“THE SCOREBOARD”
CENTRAL INDIANA HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL
MUNCIE CENTRAL 8 BLACKFORD 4
HARRISON 11 WEST LAFAYETTE 0
SOUTH PUTNAM 4 CLOVERDALE 1
WES-DEL 12 RANDOLPH SOUTHERN 2
MONROE CENTRAL 15 DALEVILLE 0
UNION CITY 8 TRI 0
SHENANDOAH 13 COWAN 2
CLINTON CENTRAL 18 BETHESDA CHRISTIAN 7
YORKTOWN 9 JAY COUNTY 6
IRVINGTON PREP 19 INDIANA DEAF 1
FRANKTON 16 ANDERSON PREP 1
GREENSBURG 7 RUSHVILLE 3
TINDLEY 15 INDY WASHINGTON 5
NORTHEASTERN 13 UNION COUNTY 6
PENDLETON HEIGHTS 13 ANDERSON 9
PARK TUDOR 4 NORTH CENTRAL 1
MADISON-GRANT 16 LIBERTY CHRISTIAN 2
WAPAHANI 10 EASTERN HANCOCK 2
KNIGHTSTOWN 9 NEW CASTLE 0
UNIVERSITY 10 MUNCIE BURRIS 0
CASCADE 20 PARKE HERITAGE 2
LAPEL 7 ALEXANDRIA-MONROE 3
GREENWOOD CHRISTIAN 17 HERRON 1
BATESVILLE 8 EAST CENTRAL 4
EASTERN 13 TIPTON 1
AVON 13 FRANKLIN CNETRAL 0
ZIONSVILLE 5 HAMILTON SE 1
FRANKLIN COUNTY 7 CONNERSVILLE 0
PURDUE BROAD RIPPLE 12 CROTHERSVILLE 6
CARMEL 13 LAWRENCE NORTH 6
PURDUE POLY 18 SHORTRIDGE 5
WESTFIELD 10 BROWNSBURG 7
DELTA 7 GREENFIELD CENTRAL 4
FISHERS 4 NOBLESVILLE 2
CENTRAL INDIANA HIGH SCHOOL SOFTBALL
DALEVILLE 19 MONROE CENTRAL 9
SHENANDOAH 12 COWAN 1
HAMILTON HEIGHTS 16 SHERIDAN 4
KNIGHTSTOWN 12 CAMBRIDGE CITY LINCOLN 11
WES DEL 16 RANDOLPH SOUTHERN 1
TRI 5 NORTHEASTERN 3
TRITON CENTRAL 10 HERITAGE CHRISTIAN 0
PENDLETON HEIGHTS 11 LIBERTY CHRISTIAN 0
CONNERSVILLE 12 RICHMOND 1
FISHERS 6 HARRISON 1
BETHESDA CHRISTIAN 8 CLINTON PRAIRIE 4
MONROVIA 16 GREENWOOD CHRISTIAN 4
HORIZON CHRISTIAN 25 INDIANA DEAF 3
FRANKLIN COUNTY 30 BATESVILLE 2
MADISON GRANT 20 ELWOOD 7
ALEXANDRIA MONROE 5 LAPEL 1
BEECH GROVE 8 WARREN CENTRAL 1
NEW PALESTINE 12 HAMILTON SOUTHEASTERN 1
CHRISTEL HOUSE 13 PURDUE POLY 3
KOKOMO 19 CASTON 12
HAUSER 13 N. DECATUR 4
EASTERN HANCOCK 18 WAPAHANI 0
GREENCASTLE 12 S. VERMILLION 2
COVENANT CHRISTIAN 14 BEN DAVIS 3
BROWNSTOWN CENTRAL 16 AUSTIN 0
LOGANSPORT 5 LAFAYETTE JEFF 0
BLOOMINGTON SOUTH 6 TERRE HAUTE NORTH 1
COLUMBUS NORTH 4 EDGEWOOD 3
GREENFIELD CENTRAL 8 COLUMBUS EAST 2
CENTER GROVE 7 BROWNSBURG 6
PLAINFIELD 12 AVON 0
WESTERN 11 YORKTOWN 6
CENTERVILLE 13 DELTA 2
CENTRAL INDIANA HIGH SCHOOL BOYS VOLLEYBALL
LAWRENCE NORTH 3 LAWRENCE CENTRAL 0
CHRISTEL HOUSE 3 INDIANAPOLIS TECH 0
SHELBYVILLE 3 GREENWOOD 2
MONROVIA 3 COVENANT CHRISTIAN 0
IRVINGTON PREP 3 NEW CASTLE 0
MADISON 3 GREENWOOD CHRISTIAN 0
LAFAYETTE JEFF 3 TRADERS POINT 0
MOORESVILLE 3 SHORTRIDGE 1
HAMILTON SOUTHEASTERN 3 ZIONSVILLE 0
WESTFIELD 3 BROWNSBURG 0
FISHERS 3 NOBLESVILLE 1
HARRISON 3 HERITAGE CHRISTIAN 0
FRANKLIN CENTRAL 3 AVON 0
CENTRAL INDIANA BOYS HIGH SCHOOL LAX
NO GAMES SCHEDULED
CENTRAL INDIANA GIRLS HIGH SCHOOL LAX
NO SCORES REPORTED
INDIANA COLLEGE BASEBALL SCOREBOARD
GEORGETOWN 14 BUTLER 3
NORTHERN KENTUCKY 7 PURDUE FORT WAYNE 4
BOWLING GREEN 6 BALL STATE 4
MURRAY STATE 11 VALPARAISO 10
INDIANA STATE 2 EVANSVILLE 0
SOUTHERN ILLINOIS EDWARDSVILLE 10 SOUTHERN INDIANA 4
INDIANA COLLEGE SOFTBALL SCOREBOARD
DUKE 5 NOTRE DAME 4
BUTLER 3 VILLANOVA 2
BELMONT 4 VALPARAISO 2
SOUTHERN INDIANA 1 TENNESSEE MARTIN 0
INDIANA COLLEGE MEN’S LAX
NO GAMES SCHEDULED
INDIANA COLLEGE WOMEN’S LAX
NOTRE DAME 17 LOUISVILLE 6
NBA PLAYOFF SCHEDULE
FRIDAY, APRIL 18
MIAMI HEAT (EAST 10) VS. ATLANTA HAWKS (EAST 8) | 7 ET, TNT
WINNER ADVANCES TO PLAYOFFS AS EAST NO. 8 SEED
DALLAS MAVERICKS (WEST 10) VS. MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES (WEST 8) | 9:30 ET, ESPN
WINNER ADVANCES TO PLAYOFFS AS WEST NO. 8 SEED
ALL TIMES EASTERN STANDARD TIME
(1) CLEVELAND VS. (8) TBD
• GAME 1: TBD AT CAVALIERS (SUN. APRIL 20, 7 ET, TNT)
• GAME 2: TBD AT CAVALIERS (WED. APRIL 23, 7:30 ET, NBA TV)
• GAME 3: CAVALIERS AT TBD (SAT. APRIL 26, 1 ET, TNT)
• GAME 4: CAVALIERS AT TBD (MON. APRIL 28, TBD)
• GAME 5: TBD AT CAVALIERS (WED. APRIL 30, TBD)*
• GAME 6: CAVALIERS AT TBD (FRI. MAY 2, TBD)*
• GAME 7: TBD AT CAVALIERS (SUN. MAY 4, TBD)*
* IF NECESSARY
SERIES TIED 0-0
(2) BOSTON VS. (7) ORLANDO
• GAME 1: MAGIC AT CELTICS (SUN. APRIL 20, 3:30 ET, ABC)
• GAME 2: MAGIC AT CELTICS (WED. APRIL 23, 7 ET, TNT)
• GAME 3: CELTICS AT MAGIC (FRI. APRIL 25, 7 ET, ESPN)
• GAME 4: CELTICS AT MAGIC (SUN. APRIL 27, 7 ET, TNT)
• GAME 5: MAGIC AT CELTICS (TUE. APRIL 29, TBD)*
• GAME 6: CELTICS AT MAGIC (THU. MAY 1, TBD)*
• GAME 7: MAGIC AT CELTICS (SAT. MAY 3, TBD)*
* IF NECESSARY
SERIES TIED 0-0
(3) NEW YORK VS. (6) DETROIT
• GAME 1: PISTONS AT KNICKS (SAT. APRIL 19, 6 ET, ESPN)
• GAME 2: PISTONS AT KNICKS (MON. APRIL 21, 7:30 ET, TNT)
• GAME 3: KNICKS AT PISTONS (THU. APRIL 24, 7 ET, TNT)
• GAME 4: KNICKS AT PISTONS (SUN. APRIL 27, 1 ET, ABC)
• GAME 5: PISTONS AT KNICKS (TUE. APRIL 29, TBD)*
• GAME 6: KNICKS AT PISTONS (THU. MAY 1, TBD)*
• GAME 7: PISTONS AT KNICKS (SAT. MAY 3, TBD)*
* IF NECESSARY
SERIES TIED 0-0
(4) INDIANA VS. (5) MILWAUKEE
• GAME 1: BUCKS AT PACERS (SAT. APRIL 19, 1 ET, ESPN)
• GAME 2: BUCKS AT PACERS (TUE. APRIL 22, 7 ET, NBA TV)
• GAME 3: PACERS AT BUCKS (FRI. APRIL 25, 8 ET, ESPNU/NBA TV)
• GAME 4: PACERS AT BUCKS (SUN. APRIL 27, 9:30 ET, TNT)
• GAME 5: BUCKS AT PACERS (TUE. APRIL 29, TBD)*
• GAME 6: PACERS AT BUCKS (FRI. MAY 2, TBD)*
• GAME 7: BUCKS AT PACERS (SUN. MAY 4, TBD)*
* IF NECESSARY
SERIES TIED 0-0
WESTERN CONFERENCE
ALL TIMES EASTERN STANDARD TIME
(1) OKLAHOMA CITY VS. (8) TBD
• GAME 1: TBD AT THUNDER (SUN. APRIL 20, 1 ET, ABC)
• GAME 2: TBD AT THUNDER (TUE. APRIL 22, 7:30 ET, TNT)
• GAME 3: THUNDER AT TBD (THU. APRIL 24, 9:30 ET, TNT)
• GAME 4: THUNDER AT TBD (SAT. APRIL 26, 3:30 ET, TNT)
• GAME 5: TBD AT THUNDER (MON. APRIL 28, TBD)*
• GAME 6: THUNDER AT TBD (THU. MAY 1, TBD)*
• GAME 7: TBD AT THUNDER (SAT. MAY 3, TBD)*
* IF NECESSARY
SERIES TIED 0-0
(2) HOUSTON VS. (7) GOLDEN STATE
• GAME 1: WARRIORS AT ROCKETS (SUN. APRIL 20, 9:30 ET, TNT)
• GAME 2: WARRIORS AT ROCKETS (WED. APRIL 23, 9:30 ET, TNT)
• GAME 3: ROCKETS AT WARRIORS (SAT. APRIL 26, 8:30 ET, ABC)
• GAME 4: ROCKETS AT WARRIORS (MON. APRIL 28, 10 ET, TNT)
• GAME 5: WARRIORS AT ROCKETS (WED. APRIL 30, TBD)*
• GAME 6: ROCKETS AT WARRIORS (FRI. MAY 2, TBD)*
• GAME 7: WARRIORS AT ROCKETS (SUN. MAY 4, TBD)*
* IF NECESSARY
SERIES TIED 0-0
(3) LOS ANGELES LAKERS VS. (6) MINNESOTA
• GAME 1: TIMBERWOLVES AT LAKERS (SAT. APRIL 19, 8:30 ET, ABC)
• GAME 2: TIMBERWOLVES AT LAKERS (TUE. APRIL 22, 10 ET, TNT)
• GAME 3: LAKERS AT TIMBERWOLVES (FRI. APRIL 25, 9:30 ET, ESPN)
• GAME 4: LAKERS AT TIMBERWOLVES (SUN. APRIL 27, 3:30 ET, ABC)
• GAME 5: TIMBERWOLVES AT LAKERS (WED. APRIL 30, TBD)*
• GAME 6: LAKERS AT TIMBERWOLVES (FRI. MAY 2, TBD)*
• GAME 7: TIMBERWOLVES AT LAKERS (SUN. MAY 4, TBD)*
* IF NECESSARY
SERIES TIED 0-0
(4) DENVER VS. (5) LA CLIPPERS
• GAME 1: CLIPPERS AT NUGGETS (SAT. APRIL 19, 3:30 ET, ESPN)
• GAME 2: CLIPPERS AT NUGGETS (MON. APRIL 21, 10 ET, TNT)
• GAME 3: NUGGETS AT CLIPPERS (THU. APRIL 24, 10 ET, NBA TV)
• GAME 4: NUGGETS AT CLIPPERS (SAT. APRIL 26, 6 ET, TNT)
• GAME 5: CLIPPERS AT NUGGETS (TUE. APRIL 29, TBD)*
• GAME 6: NUGGETS AT CLIPPERS (THU. MAY 1, TBD)*
• GAME 7: CLIPPERS AT NUGGETS (SAT. MAY 3, TBD)*
* IF NECESSARY
SERIES TIED 0-0
> CONFERENCE SEMIFINALS
THE CONFERENCE SEMIFINALS WILL BEGIN MAY 5-6, BUT CAN MOVE UP TO MAY 3-4.
> CONFERENCE FINALS
THE CONFERENCE FINALS WILL BEGIN MAY 20-21, BUT CAN MOVE UP TO MAY 18-19.
MAY 20: WESTERN CONFERENCE FINALS – GAME 1 ON ESPN, 8:30 P.M. ET (POSSIBLE SERIES MOVE UP TO MAY 18)
MAY 21: EASTERN CONFERENCE FINALS – GAME 1 ON TNT, 8 P.M. ET (POSSIBLE SERIES MOVE UP TO MAY 19)
MAY 22: WESTERN CONFERENCE FINALS – GAME 2 ON ESPN, 8:30 P.M. ET
MAY 23: EASTERN CONFERENCE FINALS – GAME 2 ON TNT, 8 P.M. ET
MAY 24: WESTERN CONFERENCE FINALS – GAME 3 ON ABC, 8:30 P.M. ET
MAY 25: EASTERN CONFERENCE FINALS – GAME 3 ON TNT, 8 P.M. ET
MAY 26: WESTERN CONFERENCE FINALS – GAME 4 ON ESPN, 8:30 P.M. ET
MAY 27: EASTERN CONFERENCE FINALS – GAME 4 ON TNT, 8 P.M. ET
MAY 28: WESTERN CONFERENCE FINALS – GAME 5 ON ESPN, 8:30 P.M. ET (IF NECESSARY)
MAY 29: EASTERN CONFERENCE FINALS – GAME 5 ON TNT, 8 P.M. ET (IF NECESSARY)
MAY 30: WESTERN CONFERENCE FINALS – GAME 6 ON ESPN, 8:30 P.M. ET (IF NECESSARY)
MAY 31: EASTERN CONFERENCE FINALS – GAME 6 ON TNT, 8 P.M. ET (IF NECESSARY)
JUNE 1: WESTERN CONFERENCE FINALS – GAME 7 ON ESPN, 8 P.M. ET (IF NECESSARY)
JUNE 2: EASTERN CONFERENCE FINALS – GAME 7 ON TNT, 8 P.M. ET (IF NECESSARY)
> NBA FINALS
THE 2025 NBA FINALS WILL BEGIN JUNE 5, WITH ABC AS THE EXCLUSIVE BROADCASTER.
JUNE 5: NBA FINALS 2025 PRESENTED BY YOUTUBE TV – GAME 1 ON ABC
JUNE 8: NBA FINALS 2025 PRESENTED BY YOUTUBE TV – GAME 2 ON ABC
JUNE 11: NBA FINALS 2025 PRESENTED BY YOUTUBE TV – GAME 3 ON ABC
JUNE 13: NBA FINALS 2025 PRESENTED BY YOUTUBE TV – GAME 4 ON ABC
JUNE 16: NBA FINALS 2025 PRESENTED BY YOUTUBE TV – GAME 5 ON ABC (IF NECESSARY)
JUNE 19: NBA FINALS 2025 PRESENTED BY YOUTUBE TV – GAME 6 ON ABC (IF NECESSARY)
JUNE 22: NBA FINALS 2025 PRESENTED BY YOUTUBE TV – GAME 7 ON ABC (IF NECESSARY)
NHL SCOREBOARD
COLUMBUS 6 NY ISLANDERS 1
OTTAWA 7 CAROLINA 5
BUFFALO 5 PHILADELPHIA 4
PITTSBURGH 5 WASHINGTON 2
NY RANGERS 4 TAMPA BAY 0
TORONTO 4 DETROIT 3 OT
CALGARY 5 LOS ANGELES 1
MLB SCOREBOARD
ARIZONA 6 MIAMI 4
PITTSBURGH 1 WASHINGTON 0
SEATTLE 11 CINCINNATI 7 (10)
LAS VEGAS 8 CHICAGO WHITE SOX 0
PHILADELPHIA 6 SAN FRANCISCO 4
BALTIMORE 6 CLEVELAND 2
DETROIT 6 KANSAS CITY 1
NY YANKEES 6 TAMPA BAY 3
NY METS 4 ST. LOUIS 1
TEXAS 5 LA ANGELS 3
MINOR LEAGUE BASEBALL SCOREBOARD
INDIANAPOLIS 7 TOLEDO 6
WEST MICHIGAN 2 SOUTH BEND 1
FT. WAYNE 9 LAKE COUNTY 1
MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER SCOREBOARD
NO GAMES SCHEDULED
UFL SCOREBOARD
NO GAMES SCHEDULED
INDOOR FOOTBALL LEAGUE SCOREBOARD
NO GAMES SCHEDULED
WOMEN’S PRO VOLLEYBALL ASSOCIATION SCOREBOARD
NO GAMES SCHEDULED
TOP NATIONAL HEADLINES/NEWS RELEASES
NBA NEWS
NBA EAST PLAYOFF PREVIEW CAPSULES: CELTICS-MAGIC, KNICKS-PISTONS, PACERS-BUCKs
No. 2 Boston Celtics (61-21) vs. No. 7 Orlando Magic (41-41)
Season series: Magic, 2-1.
Story line: For starters, there’s the obvious clash of styles. The Celtics made more 3-pointers and attempted more 3-pointers this season than any team in NBA history. The Magic led the league in terms of fewest 3-pointers made and 3-pointers allowed this season. Do not expect a series filled with 120-115 shootouts; the Magic gave up the fewest points in the NBA, the Celtics gave up the second-fewest. The season series was odd; Orlando won a close game Dec. 23 and enjoyed a blowout win in the final week of the regular season when Boston was sitting everyone.
Key matchup: Jayson Tatum vs. Paolo Banchero. The former Duke forwards are good friends — that won’t matter for the next week or two, Tatum insists — and it’s easy to see some similarities in the way they play. If Banchero is making 3s, Orlando is much tougher to beat. Tatum, only 27, is ninth among active players in playoff scoring.
Prediction: Celtics in 6.
No. 3 New York Knicks (51-31) vs. No. 6 Detroit Pistons (44-38)
Season series: Pistons, 3-1.
Story line: The Pistons’ reward for one of the best turnarounds from one season to the next in NBA history is a trip to Madison Square Garden to begin a their first playoff series since 2019. Detroit improved by 30 wins after going 14-68 in 2023-24. Now they have a chance to end the longest losing streak in postseason history, as the Pistons dropped 14 straight games since their last victory in the 2008 Eastern Conference finals. The Knicks, meanwhile, will reach the second round for the third straight season if they win this series.
Key matchup: Jalen Brunson vs. Cade Cunningham. The All-Star point guards are both masters at playing at their own pace. The difference is the Knicks boast the one who is a proven postseason performer, as last year Brunson became the first player since Michael Jordan to have four straight 40-point games in the postseason.
Prediction: Knicks in 6.
No. 4 Indiana Pacers (50-32) vs. No. 5 Milwaukee Bucks (48-34)
Season series: Bucks, 3-1.
Story line: A rematch of a first-round series from a year ago, when the Pacers knocked off a No. 3-seeded Bucks team that was hobbled to begin their run to the Eastern Conference finals. Indiana followed that up by winning 50 games for the first time since 2013-14, also the last time the Pacers opened a playoff series in Indianapolis. Still, the Bucks feel good about where they’re at after winning their final eight games of the regular season and clearing Damian Lillard for full basketball activity and a potential return during this series, after he missed the last month with deep vein thrombosis in his right calf.
Key matchup: Pascal Siakam vs. Giannis Antetokounmpo. Siakam was Indiana’s most effective player against Milwaukee during the regular season, averaging 24 points on 55% shooting. Antetokounmpo averaged 30 points, 12.3 rebounds and 7.5 assists against the Pacers, not far from his season averages of 30.4 points, 11.9 rebounds and 6.5 assists, which all placed in the top 13 of the league.
Prediction: Bucks in 6.
NBA WEST PLAYOFF PREVIEW CAPSULES: ROCKETS-WARRIORS, LAKERS-WOLVES, NUGGETS-CLIPPERS
No. 2 Houston Rockets (52-30) vs. No. 7 Golden State Warriors (48-34)
Season series: Warriors, 3-2 (includes one NBA Cup game).
Story line: Experience vs. inexperience. Let’s put this into perspective. The entirety of the Rockets’ roster, combined, has 2,380 playoff points and 110 playoff starts. Golden State’s Stephen Curry — by himself — has 3,966 points in 141 playoff starts, and that doesn’t even add Jimmy Butler (2,534 playoff points, 116 playoff starts) and Draymond Green (1,825 playoff points, 140 starts) to the total. But these Rockets are confident, aggressive and hang their hat on defense. And they do have home-court advantage, which they surely think counts for something.
Key matchup: Curry vs. Amen Thompson. In the teams’ most recent meeting on April 6 in San Francisco, Thompson led an astounding defensive job on Curry — holding the greatest shooter ever to a 1-for-10 night. Expecting more 1-for-10s would be a mistake, but if the Rockets can slow Curry they’ll have a real chance.
Prediction: Warriors in 6.
No. 3 Los Angeles Lakers (50-32) vs. No. 6 Minnesota Timberwolves (49-33)
Season series: Tied, 2-2.
Story line: LeBron James and Luka Doncic, together in the playoffs for the first time. Will it be enough? The Lakers won the title in 2020 and have won only two series since then, getting ousted by Denver in 2023 and 2024 — and now having to face the team that went into Denver and won a Game 7 to end the Nuggets’ reign last season. The Timberwolves will rely on Anthony Edwards as always, and he’s shown in previous playoff runs (and last summer with USA Basketball) that he isn’t afraid of the moment.
Key matchup: The Timberwolves’ size vs. the 1-2 punch of James and Doncic. Do the Lakers have an answer for the waves of bigs — Rudy Gobert, Julius Randle, Naz Reid, etc. — inside? No. Do the Timberwolves have a way to stop both James and Doncic? Of course not, because nobody does. The team that exploits its clear advantages the most wins the series.
Prediction: Lakers in 7.
No. 4 Denver Nuggets (50-32) vs. No. 5 Los Angeles Clippers (50-32)
Season series: Tied, 2-2.
Story line: The Clippers roll into the postseason as one of the hottest teams in the NBA, winning their last eight games and 18 of their final 21. Denver won its final three after firing coach Michael Malone and general manager Calvin Booth to match the Clippers at 50-32 and got home-court advantage via a tiebreaker. Neither had it last time the teams met in the playoffs: Denver overcame a 3-1 deficit to beat the Clippers in 2020 at the Walt Disney World resort.
Key matchup: Nikola Jokic vs. Ivica Zubac. No team has an advantage at center against the Nuggets, with Jokic averaging 29.6 points, 12.7 rebounds and 10.2 assists to become the third player to average a triple-double for a season. But the Clippers would have one against many other teams after Zubac’s excellent season in which he averaged 16.8 points and 12.6 boards, leading the NBA in total rebounds.
Prediction: Clippers in 6.
LAST CHANCE TIME: HAWKS-HEAT, GRIZZLIES-MAVERICKS TO DECIDE FINAL NBA PLAYOFF SPOTS ON FRIDAY
Klay Thompson has played in 33 NBA Finals games. Been to the playoffs nine times. Has four championship rings in his collection. He knows how the big stage feels.
Don’t tell him the play-in tournament doesn’t matter.
The play-in tournament ends Friday night with a pair of elimination games, win-or-go-home matchups that will have a Game 7 feel to them. In the Eastern Conference, it’s Miami going to Atlanta. And in the Western Conference, Thompson and Dallas visit Memphis. The winners go to the playoffs. The losers are finished.
“I know it’s not the NBA Finals or conference finals,” Thompson, in his first season with the Mavericks, said after Dallas extended its season Wednesday with a win at Sacramento that eliminated the Kings. “But shoot, we’re still alive and a lot of teams aren’t.”
That’s true. Right now, 14 teams are in the playoffs, 12 teams are done for the season and four are left to decide the last two playoff spots.
“I always say it’s like March Madness,” Heat center Bam Adebayo said. “Win or go home.”
For Atlanta and Memphis, these games are a second chance after both lost games where playoff berths could have been clinched on Tuesday. For Miami and Dallas, these games are a last chance to salvage a season and make a little bit of NBA history in the process.
No play-in team has ever won two road games in the same tournament, and this format — now in its fifth year, not counting a one-game play-in that was needed inside the bubble in 2020 — has never seen teams that entered as the 10th seed get into the actual playoffs.
Miami and Dallas can change that on Friday.
“We’re only halfway there,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said.
