Tommy Birch
@TommyBirch
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Following
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Sports features reporter for the Des Moines Register/USA Today Network. Husband to Allyson. Father to Bodie and Bennett. Autism advocate.
Joined March 2009
The best teammates anyone could ask for. We can get through anything together.
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Spoke to Nick Bassett’s mother a few minutes ago. The family is in the process of making Nick an organ donor for when he passes. Was a goal of his. Nick even got a visit from Iowa State coach Matt Campbell today.
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Iowa governor Kim Reynolds said today that early estimates show that last week’s Field of Dreams game generated an economic boost of 5.8 million dollars to Dyersville and the greater Dubuque region.
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Seiya Suzuki: "There aren't many cornfields like this in Japan.".
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I can confirm that Cade Horton, the top pitching prospect for the Chicago Cubs organization, is expected to join the team in New York for its upcoming series against the New York Mets.
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FOX sports announces that Thursday's Field of Dreams game was the most watched regular season baseball game in 16 years with 5,903,000 viewers across FOX and FOX Deportes.
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Iowa State coach Bill Fennelly: "I told them, 'If this is the worst day of your life, you're going to die a lucky person.'".
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Big news: the Cubs are promoting Matt Shaw, James Triantos and Kevin Alcantara to the @IowaCubs.
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Nick Bassett’s celebration of life took place at the south end zone club at Jack Trice Stadium, included a powerful speech from Matt Campbell and ended with friends and family singing the school fight song. What a tribute to one of the biggest Cyclone fans I’ve ever met.
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Some tough news to share tonight. Nick Bassett, the Iowa State fan we shared the story of last year and appeared on ESPN's "College GameDay," died tonight.
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Airport security guard 1: "You know the Iowa State fight song?. Airport security guard 2: "No.". Airport security guard 1: "You will after today.".
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Former Iowa State quarterback Brock Purdy spoke to the team after the game. Jalynn Bristow: "He told us 'You wear Iowa State, keep your heads up.'".
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MLB announces that Joey Votto and Ian Happ will wear two-way mics for Thursday’s game at the “Field of Dreams” movie site.
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MLB will be giving media members a tour of the Field of Dreams park today. They’re still putting many of the finishing touches on it. But it’s quite the setup.
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Tyrese Haliburton asked by the ESPN crew who he was pretending to call during the game: “God. They’ve got to call God. He’s the only one that can save them when I’m like that.”.
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Iowa State coach Bill Fennelly had some interesting things to say following today’s game about the football and men’s basketball team.
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A.J. Klein, Allen Lazard and David Montgomery all scores touchdowns today. Big day for former #Cyclones.
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No official announcement yet. But I’ve spoken to people from the Chicago Cubs and Iowa Cubs. Expectation is that Iowa will remain the Triple-A affiliate for Chicago.
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.@Krumm_A_Licious has a rare day off from work. I don’t have to cover a game until 9 p.m. So, we decided to go and get hitched.
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Some big Cubs news: The Cubs are promoting prized pitching prospect Cade Horton to Triple-A with the @IowaCubs.
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Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark just stopped Audi Crooks during warmups to tell her how much he enjoyed watching her play.
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Cameron Lard: “I got a lot of cheap fouls called on me this year.”.
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The Iowa Cubs announce they are bringing beer bats to Principal Park. Outside of a Kris Bryant rehab appearance in Des Moines, I’m not sure I can provide better news to Iowans.
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Just got this email from an Iowa State fan who is excited to see Ashley Joens drafted. What a cool story.
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After being diagnosed with a brain tumor, Elise Lambert signed a letter of intent to play for the Iowa State women when she was 5. Over a decade later, she’s officially a part of the program as a student manager for the Cyclones.
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I'm told that last night's Field of Dreams game was the most-watched regular season baseball game on any network this season and FOX's best Thursday night performance for the 2022 calendar year.
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Cade Horton’s day is done after reaching 76 pitches. Final line: 4.2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 5 K. Horton retired the last eight hitters he faced. Topped out at 98. 12 (!) whiffs. He’s ERA is now down to 1.06.
