The Des Moines Register from Des Moines, Iowa • Page C1

Sports Sports news on your phone Download The mobile app a DesMoinesRegister.com/dmrmobile DesMoinesRegister.com/sports WEDNESDAY, METROEDITION TV 2C BARNSTORMERS 2C 2C 4C 6C 6C ST. Matt turn. he St. Louis Cardinals econd baseman is an All- tar, a legitimate MVP andidate, the National eague leader in runs, its and doubles. even sure he as a sec- nd base- an until ay.

Now, another omegrown ero com- i ng along at ust the ight time to elp main- ain the Card status as World Ser ies contender. A fter all, the Cardin als way. ne of most toried franchises is now a consistent juggernaut pace for its fourth play- ff berth in five seasons thanks to what can best described as organiza- ional mastery: I dentify and draft tale nted but versatile play- rs. Teach them a wide va- iety of skills. Impart cons istent franchise philoso- hies across all affiliates.

A nd watch previously nheralded players flour- i sh at the major league evel. I a recurring theme: hird baseman David reese and outfielder- irst baseman Allen Craig ecame unlikely stars for a unlikely 2011World Ser ies winner, before Craig ecame the guy rep laced and outhit Albert ujols the past two seas ons and become a corners tone of manager Mike roster. ore recently, in the eat of a difficult National eague Central race, att Adams, 25, a former 2 3rd-round draft pick, hit- ing two extra-inning ome runs to win a crucial ame at Cincinnati. A dams is filling in for he injured Craig, who wo years ago was just ike Adams an unher- a lded product of the St. ouis farm system look- i ng to prove he could play i the major leagues.

hat the Cardinals do. The path that take to get here, and Allen took), not your typical MLB Midwest The way for Cards: creating new stars Homegrown talent merges from stable system in St. Louis. By Paul White USA Today Sports Matt arpenter AMES, Ia. As Jake Knott rotted off the field a year ago elebrating a memorable play in he Cy-Hawk rivalry, his young- brother Luke ran up to him a nd gave him a gi- a nt hug.

he in-state ri- alry created an nduring moment or the Knott fam- i ly. And on Satur- ay, another will born. inebacker uke Knott will ake his first collegiate start uring showdown ith the Hawkeyes at 5 p.m. at ack Trice Stadium. a little irony in Luke said of the timing.

But, another test that we eed to be prepared for and eady I be first chance to how what he can do as a starter a fter moving up the depth chart a head of Jevohn Miller for the Iowa State Football Younger Knott set for own memories Luke ready for first start; rother Jake sealed in over Iowa last year. By Tommy Birch Luke Knott will start at weakside inebacker Saturday after totaling ix tackles against Northern Iowa. CHARLIE REGISTER Luke Knott NEWTON, Iowa Speed- ay officials hustled to calm a ny potential fears about the financial health or uture after confirming the de- arture of its chief executive off icer and a pending refinancing eal. mployees ere told Tuesday orning about the eparture of oug Fritz, the an hand-picked a CEO in Septem- er 2011. Speed- ay officials con- irmed to The Des oines Register Tuesday morning that Fritz ad left the company and that a efinancing deal was in the orks.

peedway chairman and rincipal owner Conrad Cleme nt acknowledged the existence some financial issues in a rief telephone call with the egister, saying, in the rocess of refinancing the hole lement declined, however, answer questions beyond a ews release that was issued ate Tuesday afternoon. The ews release offered no new, a dditional details related to the financial status. said Clement, he founder of Featherlite Trail- rs in Cresco. he 7 8 -mile racetrack, part ially subsidized by sales and roperty taxes that the facility enerates, has drawn upwards 50,000 fans for races in the ASCAR Nationwide Series a nd regularly attracts crowds i the tens of thousands for its vents. fficials at the track, des igned by NASCAR Hall of amer and part-owner Rusty allace, vowed that a race chedule would be finalized for 2 014.

allace also expressed con- idence in the on-track future of he speedway, which is the only rack in the state to host races the NASCAR and IndyCar ircuits. time to he aid. time to go to Plan ry to find some better financ- i ng, think about some partners got that planned, too Iowa Speedway lagging on bills; CEO resigns Doug Fritz was hired in eptember 2011; owners ay refinancing in works. By Bryce Miller Doug Fritz Auto Racing IOWA CITY, Why as Iowa dominated the urnover battle against I owa State in recent ears? I it a matter of ball- awking? Cyclone mis- ues? A statistical fluke? I Hawke ye linebacker James orris said. could be a ll of those things.

ard I the past six Cy- awk showdowns, Iowa wns an eye-popping 20-7 dge in turnovers, lead- i ng to a total of 55 Hawke ye points. he two rivals meet a gain Saturday at 5 p.m. i Ames, and every poss ession will be precious. We always tell our off ense before we go on the ield, about to get ou the ball def ensive tackle Carl Davis aid. want to get hem the ball, so they can what they I was safety Tanner end-zone inter- eption last week that ealed a 28-14 win over PRECIOUS POSSESSION Iowa's James Morris runs upfield after an interception in last rivalry game against Iowa State.

The Hawkeyes forced four turnovers that day but lost 9-6. also a plus-13 in turnover margin against the Cyclones since 2007 but are just 3-3 in those games. ANDREA FILE PHOTO Hawkeyes eager to maintain big urnover edge over Iowa State By Andrew Logue I OWA CITY, If I football team eeps shooting itself i the foot on offense, it matter how the efense fares against I owa Pistol off ense Saturday night at ack Trice Stadium. paper, the Hawke offense looks ownright acceptable hrough two games. I owa is averaging 474.5 ards of total offense, from 310.4 a year ago.

hree pass plays ave gone for 40 or ore yards; there were wo in the entire 2012 eason. A fter averaging 67 lays a game last seas on, up-tempo, o-huddle attack has otten off 83 plays a gainst Northern Illinois a nd 86 a week later Recent ogging down offense RICK BROWN INSIDE, NLINE INSIDE: Peruse hrough a notes ackage with items on ark Weisman a nd Sam Richardson, plus uch more on the rivalry. Page 3C NLINE: Visit the esMoinesReg- ister.com/Big- ame page, here you will find an interactive y-Hawk fan map lus articles and photos packed ith fan reaction. Saturday: Iowa at Iowa State, 5 p.m. (TV: Fox Sports 1) USAqualifies or 2014 World Cup PAGE 6C.