The Heat and Mavericks will be trying to stave off elimination for the second time in three days, after both got road wins Wednesday to keep hope alive; Miami ousted Chicago, Dallas ousted Sacramento. The Hawks and Grizzlies — both of whom finished eighth in the standings, which doesn’t guarantee a playoff berth anymore — wasted chances to make the playoffs on Tuesday; Atlanta lost at Orlando, Memphis lost at Golden State.
“We put ourselves in a position to have two games to get into the playoffs,” Hawks guard Trae Young said after his team lost to Orlando in a game that decided the No. 7 seed in the East. “Us being in the 8 seed, if this was the old school we’d already be in the playoffs. I’m glad they give us an opportunity to go home and get another chance. … That’s pretty much it. We’ve got another chance.”
It’ll be a quick turnaround for Friday’s winners. The Atlanta-Miami winner opens the playoffs at East No. 1 Cleveland on Sunday night, while the Memphis-Dallas winner opens the playoffs at West No. 1 and top overall seed Oklahoma City on Sunday afternoon.
They won’t be complaining.
“You’re looking at the bigger goal, the bigger picture, which is the playoffs,” Heat forward Andrew Wiggins said. “We’ve got to do whatever we can. Whatever we’ve got to do, we’ve got to do in that game.”
Miami at Atlanta, Friday, 7 p.m. (TNT)
Season series: Tied, 2-2.
BetMGM Sportsbook: Hawks by 1.5.
At stake: The winner is the No. 8 seed and opens the playoffs Sunday at No. 1 Cleveland. The loser is eliminated.
Outlook: Heat could get into the playoffs for the sixth consecutive season, which would tie a club record (it has happened on two previous occasions). Hawks went 2-0 against Miami at home this season, and all four games between the teams were decided by at least 10 points. The winner will become the first East team to go to the playoffs with a losing record (in a full 82-game season) since Boston did it with a 40-42 mark in 2014-15. Atlanta won the previous play-in tournament meeting between the clubs, topping Miami 116-105 in 2023 to earn the No. 7 seed. The Heat won the elimination game that year to claim the No. 8 seed — and start a run to that season’s NBA Finals.
Dallas at Memphis, Friday, 9:30 p.m. (ESPN)
Season series: Grizzlies, 3-1.
BetMGM Sportsbook: Grizzlies by 6.5.
At stake: The winner is the No. 8 seed and opens the playoffs Sunday at No. 1 Oklahoma City. The loser is eliminated.
Outlook: Maybe it’s fitting that these two teams play the last game going into the playoffs. The Mavericks traded their franchise player in Luka Doncic in February, the Grizzlies fired their all-time winningest coach in Taylor Jenkins with nine games left in the regular season. Even after Doncic got traded, Kyrie Irving got hurt and the franchise encountered — to put it mildly — some negativity, the Mavericks need to win just one game to get back to the playoffs. Meanwhile, the Grizzlies are trying to ensure that a 48-win season doesn’t go for naught in what would be a stunning collapse. Of the other 549 teams to go 48-34 (or better) in an NBA season, 545 of them made the playoffs.
THE NBA PLAYOFFS ARE ABOUT TO BEGIN. AND IT MIGHT BE A WIDE-OPEN RACE TO THE TITLE AGAIN
There was Toronto in 2019, the Los Angeles Lakers in 2020, Milwaukee in 2021, Golden State in 2022, Denver in 2023 and Boston in 2024.
Six different seasons, six different champions. A run of parity like none other in NBA history.
And now the Celtics get their turn at bucking that trend. Boston will try to win back-to-back NBA titles, something no franchise has managed since Golden State did it in 2017 and 2018. The NBA playoffs start Saturday with four Game 1s, continue Sunday with four more Game 1s and just like that a 16-team, two-month journey will be off and running.
“It’s the best time of the year,” Golden State coach Steve Kerr said.
Favored to win the title, according to BetMGM Sportsbook, are the 68-win Oklahoma City Thunder, the top overall seed and No. 1 seed in the Western Conference — a team that set an NBA record this season by outscoring teams by 12.9 points per game. Their fellow No. 1 seed out of the Eastern Conference: the 64-win Cleveland Cavaliers, a group that put together the second-best regular season in franchise history.
The Thunder haven’t been to the NBA Finals since 2012. The Cavaliers haven’t been there since the end of LeBron James’ second era in Cleveland in 2018. Over the last six seasons, nine different franchises have made at least one finals appearance — further speaking to the parity leaguewide right now, and the Thunder and Cavs both have eyes on adding to that list.
“This is what you compete for, is to be able to compete on the biggest stages,” Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said. “We’re now entering that. We’ve earned the opportunity to be there just like everybody else. We’re certainly excited.”
The Cavs aren’t even favored to win the East; oddsmakers list Boston as the pick to represent that side of the league in the NBA Finals. Cleveland — a team that led the NBA in scoring this season and finished second in field-goal percentage — may be turning that into fuel.
“I think I’ve been saying we’re humble and hungry,” Cleveland coach Kenny Atkinson said. “I don’t know if that rings, but it’s kind of who we are. … Within the humility, there’s a hunger in that locker room. They want to prove people wrong.”
Among the others in the playoff field: James and the Lakers, Stephen Curry and the Warriors, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Milwaukee, Nikola Jokic and Denver. All past MVPs, all past champions, and all of them looking to do what Boston did last year.
“We’re not defending a championship. We won last year. Can’t nobody take it from us,” Celtics forward Jayson Tatum said. “But last year was last season. That’s out the window. We’re not worried about anything besides the Magic right now.”
Most of the matchups are set. It’s Boston vs. Orlando, New York vs. Detroit and Indiana vs. Milwaukee in the East, with Cleveland set to meet either Atlanta or Miami. In the West, it’s Houston vs. Golden State, the Lakers vs. Minnesota and Denver vs. the Los Angeles Clippers, with Oklahoma City awaiting the winner of Memphis and Dallas.
James and Curry have four titles apiece. Nobody has gotten to five as a player since Tim Duncan in 2014, when San Antonio won its most recent title. And both have to believe they have a realistic chance of getting through a loaded Western Conference — James and the Lakers bolstered by the addition of Luka Doncic, Curry and the Warriors bolstered by the addition of Jimmy Butler.
“Means a lot to match up against him,” Minnesota star Anthony Edwards said of facing James, his Olympic teammate last summer, in Round 1. “Probably goes down as the greatest player to ever play basketball. So, trying to get putting him out of the playoffs under my belt is going to be a tough one — but it’s going to be a fun road.”
There’s one Round 1 rematch from last season: Milwaukee vs. Indiana. The Pacers took advantage of a hobbled Bucks team last year and won in six games, and this year they’ll be facing a Bucks team that doesn’t have Damian Lillard — sidelined by a blood clot.
“We’re always going to get their best shot. They’re always going to get our best shot,” Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton said. “Plain and simple, we don’t like each other.”
There are tons of other storylines.
Denver is seeking its second title in three years, only this time with interim coach David Adelman — who replaced Michael Malone with three games left — at the helm, and the Nuggets open against Kawhi Leonard, James Harden and the airtight defense that the Clippers bring. Detroit is back in the playoffs, now with eyes on ending a 14-game postseason losing streak that goes back to 2008. Houston is back in the field, ending a five-year drought and climbing all the way to the No. 2 seed out West.
The Thunder are the favorite. The Cavs and Celtics both won 60-plus games. The Lakers, Warriors and Nuggets certainly have reasons for confidence. The Timberwolves were the surprise team that made a deep run last year. The Pacers might be that team this year.
Parity may reign again.
“We have something to look forward to now,” Curry said. “And I’m excited about the challenge.”
PISTONS PULL OFF UNPRECEDENTED TURNAROUND, BECOMING 1ST NBA TEAM TO TRIPLE WINS FROM PREVIOUS SEASON
DETROIT (AP) — The Detroit Pistons hit rock bottom not long ago, suffering from the embarrassment of the longest single-season losing streak in league history and slumping to the NBA’s worst record for a second straight year.
Tom Gores had seen enough.
The team owner responded with a series of moves less than a year ago, including one that cost him $65 million to fire coach Monty Williams, to spark an unprecedented turnaround.
The Cade Cunningham-led Pistons were 44-38 this season — one year after winning a league-low 14 games — and the 30-game improvement was the best by a team in the league that earned fewer than 20 victories the previous season.
Detroit is also the first NBA franchise to triple its total number of victories from the previous year in an 82-game season.
“I haven’t seen anything like it,” former NBA coach Dwane Casey said in an interview with The Associated Press, drawing on his three-three plus decades in the league.
There’s a reason for that. It had never happened.
After pulling off a feat no one saw coming, the Pistons will tip off their first appearance in the NBA playoffs since 2019 on Saturday night on the road against the New York Knicks.
“It’s surreal that we’re here when you look back at what this team had been through when we took the job,” general manager Trajan Langdon told the AP. “It’s incredibly gratifying and I’m so happy for the players who made it happen.”
Gores purchased the Pistons in 2011, when a three-time championship franchise was trying to rebuild, and failed to find the right combination of management, coaching and players to win until last year’s retooling.
Detroit had only one winning record before this season under Gores, who also owns 27% of the NFL’s Los Angeles Chargers. The Pistons were swept in the first round six years ago and in the 2016 playoffs, extending the NBA’s longest playoff losing streak to 14 games dating to May 26, 2008.
Casey endured some of the misery in the Motor City.
He was fired by the Toronto Raptors in 2018, days after winning the NBA Coach of the Year award, and led the Pistons to a .500 record and playoff appearance the next season.
Casey averaged just 20 wins over the next four years. He resigned to became a senior advisor for the team as it hired Williams and went from 17 victories to just 14 under another former NBA Coach of the Year in one of the worst two-year stretches in league history.
Gores refused to let his franchise idle and hope for the best, triggering pivotal decisions that have panned out for the Pistons.
He fired general manager Troy Weaver following four futile years, a decision that surprised no one, then shocked many by firing Williams after only one season.
“Everybody thought it was crazy to let the coach go,” said Casey, a senior advisor for the team. “It took a lot of guts to do that.”
It also took a lot of money.
Gores paid Williams $65 million to leave last May after hiring Langdon, who put J.B. Bickerstaff on the bench shortly after the Cleveland Cavaliers fired a coach who won 99 games the previous two seasons.
“Tom Gores’ decision to move on from Monty created a domino effect, and it’s a move most owners would not have made because of his contract,” said former NBA player and TV analyst Jalen Rose, who often roots for his hometown team while standing up in front of a courtside seat at Little Caesars Arena. “The fact that he was willing to blow it all up sent a message to everyone, including media and fans, and then he hired one of the hottest GM prospects when he got Trajan.
“It also helped that the No. 1 pick took a leap like SGA (Shai Gilgeous-Alexander) did in Oklahoma City and Anthony Edwards did in Minnesota.”
The Pistons gave Cunningham, drafted first overall in 2021, a five-year contract extension worth at least $224 million last summer and the point guard has made that deal look like a bargain.
Cunningham became an All-Star for the first time this season, averaging 26.1 points, 9.1 assists and 6.1 rebounds, and went from being a good player with some injury issues to a durable, All-NBA caliber candidate.
“It means everything,” said shooting guard Tim Hardaway Jr., one of the key veterans acquired last summer along with Tobias Harris and Malik Beasley. “A lot of this would not be possible without him.”
The turnaround, though, may not have happened if Gores gave Williams another shot this season and yet he was quick to deflect credit to the men making shots and stops on the court and those calling the shots from the bench and front office.
“It means a lot, but we’re not done,” Gores said. “The story has just started.”
COLLEGE FOOTBALL NEWS
COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYERS CHASING DOLLARS WITH PORTAL OPEN AND HOUSE SETTLEMENT APPROVAL DELAYED
The opening of the college football transfer portal has created a dash for cash.
The delay in approving the House vs. NCAA antitrust settlement means the rules around compensation are not yet in place, blowing up the market for the amount of money players can receive from their schools’ name, image and likeness collectives or from third-party endorsement deals.
More than 400 players have entered the portal since it opened Wednesday, according to tracking by 247Sports. Athletes have until April 25 to enter, and they clearly have leverage until the settlement is approved by U.S. District Judge Claudia Wilken in California.
“It’s basically a free pass to pay guys as much as you want to pay them right now,” said Mit Winter, a Missouri sports law attorney who advises agents, collectives and schools. His advice to athletes: “Get your deal signed now before the House settlement gets approved and make sure the payments are made from a collective before July 1.”
Once the House settlement is approved, any NIL deals with a collective or third party over $600 must be reported to a clearinghouse, where it will be vetted to determine if the pay is commensurate with the service provided by the athlete and that it is in line with the athlete’s fair market value. July 1 is the expected date for the settlement to take effect.
Jacob Piasecki and Stefan Aguilera, co-founders of the Austin, Texas-based A&P Sports Agency, have been busy since winter negotiating “frontloaded” NIL contracts that will pay all or most of the money to their clients before July 1.
“It’s like an 11th hour now,” Piasecki said. “We’re getting to the point where collectives are going to be highly scrutinized and everything is going to be under a microscope.”
Michael LeRoy, a University of Illinois labor and sports law professor, said it would have been advantageous for the schools if Wilken had given final approval to the settlement in the days between the April 7 settlement hearing and the opening of the portal this week.
“The lack of closure,” LeRoy said, “adds one more element of chaos.”
Uncertainy reigns
The scramble for pay has disrupted college sports the past few seasons, particularly with athletes now free to transfer without having to sit out the following season. This past year alone, quarterback Nico Iamaleava left Tennessee when he was set to reportedly earn $2.2 million next season and QB Matthew Sluka left UNLV, saying the school didn’t come through with $100,000.
In addition to NIL, athletes also will be able to get paid through revenue sharing beginning July 1. Schools are now sending players term sheets or memorandums of understanding regarding pay. Each school will be allowed to distribute $20.5 million to their athletes this year, with football and men’s basketball players likely to receive the lion’s share.
Considering some schools had unofficial NIL payrolls at or near $20 million just for football last year and that there soon will be greater policing of collective and third-party NIL deals, some of the highest-paid players will take pay cuts this year unless their current deals are renegotiated before House approval.
Piasecki and Aguilera predicted a random Power Four quarterback who earned $2 million in 2024 might make only half that in 2025 because of the rev-share and NIL caps.
Winter agreed some players could make less, “but they still will be able to negotiate within whatever budget a school has. There’s still going to be collectives at a lot of schools that will come in to fill gaps or go over that cap as well.”
How would a collective fill a pay gap if any deal over $600 must go through the clearinghouse?
“The way it’s envisioned now, the athletes are responsible for reporting deals with collectives and boosters to the new enforcement entity,” Winter said. “Probably like now, there’ll be lots of deals that don’t get reported.”
Court fights loom
Experts say lawsuits are a certainty, noting limits have been placed on rev-share and NIL pay without collective bargaining involving the athletes and their representatives. Because college athletes are not considered employees, collective bargaining is not required. Conferences and schools have lobbied Congress to codify the House settlement and bake in some level of antitrust protection.
As the settlement is written, if the clearinghouse disallows an NIL deal, the athlete is ineligible if they go forward with it. Otherwise, they can renegotiate the deal or go to arbitration and try to show why the deal is within fair market value.
Winter said the formula for determining fair market value is nebulous. He said it’s his understanding the athlete’s performance, social media followers and the market in which their school is located will be factors.
“Who’s to say what’s fair market value if someone wants to pay someone X?” Winter said. “How can you say their fair market value is not X?”
As for enforcement, the power conferences are establishing an enforcement arm to oversee adherence to the salary cap and clearinghouse and levy penalties on violators.
“One element that’s in the background that’s going to keep inserting itself into the foreground is these schools want to create a rules structure for everybody else except themselves,” LeRoy said. “That’s always been the history of NCAA competition. We’ll have a rules committee, we’ll have enforcement. The underlying behavior is we find ways to shortcut the rules, spin the rules, even cheat on the rules.
“I look at this new regime as, ‘We’re setting up rules, everybody knows what the rules are.’ And then everybody is thinking about how can you game it, how can you circumvent it?”
LEE CORSO ENDING FOUR-DECADE RUN AT ESPN’S ‘GAMEDAY’
Lee Corso is hanging up his headgear and ending a nearly four-decade broadcasting run with ESPN’s “College GameDay” in August, the network announced Thursday.
Corso, who turns 90 on Aug. 7, has been a host of the college football television staple since 1987. He will make his farewell appearance on Aug. 30.
“My family and I will be forever indebted for the opportunity to be part of ESPN and College GameDay for nearly 40 years,” he said in a statement released by ESPN. “I have a treasure of many friends, fond memories and some unusual experiences to take with me into retirement.”
Corso is perhaps best known for his Saturday pregame headgear picks, donning the helmets or mascot “heads” of the team he predicts will win that day’s marquee matchup. According to ESPN, his picks are 286-144 since he began that segment in October 1996.
“Lee Corso has developed a special connection to generations of fans through his entertaining style and iconic headgear picks,” ESPN chairman Jimmy Pitaro said. “Lee is one of the most influential and beloved figures in the history of college football and our ESPN team will celebrate his legendary career during his final College GameDay appearance this August.”
Before joining ESPN, Corso was the head coach at Louisville (1969-72), Indiana (1973-82) and Northern Illinois (1984). He compiled a 73-85-6 record, highlighted by the Hoosiers’ win in the 1979 Holiday Bowl.
Corso was the head coach of the USFL’s Orlando Renegades during the 1985 season, finishing 5-13.
Corso, who suffered a stroke in 2009, had limited his travel in recent years.
“ESPN has been exceptionally generous to me, especially these past few years,” Corso said. “They accommodated me and supported me, as did my colleagues in the early days of College GameDay. Special thanks to Kirk Herbstreit for his friendship and encouragement. And lest I forget, the fans … truly a blessing to share this with them. ESPN gave me this wonderful opportunity and provided me the support to ensure success. I am genuinely grateful.”
Herbstreit and Corso have shared the “College GameDay” set since 1996.
“Coach Corso has had an iconic run in broadcasting, and we’re all lucky to have been around to witness it,” Herbstreit said in a statement. “He has taught me so much throughout our time together, and he’s been like a second father to me. It has been my absolute honor to have the best seat in the house to watch Coach put on that mascot head each week.”
Chris Fowler, who hosted the show for 25 years, echoed Herbstreit’s sentiments.
“Lee has been an indelible force in the growth of college football’s popularity,” Fowler told ESPN. “He’s a born entertainer and singular television talent. But at his heart he’ll always be a coach, with an abiding love and respect for the game and the people who play it.”
UNC LANDS SOUTH ALABAMA QB GIO LOPEZ VIA TRANSFER PORTAL
A day after newly arrived quarterback Ryan Browne announced that he is leaving North Carolina, the Tar Heels landed Gio Lopez out of the transfer portal.
Lopez was the starting quarterback as a redshirt freshman at South Alabama last season as the Jaguars went 7-6 and won the Salute to Veterans Bowl.
Lopez tweeted, “Excited and grateful, go Heels! @UNCFootball”
According to ESPN, Lopez landed a two-year, $4 million deal from North Carolina.
Lopez, a 6-foot-2, 220-pound Alabama native, connected on 66 percent of his passes last season for 2,559 yards and 18 touchdowns with five interceptions. He added 83 carries for 465 yards and seven TDs.
With new coach Bill Belichick’s Tar Heels, Lopez joins a quarterback corps that also includes Max Johnson and incoming freshman Bryce Baker. Johnson, who previously played at LSU and Texas A&M, started the 2024 opener for North Carolina but sustained a season-ending broken leg in that contest.
Senior Jacolby Criswell wound up as the Tar Heels’ primary QB last season as the team went 6-7 with a loss in the Fenway Bowl.
Browne arrived briefly from Purdue but quickly re-entered the transfer portal.
NFL NEWS
AARON RODGERS SAYS HE’S NOT HOLDING TEAMS HOSTAGE AS HE PONDERS HIS FUTURE IN THE NFL
Aaron Rodgers is in no rush to make a decision about his future.
The free-agent quarterback said during an appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show” on Thursday that he is “not holding anybody hostage” as he weighs whether to return for a 21st season.
Rodgers was released by the New York Jets in March. The 41-year-old four-time NFL MVP has visited the Pittsburgh Steelers and talked with the Minnesota Vikings in recent weeks, but said there are certain things going on in his personal life that are currently taking precedence over anything related to football.
“I have a couple people in my inner circle that are battling some difficult stuff,” Rodgers said. “I have a lot of things that are taking my attention and have, beginning in January, away from football.”
Rodgers added that committing to a team is a “big thing” and indicated he will only do so when he’s ready to be all-in. He did cut down rumors that he was holding out for a multi-year contract or a big payday, saying that $10 million for one season would be enough to get him to sign.
“I told every single one of the teams I talked to (that) it wasn’t about the money,” Rodgers said.
The Steelers currently have plenty of cap space and plenty of room on the roster for Rodgers. Mason Rudolph and Skylar Thompson are the only two quarterbacks currently under contact. Rodgers tried to surreptitiously visit Pittsburgh’s facility last month, flying into a regional airport and renting a Chevy Malibu in an effort not to draw attention to himself.
Rodgers said it was important to meet with Steelers coach Mike Tomlin and general manager Omar Khan and get a feel for the city. He left without an agreement, though everyone from Tomlin to team president Art Rooney II has indicated the meeting was productive. Rodgers also has relationships with Pittsburgh offensive coordinator Arthur Smith and quarterbacks coach Tom Arth, who worked alongside Rodgers in Green Bay during the 2006 offseason.
While Pittsburgh feels like the most natural fit for Rodgers — who also worked out with recently acquired Steelers wide receiver DK Metcalf — he also said that retirement “could still be a possibility” and he doesn’t seem to be in any sort of rush even with the NFL draft looming next week.
“This entire time I haven’t felt like I owed anybody a decision at any point,” he said. “(I told them) if you need to move on, need to do something, by all means, nothing but love and respect if that’s a decision to be made.”
Rodgers has also been in contact with Minnesota coach Kevin O’Connell and talked to New York Giants coach Brian Daboll, whom Rodgers said has a “beautiful football mind.”
Rodgers indicated he has kept the lines of communication open, but is prioritizing his personal life at the moment.
“I don’t think it was fair to the Steelers or anyone to make a decision while I’m dealing with a lot off the field,” he said.
TRE’DAVIOUS WHITE REJOINING BILLS AFTER AGREEING TO 1-YEAR, $6.8 MILLION DEAL, HIS AGENT TELLS AP
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) — Cornerback Tre’Davious White is rejoining the Buffalo Bills after agreeing to a one-year contract worth up to $6.8 million, the player’s agent told The Associated Press on Thursday.
Agent Kevin Conner confirmed the agreement, which was first reported by ESPN.
The 30-year-old White returns to Buffalo a year after being part of the team’s salary cap-related purge of high-priced veterans in March 2024. He went on to sign with the Los Angeles Rams, where he had four starts, before being traded in November to the Baltimore Ravens, where he appeared in seven games.
In Buffalo, White has in-depth familiarity with the defensive system, and rejoins a secondary with a starting spot open opposite Christian Benford.
White’s production and playing time was slowed by major injuries sustained in consecutive seasons.
He missed a calendar year recovering from a torn right knee ligament sustained in November 2021. White then missed the final 13 games of the 2023 season with a torn right Achilles tendon.
Otherwise, White established himself as one of the NFL’s top cornerbacks since his rookie season after being selected in the first round of the 2017 draft out of LSU. He earned first-team All-Pro honors in 2019 and was voted to the second team the following year as a member of a stingy secondary that included former starting safeties Micah Hyde and Jordan Poyer.
Overall, White has 18 interceptions, all with Buffalo, and is credited with 73 passes defended in 93 games, including 86 starts.
BRONCOS CAN FOCUS ON BUILDING AROUND THEIR QB IN THE NFL DRAFT INSTEAD OF FINDING HIM
DENVER (AP) — For the first time in a decade the Denver Broncos didn’t have to spend their NFL draft preparation poring over quarterback prospects.
Bo Nix’s successful rookie season in 2024 allowed coach Sean Payton and general manager George Paton to focus their energies elsewhere this offseason.
“It’s nice, but there are always different challenges,” Paton said. “There are always different stress points. Free agency, that’s a crazy time, because you really don’t have any control and you don’t know what they’re doing on the other side. You don’t know how many teams are involved.
“So that’s a crazy time and now as we head into the draft, we’re picking a little further back. We’re picking 20. Who’s going to be there? Do we have to move up? Maybe we move back? All those scenarios come into play. The challenges are always ahead, no matter what.”
The Broncos got off to a good start on their roster reshaping in free agency, where, as team owner Greg Penner promised, the team was measured in their approach yet managed to address several of their biggest needs.
The Broncos signed safety Talanoa Hufanga and linebacker Dre Greenlaw from the San Francisco 49ers and added tight end Evan Engram from Jacksonville and special teams ace Trent Sherfield from Detroit.
“I feel like we got better,” Paton said. “I feel like we have a better offense, defense and special teams. We brought in some really good players, good people and good leaders, especially the first four that we brought in, all kind of captain material. We feel really good about the haul.”
Yet, there’s still plenty of pieces to put in place on both offense and defense after the Broncos snapped their seven-year playoff drought last season with their first winning season since 2016.
For the first time in several years, the Broncos have a full complement of draft picks after spending so much draft capital to acquire Russell Wilson and, later, their head coach.
Sitting pretty
Filling so many holes in free agency means the Broncos can focus on grabbing the best player if they stay at 20 and not worrying about reaching for a player.
“It’s huge, and I’ve talked about the flexibility,” Paton said. “You want to fill some places where you need to get better in free agency if you can. You don’t want to force it so in the draft, you can take the best player throughout the draft.”
Fortunate fit
Now that they’ve addressed their paucity of tight end production with the addition of Engram, the Broncos really need a running back to take some load off Nix’s shoulders.
