John-o-Logue: SDSU finds kicker from outside, LLWS heartbreak for Sioux Falls, Canaries catching fire again, Vikings trade Harrison Phillips

Happy Hour host John Gaskins Gaskins tackles a few big local/regional topics of the day:

• South Dakota State found its 2025 place kicker eight days before the season starts! Eli Stader is a grad transfer from Northwestern College in Iowa, a two-time All-American who drilled three road playoff game-winning field goals the last four seasons, including a 51-yarder last December. Why is is this such a major development?
  
  
• The Sioux Falls Little League team went from the thrill of victory to the agony of defeat all in one inning at the Little League World Series on Wednesday. The agony part — seeing the pain in faces of 12-year-olds — is why Gaskins has a hard time being on board with the hysteria and fanfare of the LLWS, even though he's as proud of the South Dakotans as anyone for how they represented the state and the city of Sioux Falls.
  
  
• The Sioux Falls Canaries' bats are bashing again! A three-game sweep at Cleburne (TX), with the Birds belting nine runs every game. The Birds have won 7 of 9, averaging 8 runs in those 9 games, and are by far their league's highest-scoring and highest-home run-hitting team. They possess both the best hitter in the league and best pitcher. And, they're back at The Birdcage on Friday and Saturday, then again next Friday thru Monday.
  
  
• The Minnesota Vikings traded defensive lineman Harrison Phillips, a shocking move to most until the smoke cleared and it made sense.