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What a day. We welcomed a new member of the family. Meet Bodie Joseph Birch. Checks in at 9.01 pounds and 20.5 inches long. He's happy. Mom is doing well. And I'm beyond thrilled.
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Former Iowa State star Allen Lazard was added to the #Packers roster. Not on the practice squad. Big opportunity for him.
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I can confirm that the Cubs are calling up top prospect Brennen Davis to Triple-A Iowa. Davis is expected to join the team in Omaha.
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Former Cubs first round pick Ed Howard is expected to join the @IowaCubs today and be in the lineup for tonight’s game.
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When Iowa State football fan @NicholasBasset3 had both his legs amputated this summer, he vowed to get through his rehab quick enough to be back at Jack Trice Stadium this fall. He had help from plenty of people including from Matt Campbell.
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My 9 month old lives in a world where Iowa State football always wins 10 games.
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Frank Thomas is shooting something right now at the Field of Dreams house.
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BREAKING: Craig Kimbrel no longer with Iowa Cubs. All signs point to imminent Chicago Cubs' call-up.
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During Campbell’s press conference, you could hear Take Me Home, Country Roads blaring. in the Iowa State locker room.
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There it is. The perfect pitch.
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When Iowa State basketball player Arianna Jackson moved to Ames, she wanted to make sure she could still see her friend Isaac Quinn. So, using earnings from NIL, she bought Quinn, who has Down syndrome, season tickets.
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If Ames doesn’t rename Welch Avenue to Purdy Place, what are we even doin?.
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Seeing a ton of Iowa State fans around the Des Moines airport this morning. Sounds like there should be a large gathering of Iowa State faithful in Texas this weekend.
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Hakeem Butler asked if he expected Drake to be as competitive as they were today. "They're a D1 football team. they're not nerds running around out there.".
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Campbell: "I don't like a lot of places but the one place I do is San Antonio.". Heard it here first folks: Campbell to the Spurs.
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Clarinda pitcher Jakob Childs lost his left leg in a lawn mower accident when he was 6. That hasn’t stopped him from being a star football and baseball player and wrestler. And it didn’t stop him from saving his family from a house fire in May.
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Alamo Bowl rep Derrick Fox: "The fan support at Iowa State is certainly legendary.".
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MSU reached out to Iowa State coach Matt Campbell about its opening. A source tells me the #Cyclones coach isn't interested, though.
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Audi Crooks ends any speculation about her future at Iowa State. Crooks announces she’ll be back.
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Iowa State linebacker Mike Rose says he is "definitely" coming back for another season with the #Cyclones.
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The Savannah Bananas announce they’re coming to Principal Park on Aug. 25 as part of their tour.
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BREAKING: Field of Dreams movie site owners are going to unveil a plan for a massive makeover to the area that includes nine youth baseball and softball diamonds, a hotel and dorms.
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Some life news…. We’re moving to man-to-man defense next year.
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A few years ago during a hot day at Principal Park, some pitchers came up to the press box to chart pitches. One of the players chatted with me the whole game about pitching, fans and how the game was going. One of the most enjoyable games I've covered: The player: Tyler Skaggs.
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The last time I saw Troy Davis, the ringer on his phone was “The World’s Greatest.” So, this should not surprise me
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Iowa State's Audi Crooks on her team's future: . "The ceiling is limitless in my opinion. I mean, nobody thought we were going to be anything, lets be honest and here we are going into overtime with Stanford. Are you kidding me?".
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Iowa State coach Bill Fennelly called Audi Crooks’ performance one of the best in Cyclones basketball history. Ever.
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Iowa State point guard Emily Ryan fighting back tears in the postgame press conference:. “It’s been the most fulfilling season I’ve been a part of. ”.
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The prodigal son returns. Brock Purdy is back in Ames for a football camp.
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I can confirm that next year's Field of Dreams game will take place Aug. 11 between the Chicago Cubs and Cincinnati Reds. @GDubCub had it first.
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Bridget Carleton made the most of her first career WNBA start tonight. The former Iowa State star scored 25 points, grabbed 7 rebounds and handed out 3 assists in a win over the New York Liberty tonight. #Cyclones.