And that’s a position of strength in this year’s class.
“Everyone’s talking about the running backs, so that’s a good thing, right?” Paton said. “There are a lot of running backs. I think we just need to get depth everywhere.”
Needs
In addition to running back, receiver, linebacker, safety, another pass-catching tight end.
Don’t need
A starting quarterback, for a change.
SAINTS’ KELLEN MOORE ENTERS HIS FIRST NFL DRAFT AS A HEAD COACH SEEKING GOOD FITS FOR NEW SCHEMES
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — The New Orleans Saints have been languishing outside the playoff picture for four years and now are hoping rookie coach Kellen Moore can improve their prospects for a return to contention.
How long the road back to relevance winds up being could hinge on how well the club uses its nine 2025 draft choices, starting with the ninth overall pick in the first round.
Entering 2017, the Saints were in a three-year playoff drought when a fruitful draft that included cornerback Marshon Lattimore, right tackle Ryan Ramczyk and running back Alvin Kamara produced a return to the postseason that same year.
By the 2018 season, the Saints were the No. 1 playoff seed in the NFC, hosted the conference title game and were perhaps one late blown call away from going to the Super Bowl. That was the second of four straight playoff seasons before New Orleans’ current drought, the start of which coincided with the retirement of record-setting quarterback Drew Brees after the 2020 season.
Now Moore has brought new schemes on offense and defense and already has begun the process of making roster moves aimed at fitting personnel to those schemes.
There have been free-agent signings of likely starters on the interior of the offensive and defensive lines (guard Dillon Radunz and nose tackle Davon Godchaux), at wide receiver (Brandin Cooks) and at defensive back (Justin Reid).
“I feel like we’re heading in the right direction,” Moore told reporters during recent NFL meetings in Palm Beach, Florida.
A good draft would help consolidate those recent gains.
Need
The Saints will need a quarterback soon, if not this year. Would-be starter Derek Carr, who has struggled with consistency and injuries during his first two seasons in New Orleans, is now 34 years old and has two years remaining on his contract. Meanwhile, Moore is an offensive play-caller who presumably would want to choose his QB eventually, but for now has inherited Carr. So it’s not all that far-fetched that the Saints could trade up in the first round to snag Miami’s Cam Ward, Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders or Mississippi’s Jaxson Dart.
The Saints have other young QBs on the roster — Jake Haener and Spencer Rattler — but they struggled as spot starters when Carr was injured last season. New Orleans also has shown pre-draft interest in Louisville’s Tyler Shough and Texas’ Quinn Ewers.
Meanwhile, the Saints top two cornerbacks entering last season are no longer on the club. They traded Lattimore and Paulson Adebo left in free agency. The Saints still have Alontae Taylor and Kool-Aid McKinstry, but could be in the market to add more depth there, and draft analysts have mentioned Michigan’s Will Johnson or East Carolina’s Shavon Revel Jr. as potential prospects for New Orleans.
The Saints offensive line was beat up last season and often struggled. The signings of Radunz and Will Clapp were meant to address that, but there could be options to draft LSU’s Will Campbell or Missouri’s Armand Membou as well.
The Saints also could use another pass-rusher to join Chase Young and Cam Jordan on the edge. Draft analysts see Georgia’s Jalon Walker as an option there.
Don’t need
With Alvin Kamara having signed an extension last season, running back is not an urgent need for New Orleans. But if Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty is available, the Saints could be tempted to take him.
At receiver, the return of Cooks to the club that drafted him in 2014 added veteran depth to a unit led by Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed.
At tight end, the Saints recently recommitted to veteran Juwan Johnson. They hope second-year pro Dallin Holker develops into a receiving threat, have veteran Foster Moreau on the roster (although he’s recovering from a late-season knee injury) and also added veteran tight end Jack Stoll in free agency. Versatile tight end Taysom Hill remains on the roster, too, and he tries to come back effectively from a major knee injury.
Demario Davis and Peter Werner are set to return as starting linebackers, reducing pressure to fill voids at that position with draft picks.
Picks aplenty
In addition to choosing ninth overall, New Orleans entered April with one second-round pick (40th overall), two third rounders (71st and 93rd), two fourth-rounders (112th and 131st), one sixth-round selection (184th), and two picks in the seventh round (248th and 254th).
That volume of picks gives the Saints the option to package some of those in trades up or down the draft board.
NFL DRAFT INTRIGUE LIKELY TO BEGIN WHEN THE BROWNS GO ON THE CLOCK WITH 2ND OVERALL PICK
Some years, the true intrigue about how the rest of the NFL draft’s first round could develop doesn’t happen until at least the third or fourth pick.
This year though, it will begin with the Cleveland Browns, who have the second overall selection. It marks the first time since 2021 that the Browns have a first-round selection after the disastrous Deshaun Watson trade in 2022 sent three first-round picks to Houston.
The Browns could go in one of three directions with their pick. They could try again to address the quarterback position — a spot the franchise hasn’t been able to consistently get right since returning in 1999 — with Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders.
Cleveland could also take Sanders’ teammate, Travis Hunter, utilizing his two-way talent as a wide receiver and defensive back.
Or, the Browns could select Penn State’s Abdul Carter and pair him with Myles Garrett to form a formidable pass-rushing duo.
“We have not made a hard decision in terms of how we’re going to utilize the No. 2 pick,” general manager Andrew Berry said during his pre-draft news conference. “There are a number of guys that we like. Our travels, they were the logical touch points that you would make for all prospects who are worthy of being considered that high in the draft.”
Owner Jimmy Haslam also made headlines during the league meetings when he said drafting a quarterback, especially with the second pick, shouldn’t be his team’s end-all scenario.
“I think the message is if the right person’s there, we’re going to take him,” Haslam said. “If not, we’ll figure it out for a year or two until we get the right person. There are good football players in this draft and we’ve got to make sure we get the right ones for us.”
State of the QB room
With Watson likely sidelined for the season with a twice ruptured Achilles tendon, the Browns signed Joe Flacco to a one-year deal on April 11. They acquired Kenny Pickett from Philadelphia on March 12.
Drafting Sanders would create plenty of buzz. The son of Hall of Famer Deion Sanders also isn’t lacking in confidence, saying during his pro day at Colorado “wherever I go it’s definitely going to be an improvement than what it was before I got there.”
If the Browns passed on Sanders, they could move back into late in the first round since they have the 33rd overall pick, which opens day two on Friday. Ole Miss’ Jaxson Dart, Alabama’s Jalen Milroe, Ohio State’s Will Howard and Notre Dame’s Riley Leonard are projected to go in the second or third round on Friday.
Berry said the signing of Flacco would not play a factor in their draft decisions.
“We firmly believe that it’s not about picking a player who’s ready to contribute now, it’s about trying to find the player that you think is going to be the best if you have access to that player,” he said. “Quarterbacks mature and grow at their own pace and our thought isn’t in terms of immediacy but making the next long-term bet.”
Strike a pose
Hunter would be the fourth Heisman Trophy winner drafted by the Browns, joining Charles White, Johnny Manziel and Baker Mayfield.
Berry said during the scouting combine in February that he saw Hunter primarily as a receiver, but he has changed his stance since then. Berry told reporters at the league meetings that he sees Hunter playing both receiver and cornerback but that the balance depends on the schemes on offense and defense and the physical toll.
Hunter not only won the Heisman last year, he took home the Biletnikoff Award as the nation’s best wide receiver and the Bednarik Award as the best defensive player.
Berry has described Hunter as a unicorn multiple times, but also compared him to baseball superstar Shohei Ohtani in that he excels in whatever he plays.
Lining them up
Since Berry became the Browns general manager in 2020, eight of his 21 selections in the first four rounds have been on defensive linemen. According to Sportradar, the eight picks are tied with the Raiders and Bengals for most in the league during that span.
With Myles Garrett under contract through the 2029 season, pairing him with Carter could create a premier pass-rushing duo. In his first season as a full-time edge rusher last year at Penn State, Carter had 12 sacks, sixth most in the Football Bowl Subdivision.
Carter also would be used to the rigors of a long schedule. Penn State was one of four teams to play 16 games last season during the first year of the expanded College Football Playoff.
Need
Besides quarterback, defensive line and wide receiver, Cleveland needs to address running back. Nick Chubb remains a free agent as the ground game averaged 94.6 yards per game last season, fourth fewest in the league. It also needs to address depth on the offensive line.
Don’t need
David Njoku is back for one more season, leaving the Browns set at tight end, at least for the short term.
STEELERS DON’T HAVE A QB OF THE FUTURE. FINDING ONE IN THE 2025 NFL DRAFT IS FAR FROM A SURE THING
PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Pittsburgh Steelers don’t have a quarterback of the future. And in the weeks leading up to the NFL draft, it became fair to wonder if they even have a quarterback of the present as Aaron Rodgers weighed whether or not he has a 21st season in him.
Maybe it’s fitting for a team that’s been spinning its wheels at the most important position in the game that it finds itself entering the 2025 draft in the same spot it was just after Ben Roethlisberger retired three years ago: with the 21st overall pick in a draft not exactly stacked with quarterback talent.
The Steelers took a leap of faith in 2022, taking former Pitt star Kenny Pickett. It didn’t work out. Just as it didn’t work out for Mitch Trubisky. Or Justin Fields. Or Russell Wilson.
Now what? Pittsburgh has needs in other places, particularly along a defensive line that, outside of seemingly ageless Cam Heyward, was pushed around regularly during a late-season swoon that ended with a beatdown at the hands of rival Baltimore in the opening round of the playoffs.
Yet the temptation to find an answer to what is becoming an annual question may win out by the time NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell heads to the podium in Green Bay to announce Pittsburgh’s opening-round selection.
Shedeur Sanders and Jaxson Dart were among the prospects who made pre-draft visits to Pittsburgh, a sign that perhaps anything is on the table as the Steelers try to find their way out of the rut of being pretty good but never great that they’ve been stuck in for nearly a decade.
Finding the right quarterback would go a long way toward providing a pathway forward. The decision that general manager Omar Khan and coach Mike Tomlin face is whether that quarterback is in this draft.
If not, there’s always Mason Rudolph, who returned to the Steelers on a two-year deal in March after a season in Tennessee. Rudolph was actually in the mix to replace Roethlisberger, only for Pittsburgh to sign Trubisky and draft Pickett. Redemption came in the final weeks of 2023 when Rudolph was part of a late surge that carried the Steelers to the playoffs.
“That’s why we brought him back,” Tomlin said at the league’s annual meetings. “I’m comfortable with that. And we’ve been there before.”
In more ways than one.
The Pickens problem
Whoever is the quarterback will have the luxury of throwing to DK Metcalf, acquired in a trade with Seattle in March. Metcalf immediately agreed to a long-term extension, giving the Steelers a consistent and proven pass catcher, something they haven’t really had since Antonio Brown’s prime in the 2010s.
It also begs the question about what to do with George Pickens. The talented but immature wide receiver has tantalized and frustrated opponents and teammates alike during his three seasons. He’s also entering the last year of his rookie deal. The Steelers could sign Pickens to an extension before the season, let him play out the year and hope he doesn’t become a distraction or decide that they’ve seen enough and trade him, perhaps as soon as the draft.
If that happens, they figure to be in the market for adding to a room that includes Metcalf, Calvin Austin and Roman Wilson, who didn’t play a down during his injury-filled rookie season.
Pittsburgh has a pretty good track record of finding and developing wide receivers, and maybe it decides to take another flyer in the middle rounds on a player with potential, perhaps minus the headaches this time.
Investing up front
The Steelers haven’t taken a defensive lineman in the first round since selecting Heyward 31st overall in 2011. It’s time — maybe past time — to find his heir apparent.
Pittsburgh cut Larry Ogunjobi in a salary cap move and doesn’t have much up front beyond Keeanu Benton. The crop of defensive line prospects this time around is deep and with a quarterback that could provide an instant turnaround is perhaps a long shot, maybe the pragmatic thing to do is to spend draft capital on a position that needs an influx of talent and youth.
Ready to run
The Steelers could also be in the market for a running back after deciding not to re-sign Najee Harris after four straight 1,000-yard seasons. Jaylen Warren has thrived as a change-of-pace back and Pittsburgh signed former Philadelphia Eagle Kenny Gainwell, who is viewed as more of a third-down option and a kick returner.
There will be plenty of backs available this time around, yet without a second-round pick following the trade with Seattle, it seems more likely that Pittsburgh would wait until the later rounds to take a flyer on someone who could contribute.
Warren, after all, signed with the Steelers as an undrafted free agent and has become one of the more unlikely success stories in the league.
AIMING TO BUILD ON RECENT DRAFT SUCCESS, BUCCANEERS COULD FOCUS ON DEFENSE IN FIRST ROUND
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Successful drafts have helped the Tampa Bay Buccaneers stay on top in the NFC South for the first half of this decade.
They need to add more talent to keep them ahead of the pack.
The Bucs hold the 19th pick in the first round of the NFL draft and will likely target defensive help. They already have a dynamic offense led by Baker Mayfield, Mike Evans and Bucky Irving.
General manager Jason Licht and his staff have done an outstanding job evaluating players since selecting Evans with the first pick in his first draft in 2014. All-Pro left tackle Tristan Wirfs, defensive tackle Vita Vea, wide receiver Chris Godwin and safety Antoine Winfield Jr. are among their best picks.
They chose several players who performed well as rookies in last year’s draft, including Irving, center Graham Barton, wide receiver Jalen McMillan and safety Tykee Smith.
Now it’s time to do it again.
“We knew that we had a special group of guys — the individuals, but you still never know until you get out there and they start playing,” Licht said of last year’s class.
Need
Edge rusher, cornerback and linebacker are Tampa Bay’s biggest needs. Coach Todd Bowles has stressed the importance of putting pressure on quarterbacks without having to blitz. The addition of two-time Pro Bowl edge rusher Haason Reddick in free agency could be a significant boost if he plays as he did between 2020-23 when he had double-digit sacks four straight seasons.
But signing Reddick doesn’t preclude the Bucs from seeking an edge in the first round. Tennessee’s James Pearce Jr. went to Tampa Bay in the AP mock draft.
Drafting edge rushers is one area that’s been a problem for the Buccaneers. Joe Tryon-Shoyinka (32nd overall pick, 2021) had just 15 sacks in four seasons and signed with Cleveland in free agency. Logan Hall (33rd overall pick, 2022) has 8 1/2 sacks in his first three seasons.
Don’t need
The Buccaneers don’t need starters on offense but could add players for depth. Though they seem set at wide receiver with Evans, Godwin, McMillan and veteran Sterling Shepard, Licht didn’t rule out another playmaker. Evans turns 32 in August and Godwin is coming off a major ankle injury.
“We’re not going to overlook that position at all if everything falls that way for us,” Licht said.
Finding finds
Licht’s specialty has been the middle rounds.
Irving, McMillan, Smith, defensive lineman YaYa Diaby, running back Rachaad White, tight end Cade Otton and cornerback Zyon McCollum are among the key players the Buccaneers have drafted in the third or fourth rounds over the past three seasons.
“We’ve had some good production,” Licht said. “My staff and the coaches have done a great job. The last three years — I would say combined, those drafts were elite when you put them all — add them all together. We want to try to keep doing it. It doesn’t always work out that way but keep doing it. I think this particular draft just seems it be a little bit more leveled out, which I’m excited about. I’m not saying that’s something I don’t like about this draft. It’s something I do like about the draft.”
CHRISTIAN WATSON’S KNEE INJURY COULD CAUSE PACKERS TO TRY BOOSTING RECEIVING GROUP IN NFL DRAFT
The likelihood that wide receiver Christian Watson will miss much of the upcoming season creates a dilemma for the Green Bay Packers as they make their draft plans.
Watson, the Packers’ top deep option, tore his anterior cruciate ligament in the Packers’ 2024 regular-season finale.
“It won’t shock me at all if he’s a big factor for us this season, but at the same time. … these are big injuries,” general manager Brian Gutekunst told reporters at the NFL owners meetings. “We have to make sure that we’re protected in case that doesn’t happen.”
The Packers’ only free-agent addition at receiver was the speedy Mecole Hardman, who has just 27 catches over the past two seasons. Even if Watson’s unavailable, the Packers return three other wideouts who had at least 400 yards receiving last season in Jayden Reed (55 catches, 857 yards), Romeo Doubs (46 for 601 yards) and Dontayvion Wicks (39 for 415 yards).
But a receiving group that struggled with drops last season still needs reinforcements.
The Packers haven’t selected a wide receiver in the first round since taking Javon Walker 20th overall in 2002. It would be quite the story if they finally took one that early the year Green Bay hosts the draft.
Needs
The Packers also could use some help at cornerback — particularly given Jaire Alexander’s uncertain future with the team — and they need more edge rushers and interior defensive linemen.
Don’t need
The Packers return Pro Bowl selection Josh Jacobs at running back. Green Bay appears set at quarterback after Malik Willis went 2-0 as a fill-in starter to prove himself a worthy backup to Jordan Love. The Packers also are in good shape at safety with Xavier McKinney coming off an All-Pro season and Javon Bullard and Evan Williams showing promise as rookies.
Second-round receivers
The Packers often find quality receivers in the second round. Previous second-round selections include Greg Jennings (2006), Jordy Nelson (2008), Randall Cobb (2011), Davante Adams (2014), Watson (2022) and Reed (2024).
Finding gems after the first round
Gutekunst has done his best work lately on the final two days of the draft.
The Packers added three key contributors on defense last year by taking linebacker Edgerrin Cooper and Bullard in the second round as well as Williams in the fourth. They got good value in 2023 by selecting Reed in the second round, tight end Tucker Kraft in the third, defensive lineman Karl Brooks in the sixth and cornerback Carrington Valentine in the seventh.
Where they stand
The Packers have two picks in the seventh round and one selection in each of the other six rounds.
BENGALS EXPECTED TO FOCUS ON DEFENSE IN THE NFL DRAFT WITH OFFENSIVE STARS SIGNED TO EXTENSIONS
The Cincinnati Bengals might have the most predictable strategy of any team going into the NFL draft.
With quarterback Joe Burrow and his top two playmakers — wide receivers Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins — under long-term contracts and taking up a huge portion of the salary cap, director of player personnel Duke Tobin and coach Zac Taylor need to make sure they start hitting on their other selections.
“It’s getting the most out of our draft picks, when we’ve got a quarterback we’re paying, when we’ve got other elite players we’re going to pay,” Taylor said during the league meetings. “It’s important to do that, and it’s on us as the coaching staff to make sure we’re developing those guys when they come in the building.”
With the offensive skill position spots stable, this is expected to be a defense-heavy draft for the Bengals.
Cincinnati has one of the league’s best offenses, but it has missed the playoffs the past two seasons mostly because of struggles on defense.
The Bengals lost four games last season in which they scored at least 30 points. The defense allowed 414 points, fifth most in the league, and allowed a touchdown on 67.9% of opponent’s red zone possessions, the third-worst rate in the NFL.
Al Golden was hired as defensive coordinator, replacing Lou Anarumo, who led Cincinnati’s defense for six seasons.
Golden not only has the benefit of knowing this draft class after being Notre Dame’s defensive coordinator the past three years, he has worked with Tobin and Taylor in the past as the Bengals linebackers coach in 2020 and ’21.
“Al is super hands-on, and we want our coaches to be super hands-on,” Tobin said during the scouting combine. “We want to be in alignment when we take a guy. Everybody that touches that guy is on board with it, knows the plan and is going to work toward the plan. His coaches know what he wants. I think he would have a pretty good idea of what’s playing on the college level right now.”
Staying at home
The Bengals rank 10th in players on their roster who are their own draft picks or undrafted free agents according to Pro Football Network.
Their biggest successes have come on day two in the second and third rounds. Cincinnati’s past three first-round picks have not had the same success as Burrow and Chase.
The Bengals have only six selections, with two being inside the top 80. They will need to replicate the success of San Francisco and the Los Angeles Rams, who built solid rosters with late-round picks with most of their salary cap taken up by a couple of players.
On the line
Tobin said not a day goes by when he doesn’t think about the defensive line. That has moved to the forefront with the organization and Trey Hendrickson still not close to a contract extension.
Even if the Bengals get a deal done with Hendrickson — which is a tall task considering the recent extensions to Higgins and Chase along with what defensive linemen are getting — they need another pass rusher along with depth.
“We play in a division that we’ve got to stop the run. D-line is always going to be a focus of ours,” Tobin said. “I think this draft offers a lot of D-Linemen. I think this is one of the better D-Line groups.”
The opposite line
If the Bengals do address something on offense, it will be on the offensive line. Burrow was sacked 48 times last season — tied for fourth most — while the pass and run block win rates by the linemen were near the bottom of the league rankings.
They have Cordell Volson and Cody Ford penciled in as the starters at guard, but an upgrade is needed.
Alabama’s Tyler Booker would be an intriguing prospect in the second round. Not only was he a team captain — an important trait in past draft classes under Tobin and Taylor — the Bengals have selected a player from the Crimson Tide in the first three rounds of three of the past six drafts.
They also would like to add a lineman with position flexibility to address lack of depth.
Other needs
Linebacker and safety are at the top of the list. The Bengals need another linebacker to pair with Logan Wilson and still have to address Germaine Pratt’s request to be traded. Safety is also a priority after Geno Stone struggled last season. Stone is also going into the final year of his contract. Running back could be one of the areas they look at in the late rounds.
Don’t need
Quarterback. Burrow led the league in touchdown passes and passing yards last season while Jake Browning has emerged as a solid backup. Browning went 4-3 in 2023 after Burrow suffered a season-ending torn ligament in his right wrist.
WITH FEW MAJOR HOLES ON THE ROSTER — AND A LATE PICK — RAVENS MAY NOT HAVE AN EXCITING NFL DRAFT
BALTIMORE (AP) — It’s no accident that so many NFL executives declare they’ll take the best player available in the draft.
That type of comment avoids telegraphing to other teams what positions a GM might actually be focusing on.
It’s also an expression of confidence — a suggestion that the roster is so deep and flexible that no one position stands out as a major need.
For the Baltimore Ravens, there’s some truth to that. The Ravens re-signed tackle Ronnie Stanley, their most significant potential free agent, and after two straight division titles, the questions that persist about this team are less about its talent and more about whether it will finally play its best in the postseason.
In other words, Baltimore’s draft isn’t likely to be all that interesting, especially since the Ravens aren’t scheduled to pick until No. 27.
“We’ve been a best-available-player team, and we spent eight months really building the board based on the rankings of the players and how they stack against each other,” general manager Eric DeCosta said. “I think we definitely look at the different needs of our team. We spent a lot of time talking about the roster and the players that we have and things like contract status and all those other things that go into it.”
Need
Baltimore used a first-round pick last year on cornerback Nate Wiggins, but even with him in the fold and Marlon Humphrey coming off a fine season, there are still some concerns for the secondary. Brandon Stephens struggled in 2024 and left to sign with the New York Jets.
“That’s just an incredibly important position, so that’s always going to be a need for us,” DeCosta said. “That doesn’t mean we’re going to take a guy in the first round, but I feel pretty sure that we’ll take at least one corner in the draft.”
Baltimore could also use offensive line help. Although the Ravens kept Stanley, they lost Patrick Mekari.
Don’t need
The Ravens have so much talent and depth at tight end that there’s speculation Mark Andrews could end up elsewhere before too long. DeCosta actually addressed that question this week, even though it’s only tangentially related to the draft.
“I never know what’s going to happen, and I would never want to say this or that, but I can tell you this. Mark Andrews is a warrior,” DeCosta said. “His competitiveness, his talent, his attitude (and) his leadership is so valued here. He’s a great player, and we’re in the business of keeping as many great players as we can.”
If Andrews remains with the team, don’t expect tight end to be a priority in the draft.
Tucker’s future
The status of kicker Justin Tucker remains uncertain after the Baltimore Banner reported that over a dozen massage therapists have accused him of inappropriate sexual behavior. The NFL has said it would investigate.
The draft could theoretically be a place to add a replacement for Tucker if the team ends up moving on from him. DeCosta didn’t tip his hand about whether he’s looking for a kicker, but he doesn’t sound opposed in principle to the idea of drafting one.
“There have been some great kickers drafted. We’ve drafted a couple punters, but it’s worth it if you have the right kicker,” he said. “It depends on the player. It depends who’s there. It depends on how your coaches see him. And also, it should be said that some of the greatest kickers of all-time weren’t drafted, right? So, there’s no blueprint for finding a kicker, except you have to be able to evaluate the kicker.”
Pick’em
Baltimore has 11 total picks this year, including four compensatory selections after the Ravens took heavy losses in free agency last offseason. Baltimore has two fourth-round picks and four sixth-rounders.
PATS’ VRABEL BELIEVES THEY CAN GET PROTECTION FOR QB, IMPACT PLAYER WITH NO. 4 PICK IN NFL DRAFT
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — The New England Patriots began their offseason makeover with lots of money to spend and plenty of holes to fill on the roster.
They’ve made some headway in free agency, including signing former Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle Milton Williams to a four-year, $104 million deal. They also added four-time Pro Bowl receiver Stefon Diggs and edge rusher Harold Landry, to begin the remaking of a team coming off back-to-back 4-13 seasons.
High expectations surround Mike Vrabel as he prepares for his first season as coach of the franchise where he won three Super Bowls as a player. And he looks at the NFL draft as another opportunity to accelerate the process of building the Patriots back to relevancy.
New England brought in some proven veterans to help Vrabel establish his baseline culture. Armed with the fourth pick in the first round and nine total selections, the franchise is now in a position to add multiple young players that can make an immediate impact.
“You can’t win and you can’t do what we want to do with just a bunch of good dudes. That’s not going to get it done,” Vrabel said.
