Minnesota Scene: Dessa to sing, U.S. curlers to throw pitch before Twins' home opener

Dessa will sing the national anthem at the Twins home opener on April 5 at Target Field, and the gold medal-winning U.S. men's curling rink will throw ceremonial first pitches.

The Olympic gold medal rink includes lead John Landsteiner, second Matt Hamilton, alternate Joe Polo, third Tyler George and skip John Shuster, who counted five in the eighth end to clinch the gold medal against Sweden.

Dessa is a rapper, singer, writer and member of the Minneapolis Doomtree collective. She also was slated to sing the anthem last year but canceled because of illness.

The first 30,000 fans in attendance for the 3:10 p.m. game against Seattle will get black Twins hoodies. Gates open at 1 p.m.

The team also announced breakfast on the plaza from 6-9 a.m., a flyover by four Air Force T-38s, and "God Bless America" to be performed by Air Guard Technical Sergeant Ryan Ringwelski.

The Olympic curlers will sing "Take Me Out To The Ballgame" during the seventh inning stretch.

The Vikings announced the signings of two players, tight end Josiah Price and long snapper Nick Dooley.

Price is returning to the team after signing as an undrafted free agent a year ago out of Michigan State. Dooley, 6-8, 280, went undrafted two years ago out of UTEP. Kevin McDermott, the incumbent snapper, is returning from a dislocated shoulder suffered last December.

The Vikings also released linebacker Shaan Washington, undrafted out of Texas A&M. He had been placed on injured reserve last August with a season-ending leg injury.

Andrew Krammer

Northern State, ranked No. 6, will play No. 7 Queens of North Carolina (32-3) in the semifinals of the NCAA Division II men's basketball tournament at 8:30 p.m. Thursday at the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls.

The Wolves (35-3) beat East Stroudsburg 79-71 on Tuesday behind the hot hand of Ian Smith, who had 21 points on 9-for-12 shooting. DJ Pollard added 19 points and made all nine of his free throws.

• Gophers freshman Stephanie Samedy, an opposite hitter, was named to the USA Volleyball's collegiate team which will train and compete in China from May 20-31.

• North Dakota junior defenseman Christian Wolanin signed a two-year, entry-level contract with the Ottawa Senators. He was their fourth-round pick in the 2015 NHL entry draft. He led UND in scoring with 12 goals and 23 assists for 35 points.