The Legion baseball district tournaments begin today for the North Platte First Nationals juniors and seniors, with the two teams headed in opposite directions on the map. For the seniors, it’s off to Kearney, where they will take on Twin Cities in their first game tonight. First pitch is set for 5 PM The juniors trek to Scottsdale, and they will meet Kearney in their first round matchup. That game gets underway at 6 PM (5 Mountain).

The 43rd Nebraska Junior Amateur Golf Tournament wrapped up yesterday at The Country Club in Lincoln. North Platte’s Cameron Bargell fired an 82 on the tourney’s final day to finish with a three-day total of 241. That score placed him in 40th place. The junior-to-be had shot a 74 on the tournament’s first day before following up with an 85 in the second round. He was the lone Lincoln County entrant to survive for all three rounds of competiton.

The National League defeated the American League 5-1 in last night’s Major League Baseball All-Star Game in Phoenix, Arizona. Colorado Rockies shortstop Troy Tulowitzki started the game for the victorious senior circuit and went 1-for-2 at the plate before leaving the game. In Tulowitzki’s first at-bat in the third inning, he flew out to center field against Seattle Mariners pitcher Michael Pineda. Tulowitzki batted again in the fifth inning and singled to center field against Los Angeles Angels pitcher Jordan Walden. He was then removed for a pinch-runner. It’s the second straight victory for the National League after they hadn’t won for a dozen years before last season’s Midsummer Classic. The result means that the National League Champion will enjoy home field advantage at this year’s World Series.

With the Colorado Rockies falling further off the pace in the National League West, rumors surrounding the team’s status as a potential trade deadline seller have begun to swirl. Yesterday, Fox Sports baseball analyst Ken Rosenthal reported that the Cincinnati Reds were interested in acquiring Rockies ace pitcher Ubaldo Jimenez. Jimenez has scuffled to a 4-8 record and a 4.15 ERA so far in 2011, a disappointing follow-up to an All-Star campaign in 2010 that saw him set a club record for wins in a season with 19. But Jimenez has righted his ship after a slow start to this season, posting a 2.52 ERA and 4-3 record since the start of June. The right-hander is under contract through the end of this season with affordable club options for 2013 and 2014. No Rockies official has commented on the trade rumors.

Entering the final day of the Nebraska Junior Amateur Golf Championship at the Country Club in Lincoln, North Platte golfer Cameron Bargell hopes to rebound from a tough second round and finish strong. Bargell shot an 85 yesterday after firing a 74 on the first day of the tournament. He teed off this morning in a three-way tie for 35th. The North Platte Bulldog shot a 43 on the front nine and a 42 on the back. He’s the lone Lincoln County competitor remaining in the tournament. In other junior golf action, the Junior Ambassador Tournament concluded yesterday at Rivers Edge Golf Club in North Platte. Broken Bow’s Marcus Miller and McCook’s Megan Vertrovsky were the winners in the eldest age groups. North Platte Bulldog golfer Matt Schartz took third in the boys 15-18 year old division.

Colorado Rockies outfielder Carlos Gonzalez has a deep bone bruise in his right wrist, but isn’t expected to miss any more time after the All-Star break. The Rockies center fielder injured his wrist slamming into the fence in last Sunday’s game in Denver against Kansas City. He missed the next four games before attempting to return to action last Friday in Washington, but re-aggravated the injury and sat out the final two games before the break. Gonzalez, the reigning National League batting champion, is hitting .292 with 13 home runs and 51 runs batted in this season. He also leads the team with 14 stolen bases. Gonzalez will receive a cortisone shot and take batting practice tomorrow in hopes of being ready to play when the Rockies resume their season on Thursday night in Denver against the Milwaukee Brewers.

The Colorado Rockies will be represented when the starting lineups are announced at tonight’s Major League Baseball All-Star Game in Phoenix, Arizona. Shortstop Troy Tulowitzki will start at his familiar position and bat eighth for the National League tonight, starting as a replacement for injured New York Met Jose Reyes. Tulowitzki led the Rockies in the first half with 17 home runs and 57 runs batted in. It’s the first time the Rockies have had a position player start the All-Star Game since Todd Helton started at first base in 2003. Ubaldo Jimenez started the game on the mound for the NL last year. The National League is coming off a victory last season in Anaheim. The winning league receives home field advantage at this year’s World Series. ESPN Radio 1410 has coverage of the Midsummer Classic tonight beginning at 6:30.