The question is who exactly will be available at No. 4 that is both ready to play, and fits one of the Patriots’ needs?
New England doesn’t need a quarterback, with Drake Maye coming off a rookie season that highlighted his skill set and room for growth. But they do need players for him to throw the ball to, and some help on the offensive line to protect him.
The Patriots also are still reconfiguring a defense that Vrabel wants to see embody a faster and more attacking style.
He’s hopeful he can fill in some gaps at the draft.
“You want to come out of it with some starters. You want to come out of it with some depth and role players that can build the strength and the depth of the roster,” Vrabel said. “Ultimately they’ll come in and define their role.”
Needs: WR, LT, DE
Reigning Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter is a top prospect after starring as both a receiver and cornerback at Colorado the past two seasons. He could give New England a jolt at either position.
Former Penn State defensive end Abdul Carter visited the Patriots’ team facility during the pre-draft process and was called “dynamic” and a “defensive pass rusher” by Vrabel.
But there is a strong chance neither will be available by the time the Patriots are ready to pick at No. 4 behind the Titans, Browns and Giants.
If that’s the case, the priority could shift to the O-line and possibly LSU’s Will Campbell as someone with the talent to protect Maye’s blindside this upcoming season.
Don’t need: QB, TE
With Maye and Josh Dobbs, the Patriots appear to be set at QB and the same goes at tight end with Hunter Henry and Austin Hooper on the roster.
Aggression vs. patience
Holding picks in every round except the fifth, the Patriots have the ability to move around on the draft board.
Vrabel is expecting opportunities to do both, though he said there have yet to be any conversations with Tennessee or Cleveland.
“I think there’s a lot of possibilities. There could be players that we covet on the board that are there at a certain point. We have to determine how far we are away from where that player is. That’d be the same thing when you talk about trading back,” Vrabel said. “Sometimes, they’re good offers. Sometimes they’re not so good offers.”
AFTER FRUGAL FREE AGENCY APPROACH, DOLPHINS HAVE A LOT OF HOLES TO FILL IN THE NFL DRAFT
Dolphins general manager Chris Grier took a conservative approach to free agency this year.
With limited salary cap space, Grier doled out modest, team-friendly contracts to a few complementary players the Dolphins hope can contribute to a swift turnaround in 2025.
That leaves a lot of heavy lifting needing to be done with the Dolphins’ 10 picks in the NFL draft. They have the No. 13 overall pick, second and third-rounders, and they’ll make seven selections on the final day of the draft.
“We’re going to need NFL-ready players,” Grier said. “There’s no ‘Hey, let’s hope this guy’s ready.’ These guys are going to be forced in to play. We have to be right on the person and character of the guys that we bring here.”
The Dolphins fell way short of expectations in 2024, going 8-9 and missing the playoffs, and their offense took a noticeable step back from their 2023 group that led the NFL in yards.
Many of Miami’s offensive inefficiencies were because of its offensive line, which Grier has addressed in free agency but will need to bolster in the draft.
Behind-the-scenes culture problems such as player tardiness were also an issue.
Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel said that will be addressed among the players on the roster, and the goal in the draft is to bring in players to fit a new culture of accountability he’s trying to institute.
“We’re trying to get the right guys to develop as professionals,” McDaniel said, “and their core value has to be team football, football-winning and they really have to get joy out of that. That was a component that was consistent among the different personalities we drafted last year; all of these guys were living and breathing football.”
Need
Cornerback has swiftly become one of Miami’s biggest areas of need after Grier said the team is exploring trade options for All-Pro Jalen Ramsey. If Ramsey departs, that would leave Miami needing to fill two starting cornerback slots after releasing Kendall Fuller, who started 11 games in 2024.
On the offensive line, Miami signed James Daniels in March to start at one of its guard spots, but needs a starter on the other side.
Defensive tackle Calais Campbell, who played on a one-year contract in Miami last season, signed with the Cardinals this month, so the Dolphins will likely use one of their early picks to add a capable starter to pair with veteran Zach Sieler.
Don’t need
The Dolphins selected a running back in each of the past two drafts, so it would be a surprise if they take one again this year with so many other holes. Their primary backs in 2025 will be De’Von Achane and Jaylen Wright, and they also signed veteran Alexander Mattison last month.
Moving on?
Despite a series of off-the-field issues involving Tyreek Hill, Grier said the Dolphins have no plans to trade him. Grier would be open to a trade “if someone wants to come and give me two first-round picks,” but no team has called him about the star wide receiver.
Earlier this month, Hill and his wife were involved in a domestic dispute at their South Florida high-rise condominium, though no charges were filed, according to a police report.
Receiver isn’t necessarily a draft need, but Miami may consider it if a trade for Hill materializes, though Grier said his understanding is that Hill wants to stay in Miami.
If the Dolphins move on from Hill, Jaylen Waddle would take over as Tua Tagovailoa’s No. 1 receiver, with Malik Washington and free agent signing Nick Westbrook-Ikhine after him.
Backup quarterback
This position was one that the Dolphins had to address this offseason. Miami was forced to shuffle three backups in and out of the starting lineup last season for the injured Tagovailoa, with little success.
After Grier emphasized that the backup quarterback position would be a focus, the Dolphins got their No. 2 quarterback pretty early in free agency, signing former New York Jets quarterback Zach Wilson.
The Dolphins still need a No. 3 quarterback, but with so many other pressing roster needs, they likely won’t go for a quarterback until the later rounds.
CHIEFS WANT HELP ALONG THE LINE IN THE NFL DRAFT. THE QUESTION IS, OFFENSIVE OR DEFENSIVE?
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The prevailing and not entirely inaccurate sentiment after the Kansas City Chiefs failed in their attempt at an historic Super Bowl three-peat was that they couldn’t protect Patrick Mahomes from the relentless Philadelphia pass rush.
Often overlooked was the fact that their own pass rush barely laid a finger on Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts.
So as the Chiefs prepare for the NFL draft later this month, and most mock drafts have Kansas City general manager Brett Veach expending one of his four selections in the first three rounds on offensive line help, he could just as likely be shuffling around in an attempt to land someone who can play alongside Chris Jones in the middle of the defensive line.
“Every offseason, it’s offensive line and defensive line,” Veach said. “If you look at how we’ve handled the offseason, we are always investing in the offensive line and defensive line. It’s just some years, you have more numbers to work with than others, and that would probably be a similar challenge this year. Our priority is always on the front first.”
One of the reasons they have some flexibility to address the defensive line first is that the Chiefs already signed offensive tackle Jaylon Moore to a two-year, $30 million deal in free agency. He’s largely been a backup during his career in San Francisco, but the Chiefs saw something they liked in Moore when he had an opportunity to start five games last season.
Their only notable signing on the opposite side has been veteran Jerry Tillery, who can play defensive tackle or end.
The Chiefs will pick 31st overall on the opening night, then pick three times the following night, because of an extra third-round selection they picked up from Tennessee. They have eight picks in all, thanks to a pair of compensatory selections.
Needs
The Chiefs have a burgeoning star in pass rusher George Karlaftis, they re-signed Charles Omenihu and they’re still hoping for a breakthrough from 2023 first-round pick Felix Anudike-Uzomah. But the Chiefs still need help getting after the QB, and that is especially true from the interior of the defensive line, making tackle one of their priorities.
Don’t need
For the first time in a while, the Chiefs may not be desperate to add a wide receiver. They have Rashee Rice coming back from a knee injury, Xavier Worthy coming off a breakout rookie season, and they re-signed Marquise Brown and Juju Smith-Schuster to provide a veteran presence. If anything, they could add some depth in the later rounds.
What about offensive line?
Moore and veteran Jawaan Taylor are the starting offensive tackles heading into camp, but neither are long-term solutions. The Chiefs tried to shore up the position last year, but second-round pick Kingsley Suamataia may be headed to guard.
And linebacker?
The Chiefs signed Nick Bolton to a long-term contract, which means a veteran linebacker group returns intact. Drue Tranquill is dependable and Leo Chenal proved he can handle a big workload, so the Chiefs appear set at that position.
Looking long term
Travis Kelce is entering his 13th season, and while they have Noah Gray signed to a long-term deal and Jared Wiley has potential, they could be looking for another tight end that they could develop this season.
In the backfield, the Chiefs signed Elijah Mitchell and brought back Kareem Hunt to play alongside Isiah Pacheco. But all three of the running backs have limitations and none is under contract beyond this season.
VIKINGS EYE DEFENSIVE BACKS IN NFL DRAFT, WITH POTENTIAL TO FIND SUCCESSOR FOR HARRISON SMITH
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Offseason roster arrangement for the Minnesota Vikings over the past few years has included a running theme: Will Harrison Smith retire or return?
The six-time Pro Bowl safety has re-upped for a 14th season, stabilizing an unsettled secondary yet again. Smith has continued to capably perform as a solid NFL starter, effectively using his intelligence to compensate for whatever amount of athleticism that has diminished at age 36, but at some point soon the Vikings will need a replacement plan.
Particularly after Smith’s partner in the starting lineup from the previous three years, Cam Bynum, departed as a free agent, this might well be the draft in which to find his successor.
“There’s going to be a day when that’s not going to happen, and I don’t look forward to that day, but he’s been such a great player here,” general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah said.
What are the options?
The Vikings gave Theo Jackson a contract extension, suggesting confidence in him stepping in for Bynum. They also have a natural safety in Josh Metellus, a favorite of defensive coordinator Brian Flores for his ability to play all over the field.
But with the 24th pick in the first round, the Vikings are positioned relatively well for one of the consensus top two safeties: Nick Emmanwori from South Carolina and Malaki Starks from Georgia. Though the safety class is thin overall, ranked last among 11 position groups in one analysis by NFL.com, at least one of those players coming out of the pro football prospect factory in the Southeastern Conference is likely to be there on Thursday night.
Cornerbacks will get strong consideration, too
In the past eight years, the Vikings have used six picks over the first three rounds on a defensive back. None of them played a single snap for the Vikings last season. The 2022 draft proved to be especially costly, with neither safety Lewis Cine in the first round nor cornerback Andrew Booth in the second round panning out.
This recent fruitlessness at cornerback in particular has forced a pattern of using veteran stopgaps. Stephon Gilmore and Shaq Griffin became free agents, and even after giving Byron Murphy a big contract on the heels of his first Pro Bowl season the depth chart there is thin again this year. Mekhi Blackmon, the 2023 second-round pick, missed last season after tearing the ACL on the first practice of training camp.
Maxwell Hairston (Kentucky), Benjamin Morrison (Notre Dame) and Azareye’h Thomas (Florida State) are three of the first-round-caliber prospects widely projected to be available at No. 24 for the Vikings, who don’t have another pick until No. 97, a compensatory selection at the end of the third round, and have only four selections overall this year.
What else do they need?
Even after guaranteeing more than $53 million in free agency to center Ryan Kelly and left guard Will Fries, the right guard spot remains up for grabs for a prospect who could push incumbent Blake Brandel.
Though the Vikings added veterans Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave to the mix with stalwart Harrison Phillips on the interior of the defensive line, this draft is deep at that vital position.
What don’t they need?
The wide receiver, tight end and offensive tackle positions are stacked with some of the team’s biggest stars. The acquisition of Jordan Mason as a backup to Aaron Jones crossed running back off the list. The quarterback job is all J.J. McCarthy’s.
The addition last year of Jonathan Greenard and Andrew Van Ginkel before drafting Dallas Turner minimizes the desire for edge rushers, but that’s one of those positions teams are always wise to watch closely.
“There’s always going to be a need and want for good players, at every position,” Adofo-Mensah said. “Even if it’s the need you don’t see today, it’s the league. It’s always going to come on the short-term horizon.”
Vikings are short on picks in this draft
The Vikings paid heavily for Turner at No. 17 in 2024, after they’d acquired No. 23 in a pre-draft trade with Houston that cost them their 2025 second-rounder (No. 56) and a second-rounder last year. The Vikings then sent their third (No. 88) and fourth (No. 126) round picks for 2025 to Jacksonville on draft day last year to move up six spots for Turner.
Their sixth (No. 200) and seventh (No. 240) round picks went to Cleveland with edge rusher Za’Darius Smith in a salary-dumping swap in 2023 that brought back a fifth-rounder (No. 139) this year and last year.
The Mason trade with San Francisco involved a pick swap, with the Vikings getting a sixth-rounder (No. 187) and sending away their fifth-rounder (No. 160).
BEARS HOPE TO LAND A FEW MORE PLAYMAKERS IN THE NFL DRAFT
CHICAGO (AP) — Already one of the league’s big winners this offseason, the Chicago Bears hope to land a few more playmakers in the NFL draft.
They own seven picks, starting with the No. 10 overall selection, and still have needs on both sides of the ball.
The Bears landed the big name on the coaching market when they hired Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson to replace the fired Matt Eberflus.
General manager Ryan Poles overhauled the offensive line, hoping to give last year’s No. 1 overall pick Caleb Williams the protection he needs after getting sacked a franchise-record and league-leading 68 times. He landed two-time All-Pro guard and four-time Super Bowl champion Joe Thuney in a trade with Kansas City and acquired former Pro Bowl guard Jonah Jackson from the Los Angeles Rams. He signed center Drew Dalman, too.
Poles also addressed a shaky defensive line, adding two-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Grady Jarrett and edge rusher Dayo Odeyingbo.
Then again, the Bears are no strangers to winning the offseason. They did it a year ago, though they’d just as soon forget how things went once the games began.
Chicago finished last in the NFC North at 5-12, lost 10 in a row before winning the finale at Green Bay and fired Eberflus along the way.
Pick ‘em
Chicago has three picks in the top 41, including two second-rounders (39, 41). The Bears have one each in the third (72) and fifth (148) rounds and two in the seventh (233, 240).
Need
When it comes to the No. 10 pick, the Bears could go for an offensive or defensive lineman, a running back, a tight end or a cornerback. There are cases to be made for each.
It’s hard to argue they still need help on the offensive line even with the moves they already made. The 32-year-old Thuney — who won two Super Bowls with New England and two more with the Chiefs — has an expiring contract. Left tackle Braxton Jones is entering the final year of his rookie deal and coming off ankle surgery.
LSU guard/tackle Will Campbell could be the answer if he’s available at No. 10 — a big if. Texas’ Kelvin Banks could be a possibility, too.
Don’t need
The Bears don’t need a quarterback. They added a veteran to go with Williams and Tyson Bagent when they signed Case Keenum.
On edge
The Bears could still use some help on the edge for Montez Sweat, even with the signing of Odeyingbo, who had 16 1/2 sacks in four seasons in Indianapolis.
If the Bears go for an edge rusher with their first pick, Texas A&M’s Shemar Stewart and Penn State’s Abdul Carter could be possibilities depending on whether they stay at No. 10 or trade up. Then again, there is depth at the position in this draft.
The Bears tied for 16th in the league last season with 40 sacks.
Tight end
Though the Bears already have a productive tight end in Cole Kmet, it wouldn’t be a surprise if they took Penn State’s Tyler Warren with their first pick if he’s available. Johnson liked to use two tight ends in Detroit. Warren set a school record with 104 receptions last season, and his 1,233 yards were the most by a Nittany Lions tight end.
TEXANS IN DESPERATE NEED OF OFFENSIVE LINE UPGRADE AS NFL DRAFT APPROACHES
HOUSTON (AP) — After the beating C.J. Stroud took in Houston’s divisional playoff loss to Kansas City it was clear the team’s top offseason priority should be upgrading its offensive line.
Instead, the Texans traded five-time Pro Bowl left tackle Laremy Tunsil and 2022 first-round pick left guard Kenyon Green and released right guard Shaq Mason.
They added tackle Cam Robinson and guards Ed Ingram and Laken Tomlinson, but as the NFL draft approaches their porous offensive line remains the most glaring weakness of the team.
Though the Texans won’t say that they plan to use their first-round pick (No. 25) on an offensive lineman, they’ve said plenty about the need to better protect Stroud this upcoming season. Stroud led Houston to its second straight AFC South title last season despite being sacked 52 times, which was the second most in the NFL.
“Getting better protection for C.J. is definitely a main point of emphasis for us,” coach DeMeco Ryans said. “We know when C.J. is protected, he has a clean pocket, he’s a pretty good quarterback. … He’s capable of making any throw on the football field. But it’s just a matter of protecting him and giving him that comfort when he’s in the pocket.”
General manager Nick Caserio said he doesn’t believe they have to draft an offensive lineman next week.
“We feel like we have to add good football players to our football team,” he said. “That’s what we’re focused on. Whatever those positions entail, that’s what’s going to work. That’s how we’re going to approach it and handle it.”
Houston’s pick in the first round is one of seven selections it has in this year’s draft. The Texans return to the first round this season after not having a pick in the opening round last season because of trades, including the one to move up to get defensive end Will Anderson with the third overall pick in the 2023 draft.
Though the offensive line has several holes, Houston’s top priority should be drafting the left tackle of the future.
Robinson could protect Stroud’s blind side this season to give whichever player they draft a season to develop and learn behind him.
A couple of players who could be available when the Texans pick are Kelvin Banks from Texas and Oregon’s Josh Conerly. Banks was a three-year starter for the Longhorns and won the Outland Trophy as the nation’s best interior lineman last season. Conerly started 28 games at left tackle in the past two seasons for the Ducks and was a finalist for the Joe Moore Award given to the nation’s best offensive lineman.
Pick ’em
The Texans have two picks in the third round and two in the seventh this year after receiving the 79th and 236th overall picks from the Commanders as part of the trade for Tunsil.
Needs
Along with the offensive line, the Texans could use some help at receiver. Nico Collins, who has had consecutive 1,000-yard seasons, has developed into an elite option. But the Texans need a solid second option after they moved on from Stefon Diggs after one disappointing season that ended in a season-ending injury in Week 8.
They traded for Christian Kirk, but he’s coming off a tough season where he had a career-low 379 yards before breaking his collarbone in October. The Texans also don’t know when they’ll get Tank Dell back, with the receiver still recovering from a serious knee injury he sustained in December.
Don’t need
The Texans are set at running back after signing Joe Mixon before last season and having a reliable backup in Dameon Pierce.
Draft success
While Caserio has added some stars to the team with first-round draft picks including Stroud, Anderson and cornerback Derek Stingley Jr., he’s also had a knack for finding starters beyond the first round since joining the Texans.
Caserio nabbed Collins in the third round in his first draft with Houston in 2021 and added safety Jalen Pitre in the second round in 2022. He also found starting linebackers Christian Harris in the third in 2022 and Henry To’oTo’o in the fifth in 2023.
Last year he drafted cornerback Kamari Lassiter in the second round and safety Calen Bullock in the third. In their rookie seasons, Lassiter started 14 games while Bullock started 13.
SEAHAWKS HAVE 10 PICKS IN THE NFL DRAFT AND NEEDS ON THE OFFENSIVE LINE
Despite an extreme offseason makeover, the Seattle Seahawks are still lacking on the offensive line.
With the No. 18 pick in the opening round of the NFL draft, along with a pair of second-round selections, the Seahawks should have some solid options to fill their needs. They have five total picks in the top 92 and 10 picks overall.
Then-quarterback Geno Smith was sacked 50 times last season, third most in the league, exposing Seattle’s issues in pass protection. Smith has since moved on to Las Vegas, where he’s been reunited with former Seattle coach Pete Carroll.
Seattle in turn brought in quarterback Sam Darnold, after he revived his career last season playing for the Minnesota Vikings.
So far the Seahawks’ only offseason addition on the offensive line was veteran Josh Jones, who signed a one-year deal after playing for the Ravens last season. The Seahawks let go of left guard Laken Tomlinson after one year.
Charles Cross is well-established at left tackle and at right guard, Sataoa Laumea played himself into a starting role last season as a rookie. At center, Olu Oluwatimi was pressed into duty after Connor Williams’ midseason retirement after a knee injury.
Overall, however, the Seahawks could look markedly different next season under new offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak, who brought in offensive line coach John Benton. Both held the same roles with New Orleans last season.
Among the top linemen available are Texas’ Kelvin Banks and Tyler Booker of Alabama, and Grey Zabel out of North Dakota State. Booker allowed just three sacks in three seasons with the Crimson Tide.
Some other possibilities include Georgia guards Tate Ratledge and Dylan Fairchild and center Jared Wilson. Fairchild and Wilson both had pre-draft visits with Seattle.
Wilson is likely to be the top center taken in the draft, especially after clocking a 4.84-second 40-yard dash at the NFL combine.
General manager John Schneider, speaking to reporters at the NFL annual meetings last month, didn’t rule out using some of those five early picks to trade up in the draft.
“Initially, you’re like, `Yeah, we’re going to take five really good players,’” Schneider said. “But then you get in a situation where it’s like, ‘All right, that guy’s a starter, we should probably move to go get him,’ if you can. It depends on how other people see these guys. But yeah, it allows us the ability to just be more free throughout our draft process.”
Full QB room?
The Seahawks won’t necessarily need to add a QB to provide relief of Darnold after reportedly bringing back Drew Lock, who was with the team in 2022-23 after coming from Denver in the Russell Wilson trade. Lock was a free agent after spending last season with the Giants.
He joins Darnold, Sam Howell and Jaren Hall on Seattle’s QB roster, which decreased the possibility that the Seahawks would look to the draft at the position.
Other moves
The Seahawks traded receiver DK Metcalf, a fixture on the team for six seasons, to the Pittsburgh Steelers. Receiver Tyler Lockett is also gone after 10 years in Seattle. The Seahawks signed former Los Angeles Rams receiver Cooper Kupp to a three-year deal.
The Seahawks also added four-time Pro Bowl defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence.
Anything else?
While the Seahawks have Kupp, Jaxon Smith-Njigba and another offseason signee, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, at receiver, the team could look to add depth there.
One option might be Washington State’s Kyle Williams, who had 70 receptions for 1,198 yards and 14 touchdowns as a fifth-year senior. Seattle was among his planned pre-draft visits.
Other prospects include Tetairoa McMillan out of Arizona and Elic Ayomanor from Stanford.
2025 NFL DRAFT ORDER: ROUNDS 1-3
April 24 – 26
Green Bay, Wis.
Round 1
1. Tennessee Titans
2. Cleveland Browns
3. New York Giants
4. New England Patriots
5. Jacksonville Jaguars
6. Las Vegas Raiders
7. New York Jets
8. Carolina Panthers
9. New Orleans Saints
10. Chicago Bears
11. San Francisco 49ers
12. Dallas Cowboys
13. Miami Dolphins
14. Indianapolis Colts
15. Atlanta Falcons
16. Arizona Cardinals
17. Cincinnati Bengals
18. Seattle Seahawks
19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
20. Denver Broncos
21. Pittsburgh Steelers
22. Los Angeles Chargers
23. Green Bay Packers
24. Minnesota Vikings
25. Houston Texans
26. Los Angeles Rams
27. Baltimore Ravens
28. Detroit Lions
29. Washington Commanders
30. Buffalo Bills
31. Kansas City Chiefs
32. Philadelphia Eagles
Round 2
33. Cleveland Browns
34. New York Giants
35. Tennessee Titans
36. Jacksonville Jaguars
37. Las Vegas Raiders
38. New England Patriots
39. Chicago Bears (from Panthers)
40. New Orleans Saints
41. Chicago Bears
42. New York Jets
43. San Francisco 49ers
44. Dallas Cowboys
45. Indianapolis Colts
46. Atlanta Falcons
47. Arizona Cardinals
48. Miami Dolphins
49. Cincinnati Bengals
50. Seattle Seahawks
51. Denver Broncos
52. Seattle Seahawks (from Steelers)
53. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
54. Green Bay Packers
55. Los Angeles Chargers
56. Buffalo Bills (from Vikings through Texans)
57. Carolina Panthers (from Rams)
58. Houston Texans
59. Baltimore Ravens
60. Detroit Lions
61. Washington Commanders
62. Buffalo Bills
63. Kansas City Chiefs
64. Philadelphia Eagles
Round 3
65. New York Giants
66. Kansas City Chiefs (from Titans)
67. Cleveland Browns
68. Las Vegas Raiders
69. New England Patriots
70. Jacksonville Jaguars
71. New Orleans Saints
72. Chicago Bears
73. New York Jets
74. Carolina Panthers
75. San Francisco 49ers
76. Dallas Cowboys
77. New England Patriots (from Falcons)
78. Arizona Cardinals
79. Houston Texans (from Dolphins through Eagles and Commanders)
80. Indianapolis Colts
81. Cincinnati Bengals
82. Seattle Seahawks
83. Pittsburgh Steelers
84. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
85. Denver Broncos
86. Los Angeles Chargers
87. Green Bay Packers
88. Jacksonville Jaguars (from Vikings)
89. Houston Texans
90. Los Angeles Rams
91. Baltimore Ravens
92. Seattle Seahawks (from Lions through Jets and Raiders)
93. New Orleans Saints (from Commanders)
94. Cleveland Browns (from Bills)
95. Kansas City Chiefs
96. Philadelphia Eagles
97. Minnesota Vikings (Compensatory Selection)
98. Miami Dolphins (Compensatory Selection)
99. New York Giants (Compensatory Selection)
100. San Francisco 49ers (Special Compensatory Selection)
101. Los Angeles Rams (Special Compensatory Selection)
102. Detroit Lions (Special Compensatory Selection)
PANTHERS 2025 NFL DRAFT NEEDS, PICKS, BEST FITS, HISTORY
Panthers general manager Dan Morgan would do backflips for a shot at drafting Penn State edge Abdul Carter, but to hear him tell it this week, Carolina is out of the business of trading up for talent.