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Build the statue.
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Kevin Costner has arrived.
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Cubs top prospect Brennen Davis expected to get some game action this upcoming week in the ACL. Davis, who hasn’t played since May, underwent back surgery earlier this year.
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ESPN’s Jesse Palmer, aka The Bachelor: “Matt Campbell, my vote for coach of the year.”.
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We have our winner.
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The Iowa Cubs have signed their Professional Baseball License to remain a Triple-A affiliate of the Chicago Cubs. More of a formality but it extends Iowa's working relationship with Chicago for 10 more years.
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Fox admits that the @valeroalamobowl board debated on Iowa State and West Virginia but ended up voting unanimously to extend the invite to Iowa State.
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Iowa representative J.D. Scholten announced a new piece of legislation today in the Iowa House. HF 577 is designed to help end baseball's blackout problems in Iowa.
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Sounds like former Iowa State quarterback Brock Purdy will be at tonight’s game.
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The @DMRegister picked up another loyal subscriber this morning. Bennett James Birch, a blossoming right-hander with a quick delivery (literally). Tremendous upside. Already a great team player.
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Seiya Suzuki crushes a solo home run to RF to give the Iowa Cubs a 6-2 lead in the 4th.
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8:18 a.m. Two Iowa State fans just strolled out of the hotel with a cooler full of beer. Gonna be a long day for fans.
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I feel like we aren’t talking enough about the concussion protocol of Baylor which sent Charlie Brewer back into the game and didn’t take him out. until an official got worried about his health.
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I’m told that Hayden Wesneski, Iowa’s scheduled starter for tonight’s game, is no longer with the team in Memphis. Chicago Cubs manager David Ross said the team would go with an unannounced righty as a starter for tonight’s game.
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Fennelly says Iowa State quarterback Brock Purdy is the inspiration behind their big in-bounds play a the end of the game: "We call that Purdy.".
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Joens on her sister winning the halftime shooting competition: . "I think she should give me 50% of the money because I'm the only reason she's here.".
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It's official: Iowa State is headed to the Alamo Bowl on Dec. 28. Will play Washington State.
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500 favorites and I'm in. RT @fresh_biscuits: @TommyBirch I'm going to need you to pull an Eisen and run a 40 today. Mmkay?.
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David Bote hitting second and playing 2B for the Iowa Cubs today. First rehab game for him here.
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Not sure many people would believe it if you said a year ago that Joel Lanning would be playing linebacker, Jacob Park would be gone for most of the season and Kyle Kempt would be the starter of a team that won 8 games including a bowl.
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Pete Crow-Armstrong just belted his second AAA homer of the season in Omaha. And it was a no-doubter. 107.3 off the bat. 440 feet. Wowza.
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Audi Crooks brought Erin Brocka’s baby to the press conference. Brocka is the team’s strength and conditioning coach. Her baby is infatuated by what Arianna Jackson has to say.
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If Alex Padilla keeps performing like this, he may find himself as the next starting QB.
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The Iowa State women are up to No. 7 in the latest AP poll. Highest AP ranking for the Cyclones since 2002.
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Pollard: “I fully anticipate that we will be playing a football game on September 5 at Jack Trice Stadium.”.
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Former Iowa State star wide receiver Hakeem Butler has been invited to the NFL Scouting Combine.
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Final line for Hayden Wesneski in his Cubs organizational debut: . 1.2 IP, 8 H, 8 R, 8 ER, 2 BB, 2 K. 5 of those hits were under 75 mph.
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BP isn’t for another hour at Principal Park. But Matt Shaw is already out on the field taking some extra grounders at third base. I’ve seen this a lot since he was demoted to Triple-A.
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Iowa State coach Bill Fennelly said he got a phone call from the head of officials in the Iowa game "about a few things that happened in the game that should have been administered different.".
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The Cubs are calling up LHP Luke Little from the @IowaCubs. Little, a fourth round pick in 2020, went 5-2 with 105 strikeouts in 63.2 innings this season across three different levels.
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Big day tomorrow. Nico Hoerner joining the Iowa Cubs. Justin Steele and Trevor Williams both pitching for Iowa.
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