in six career starts against the Nationals.
Tanner Roark (9-6) gave up one runs and six hits in seven innings with five strikeouts. In his first full season as a starter, he has allowed two earned runs or fewer in 13 of 19 outings.
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WASHINGTON, D.C. - Scooter Gennett and Khris Davis homered and Kyle Lohse pitched seven strong innings to help the Milwaukee Brewers beat the Washington Nationals 4-2 in a meeting of division leaders Friday night.
Aramis Ramirez added a two-run single for the NL Central leading Brewers.
Lohse (10-4) picked up his first win since June 22. He allowed 10 hits, but just one run over seven innings as Washington went 1 for 10 with runners in scoring position.
Milwaukee shortstop Jean Segura was back in the lineup, a week after the sudden passing of his 9-month-old son, and went 1 for 4.
Bryce Harper had a homer and two singles for Washington, which began play percentage points ahead of Atlanta in the NL East. Francisco Rodriguez gave up Harper's ninth-inning homer, but picked up his 28th save.
Stephen Strasburg (7-7) allowed four runs on seven hits. He struck out nine in seven innings.
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