Morgan’s most pressing roster weakness is the pass rush, but with Derrick Brown returning from a season-ending injury and reinforcements added in free agency — Tershawn Wharton and Bobby Brown III — Carolina can attack the outside linebacker and defensive end spots.
With Carter expected to be off the board in the top three, the Panthers can gear up for one of Georgia’s edge players or take a look at the best offensive playmakers available.
Depending on how the board falls in front of Morgan, he’s publicly declared the No. 8 pick is available for the right price.
Should Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty or one of the prospects the Panthers rate 1-5 on their board make it through the first seven picks without hearing their name called, Carolina can’t risk the missed opportunity of a blue-chip player.
–Team needs
Edge: Signing Pat Jones (Vikings) in free agency only slightly diminishes Carolina’s desperation at the position. Jadeveon Clowney, 32, has reached the stage in his career where he would be best in a rotation. Georgia’s Mykel Williams and Jalon Walker are priority prospects who’ve had visits with the Panthers. Williams is 20 pounds shy of Julius Peppers but the 20-year-old is still imposing at 6-5, 260 and only beginning to realize his immense potential.
Wide receiver: We aren’t connecting the dots on Morgan’s assertion the Panthers are good to go at wideout given Adam Thielen’s age (34) and injury history and Xavier Legette still has a lot to prove. From past coaching stints with the Seahawks and Buccaneers, Panthers head coach Dave Canales grasps the benefits of surrounding a quarterback with three or more talented pass catchers.
–Best prospect fits
OLB Mykel Williams, Georgia
OLB Jalon Walker, Georgia
TE Tyler Warren, Penn State
OLB James Pearce, Tennessee
OLB Mike Green, Marshall
OLB Donovan Ezeiruaku, Boston College
OLB Nic Scourton, Texas A&M
WR Tetairoa McMillan, Arizona
WR Matthew Golden, Texas
WR Tre Harris, Ole Miss
–2025 draft picks by round
Total picks:
By round (pick in round, overall pick)
1: 8, 8
2: 25, 57 (from Los Angeles Rams)
3: 10, 74
4: 9, 111
4: 12, 114 (from Dallas Cowboys)
5: 2, 140 (from NY Giants)
5: 8, 146
5: 25, 163 (from Baltimore Ravens)
7: 14, 230 (from Arizona Cardinals)
–History Lesson
–Carolina selected No. 8 in 2021 and drafted South Carolina cornerback Jaycee Horn. In 2017, the Panthers picked Stanford running back Christian McCaffrey eighth.
JETS 2025 DRAFT NEEDS, PICKS, BEST FITS, HISTORY
Back with the Jets as a first-time head coach, Aaron Glenn understands the monumental task at hand.
New York ended an inglorious two-year partnership with quarterback Aaron Rodgers that netted 12 wins in two seasons and signed Justin Fields as the presumptive starter in the latest reboot of the offense.
Glenn, hailed for his development of defensive players during his time as coordinator of the Detroit Lions, inherited a team stocked with talent on that side of the ball.
Along with first-year GM Darren Mougey, Glenn sets out to chart a new course for the Jets with a few tired questions.
Solving the QB conundrum is nothing new to this franchise. Glenn asserts there’s no time to languish about the past and believes Fields, who gave the Lions fits during his time with the Bears, can help New York get back to the playoffs for the first time since the 2010 season. Mark Sanchez started the AFC Championship game loss to the Steelers, and set off a parade of misfortune at the position. Geno Smith, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Josh McCown, Sam Darnold, Zach Wilson and Rodgers all tried their hand at the primary QB1 role over the ensuing dozen years and only Fitzpatrick (10-6 in 2015) delivered a record above .500.
Will this finally be the year the Jets clear the runway?
–Team needs
Offensive tackle: Morgan Moses helped stabilize the Jets’ offensive line, but he left for the Patriots in free agency. Arguably the best right tackle in the draft, Missouri’s Armand Membou, is expected to be available when New York is on the clock with the seventh overall pick. The Lions thrived behind a mauling offensive line for much of Glenn’s time in Detroit. Membou is a fine athlete, even if he comes a pace or two short of Penei Sewell.
Tight end: Penn State tight end Tyler Warren is another option at No. 7. He could fill a pressing need and also qualify as the best talent available with only six prospects off the board. Left tackle Olu Fashanu, drafted 11th in 2024 by the Jets, is a former Warren teammate with the Nittany Lions.
Defensive line: Nobody can block defensive tackle Quinnen Williams one-on-one, which begs the question: How lethal could the Jets’ front four become with another unblockable star in the picture?
–Best prospect fits
DT Mason Graham, Michigan
OLB Jalon Walker, Georgia
TE Tyler Warren, Penn State
CB Will Johnson, Michigan
DE Mykel Williams, Georgia
OG Armand Membou, Missouri
ILB Jihaad Campbell, Alabama
WR Matthew Golden, Texas
CB Jahdae Barron, Texas
–2025 draft picks by round
Total picks: 8
By round (pick in round, overall pick)
1: 7, 7
2: 10, 42
3: 9, 73
4: 8, 110
5: 7, 145
5: 24, 162 (from Los Angeles Rams via Pittsburgh Steelers)
6: 10, 186
6: 31, 207 (from Kansas City Chiefs)
–History Lesson
–The Jets drafted Glenn with the 12th overall pick in 1994.
–The Jets have never drafted a player No. 7 overall.
–Since drafting QB Mark Sanchez (USC) fifth in 2009, the Jets have selected a defensive player with their first pick 11 times.
RAIDERS 2025 DRAFT NEEDS, PICKS, BEST FITS, HISTORY
Pete Carroll turns 74 in September but nobody would know it by reading his energy.
Carroll is back in coaching after a year away, taking over a Raiders’ operation with 33 losses and three head coaches since 2022.
Changes Carroll wanted implemented were set in motion quickly. The No. 6 overall draft pick is expected to bring additional firepower to orchestrate a turnaround. Based on 2024 production, there are many miles to be traveled.
The Raiders were dead last in the NFL in rushing at 79.8 yards per game and 27th in total offense. They peaked in Week 2 with 26 points at Baltimore in a three-point victory and never scored more than 25 (Week 17) the rest of the season.
Carroll traded for his old quarterback in Seattle, 34-year-old Geno Smith, and brought in 33-year-old running back Raheem Mostert in a continuation of the age-is-no-factor flex.
Building blocks at the ready include pass rusher Maxx Crosby, who signed an extension with the Raiders upon Carroll’s arrival, and tight end Brock Bowers.
There aren’t many more on their level because of a poor record in the draft, which Carroll and first-year general manager John Spytek, the third primary personnel man in Las Vegas in three seasons, need to change immediately.
–Team needs
Edge rusher: Crosby was never fully healthy last season and still led the team with 7.5 sacks on a bad ankle before he was shut down with the team in the midst of a 10-game losing streak that spanned all of October, November and two weeks in December. Signing DT Christian Wilkins to a $100 million contract last spring didn’t bring the immediate impact expected. Adding another versatile edge defender matches the track record of Carroll and Spytek, who was with the line-heavy Buccaneers the past 10 years. Carroll is fond of power defensive ends who can kick inside — recall Michael Bennett, for example — and might turn to another Texas A&M product in Shemar Stewart if Las Vegas decides to move down.
Wide receiver: A strong possibility exists the Raiders will have their choice of non-QB skill-position players at No. 6. The WR room is a ghost town beyond Jakobi Meyers and speed demon Tre Tucker. Tetairoa McMillan (Arizona) and Matthew Golden (Texas) are good fits for different reasons. If the Raiders believe McMillan can operate inside on occasion — he was in the slot almost 25 percent of the time for the Wildcats — they could decide to play the mismatch card to further amplify the effectiveness of star TE Bowers. Carroll and Spytek both come from franchises who thrived when the slot receivers were productive, but also valued size outside in Mike Evans (Buccaneers) and DK Metcalf (Seahawks). Offensive coordinator Chip Kelly will know all there is to know about Ohio State prospect Emeka Egbuka after calling plays for the Buckeyes last season, and Carroll did just fine in his final draft with Seattle taking Jaxon Smith-Njigba (20th overall).
Running back: Other than the infamous goal line decision that wound up in Patriots cornerback Malcolm Butler’s hands, you can almost always count on Carroll to lead with the ground game. Mostert was a scoring machine in Miami and might have some life left, but if 30 is the edge of the cliff for running backs, where are the Raiders with a 33-year-old lead back? A committee is much more likely and the Raiders won’t leave the draft room at the end of the seventh round without a running back — or two. Speaking of Kelly, he’ll have all the intel on top-50 backs TreVeyon Henderson and Quinshon Judkins.
–Best prospect fits
OLB Jalon Walker, Georgia
OLB Abdul Carter, Penn State
RB Ashton Jeanty, Boise State
CB Will Johnson, Michigan
DT Mason Graham, Michigan
WR Matthew Golden, Texas
DT Walter Nolen, Ole Miss
DE Shemar Stewart, Texas A&M
–2025 draft picks by round
Total picks: 9
By round (pick in round, overall pick)
1: 6, 6
2: 5, 37
3: 4, 68
4: 6, 108
5: 5, 143
6: 4, 180
6: 37, 213 (Compensatory selection)
6: 39, 215 (Compensatory selection)
7: 6, 222
–History Lesson
–The franchise last had the No. 6 pick in 1988 and drafted Notre Dame wide receiver Tim Brown.
–Four of the Raiders’ past seven top draft picks were offensive or defensive linemen.
–Crosby was the 106th overall pick in 2019.
MLB NEWS
MLB SUSPENDS, FINES NATS P JORGE LOPEZ, MANAGER DAVE MARTINEZ
Major League Baseball suspended Washington Nationals pitcher Jorge Lopez for three games and manager Dave Martinez for one after it determined Lopez intentionally threw at Pittsburgh Pirates veteran Andrew McCutchen on Wednesday.
Martinez will serve his suspension Thursday. Lopez is appealing.
Both also were fined an undisclosed amount.
With the Pirates up 2-0 in the bottom of the seventh with two runners on and two out, the 1-1 pitch from Lopez sailed past the head of the 38-year-old McCutchen. Both benches emptied but order was quickly restored and Lopez was ejected.
McCutchen wound up walking to load the bases, and Oneil Cruz followed with his first career grand slam to lead the Pirates to a 6-1 win.
“I apologize for everything,” Lopez said after his ejection. “I didn’t make any pitch (on purpose) right there. … I tried to do my adjustment. I’ve been trying to find my way with my delivery, I tried to find my way through the whole season. And it’s really miserable that happened. I regret what just happened.”
MLB ROUNDUP: KUMAR ROCKER GETS FIRST CAREER WIN FOR STREAKING RANGERS
Kumar Rocker put together a solid outing to earn his first career win as the Texas Rangers downed the slumping Los Angeles Angels 5-3 to finish a three-game sweep in Arlington, Texas.
The former No. 3 overall draft pick allowed three runs on five hits over seven innings to improve to 1-2 on the season for Texas. He struck out eight and did not issue a walk while throwing just 78 pitches.
Leody Taveras had a two-run double and Adolis Garcia and Corey Seager hit solo home runs as the Rangers won their ninth straight at home and set a franchise record with their eighth consecutive victory over the Angels. Texas is an AL-best 9-1 at home.
Texas outhit the Angels 11-5 with Seager, Dustin Harris and Kyle Higashioka each recording two hits.
Jack Kochanowicz (1-2), the first of four Los Angeles pitchers, lasted 4 2/3 innings, giving up four runs on eight hits with one strikeout and a walk. No Angels player had more than one hit as Los Angeles dropped its fourth straight.
Mets 4, Cardinals 1
Griffin Canning tossed six solid innings and combined with three relievers on a three-hitter as host New York defeated St. Louis in the opener of a four-game series.
Mark Vientos homered for the Mets. Francisco Lindor had three singles, including an RBI hit, while Brett Baty had a run-scoring single. Canning (2-1), who was scheduled to start Wednesday but was scratched with an illness, gave up one run on three hits and two walks while striking out a season-high eight.
Brendan Donovan had an RBI single for the Cardinals, who have lost two of three. Donovan is batting .460 (23-of-50) during a 13-game hitting streak. St. Louis starter Andre Pallante (2-1) took the loss after giving up four runs on seven hits and no walks while striking out two over six innings.
Mariners 11, Reds 7 (10 innings)
Cal Raleigh and Randy Arozarena clubbed back-to-back homers in the ninth to tie the game and Arozarena drove in two more in a four-run 10th to rally Seattle past host Cincinnati in the rubber game of the series.
Reds closer Emilio Pagan had been 4-for-4 in save chances, but Raleigh took him deep to right to open the ninth and Arozarena tied it with a shot to left. The Mariners took the lead in the 10th when J.P. Crawford singled with none out and runners at the corners against Graham Ashcraft (0-1). Arozarena doubled home a pair and Mitch Garver scored on a field error by Elly De La Cruz.
Seattle right-hander Casey Legumina (1-0) came on for the ninth and retired the side in order to earn the win against his former team. Andres Munoz pitched a scoreless 10th for the Mariners in a non-save situation.
Pirates 1, Nationals 0
Left-hander Andrew Heaney went 7 1/3 shutout innings and Oneil Cruz blasted a leadoff home run to propel host Pittsburgh to victory over Washington.
Cruz’s first career leadoff home run and fourth of the season was a 442-foot blast deep to right-center field off Washington starter Trevor Williams. Heaney gave up five hits on 95 pitches for the Pirates, who picked up three wins in four games against the Nationals.
Nathaniel Lowe had a double among his two hits as the Nationals mustered only five hits overall.
Phillies 6, Giants 4
Cristopher Sanchez struck out a career-high 12 over seven innings as Philadelphia nipped visiting San Francisco to earn a split of their four-game series.
Sanchez (2-0) used his changeup to record 11 strikeouts as part of a stellar performance in which he allowed three runs (two earned) and four hits with only one walk. The Phillies scored five runs on five hits in the first inning against Jordan Hicks (1-2), but they only managed one hit after the opening frame.
Matt Chapman and Tyler Fitzgerald homered for the Giants, who struck out 14 times. San Francisco had won five of its previous seven games.
Diamondbacks 6, Marlins 4
Pavin Smith homered, doubled and drove in two runs as Arizona swept a three-game series from host Miami.
Arizona has won seven of eight, including five straight. Josh Naylor, a former Marlins first-round pick, homered for the third straight game. Arizona stole six bases, including three by Corbin Carroll, who scored twice.
Arizona’s Eduardo Rodriguez (1-2) lasted 5 1/3 innings, allowing 10 hits, zero walks and three runs (one earned) while striking out nine. Marlins starter Edward Cabrera (0-1) gave up four hits, three walks and five runs in four innings, striking out six. Miami’s Rob Brantly went 3-for-3 with one RBI.
Athletics 8, White Sox 0
JP Sears pitched six scoreless innings, Brent Rooker went 3-for-5, including a two-run home run, and the visiting Athletics slugged their way to an 8-0 victory over Chicago. The A’s won all three games at Chicago, earning their first sweep since taking three games against the Los Angeles Angels from July 2-4, 2024.
Sears (2-2) allowed just three hits with two strikeouts and two walks. Lawrence Butler, JJ Bleday and Tyler Soderstrom also blasted home runs. Soderstrom’s homer was his MLB-best ninth.
Davis Martin (1-2) surrendered four runs on eight hits over 5 1/3 innings for Chicago, which dropped its fourth straight game. Lenyn Sosa went 2-for-3 with a walk for the White Sox.
Orioles 6, Guardians 2
Ryan O’Hearn belted a go-ahead three-run home run in the third inning of Baltimore’s victory against Cleveland, helping the host Orioles post back-to-back wins for the first time this season.
Gunnar Henderson (two hits) and Heston Kjerstad also homered to support Baltimore starter Tomoyuki Sugano (2-1), who delivered seven strong innings to clinch a three-game series victory.
Daniel Schneemann and Austin Hedges homered for the Guardians, who have lost three of their last four games.
Tigers 6, Royals 1
Spencer Torkelson drove in three runs and host Detroit opened a four-game series with a win over Kansas City.
Riley Greene broke out of a slump with three hits and two RBIs, while Kerry Carpenter had three hits and scored twice. Reese Olson (2-1) lasted five innings to get the win and Tommy Kahnle got the last six outs for his third save.
Maikel Garcia drove in a run for Kansas City, which went 1-for-12 with runners in scoring position. Michael Lorenzen (1-3) allowed four runs in 4 2/3 innings.
Yankees 6, Rays 3
Oswaldo Cabrera hit a solo homer and Ben Rice had four hits and two RBIs as visiting New York opened a four-game series against Tampa Bay with a win.
Tim Hill (2-0) earned the victory with two scoreless innings of relief. Ian Hamilton followed with 1 2/3 innings before Devin Williams retired the Rays in order in the ninth for his fourth save. New York has won four straight and six of its last eight.
Junior Caminero hit a two-run homer and Richie Palacios had three hits in his season debut for Tampa Bay, which lost its third straight.
NHL NEWS
WHO WILL WIN THE HART AS MVP AND THE NHL’S OTHER TOP AWARDS THIS SEASON? HERE ARE AP’S PREDICTIONS
The handful of candidates in the mix for the Hart Trophy as NHL MVP are all unique.
Connor Hellebuyck is the backbone and best player for the league-leading Winnipeg Jets. It has also been a decade since a goaltender was voted MVP (Carey Price in a sweep of several major awards in 2015) .
Leon Draisaitl did the hardest thing there is to do in hockey better than anyone else, netting 52 goals and making up for a subpar season — at least by his standards — from Edmonton Oilers teammate Connor McDavid.
Nathan MacKinnon did not let his standard slip after winning the Hart last year, putting up 116 points in 79 games as a stabilizing force during an eventful stretch for the Colorado Avalanche, who switched their goaltending tandem and traded Mikko Rantanen seemingly out of the blue.
After finishing second to MacKinnon despite having the most points of any player, Tampa Bay’s Nikita Kucherov again earned the Art Ross Trophy for winning the scoring race with at least 121 points, going into the Lightning’s final game.
Had Columbus finished off an improbable season with a playoff bid, top defensemen Zach Werenski might have gotten some consideration. Same for Alex Ovechkin, who broke Wayne Gretkzy’s career goals record, if he didn’t miss 16 games with a broken leg.
Here is who AP hockey writers John Wawrow and Stephen Whyno think will take home the hardware on these regular-season awards in June:
Hart (MVP)
Wawrow: Connor Hellebuyck, Winnipeg. Tough call, but perhaps it’s time a goalie won with Hellebuyck’s 47 wins in 63 games. Washington’s Braden Holtby reached 47 wins in 63 games on his way to tying the NHL record of 48 in 2015-16. Hellebuyck has a lengthier and superior track record.
Whyno: Nikita Kucherov, Tampa Bay. Kucherov is the runaway winner of the Art Ross, and he has 30 points more than his next-closest teammate.
Norris (top defenseman)
Wawrow: Cale Makar, Colorado. It might be time to rename it the Cale Makar Trophy.
Whyno: Makar should win it, but here’s a case for Werenski: He skated 85 minutes more than Makar over the season and had less talent around him for the Blue Jackets, who were in the contention until the final days of the regular season.
Vezina (top goaltender)
Wawrow: Hands down, Hellebuyck.
Whyno: Hellebuyck. At one point, he was on pace to break Holtby and Martin Brodeur’s single-season wins record before the Jets balanced out his workload in preparation for the playoffs, which is where his play will again be under the spotlight.
Calder (best rookie)
Wawrow: Macklin Celebrini, San Jose. With all due respect to Montreal’s Lane Hutson, Celebrini is doing more with a much younger team and in fewer games with the Sharks.
Whyno: Hutson. He recorded more points than the next six rookie defensemen combined and played meaningful games all season, unlike Celebrini and Philadelphia’s Matvei Michkov. Calgary goaltender Dustin Wolf should be a finalist for almost leading the Flames into the playoffs.
Selke (best defensive forward)
Wawrow: Sam Reinhart, Florida. Reinhart edges out Panthers teammate Aleksander Barkov.
Whyno: Jack Eichel, Vegas. He has been a point-a-game producer throughout his NHL career. He has rounded out his game with Selke-worthy defense.
Jack Adams (coach of the year)
Wawrow: Dean Evason, Columbus. Even falling just short of making the playoffs, Evason deserves credit for having the Blue Jackets in the race through the final two days of the season given what the team has endured.
Whyno: Spencer Carbery, Washington. Carbery integrated several new players, navigated Ovechkin’s chase and coached the Capitals to first in the East after they were expected to be at best a bubble playoff team.
JETS D NEAL PIONK SIGNS 6-YEAR, $42M EXTENSION
The Winnipeg Jets signed defenseman Neal Pionk to a six-year, $42 million contract extension on Thursday.
Pionk, 29, tallied 39 points (10 goals, 29 assists) in 69 games this season for the Presidents’ Trophy winners.
The Omaha, Neb., native was second on the Jets in ice time (22:04) and tied for third in plus/minus (plus-21).
The extension will begin with the 2025-26 season for Pionk, who earned a $6 million base salary this season.
Pionk has recorded 256 points (44 goals, 212 assists) in 536 games with the New York Rangers (2017-19) and Jets.
Top-seeded Winnipeg opens the Stanley Cup playoffs against the visiting St. Louis Blues on Saturday.
NHL ROUNDUP: SABRES COACH LINDY RUFF LOGS 900TH WIN
Ryan McLeod collected a goal and two assists to help lift Buffalo to a 5-4 victory over the visiting Philadelphia Flyers on Thursday, giving Sabres coach Lindy Ruff his 900th career win.
With the result in the regular-season finale for both teams, Ruff became the fifth NHL coach to achieve the milestone. Alex Tuch, Jack Quinn and JJ Peterka scored one goal and set up another, Peyton Krebs also tallied and James Reimer made 21 saves for the Sabres.
Philadelphia rookie Matvei Michkov scored twice to boost his team-leading goal total to 26 on the season. He also had an assist.
Tyson Foerster scored his ninth goal in his last nine games and added an assist. Bobby Brink also had a goal and an assist and Aleksei Kolosov turned aside 26 shots for the Flyers.
Rangers 4, Lightning 0
Mika Zibanejad scored twice and added an assist as host New York ended one of the more disappointing seasons in team history with a victory over playoff-bound Tampa Bay.
Vincent Trocheck scored a short-handed goal early in the second to open the scoring and Zibanejad set up Chris Kreider’s tally early in the third before scoring both of his goals. The Rangers ended the season with three wins in four games but will miss the playoffs for the first time since 2021.
New York’s Igor Shesterkin made 27 saves for his sixth shutout this season and 21st of his career. Tampa Bay goalie Jonas Johansson stopped 18 shots.
Maple Leafs 4, Red Wings 3 (OT)
Scott Laughton scored 56 seconds into overtime — after Chris Tanev tied the game with two seconds left in regulation — and Toronto came back to defeat visiting Detroit.
Auston Matthews and Philippe Myers also scored for the Maple Leafs, while Mitch Marner and Matthew Knies each added two assists and Joseph Woll made 31 saves.
Justin Holl had a goal and an assist and Austin Watson and Alex DeBrincat also scored for the Red Wings. Cam Talbot stopped 16 shots.
Senators 7, Hurricanes 5
Ottawa scored four goals in a third-period rally and beat visiting Carolina in a battle of playoff-bound teams.
Drake Batherson and Adam Gaudette had two goals each and Tim Stutzle and Dylan Cozens added a goal and two assists apiece. Senators captain Brady Tkachuk returned after missing eight games with an upper-body injury. He left early in the third period as a precaution after taking a stick in the face.
Andrei Svechnikov had a goal and an assist and Jesperi Kotkaniemi, Skyler Brind’Amour (the first of his career), Jack Roslovi1c and Tyson Jost got the other goals for the Hurricanes.
Penguins 5, Capitals 2
Alex Ovechkin scored his 897th NHL goal, but visiting Washington dropped its season finale to Pittsburgh. The 39-year-old veteran finished the season with 44 goals in 64 games, and he broke the NHL’s all-time goal-scoring record with No. 895 on April 6.
Bryan Rust scored twice and Sidney Crosby and Philip Tomasino each had a goal and an assist for the Penguins, who will miss the playoffs for the third straight season. Alex Nedeljkovic made 18 saves.
Connor McMichael scored for the Capitals, who will be the top seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs. Clay Stevenson stopped 33 shots in his NHL debut.
Blue Jackets 6, Islanders 1
Jet Greaves made 36 saves for Columbus, which beat visiting New York to end the season on a six-game winning streak.
Greaves, a 24-year-old rookie, won his final five starts, allowing four goals in that span.
Cole Sillinger and Zach Werenski each had a goal and an assist for the Blue Jackets, who finished two points out of a playoff spot. Hudson Fasching scored and Marcus Hogberg made 20 saves for the Islanders, who lost five of their final six.
GOLF NEWS
JUSTIN THOMAS’ 61, 11 BIRDIES GOOD FOR RBC HERITAGE LEAD; SCHEFFLER THREE BACK
Justin Thomas missed a new Harbour Town Golf Links record by inches but still bagged the early lead at the RBC Heritage on Thursday in Hilton Head Island, S.C.
Thomas rolled in 11 birdies and tied the single-round course record with a 10-under 61, narrowly missing a 5 1/2-foot putt right of the hole for a record-setting 60 after dropping in a series of shots with the short stick from substantial distance. Thomas took par at 18.
“I just played really solid,” Thomas said. “I feel like I didn’t do anything crazy. I just drove the ball well, which is very, very important out here, and I felt like it was just one of those days I put the ball in a spot that I had a lot of good numbers. I had a lot of kind of full wedges to where — although you have to be a little conservative at times out here, I felt like they were kind of pins and angles and everything that I could be a little aggressive and just kind of got rolling with it.”
Thomas rated his second shot, an 8-iron into the 18th green, as his best shot of a round with plenty of options to choose from.
He got himself within striking distance of the record with a birdie putt from 38 feet on the par-3 17th before his missed putt at the last, which was still good for the lowest opening-round score in RBC Heritage history.
Thomas was three shots clear of Scottie Scheffler and Russell Henley, who were tied for second place at 7-under 64 in the $20 million PGA Tour signature event.
Thomas made the turn with a share of the lead at 6-under 30, comprised of six birdies and three pars, but opened the back with bogey on No. 10 before settling back in by taking birdie on five of seven holes.
“I love it,” Thomas said of the tight Harbour Town course layout. “I wish we played more places like it. I think more architects should design places like this. It kind of stands the test of time.”
Defending champion Scheffler made the turn trailing by one shot but quickly pulled even at 6 under with a 21-foot birdie putt at the 10th. He had seven birdies and played bogey-free Thursday.
Scheffler is coming off a fourth-place finish at Augusta National in his bid to defend the 2024 Masters title. He appeared at ease on Thursday and was precise on another course where he knows how to win. He cited only one shot, off the tee at 11, that he didn’t execute to plan – and Scheffler still scrambled for par.
“Did it feel easy? Easy would not be — I think definitely like a less stressful round,” Scheffler said of the juxtaposition between his final round at the Masters and the RBC Heritage opening 18.
“I felt like if you compared my four rounds last week to today, today would be a much less stressful round of golf in terms of scrambling for a par. A lot of the stuff I had to do last week I felt like I didn’t have to do today to shoot a good score. The golf course is obviously a bit different, but I was in position most of the day today. I hit a lot of iron shots. I got off to a good start. Overall, yeah, fairly … I would say stress-free day.
“But I will never say that golf is easy, ever. Golf is hard.”
Henley, who won the Arnold Palmer Invitational last month for his first Tour win since 2022, kept pace with birdies on three of his final four holes.
Wyndham Clark shot 65 and is one shot out of second place. Englishman Matt Fitzpatrick, winner of the 2023 RBC Heritage, shot 66 and was part of a logjam five off the lead at 66 that included Brian Campbell, J.J. Spaun, Gary Woodland and Brian Harman. Fitzpatrick chipped in from 22 yards for eagle on the par-5 second and birdied two other par-5s (Nos. 5, 15) in a bogey-free round.
An 11-way tie for 10th at 4-under 67 featured Jordan Spieth, Patrick Cantlay, Keegan Bradley and Englishman Justin Rose, who lost a playoff to Rory McIlroy at the Masters on Sunday.
Thursday was Thomas’ 14th career round of 62 or better, most on the PGA Tour in the past 40 years. Kevin Na (11) is next in line with Tiger Woods and Zach Johnson among a group with nine rounds of 62 or below. Thomas tied the course record at TPC Sawgrass with a 62 in March he secured with 11 birdies and a round-capping 18-foot putt, one day after he shot 78.
He said he’ll expect much different conditions as the course dries out into Sunday’s final round.
“Especially if we continue to get weather like this and if these fairways get firm, the greens are already getting firm, it’s going to be everything we want by the end of the week,” Thomas said.
Thomas finished tied for fifth in 2024 with a 72-hole score of 14 under and a single-round best of 6 under in the final round. Scheffler won the event at 19 under, three clear of runner-up Sahith Theegala.
Theegala shot a 4-over 75 Thursday and is tied for 69th in the 72-man field.
JOEL DAHMEN SHOOTS COURSE-RECORD 62, LEADS CORALES PUNTACANA
Joel Dahmen poured in 10 birdies with no bogeys to shoot a course record and set the first-round lead at the Corales Puntacana Championship on Thursday in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic.
Dahmen’s 62 at the Puntacana Resort’s Corales Golf Course was enough for a two-stroke lead over Keith Mitchell, England’s Matt Wallace and South Africa’s Garrick Higgo.
“I think just knowing my game’s been there,” Dahmen said. “We talked about it a little bit (at his practice round) on Tuesday, my game’s been pretty good. It’s kind of just letting it come to me and showing up on Thursday with the same intensity that I have on the weekend. I think I just did a really good job of that today.”
Dahmen made five birdies on each nine and had three birdies in a row on three separate occasions.
A fan favorite from his social media activity and his appearances on the Netflix series “Full Swing,” Dahmen’s only PGA Tour victory came at the 2021 edition of this tournament. He has dropped to No. 176 in the world rankings and has battled to get his game back in shape.
“I would say (missing) the Masters motivated me to get back on the golf course,” Dahmen said. “I had a sour taste leaving San Antonio with the missed cut there. I needed the week off, I needed the refresher, I needed to get back home and just relax and get my mind right for these four weeks in a row. So far so good.”
Mitchell was already on the board with his 8-under 64 when Dahmen began his afternoon round.
“I’ve historically struggled teeing off in the afternoon when people go low,” Dahmen said. “I feel like I’m teeing off 8 back of the lead and I’ve struggled in the past of feeling like I’m playing catch-up already when I haven’t even teed off yet.”
Dahmen isn’t the only past champion who enjoyed a strong start Thursday. Wallace, the winner here in 2023, carded eight birdies and zero bogeys.
“Got off to a nice start, holed a 25-footer on the first and I (said), ‘OK, good to be back,’” Wallace said. “But I know — I kind of know what I need to do around here, I know what I need to do during the week. It definitely exceeded my expectation today. I’ve got kind of a score in mind each day and I managed to get to that pretty fast on that front nine.”
Tied for fifth at 7-under 65 were Matt NeSmith, Chris Gotterup, Andrew Putnam, Quade Cummins and Japan’s Rikuya Hoshino.
TOP INDIANA HEADLINES/NEWS RELEASES
COLTS NEWS
COLTS HOPE TO ADD SUPPORTING CAST IN NFL DRAFT FOR WHICHEVER PLAYER WINS STARTING QB COMPETITION
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — The Colts signed free agent quarterback Daniel Jones to challenge Anthony Richardson for Indy’s starting job.
Now general manager Chris Ballard is turning his attention to finding help for the winner of the competition.
Ballard spent January’s season-ending news conference laying out an offseason vision to revive a team that has missed the playoffs four straight seasons, and it included a potential road map for next week’s NFL draft.
The focal point next week could center on a strong, deep tight end class that could end Indy’s four-year search for its next big star at the position.
“We didn’t get enough production from them,” Ballard said when asked in January about the play of Indy’s tight ends last season. “They’re excellent blockers, but our inability to control the middle of the field, which we’ve got to be able to do, I’ve got to be able to give (coach) Shane (Steichen) a guy that can really control the middle of the field that teams have to account for and defend. I just haven’t been able to do that.”
The Colts haven’t had anyone quite like that since two-time Pro Bowler Jack Doyle retired at the end of the 2021 season and are down another player after losing Kylen Granson to Philadelphia.
Team owner Jim Irsay also has made it clear through the years he believes it’s essential to have an impactful player at that position.
This could be the draft where everything finally falls into place for Indy.
After lacking the trade capital to make a deal for No. 4 overall pick Kyle Pitts in 2021 and watching the Las Vegas Raiders select Brock Bowers two spots ahead of them last season, the Colts may be better positioned to find a solution than years past.
The versatile Tyler Warren of Penn State, last season’s John Mackey Award winner as the nation’s best tight end, and Colston Loveland of Michigan both are considered likely top-20 picks. So one or both could still be available when the Colts pick at No. 14.
Even if they miss out on Warren and Loveland, though, Harold Fannin Jr. of Bowling Green may be the leader of the next wave of athletic tight ends. He also was a Mackey Award finalist after leading the nation with 117 receptions and 1,554 yards last season, breaking Division I single-season marks by a tight end in both categories.
Naturally, Ballard isn’t dropping hints about how he’s leaning.
But if the need and the grade match up, Ballard might not be shy about making the move that could help Jones jump-start his career or give Richardson the kind of security blanket he’s needed over the middle the past two seasons.
“(Our tight ends) are good football players but really having a receiving target that the defense has to prepare for — you’d like to be able to find and get (one),” Ballard said.
Need
While 2021 rushing champ Jonathan Taylor rebounded from two injury-filled seasons with his second Pro Bowl selection and Michael Pittman Jr. continued to be Indy’s No. 1 receiver, the Colts need more consistent playmaking offensively — even with receiver Alec Pierce leading the league at 22.3 yards per catch.
Josh Downs and Adonai Mitchell possess the skills to stretch the field, but adding another option to the mix would only help Indy’s starting quarterback.
Indy also may take a running back. Though they signed Kahlil Herbert in free agency, an improved No. 2 runner could help take some of the workload off Taylor, helping him possibly stay healthier and more effective next season.
Don’t need
It’s hard to find an area the Colts couldn’t address after going 17-17 over the past two seasons, including kicker. They released Matt Gay last week two years into a record-breaking four-year deal.
Ballard always looks to add quality on the offensive and defensive lines and losing starting linebacker E.J. Speed to Houston also could prompt a selection there.
And while it might seem Indy wouldn’t take a quarterback, don’t rule out a late-round pick after losing third-stringer Sam Ehlinger to Denver — especially if Ballard adds extra picks through his customary draft weekend deals.
Secondarily
The other glaring weakness last season was Indy’s secondary, which allowed 229.4 yards per game and finished in the bottom quarter of the league’s pass defenses.
Before free agency started, this appeared to be another potential first-round target.
But with seven players at three or fewer NFL seasons on the roster, Indy didn’t need to get younger. It needed veteran help. Ballard thinks he’s plugged those holes in free agency by adding cornerbacks Charvarius Ward and Corey Ballentine and safety Camryn Bynum.
INDIANAPOLIS INDIANS
INDIANS SCORE FIVE UNANSWERED RUNS TO TAKE DOWN TOLEDO
INDIANAPOLIS – Nick Solak drove in the game-winning run with an RBI single in the 6th inning to give the Indianapolis Indians a 7-6 comeback win over the Toledo Mud Hens on Thursday night at Victory Field. The Indians scored five unanswered runs to complete the comeback after trailing, 6-2, in the fifth inning.
Eddy Yean (S, 2) tossed 2.0 innings to seal the win for the Indians (7-8), picking up his second save of the season. Randy Labaut (W, 1-0) and Yean combined to blank the Mud Hens (5-13) over the final 4.0 frames, allowing two hits, one walk and striking out six.
Solak delivered the game-winning hit in the sixth inning off Joe Adametz (L, 0-1), scoring Ji Hwan Bae to give the Indians a 7-6 lead that they did not relinquish. Bae crossed the plate four times in the win, collecting three hits, two doubles and a walk.
Malcom Nuñez and Solak put the first two Indy runs on the board with RBI doubles, with Nuñez in the 1st inning and Solak in third frame, respectively.
After a five-run fifth inning that put Toledo ahead, 6-2, the Indians rallied for four runs in the bottom half of the frame to knot the game, 6-6. Nuñez plated the first run with a sacrifice fly. Back-to-back RBI doubles by Darick Hall and Matt Gorski then cut the deficit to one run. With the bases loaded and two out, Alika Williams drew an RBI walk on four pitches to even the score.
Right-hander Thomas Harrington made his first start with Indy this season, allowing one run over 3.0 innings with four strikeouts.
The six-game series continues tomorrow at 6:35 PM. Mike Burrows is set to take the mound for the Indians with Toledo’s Wilkel Hernandez dueling on the opposite side.
INDY ELEVEN
INDY ELEVEN AT MLS PHILADELPHIA UNION IN OPEN CUP
Atlanta (April 17, 2025) – Full details for the Round of 32 for the 2025 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup – U.S. Soccer Club Championship – have been announced by U.S. Soccer following this morning’s draw that unfolded live on CBS Sports Golazo Network’s flagship Morning Footy program.
Opponents, dates, kickoff times, venue information, and broadcast details for the 16 matches taking place across Tuesday, May 6, and Wednesday, May 7 – all of which will stream live on Paramount+ – are available below and will be kept up to date via the schedule page at the online home of the Open Cup, ussoccer.com/us-open-cup.
In all Round of 32 contests, 16 clubs from Division I Major League Soccer will jump into the fray against a survivor from the riveting Third Round that just unfolded across the last two nights. That latter group includes 12 teams from the USL Championship (Div. II), three from USL League One (Div. III), and one from MLS NEXT Pro (Div. III).
Third Round recaps: Day One | Day Two
2025 U.S. Open Cup Format Finalized for 96-team Field
Today’s draw saw clubs divvied into eight groups of four, named for the eight most capped players with the U.S. Men’s National Team that have captured a U.S. Open Cup title. Each quartet included two Third Round winners and two teams from Major League Soccer – one designated home in the Round of 32 and one designated away. The Round of 32 winners will go on to face the group’s other victor in the Round of 16, set to take place May 20-21. Each group’s priority hosting order for the Round of 16 was also unveiled during this morning’s draw and is listed in the Round of 32 schedule below.
The recently concluded Third Round kicked off CBS Sports’ comprehensive live match coverage of the Open Cup across its linear and digital platforms. That coverage will forge ahead all the way through to the Oct. 1 Final, including every match streaming live on Paramount+ and select matches simulcasting on CBS Sports Network and CBS Sports Golazo Network – including three games each during the upcoming Round of 32; see the schedule below for full broadcast details. Additional coverage from the CBS Sports Golazo Network studios is slated to bolster Wednesday’s coverage, with more details to be revealed as the Round of 32 nears.
Round of 32 Schedule – 2025 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup
Home teams listed first; host priority order for Round of 16 matches in each group also listed; visit the schedule section of ussoccer.com/us-open-cup for the most up to date listings and links to streaming broadcasts on Paramount+
Tuesday, May 6 (all times ET)
D.C. United v. Charleston Battery – 7 pm
North Carolina FC v. Charlotte FC – 7 pm
Nashville SC v. Chattanooga Red Wolves SC – 8 pm
Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC v. New Yor Red Bulls – 9:30 pm
Tacoma Defiance v. Portland Timbers – 10 pm
Wednesday, May 7 (all times ET)
Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC v. New York City FC – 7 pm
Rhode Island FC v. New England Revolution – 7:30 pm
Louisville City FC v. Minnesota United FC – 7:30 pm
Philadelphia Union v. Indy Eleven – 7:30 pm
Tampa Bay Rowdies v. Orlando City SC – 7:30 pm
Chicago Fire FC v. Detroit City FC – 8 pm
St. Louis CITY FC v. Union Omaha – 8 pm
FC Dallas v. AV ALTA FC – 8 pm
Austin FC v. El Paso Locomotive FC – 8:30 pm
Phoenix Rising FC v. Houston Dynamo – 10 pm
San Jose Earthquakes v. Sacramento Republic FC – 10:30 pm
Cobi Jones Group
Rhode Island FC (USLC) v. New England Revolution (MLS) | Centreville Bank Stadium in Pawtucket, R.I.
Wed., May 7; 7:30 pm ET | Paramount+
Chicago Fire FC (MLS) v. Detroit City FC (USLC) | SeatGeek Stadium in Bridgeview, Ill.
Wed., May 7; 8:00 pm ET | Paramount+
Round of 16 Hosting Priority:
1) Rhode Island FC 2) New England Revolution 3) Chicago Fire FC, 4) Detroit City FC
Landon Donovan Group
Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC (USLC) v. New York City FC (MLS) | Highmark Stadium in Pittsburgh, Penn.
Wed., May 7; 7:00 pm ET | Paramount+ & CBS Sports Network
Philadelphia Union v. Indy Eleven | Subaru Park in Chester, Pa.
Wed., May 7; 7:30 pm ET | Paramount+
Round of 16 Hosting Priority:
1) Philadelphia Union, 2) Pittsburgh Riverhounds, 3) Indy Eleven, 4) NYCFC
Clint Dempsey Group
North Carolina FC (USLC) v. Charlotte FC (MLS) | First Horizon Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary, N.C.
Tues., May 6; 7:00 pm ET | Paramount+ & CBS Sports Golazo Network
D.C. United (MLS) v. Charleston Battery (USLC) | Audi Field in Washington, D.C.
Tues., May 6; 7:00 pm ET | Paramount+
Round of 16 Hosting Priority:
1) North Carolina FC, 2) Charleston Battery, 3) D.C. United, 4) Charlotte FC
Jeff Agoos Group
Tampa Bay Rowdies (USLC) v. Orlando City SC (MLS) | Al Lang Stadium in St. Petersburg, Fla.
Wed., May 7; 7:30 pm ET | Paramount+
Nashville SC (MLS) v. Chattanooga Red Wolves SC (USLL1) | GEODIS Park in Nashville, Tenn.
Tues., May 6; 8:00 pm ET | Paramount+
Round of 16 Hosting Priority:
1) Chattanooga Red Wolves SC, 2) Orlando City SC, 3) Tampa Bay Rowdies, 4) Nashville SC
DaMarcus Beasley Group
Louisville City FC (USLC) v. Minnesota United FC (MLS) | Lynn Family Stadium in Louisville, Ky.
Wed., May 7; 7:30 pm ET | Paramount+
St. Louis CITY SC (MLS) v. Union Omaha (USLL1) | Energizer Park in St. Louis, Mo.
Wed., May 7; 8:00 pm ET | Paramount+
Round of 16 Hosting Priority:
1) Minnesota United FC, 2) Louisville City FC, 3) Union Omaha, 4) St. Louis CITY SC
Carlos Bocanegra Group
Phoenix Rising FC (USLC) v. Houston Dynamo (MLS) | Phoenix Rising Soccer Stadium in Phoenix, Ariz.
Wed., May 7; 10:00 pm ET | Paramount+ & CBS Sports Network
Austin FC (MLS) v. El Paso Locomotive FC (USLC) | Q2 Stadium in Austin, Tex.
Wed., May 7; 8:30 pm ET | Paramount+
Round of 16 Hosting Priority:
1) El Paso Locomotive FC, 2) Phoenix Rising FC, 3) Austin FC, 4) Houston Dynamo
Paul Caligiuri Group
Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC (USLC) v. New York Red Bulls (MLS) | Weidner Field in Colorado Springs, Colo.
Tues., May 6; 9:30 pm ET | Paramount+ & CBS Sports Golazo Network
FC Dallas (MLS) v. AV ALTA FC (USLL1) | Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Tex.
Wed., May 7; 8:00 pm ET | Paramount+
Round of 16 Hosting Priority:
1) NY Red Bulls, 2) FC Dallas, 3) Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC, 4) AV ALTA FC
Kasey Keller Group
Tacoma Defiance (NP) v. Portland Timbers (MLS) | Starfire Sports Complex in Tukwila, Wash.
Tues., May 6; 10:00 pm ET | Paramount+ & CBS Sports Network
San Jose Earthquakes (MLS) v. Sacramento Republic FC (USLC) | PayPal Park in San Jose, Calif.
Wed., May 7; 10:30 pm ET | Paramount+ & CBS Sports Golazo Network
Round of 16 Hosting Priority:
1) Tacoma Defiance, 2) Sacramento Republic FC, 3) San Jose Earthquakes, 4) Portland Timbers
Teams that did not apply to host were placed automatically into away slots, and instances where a logical geographic fit
did not exist were resolved by random selection. Groups were formed to avoid league schedule conflicts and allow two
rest days between league and Cup matches. If three or more teams/pairings were from the same proximity, pairings for
these teams were made by random selection. Any teams who are precluded from playing each other until the Final were
not paired.
About the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup
Now in its 110th edition, the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup has crowned U.S. Soccer’s national champion since 1914. The history-filled
tournament is conducted on a single-game-knockout basis and is open to professional and amateur teams affiliated with U.S. Soccer.
In 1999, the oldest ongoing national soccer competition in the U.S. was renamed to honor American soccer pioneer Lamar Hunt.
The 2025 U.S. Open Cup winner will earn a berth in the 2026 Concacaf Champions Cup and have its name engraved on the Dewar
Challenge Trophy – one of the oldest nationally contested trophies in American team sports – now on permanent display at the
National Soccer Hall of Fame in Frisco, Texas. The 2025 tournament features a total purse worth $1 million that includes a $600,000
award for the champion.
Los Angeles Football Club of MLS is the defending Champion. The 109th edition of the tournament concluded on September 25,
2024, with LAFC beating four-time Champions Sporting Kansas City 3-1 at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles to become Open Cup
Champions for the first time.
FISHERS FREIGHT
FREIGHT TO HOST PANTHERS FOR BANDIT’S BIRTHDAY BASH
FISHERS- The Fishers Freight return home on Saturday, April 19 where they will host the Bay Area Panthers. They hope to bounce back from a close loss in Massachusetts last weekend and advance to a 3-1 record.
BOUNCE BACK
After a close, 50-47 loss to the Massachusetts Pirates last week, the Freight hope to bounce back with the help of their home crowd and new kicker. This week, Fishers signed Victor Leventritt who has kicked for the Tucson Sugar Skulls the last two seasons.
SCOUTING REPORT
The Bay Area Panthers are coming off of a 50-28 win over the Northern Arizona Wranglers. Their first two scores, equaling 16 points, came from their strong defense. Prior to that, they defeated the San Diego Strike Force 48-18 and in their first week of the season, fell to San Antonio, 28-21. The Panthers are hoping to return to 2023 form this season when they won the IFL Championship over the Sioux Falls Storm.
FUEL HOCKEY
FUEL TAKE ON TOLEDO IN GAME TWO OF PLAYOFF SERIES
TOLEDO– The Fuel will play one more game in Toledo before bringing the series home to the Fishers Event Center where they will host the Walleye for the third and fourth games of the divisional semifinal series.
LAST TIME OUT
The last time these two teams met was last night when the Walleye took an early lead and ended up with the 6-3 victory. Special teams played a huge role in Toledo getting two goals early in the first period. As things turned more physical as the game went on, Indy’s bench depleted and Toledo seemed to hold onto the momentum.
COME FROM BEHIND
While the Fuel have had to battle back from early deficits many times this season, this title could also be taken literally as two of the three Fuel goals last night were assisted by captain Chris Cameron who traditionally plays close to the blue line and peppers in shots from there. That proved successful for the Fuel last night.
INDIANA FEVER
INDIANA FEVER AND WTHR ANNOUNCE EXTENSION OF THEIR MULTI-YEAR BROADCAST AGREEMENT TO DELIVER RECORD NUMBER OF GAMES TO FANS
The Indiana Fever and WTHR, the TEGNA owned NBC affiliate in Indianapolis, today announced a multi-year extension of its landmark distribution agreement to deliver more exciting basketball action to central Indiana fans than ever before.
WTHR and WALV, TEGNA’s MeTV affiliate, will air 18 games locally, giving fans across central Indiana unprecedented access to watch the Fever in action as they fight for a return to the WNBA playoffs. Last season, WTHR’s coverage elevated Indiana Fever viewership to new heights as the team’s local broadcast home, broadening the fan base beyond hardcore sports enthusiasts. Fever games on WTHR were watched in nearly two-thirds more homes than nationally televised matchups, boasting a 63% household ratings increase over national network games.
“With our team’s powerful roster of veteran talent and young stars, we’re positioned to have an unforgettable season, and we look forward to having more fans follow our journey,” said Pacers Sports & Entertainment CEO Mel Raines. “WTHR and TEGNA continue to be incredible partners, and together, we’re going to deliver more exciting, fast-paced Fever basketball to households in the Indianapolis region than ever before.”
“We’re thrilled to continue growing our outstanding partnership with the Indiana Fever and the WNBA,” said Brad Ramsey, senior vice president media operations, TEGNA. “As we expand our partnerships across sports leagues to offer fans unparalleled access to their favorite teams, we’re excited to collaborate with Pacers Sports & Entertainment to boost enthusiasm and viewership for the Indiana Fever.”
“As Indiana’s News Leader, WTHR is excited to work with the Indiana Fever to bring the hottest ticket in town to millions of fans across the region,” said Michael Brouder, president and general manager, WTHR. “We’re proud of our partnership, and the strength we have as a local broadcaster to amplify passion for our hometown team.”
The following games will be shown for free over the air on WTHR or WALV:
| May 20 vs. Atlanta | 7 p.m. | WALV |
| May 22 at Atlanta | 7:30 p.m. | WTHR |
| May 28 at Washington | 7:30 p.m. | WTHR |
| June 3 vs. Washington | 7 p.m. | WALV |
| June 10 at Atlanta | 7:30 p.m. | WALV |
| June 17 vs. Connecticut | 7 p.m. | WALV |
| June 19 at Golden State | 10 p.m. | WTHR |
| June 24 at Seattle | 10 p.m. | WTHR |
| July 3 vs. Las Vegas | 7 p.m. | WTHR |
| July 5 vs. Los Angeles | 7 p.m. | WTHR |
| July 9 vs. Golden State | Noon | WTHR |
| July 16 at New York | 7:30 p.m. | WTHR |
| July 24 vs. Las Vegas | 7 p.m. | WTHR |
| August 5 at Los Angeles | 10 p.m. | WTHR |
| August 7 at Phoenix | 10 p.m. | WTHR |
| August 24 at Minnesota | 7 p.m. | WTHR |
| September 2 at Los Angeles | 10 p.m. | WTHR |
| September 7 at Washington | 3 p.m. | WTHR |
MEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL TRANSFER PORTAL-UPDATE
Luke Almodovar, So., St. Francis, Ind./NAIA (Noblesville): 20.0 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 1.0 apg
Landen Babusiak, R-Fr., Stetson (Hanover Central/Bosco Institute): 1.0 ppg, 1.5 rpg, 0.5 apg
Reggie Bass, Jr., Lindenwood (Tech): 12.2 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 2.7 apg
Flory Bidunga, Fr., Kansas (Kokomo): 5.9 ppg, 5.4 rpg — COMMITTED TO RETURN TO KANSAS
Jalen Blackmon, Sr., Miami, Fla. (Marion): 6.9 ppg, 1.2 rpg, 1.4 apg
Vincent Brady II, Jr., Missouri State (Cathedral): 13.5 ppg, 38% on 3s
Jayden Brewer, Jr., FIU (Ben Davis): 14.5 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 1.7 apg
Xavier Booker, So., Michigan State (Cathedral): 4.7 ppg, 2.2 rpg — COMMITTED TO UCLA
Kanon Catchings, Fr., BYU (Overtime Elite/Brownsburg): 7.2 ppg, 2.2 rpg-COMMITTED TO GEORGIA
Myles Colvin, So., Purdue (Heritage Christian): 5.4 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 0.5 apg — COMMITTED TO WAKE FOREST
Tayshawn Comer, Jr., Evansville (Cathedral): 16.2 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 4.1 apg-COMMITTED TO NEVADA
Ryan Conwell, Jr., Xavier (Pike): 16.5 ppg, 2.7 rpg, 2.5 apg — COMMITTED TO LOUISVILLE
DaJohn Craig, So., Oregon (Lawrence Central): 1.9 ppg, 0.7 rpg, 0.5 apg — COMMITTED TO COASTAL CAROLINA
AJ Dancler, So., Le Moyne (Southport): 15.1 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 3.4 apg — COMMITTED TO COASTAL CAROLINA
Koron Davis, Jr., Lafayette (Gary Bowman): 8.7 ppg, 1.7 rpg, 0.4 apg
Micah Davis, Fr., Eastern Kentucky (Franklin): 0.8 ppg, 0.3 rpg, 0.3 apg — COMMITTED TO IU INDY
Tae Davis, Jr., Notre Dame (Warren Central): 15.1 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 1.8 apg — COMMITTED TO OKLAHOMA
Owen Dease, Jr., Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (Evansville Reitz): 7.5 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 1.3 apg
Keaton Dukes, Jr., Purdue Fort Wayne (Wawasee): 1.5 ppg, 0.3 rpg
Jaxon Edwards, Jr., St. Bonaventure (Cathedral): 3.0 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 0.5 apg — COMMITTED TO IU INDY
Michael Eley, Jr., Tulane (Veritas Prep – from Fort Wayne): 8.0 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 0.8 apg
Gus Etchison, Sr., Marian/NAIA (Hamilton Heights): 19.8 ppg, 3.3 rpg
Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn, So., Illinois (McCutcheon et al.): 4.6 ppg, 1.4 rpg, 0.5 apg
Maximus Gizzi, Sr., Huntington/NAIA (New Palestine): 10.6 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 3.7 apg
Landin Hacker, Jr., Bellarmine (Center Grove): 5.5 ppg, 1.4 rpg, 0.9 apg
Cameron Haffner, Jr., Evansville (Westfield): 12.7 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 1.4 apg — COMMITTED TO WESTERN KENTUCKY
Brit Harris, Jr., SC Upstate (Michigan City Marquette/Bosco Institute): 11.6 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 2.7 apg
Connor Hickman, Sr., Cincinnati (Bloomington South): 8.6 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 1.8 apg
Nick Hittle, Sr., Southern Indiana (Culver Academy): 4.5 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 0.5 apg
Curt Hopf, Jr., Bellarmine (Barr-Reeve): 4.1 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 0.8 apg
Drew Kegerreis, Fr., IU Indy (Roncalli): Redshirted this past season.
J.R. Konieczny, Jr., Notre Dame (South Bend St. Joseph): 4.3 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 0.8 apg
Jalen Jackson, Jr., Purdue Fort Wayne (FW Northrop): 19.2 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 3.1 apg — COMMITTED TO BUTLER
Shilo Jackson, Jr., Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (North Central): 5.4 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 0.4 apg
Kamari Jones, Fr., Western Carolina (Lawrence Central): 3.0 ppg, 0.8 rpg, 0.3 apg
RaSheed Jones, So., Coastal Carolina (Marion): 11.6 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 2.1 apg
Jeffrey ‘JT’ Langston Jr., Fr., Southern Utah (San Gabriel Academy – from Fort Wayne): 6.4 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 0.6 apg
Jordan Lomax, Fr., Purdue Fort Wayne (Brownsburg): N/A
AJ Lux, Fr., Bellarmine (Crown Point): 3.3 ppg, 2.2 rpg, 0.5 apg
David Meriwether, East Tennessee State (Lawrence North): 1.3 ppg, 2.0 rpg
Tytan Newton, R-So., Morgan State (Richmond): 1.1 ppg, 1.0 rpg, 0.3 apg
Mason Nicholson, R-Jr., Jacksonville State (Gary West Side): 7.5 ppg, 7.4 rpg — COMMITTED TO VANDERBILT
Okechukwu Okeke, Sr., FIU (East Chicago Central): 4.7 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 0.1 apg
Nijel Pack, Gr., Miami (Lawrence Central): 14.2 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 3.2 apg — COMMITTED TO OKLAHOMA
Quimari Peterson, Sr., East Tennessee State (Gary West Side): 19.5 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 3.7 apg — COMMITTED TO WASHINGTON
Kiyron Powell, Jr., Western Illinois (Evansville Bosse): 2.5 ppg, 2.2 rpg, 0.2 apg
Zach Reed, R-So., Bellarmine (Brebeuf Jesuit): 3.5 ppg, 1.0 rpg, 0.3 apg
JaQualon ‘JQ’ Roberts, So., Vanderbilt (Bloomington North): 1.0 ppg, 0.8 rpg
Ron Rutland III, Fr., IU Indy (Crispus Attucks): 2.2 ppg, 0.5 rpg, 0.6 apg-COMMITTED TO MARIAN (NAIA)
Tyler Schmidt, Sr., Valparaiso (Victory Christian): 10.1 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 1.6 apg — COMMITTED TO TOWSON
Sheridan Sharp, So., Southern Illinois (Ben Davis): 4.5 ppg, 1.5 rpg, 2.3 apg
Tyler Shirley, Sr., Florida A&M (Pebblebrook Ga., from Gary): 3.1 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 0.6 apg
Billy Smith, Jr., Bellarmine (Brebeuf Jesuit): 14.0 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 2.6 apg
Isaiah Stafford, Sr., Valparaiso (Crispus Attucks): 16.9 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 2.1 apg
Jahni Summers, So., Indiana State (Evansville Harrison): 5.7 ppg, 1.9 rpg, 0.6 apg
Tucker Tornatta, Fr., UIndy (Evansville Memorial): 7.6 ppg, 5.8 rpg
Cayden Vasko, So., Central Michigan (Lowell/Bosco Institute): 7.4 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 2.6 apg
Leland Walker, Jr., Florida Atlantic (North Central/Hargrave Military): 9.6 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 4.1 apg
Jalen Washington, Jr., North Carolina (Gary West Side): 5.7 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 0.5 apg — COMMITTED TO VANDERBILT
Ashton Williamson, Fr., FIU (Gary 21st Century): 7.3 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 2.7 apg
Harold Woods, Jr., Northeastern (Hammond): 11.8 ppg, 7.2 rpg, 2.4 apg — COMMITTED TO INCARNATE WORD
NATIONAL TRANSFER PORTAL TRACKER: https://www.on3.com/transfer-portal/wire/basketball/
PORTAL NEWS
FOOTBALL
Purdue adds OL Jude McCoskey (TH South) from Tulane
Purdue QB EJ Colson enters the portal
BASKETBALL
IU Forward Mackenzie Mgbako transfers to Texas A&M
Butler Forward Colt Langdon enters portal
INDIANA WOMEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL TRANSFER PORTAL-UPDATE
Cristen Carter, Butler (Ben Davis) — COMMITTED TO GEORGETOWN
Katie Davidson, IU Indy (Lawrence North) — COMMITTED TO SOUTH FLORIDA
Rashunda Jones, Purdue (South Bend Washington) — COMMITTED TO MICHIGAN STATE
Nevaeh Jackson, Valparaiso (FW Northrop) — COMMITTED TO BUTLER
Saniya Jackson, Valparaiso (FW Northrop) — COMMITTED TO BUTLER
Ra Shaya Kyle, Florida (Marion) — COMMITTED TO MIAMI
Madison Layden-Zay, Purdue (Northwestern) — RE-COMMITTED TO PURDUE
Riley Makalusky, Butler (Hamilton Southeastern) — COMMITTED TO WEST VIRGINIA
Karsyn Norman, Butler (Bedford North Lawrence) — COMMITTED TO BALL STATE
Jordyn Poole, Purdue (FW Snider) — COMMITTED TO DAYTON
Daijah Smith, Illinois State (Gary Lighthouse) — COMMITTED TO ARKANSAS-FORT SMITH (D-II)
Hailey Smith, Ball State (Fishers) — COMMITTED TO IU INDY
Olivia Smith, Ball State (Fishers) — COMMITTED TO IU INDY
Chloe Spreen, Alabama (Bedford North Lawrence) — COMMITTED TO INDIANA
Alana Striverson, Evansville (Silver Creek) — COMMITTED TO UINDY
Layla Gold, Valparaiso (Cathedral)-NO COMMITMENT YET
Amiyah Reynolds, Purdue (South Bend Washington)-COMMITTED TO UT ARLINGTON
Mila Reynolds, Purdue (South Bend Washington)-COMMITTED TO UT ARLINGTON
Hailey Smith, Ball State (Fishers)-NO COMMITMENT YET
Jayla Smith, Purdue (Lawrence North)-NO COMMITMENT YET
Olivia Smith, Ball State (Fishers)-NO COMMITMENT YET
Saige Stahl, Indiana State (Columbus East)-NO COMMITMENT YET
Tanyuel Welch, Memphis (North Central)-COMMITTED TO ARIZONA
INDIANA MEN’S GOLF
HOOSIERS SET TO PLAY BOILERMAKER INVITATIONAL
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – The Indiana Hoosiers men’s golf program will close out the 2024-25 regular season at the 20th edition of the Boilermaker Invitational. The tournament will be played from April 19-20 at the Ackerman-Allen Course in West Lafayette.
TOURNAMENT INFORMATION
Boilermaker Invitational • West Lafayette, Ind.
Ackerman-Allen Course
Par 71 • 7,275 yards
Live Scoring via GolfStat
TEAMS COMPETING (18)
Ball State, Bowling Green, Butler, DePaul, Georgetown, Illinois, INDIANA, Iowa, Marquette, Miami (Ohio), Michigan, Michigan State, Northern Illinois, Notre Dame, Purdue, South Dakota, South Dakota State, Toledo
INDIANA LINEUP
1. Clay Merchent
2. Cole Starnes
3. Bradley Chill Jr.
4. Nick Piesen
5. Alec Cesare
*Robert Bender III
*Neri Checcucci
*Kieran Hogarth
*Competing as an individual
TOURNAMENT NOTES
• In 17 appearances in the event, Indiana has earned two victories (2006, 2012) and 10 top five finishes. On the player side, Jorge Campillo earned individual medalist honors for the Hoosiers in 2006 and 2008.
• The tournament will feature 36 holes of continuous play on Saturday beginning with a shotgun start at 9 a.m. ET. Sunday’s final round will begin at 9 a.m. ET.
• Indiana will be paired with Marquette and Michigan State in the opening round.
• The 18-tournament is headlined by No. 11 Illinois. Purdue (No. 37), Notre Dame (No. 38), Marquette (No. 50), Michigan State (No. 65), Michigan (No. 73), Iowa (No. 86), and Miami (No. 96) all rank inside the top 100 of the latest Scoreboard Powered by Clippd rankings.
• Indiana checked in at No. 79 in the latest poll, released on April 16.
INDIANA WOMEN’S GOLF
INDIANA TO DEFEND BIG TEN TITLE AT BULLE ROCK GOLF COURSE
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – The Indiana women’s golf team begins postseason play as defending champions at the 2025 Big Ten Championships. The three-day, 54-hole tournament will be held from April 18-20 at the Bulle Rock Golf Course in Havre de Grace, Md.
TOURNAMENT INFORMATION
2025 Big Ten Women’s Golf Championships • Havre de Grace, Md.
Bulle Rock Golf Course
Par 72 • 6,187 yards
Live Results: Scoreboard
TEAMS COMPETING (18)
Illinois, INDIANA, Iowa, Maryland, Michigan, Michigan State, Minnesota, Nebraska, Northwestern, Ohio State, Oregon, Penn State, Purdue, Rutgers, UCLA, USC, Washington, Wisconsin
INDIANA LINEUP
1. Madison Dabagia
2. Caroline Smith
3. Maddie May
4. Beatriz Junqueira
5. Cara Heisterkamp
TOURNAMENT NOTES
• Each round will begin with rolling tee times off the tee box at No. 1 and No. 10. The first two rounds will commence at 8:30 a.m. ET on Friday and Saturday, respectively. The final round will begin at 8 a.m. ET on Sunday.
• Indiana will be paired with Michigan and Washington to open the event.
• The 18-team field is headlined by new Big Ten addition Oregon, the fifth-ranked program in the country. USC (No. 7), Northwestern (No. 10), Ohio State (No. 14), Michigan State (No. 24), UCLA (No. 27), and Purdue (No. 41) all rank inside the top 50 of the latest edition of the NCAA Division I Scoreboard rankings powered by Clippd. The Hoosiers sit at No. 69 in the poll.
• Indiana has won eight Big Ten Tournament titles (1986, ’87, ’90, ’92, ’95, ’96, ’98, and 2024). Only Ohio State (15) and Michigan State (9) have more B1G crowns.
INDIANA WOMEN’S TENNIS
REGULAR SEASON ENDS WITH NO. 42 ILLINOIS, NO. 50 NORTHWESTERN AT HOME
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Indiana women’s tennis (8-13, 2-9 B1G) will wrap up the regular season in a pair of matches against No. 42 Illinois on Friday and No. 50 Northwestern on Sunday.
MATCH INFO
Friday’s match will be played outdoors at the IU Varsity Courts. Sunday’s match is scheduled to be played indoors at the IU Tennis Center.
vs. Illinois (11-11, 6-5 B1G): Live Stats (No Live Video)
vs. Northwestern (11-12, 4-7 B1G): Live Stats • Live Video
SERIES HISTORIES
Indiana leads the all-time series with the Illini, 19-14. They trail Northwestern, 21-31.
ABOUT THE HOOSIERS
The Hoosiers will honor its only senior, Lara Schneider, in pregame festivities prior to Sunday’s noon match. Schneider is a four-year letterwinner who has won 44 singles matches and 45 doubles matches over her career at Indiana. The Mount Pleasant, S.C. native leads the Hoosiers this year with a 10-3 overall record.
Indiana is coming off a pair of losses on the road at Minnesota and at No. 25 Wisconsin. In its last appearance at home, the Hoosiers knocked off No. 58 Michigan State (April 5).
With a pair of ranked matchups on the docket for this weekend, Indiana has now faced ranked opponents in five of its last six outings.
INDIANA BASEBALL
BASEBALL CENTRAL: MARYLAND
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – The penultimate weekend series at Bart Kaufman Field in 2025 awaits the Indiana Baseball team (20-17, 10-8 B1G) on Friday (April 18) evening in Bloomington. The Hoosiers will welcome Maryland for a three-game set as the month of April continues.
IU has seven of nine conference games at Bart Kaufman Field this season – including weekend sweeps of both Ohio State and Michigan State. The Hoosiers will need to keep that going as they attempt to keep their postseason hopes alive for the NCAA Tournament. IU won the series against Maryland in College Park in 2024.
Outside of a couple blips on the radar, IU’s pitching staff has been solid over the last month of the season. Since returning from the Penn State series (March 10), the Hoosiers have held a 5.14 team ERA. Taking out the rubber matches against USC and Illinois; the ERA is all the way down to 4.16.
Veteran pitchers Cole Gilley, Ryan Kraft, Ben Grable and Pete Haas have done their jobs at getting outs and limiting damage. Sophomore righty Jackson Yarberry should be fully back into the fold soon after a couple midweek starts while pitching coach Dustin Glant is hopeful to get star reliver Drew Buhr back by the end of the month.
Junior outfielder Devin Taylor will go for program history this weekend at home as he searches for his 48th career home run – one that will break the all-time IU record. He joined a now four-way tie for first place with his 47th long ball in the game against Indiana State. But sole possession a top the list is there for the taking for the sensational IU left fielder.
First pitch on Friday is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. as the Hoosiers hope to get all games played on a normal schedule for the first time at home this season. The first three Big Ten home weekends of the year all featured doubleheaders. The rest of the weekend is tentatively scheduled for Saturday (2:00 p.m.) and Sunday (1:00 p.m.).
Gameday Info
vs. Maryland (Friday, April 18th – 6:00 PM ET)
Live Video: t.ly/SSx0m
Live Audio: bit.ly/IUAudio
Live Stats: t.ly/jCLCP
vs. Maryland (Saturday, April 19th – 2:00 PM ET)
Live Video: t.ly/n4bTY
Live Audio: bit.ly/IUAudio
Live Stats: t.ly/jsfZ5
vs. Maryland (Sunday, April 20th – 1:00 PM ET)
Live Video: t.ly/DTnp9
Live Audio: bit.ly/IUAudio
Live Stats: shorturl.at/kuTR8
Probable Starters
Maryland
• Friday: RHP Jackson Yarberry, So. (0-0, 7.84 ERA)
• Saturday: TBD
• Sunday: TBD
Leading Off
RECORD WATCH: Junior outfielder Devin Taylor moved into a four-way tie for first place on the IU all-time home run charts. He hit the 47th of his career on Tuesday against Indiana State and will now go for the record-breaking 48th this weekend against Maryland.
Taylor sits in a tie for 14th in program history in RBIs (154) with former teammate Brock Tibbitts (2022-24). He is also in sole possession of 10th place in runs scored (173). Taylor is just 10 runs from jumping into eighth place all-time at IU in the category.
NEARLY UNTOUCHABLE: Graduate student pitcher Cole Gilley has been one of the most impactful transfers in the entire Big Ten. He has a 3.02 ERA this season and is the conference leader in strikeout-to-walk ratio (6.11). He has 22 strikeouts to three walks in his last three Big Ten outings.
Gilley has allowed more than one run in just three of 11 outings this season. On five different occasions, the veteran has racked up at least five strikeouts. Last weekend at Illinois, he retired 15-straight batters before conceding his first hit in relief.
KD’S IMPROVEMENT: Redshirt sophomore outfielder Korbyn Dickerson recorded his 10th double of the season on Tuesday. He’s the only Big Ten player with at least 50 hits, 10 doubles, 50 RBIs and 10 home runs this season. Dickerson has also worked 43 runs and 17 walks while hitting .350.
The Indiana native is currently tied for the national lead in RBIs with 58. Only five players in program history have ever driven in more than 70 runs in a season, something Dickerson could do with the remaining games left on the schedule.
PROLIFIC PITCHING: Senior lefty Ryan Kraft will move into the top-5 in program history in pitching appearances with his next outing on the mound. It will come at some point this weekend, which would give him 76 for his career in Bloomington. Depending on how the schedule plays out, Kraft could become just the fifth IU pitcher to make 80 career appearances on the bump.
LONG BALL WEEKEND: IU and Maryland are second and fourth respectively in the conference in home runs. The Hoosiers have hit 61 while the Terrapins are right behind with 53. It could be a weekend of home runs in Bloomington. There have been 15 different players go yard for IU this season.
IU is on pace for one of the best home run seasons in the program’s history. Head coach Jeff Mercer’s first team in 2019 broke the all-time school record with 95 long balls. Last year’s team is third in program history with 83 on the season.
KOSKIE’S BIG WEEK: Freshman outfielder Caleb Koskie got his first start of his career last Monday and turned it into a stellar week. He went 6-for-18 (.333) with five runs scored, three doubles and nine RBIs. His first career hit was a grand slam against Michigan State (April 7).
IU’s true freshman class has combined for 134 hits, 32 doubles, 112 runs scored and 91 RBIs this season. They have played in 163 games with 113 starts.
Scouting the Opponent
Maryland
• In the second year under head coach Matt Swope, Maryland has had a tough go of things. It is one of the premier offensive teams but has struggled at times on the mound. The Terrapins have lost all five weekend series in conference play but did take a game off of Oregon last weekend.
• Maryland will not veer far from their reliable offensive players. Six guys have started all 38 games this season. Sophomore utilityman Chris Hacopian is hitting .350 this year to lead the team. Redshirt sophomore Hollis Porter and senior Alex Calarco have combined for 27 home runs.
• Redshirt sophomore southpaw Kyle McCoy is back after missing all of 2024 through injury. The Friday starter has worked a 3.06 ERA with 51 strikeouts to 14 walks. Outside of that, it has been an adventure for the Terrapins. They have a collective team ERA of 6.43 and have given up 232 earned runs and 199 walks this season.
Inside the Series
Maryland
• These have been two of the best teams in the league since Maryland joined the Big Ten in the 2014-15 school year. They have played a series in each of the last two years with the away team winning each time.
• Maryland smashed IU’s pitching in a commanding road sweep in Bloomington in 2023 while IU returned the favor in College Park in 2024. The Terrapins were able to salvage the Sunday game last year on a walk-off single.
PURDUE SOFTBALL
BOILERS HOST ILLINOIS IN TWO-DAY SERIES
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Hot off their 5-1 recent match ups against Minnesota, Eastern Illinois and IU Indy, the Boilermakers check into the season with a 22-17 record. Purdue aims to build on its strong play with a three-game series against Illinois at Bittinger Stadium this weekend.
Due to potential threatening weather, the series has been moved to a traditional doubleheader format on Friday, Apr. 18, with a single game on Saturday, Apr. 19.
ILLINOIS SCHEDULE
Friday, Apr. 18 – Purdue vs Illinois – 2:00 p.m. ET
Friday, Apr. 18 – Purdue vs Illinois – 4:30 p.m. ET
Saturday, Apr. 19 – Purdue vs Illinois – 2:00 p.m. ET
SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS
Coming into the series 18-20 the Fighting Illini head into the match up with some momentum after going 3-1 in their past four games. Despite their recent success, the Illini have struggled on the road, holding a 2-11 away record. They look to turn the trend around this weekend at Bittinger. The Fighting Illini are led offensively by Eileen Donahue who leads the team in batting average, home runs and RBI’s. On the mound, Megan Nuechterlein leads the team with a 3.68 ERA-making her the only pitcher on the squad with an ERA below a 4.00.
SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS
In the series history with Illinois, the Fighting Illini lead 34-20. In the past two Big Ten series, the Boilers defeated the Illini both at home and in Champaign. When looking at the record at large, Illinois defeated Purdue in the first game in their histories, taking down the Boilers 4-1 in 2001, while also defeating them in them in the most recent game in their histories, a 3-0 shutout in 2024.
PROMOTIONAL SCHEDULE
Friday, April 18, 2025
Game 1
Spring Cleaning: Let’s do some spring cleaning for a great cause! Empty out those cupboards and bring your nonperishable items to Bittinger this game. We will be collecting donations in support of our local food shelter. Your contribution can make a significant impact on those in need. Together, we can make a positive difference in our community!
For every 5 items donated, fans will get a free, limited-edition button!
BKC Game #2: All Boilermaker Kids Club members are invited to join us at Bittinger to help cheer on the Boilermakers as they take on Illinois! Stop by the marketing table for your chance to spin the BKC prize wheel!
Giveaway: 2025 Schedule Posters
Poster Making: Fans will be welcome to make posters to cheer on the Boilermakers! Poster making supplies will be provided.
Game 2
Game on! Join us at Bittinger for a Purdue Softball Wii-themed game day.
Giveaway: Wii-style Purdue Softball poster
Bark at the Park: Bring your dogs to Bittinger for the game! Fans must provide proof of current vaccinations for their dog and must sign a waiver stating that they will comply with Bark at the Park rules!
Saturday, April 19, 2025
Celebrate Easter Sunday at Bittinger! Bring the family for an Easter egg hunt open to all ages. Keep your eyes peeled for the golden egg, as it holds the grand prize!
Giveaway: 2025 schedule posters
Sunday Run Day: Kids 12 & under can run the bases after the game!
Postgame Autographs: Stick around following the game to get autographed posters from the team!
PURDUE WOMEN’S GOLF
BOILERMAKERS RETURN TO BULLE ROCK FOR B1G CHAMPIONSHIPS
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Postseason play is here for Purdue Women’s Golf, as the Boilermakers return to Havre de Grace, Maryland this week for the 43rd Big Ten Conference Women’s Golf Championships (April 18-20). The 54-hole stroke play tournament determines the conference champion and the automatic qualifier to an NCAA Regional. Contested in the state of Maryland for the second straight season, the battle for the conference crown takes place over three rounds at Bulle Rock Golf Course.
TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE
Friday, April 18: Round 1 (Tee Times starting at 8:30 a.m. ET)
Saturday, April 19: Round 2 (Tee Times starting at 8:30 a.m. ET)
Sunday, April 20: Round 3 (Tee Times starting at 8 a.m. ET)
THE LINEUP
Samantha Brown – Fr.
Appearing in the lineup for the 12th time
Holds a 75.76 stroke average
Leads the team in pars (328)
Has recorded a hole-in-one in each of the past two tournaments
Last time out, led Purdue at the Boilermaker Spring Classic by tying for 16th (75-72-75—222) on the individual leaderboard and matching her best finish as a Boilermaker
Helped Purdue win the Coach Mo Classic by tying for 16th (75-73-76—224); made a hole-in-one in the second round
Made 40 pars at the Mary Fossum Invitational to rank second in the 84-player field
Tied for 30th at the prestigious ANNIKA Intercollegiate with a career-low 221 (78-71-72) that featured her first under-par round as a Boilermaker
In her collegiate debut, tied for 21st (75-75-76—226) to help Purdue win the Boilermaker Classic
Finished her junior golf career ranked No. 49 in the country by Junior Golf Scoreboard
Participated in the 2024 U.S. Women’s Open and 2024 U.S. Girls Junior Championship
Won the 2024 Women’s Western Junior
Four-time all-state honoree, winning 24 of 48 high school tournaments and finishing 1-under par throughout her entire high school career, which included a cumulative 37-under par as a senior
As a senior, named Indiana Girls Golfer of the Year by USA Today, earning a spot on the All-USA Today HSSA Girls Golf Team
Momo Sugiyama – Sr.
Two-time All-Big Ten honoree in both seasons as a Boilermaker
Ranked No. 155 in the World Amateur Golf Ranking and No. 141 in the college golf rankings
Making her 37th appearance as a Boilermaker, cracking the lineup in every tournament since arriving in West Lafayette
Tied for 10th (71-73-71—215) at last year’s conference tournament for the first Top 10 by a Boilermaker at the B1G Championships since Ida Ayu Indira Melati Putri won the 2019 conference title; her 1-under 215 tied for the lowest conference championship total by a Boilermaker since 2018
Tied for eighth (72-72-77—221) to help Purdue win the Coach Mo Classic and secure her 12th career Top 10
Tied for fifth at the Briar’s Creek Invitational (70-70—140) with the third best 36-hole score in program history
Holds a 73.10 career stroke average at Purdue, which is just behind the school record (73.08) set by national champion Maria Hernandez (2005-09)
Has 11 career rounds in the 60s as a Boilermaker, tied with Hernandez, Kan Bunnabodee and Ashley Kozlowski for fifth in program history
One of 10 Boilermakers all-time to post multiple rounds of 67-or-better
Has a team-best 73.69 stroke average this season; also leads the team in pars (328) and rounds of par-or-better (12), while ranking second in birdies (72) and team-low round (9)
Tied for fourth (69-74-73—216) to help Purdue win the season-opening Boilermaker Classic, matching her best finish for the Old Gold and Black
Last year, produced a team-best 72.45 stroke average for the third-best single-season stroke average in school history; carded 19 rounds of par-or-better a year ago, the third most in a single season by a Boilermaker
Tied Purdue’s single-season record with six rounds in the 60s during the 2022-23 campaign
Two-time WGCA All-American Scholar, Big Ten Distinguished Scholar and Academic All-Big Ten
Jocelyn Bruch – Sr.
Making her team-high 42nd appearance as a Boilermaker, all in the Purdue lineup and totaling 112 rounds
Playing in her ninth tournament this season
Holds a 75.38 stroke average
Playing in the B1G Championships for the fourth time in her career
Tied for 14th (E) at the 2024 B1G Championships (73-71-72—216), joining Sugiyama with Purdue’s only par-or-better three-round scores in the tournament since 2018
Carded a season-low 222 (70-79-73) to crack the Top 10 and help Purdue win the Coach Mo Classic; her opening round 70 (-2) was also her best of the year, and her 11 birdies throughout the tournament ranked second in the 90-player field
Tied for eighth at the Match in the Desert (73), her best finish of the season
Tied for 24th (75-75-77—227) to help Purdue win the season-opening Boilermaker Classic
Ended last season No. 283 in the national rankings
Recorded a 74.43 stroke average last season, which included posting the team-low round eight times
Made a hole-in-one in the final round of the 2024 NCAA Las Vegas Regional, leading the Boilermakers with a 74 in extremely windy conditions; tallied 41 pars throughout the week to lead the 69-player field and tied for 24th on the individual leaderboard (76-72-74—222)
Fired a career-low 209 (69-70-70) at the 2023 Schooner Fall Classic for the 10th-best three-round total in school history
Earned a 2024 Big Ten Sportsmanship Award
Three-time Academic All-Big Ten; graduated last spring
Lauren Timpf – Fr.
Making her 10th appearance as a Boilermaker and cracking the lineup for the fifth time
Holds a 75.60 stroke average, leading the team’s freshmen
Last time out, tied for 28th (79-71-75—225) at the Boilermaker Spring Classic, competing as an individual
Competing as an individual, tied for 24th at the Coach Mo Classic (76-73-78—227)
Led Purdue at the Spartan Sun Coast Invitational by tying for 30th (75-73-73—221)
Has recorded the team-low round three times throughout the season
In her first time in the Purdue lineup, tied for 15th at the Mary Fossum Invitational (71-75-74—220), which included leading the Boilermakers in the first two rounds
Tied for 21st at the season-opening Boilermaker Classic (76-74-76—226), competing as an individual
Finished her junior golf career ranked No. 98 in the country by Junior Golf Scoreboard
Three-time MHSAA State Champion
Recorded a 69.4 stroke average as a senior, leading to medalist honors at 10 events
Made the Round of 64 at the 2024 U.S. Girls Junior Championship after tying for 33rd in stroke play
Natasha Kiel – Sr.
Ranked No. 58 in the national rankings
Three-time medalist this season (Boilermaker Classic, White Sands Bahamas Invitational, Coach Mo Classic), the fourth Boilermaker in program history to win at least three times in a single season
Making her 25th appearance as a Boilermaker, but playing in her 37th collegiate tournament
Became Big Ten Golfer of the Week after leading the team to a victory at the Coach Mo Classic, while also earning medalist honors with a 3-under 213 (68-71-74)
Leads team in birdies (84) and rounds in the 60s (5), while pacing Purdue in tournaments a team-high five times
Has made two hole-in-ones this season (final round of the Boilermaker Classic, opening round of the Coach Mo Classic), both leading to individual victories
Paced Purdue in four of the team’s five fall tournaments, including two victories and a runner-up performance, to earn a spot on the ANNIKA Award Watch List at the end of the fall
Ended the fall with co-medalist honors at the White Sands Bahamas Invitational, leading the field in par-4 scoring (-3) and recording the fourth-lowest 36-hole total in program history (68-73—141)
Finished runner-up in a stacked field at the Windy City Collegiate Classic (68-72-73—213) and made 14 birdies over 54 holes
Medalist of the Boilermaker Classic, her first individual win, while leading Purdue to the team title; fired a career-low 211 (67-76-69) that featured her lowest round as a Boilermaker as well as a hole-in-one in the final round
Led the Boilermaker Classic field in birdies (13) and par-3 scoring (-4), including playing the par 3s 4-under during the final round
ne of four Boilermakers to crack the lineup for all 13 tournaments last year, her first season at Purdue after transferring from Vanderbilt; recorded a 74.29 stroke average to rank third on the team
THE FIELD
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Maryland
Michigan
#25 Michigan State
Minnesota
Nebraska
#10 Northwestern
#17 Ohio State
#5 Oregon
Penn State
Purdue
Rutgers
UCLA
#7 USC
Washington
Wisconsin
THE COURSE
Bulle Rock Golf Course opened in 1998 and was listed by legendary golf architect Pete Dye as one of his Top 12 designs.
The par 72 course will measure 6,225 yards for the conference championships.
Bulle Rock hosted the Women’s PGA Championship from 2005-09, one of the LPGA majors; winners at the course include Annika Sorenstam, Se Ri Pak, Suzann Pettersen, Yani Tseng and Anna Nordqvist.
BOILERMAKERS B1G SUCCESS
Purdue has been one of the most successful programs in Big Ten history, winning six conference championships to go along with nine Boilermakers becoming medalists of the tournament.
The Boilermakers captured its six titles in a 14-year span (2000-13), which includes a three-peat from 2008 to 2010.
The lowest individual scores in conference championship history have been by Boilermakers. Laura Gonzalez-Escallon holds the 72-hole low with a 280 (71-70-70-69) in 2010. Also that year, Purdue broke the 72-hole team record to capture its third straight Big Ten title (289-292-294-294—1,158)
In 2016, August Kim set the 54-hole mark at 207 (69-71-67), which now ranks third all-time. The Big Ten Championship has been decided by a 54-hole stroke play format since 2012.
LAST YEAR AT BULLE ROCK
Behind a final round 283 (-5), Purdue placed fourth at
Purdue led the field in total pars (210) and par-4 scoring (+6) throughout the tournament, while ranking fourth in birdies (53). The final round was the Boilermakers’ best round in the B1G Championships in five years.
Momo Suigyama ended the tournament in red figures (-1), tying for 10th for the first Top 10 by a Boilermaker at the B1G Championships since Ida Ayu Indira Melati Putri won the 2019 conference title.
Jocelyn Bruch finished the tournament at even par. The Carmel, Indiana, native tied for 14th, securing her best finish and 54-hole total (73-71-72—216) of the spring. Bruch joined Sugiyama as posting the lowest 54-hole scores by Boilermakers at the B1G Championships since Inez Wanamarta (215) in 2018.
BOILERS IN THE NATIONAL RANKINGS
Purdue enters the tournament ranked No. 41 in the country, seventh best among Big Ten schools.
Individually, Natasha Kiel (No. 58) and Momo Sugiyama (No. 141) crack the nation’s Top 200.
ACES ARE WILD
While hole-in-ones are normally hard to come by, the Boilermakers have miraculously made five as a team this year.
Natasha Kiel and Samantha Brown lead the way with two apiece. Kiel made her first ace on the par-3 17th in the final round of the Boilermaker Classic at the Kampen-Cosler Course, securing medalist honors and helping Purdue win the first tournament of the season. She added another in the Coach Mo Classic, once again a team victory and individual victory for Kiel.
Both of Brown’s aces have occurred in the past two tournaments. Her first as a Boilermaker was during the second round of the Coach Mo Classic, helping Purdue capture the team title. She made her second in as many events, finding the bottom of the cup during the Boilermaker Spring Classic on the par-3 17th of the Ackerman-Allen Course.
Competing as an individual, Lana Malek made a hole-in-one during the Boilermaker Spring Classic. She aced the par-3 13th on Ackerman-Allen.
COACH MO CLASSIC CHAMPS
Led by medalist Natasha Kiel, who earned her third individual victory of the season, Purdue captured the Coach Mo Classic at St. Johns Golf and Country Club (March 31-April 1).
The Boilermakers (+13) led wire-to-wire all three rounds, besting 15 other teams and claiming a four-shot victory over runner-up Charleston (+17).
The victory, Purdue’s second of the year, marked the first time the Boilermakers have won multiple tournaments in consecutive seasons since a six-year stretch from the fall of 2005 to the spring of 2011.
The Boilermakers paced the field in birdies (38), par-3 scoring (+3) and par-4 scoring (+27) as well as eagles (2) thanks to a pair of aces from Kiel and Samantha Brown on the first day of tournament play.
Momo Sugiyama (+5) tied for eighth to crack the Top 10 for the fourth time this season and the 12th time in her career. Joining Kiel and Sugiyama in the Top 10 was fellow senior Jocelyn Bruch, who tied for 10th at 6-over. She made 11 birdies over three rounds to match Kiel and rank second in the field.
Brown (+8) tied for 16th, the best finish for the freshman Boilermaker this year.
ANOTHER B1G WOMEN’S GOLFER OF THE WEEK
Fresh off leading Purdue Women’s Golf to a victory at the Coach Mo Classic, senior Natasha Kiel was named Big Ten Women’s Golfer of the Week (April 3).
Kiel became the second Boilermaker to collect the weekly accolade this season, joining Jasmine Kahler, who was the conference’s golfer of the week after her performance at the Briar’s Creek Invitational (March 9-11). The pair of Boilermakers gave Purdue multiple Big Ten Golfers of the Week in a single season for the first time since the 2016-17 campaign.
Along with helping the team capture its second win of the year, Kiel secured medalist honors for the third time this season. She finished 3-under through 54 holes at St. John’s Golf and Country Club, one stroke ahead of Western Kentucky’s Sydney Hackett.
The senior led the field in par-3 scoring (-3) and par-4 scoring (-1), the only golfer in the 90-player field to play the par 4s under par throughout the tournament.
Kiel’s 11 birdies over three rounds ranked second in the field to go along with her opening round hole-in-one that proved to be the difference.
KAHLER NAMED BIG TEN WOMEN’S GOLFER OF THE WEEK
After matching the record for the lowest 36-hole score in program history, sophomore Jasmine Kahler was named Big Ten Women’s Golfer of the Week (March 13).
Kahler earned the weekly accolade for the first time in her career, becoming the first Boilermaker to collect the honor since Ashley Kozlowski (Feb. 15, 2023).
Kahler led Purdue to a runner-up finish at the Briar’s Creek Invitational (March 9-11), while placing second herself with a 6-under 138 (70-68) that matched Melati Purti’s two-round program best set at the 2019 Big Ten Championships.
Along with tying a school record, Kahler finished 6-under for Purdue’s lowest score (in relation to par) for a tournament this season. The second-place performance was her best as a Boilermaker, and she collected her fifth career Top 10.
The Carlsbad, California, native led the 99-player field with 11 birdies over the 36 holes, while ranking second in par-4 scoring (-3).
KIEL THE MEDALIST
Natasha Kiel’s incredible senior season has featured three individual victories, becoming just the fourth Boilermaker in program history to win three times in a single season, joining Maria Hernandez (6; 2008-09), Paula Reto (4; 2012-13) and Aurora Kan (3; 2013-14).
She started the season by claiming medalist honors and leading Purdue to a team victory at the Boilermaker Classic (Sept. 2-3). Kiel captured her first career individual victory, thanks in large part to a pair of rounds in the 60s. Kiel was 5-under for the season-opening tournament, recording her best 54-hole total as a Boilermaker (67-76-68—211). The New Hope, Pennsylvania, native also led the field in birdies (13) and par-3 scoring (-4) throughout the event. During the final round, she made six birdies and played the par 3s 4-under with two birdies and one par to go along with a hole-in-one on the par-3 17th.
Kiel picked up her second victory of the season, earning co-medalist honors at the White Sands Bahamas Invitational (Oct. 19-20). The senior finished 2-under (68-73—141) alongside Georgia’s Chantal El Chaib, leading Purdue to a runner-up finish to close out the fall season. Kiel’s two-round score of 141 was the second-lowest 36-hole total in program history. She led the field in par-4 scoring (-3), while ranking third in par-5 scoring (-1).
Her third victory came at the Coach Mo Classic (March 31-April), also leading the Boilermakers to the team title. She fired a 3-under 213 (68-71-74) that featured 11 birdies and a hole-in-one. Kiel also paced the field in par-3 scoring (-3) and par-4 scoring (-1), the only golfer in the 90-player field to play the par 4s under par throughout the tournament. The senior earned Big Ten Women’s Golfer of the Week honors for her performance.
STARTING THE SEASON WITH A W
Entering the final round of the Boilermaker Classic with a 13-shot cushion, Purdue made sure the lead was never in doubt. A final round 294 (+6), led by a 68 (-4) from medalist Natasha Kiel, allowed the Boilermakers to protect their home course and win their season-opening tournament for second straight season.
Purdue finished the season opener 15-over par on the Kampen-Cosler Course at the Birck Boilermaker Golf Complex, 14 strokes ahead of runners-up Minnesota (+29).
The Boilermakers controlled the tournament from the start, leading the field in par-3 scoring (+4), par-4 scoring (+28) and pars (178), while ranking second in birdies (35) and par-5 scoring (-4) as a team.
WINNING WITH BYRD
With the win at the season-opening Boilermaker Classic as well as the Coach Mo Classic, Purdue has now won five tournaments under head coach Zack Byrd, who is in only his third season as head coach.
A victory at the Coach Mo Classic gave the Boilermakers multiple tournament wins in consecutive seasons for the first time since a six-year stretch from the fall of 2005 to the spring of 2011.
Purdue has also claimed victories at the 2023 Boilermaker Classic, the 2023 Tulane Classic and the 2023 Mary Fossum Invitational with Byrd at the helm.
The five victories mark the most by Purdue in a three-year span since winning six from 2012-14.
Purdue collected just one tournament title in the five seasons prior to Byrd’s arrival.
NCAA PLAY ON THE WAY
Sitting at No. 41 in the national rankings, the Boilermakers plan to see their name called on next week’s NCAA Selection Show.
NCAA Regional play will take place at six sites (May 5-7).
Charlottesville, Virginia – Birdwood Golf Course
Columbus, Ohio – OSU Golf Club (Scarlet Course)
Golf Canyon, Arizona – Superstition Mountain Golf and Country Club
Lexington, Kentucky – University Club of Kentucky
Lubbock, Texas – The Rawls Course
Norman, Oklahoma – Jimmie Austin OU Golf Club
The top five teams and the low individual not on an advancing team from each regional site will advance to play in the NCAA Championships at Omni La Costa Resort & Spa in Carlsbad, California (May 16-21).
NOTRE DAME FOOTBALL
REPORT: NOTRE DAME QB STEVE ANGELI ENTERING TRANSFER PORTAL, MAKING RACE TO START A 2-MAN BATTLE
SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) — Senior quarterback Steve Angeli plans to enter the transfer portal now that Notre Dame has played its spring game, according to a published report.
The Athletic reported Angeli’s plans on Thursday.
Angeli is best known for relieving an injured Riley Leonard late in the first half of January’s national semifinal, leading the Fighting Irish to their first score. Leonard returned in the second half and helped Notre Dame overcome a 10-3 halftime deficit and into the national championship game with a 27-24 victory.
Notre Dame lost that game 34-23 to Ohio State.
With Leonard now a draft hopeful after exhausting his college eligibility, Angeli was in a three-way battle to win the starting job. But the competition may not have gone the way he’d hoped.
CJ Carr, a redshirt freshman from Saline, Michigan, appeared to take the lead with a stronger spring game last weekend. He went 14 of 19 with 170 yards, two touchdown passes and one interception while Angeli was 8 of 11 with 108 yards and led the offense to one score. Kenny Minchey, meanwhile, was 6 of 14 for 100 yards while running for a TD.
Angeli started one game at Notre Dame, leading the Irish to a victory over Oregon in the 2023 Sun Bowl. Leonard, a highly touted transfer from Duke, arrived shortly after that game and immediately took over as the starter.
Angeli, who is from Westfield, New Jersey, has two years of eligibility remaining.
NOTRE DAME MEN’S LAX
GAME 10 PREVIEW: #5 NORTH CAROLINA
SOUTH BEND, Ind. – No. 9 Notre Dame wraps up regular-season ACC play with a top-10 clash against No. 5 North Carolina at noon ET on Saturday, April 19 in Chapel Hill at Dorrance Field. The game will air on ESPNU.
GAME DETAILS
Location: Chapel Hill, North Carolina | Dorrance Field
Schedule: April 19 — Noon ET
TV: ESPNU
Live Stats: FightingIrish.com
Twitter Updates: @NDlacrosse
For a more in-depth look at the matchup – Game Notes: Notre Dame
THE UNC SERIES
• Saturday will be the 25th meeting all-time between Notre Dame and UNC.
• The Irish lead the Tar Heels in the series with at a mark of 13-11 in the matchup.
• The matchup has historically been extremely competitive, as 15 of the 24 games in the series have been decided by two goals or less.
• The Irish enter this weekend’s matchup winners of four straight in the series and five of the last six, dating back to the 2019 season.
• Notre Dame won the most recent matchup by a score of 14-6 at Arlotta Stadium last season.
• Devon McLane and Chris Kavanagh each recorded hat tricks with three goals apiece in the win in 2024.
IRISH IN THE ACC
• Since joining the league during the 2014 season, Notre Dame has consistently been one of the top programs in the ACC.
• The Irish have a record of 32-18 in regular-season ACC games over the 11 seasons of play (2020 not included due to COVID).
• With the win over Virginia last Saturday, Notre Dame has finished with a record of .500 or better in six straight seasons and have only finished with a losing regular-season ACC record twice.
• Notre Dame has never finished lower than third in the league.
• The Irish have either won the ACC outright or a share of the league regular-season title four times in 11 opportunities.
KAVANAGH LEADS THE ATTACK
• Chris Kavanagh picked up right where he left off to open the 2025 season, posting a career-high nine points (4G, 5A) to finish just one point shy of the program record held by his brother Pat.
• The senior leads the Irish in points this season with 43 off 24 goals and 19 assists.
• Kavanagh turned in the greatest statistical offensive season in Notre Dame history last year, setting the program record for points in a season with 81.
• The attackman totaled 44 goals and 37 assists during the 2024 season.
• Chris joined his brothers Matt (42G, 33A – 2015) and Pat (31G, 49A – 2024) as the only players in program history to record 30+ goals and assists in the same season.
• The Rockville Centre native earned NCAA Championship Most Outstanding Player honors after a prolific four-game stretch in the tournament in 2024, recording 22 points off 14 goals and 8 assists.
• The attackman put an exclamation mark on his season with a 5-goal performance in the national title win over Maryland, tying the program record for goals in an NCAA tournament game.
• Kavanagh set the program record for points in an NCAA Tournament game against Georgetown in the quarterfinals, totaling eight points off five goals and three assists. The five goals tied the program record for most goals scored in an NCAA Tourney game.
• The senior has 219 points off 136 goals and 84 assists and currently ranks fourth in program history.
• Kavanagh not only paced Notre Dame’s offense in 2023 but his 46 goals ranked third all-time in program history for a single season, just three behind Randy Colley’s record of 49 goals set in 1995.
• The Rockville Centre, New York, native has scored a goal in 31 straight games and has recorded a point in 53 of 54 games in his career. Kavanagh has posted multiple points in 49 of 54 games in his career.
LOCKDOWN DEFENSE
• Notre Dame is allowing just 8.89 goals per game this season, ranking 11th the country.
• Opponents have been held to single-digit goals in all six of Notre Dame’s victories during the 2025 season.
• The Irish finished 2024 allowing just 8.94 goals per game, leading the country, despite playing six games against opponents that ranked in the top 15 in goals scored per game.
• Notre Dame held opponents to 10 or fewer goals in 12 of 17 games during the 2024 campaign, including seven of the last eight on the way to the title.
• The Irish limited the opposition to 12 or fewer goals in 16 of 17 outings last season.
• Preseason All-Americans Ben Ramsey, Will Donovan and Shawn Lyght each return to the defensive unit along with the addition of Greg Campisi from Harvard.
TAYLOR MADE
• Graduate student Jake Taylor is one of the great finishers in lacrosse, totaling 123 goals in his Fighting Irish career.
• Taylor enters the weekend ranked fourth in program history for career goals and is just four away from passing Mikey Wynne for fourth place.
• The attackman scored seven goals in the season opener to become the 11th player in program history to reach the 100-goal milestone.
• In the 2025 ACC opener against Duke, Taylor scored five goals and added two assists to earn Inside Lacrosse National Player of the Week and ACC Offensive Player of the Week honors.
• Taylor has 18 hat tricks in his Fighting Irish career and has recorded four hat tricks this season.
• The grad student is shooting 55.8 percent on the season, ranking third in the country.
• The Denver native finished the 2024 season with 41 goals on 83 shots, giving him a shooting percentage of .494 which ranked fourth in the country.
• Taylor scored one of the biggest goals in program history, sending the 2023 NCAA semifinal into overtime with a twister against Virignia in the final minute of regulation.
OFFENSIVE ONSLAUGHT
• The Blue and Gold has scored 130 goals through eight games this season, averaging 14.44 per game, the sixth best mark in the country.
• Notre Dame ranks fifth in the nation in points per game (23.0), second in shot percentage (.345) and eighth in assists per game (8.56).
• The Irish scored 24 goals in the season opener and recorded 19 assists to total 43 points, finishing just three points shy of the program record for points in a game.
STRONG STARTS
• The Irish have dominated the opening 15 minutes of play throughout the season, outscoring opponents 39-18 over nine games.
• The 21-goal scoring margin is the largest for ND in any quarter during the 2025 campaign.
• Twenty of the 39 goals have come from a trio of Irish player, as Jake Taylor leads the way with eight goals and Chris Kavanagh and Will Angrick have each added six in the opening frames.
DOMINATING THE DOT
• Senior FOGO Will Lynch has won 97-of-161 faceoffs this season for a win percentage of .602 along with 58 ground balls.
• Lynch is currently ranked 12th in the country for faceoff winning percentage and 14th in ground balls per game (6.44).
• The senior enters Saturday with 328 career ground balls, the most by any player in program history. Lynch set the record in the win over Georgetown, passing Billy Ahmuty (280 GBs – 1991-94) for the top spot.
• Lynch is coming off his best season in his Fighting Irish career, winning 61.2 percent of his faceoff attempts to lead the ACC and rank fourth in the country.
• The FOGO won 202-of 330 attempts and scooped up a team-high 113 ground balls.
• Over the four NCAA Tournament games Lynch was even better than his season average, winning 63-of-97 (64.9%).
• Lynch added a career-high four goals last season, including one in the ACC Tournament and one in the NCAA Tournament.
• Lynch was named to the All-ACC Team and to the ACC All-Tournament Team.
• The standout won over 50 percent of faceoffs in 12-of-16 games last season.
FAMILY STYLE
• Everyone is eating in the Irish attack this season, as 18 different players have recorded multiple points on the season.
• Nine Irish players have posted up double-digit points through seven games.
• The Irish have racked up 77 assists on the 130 goals with Chris Kavanagh leading the way with 19.
• In the win over Marquette, all three starting attackmen and all three starting midfielders finished with mulitple goals.
ANGRICK’S BREAKOUT SEASON
• Playing the best lacrosse of his career, senior Will Angrick already has set a career high for points in a season with 18.
• His 10 goals eight assists each mark career highs for the senior.
• Angrick has recorded multiple points in five of eight games during the 2025 campaign, as has 2+ goals in four outings.
• The senior leads the Irish midfield in scoring with 10 goals.
LYGHTS OUT
• It didn’t take long for Shawn Lyght to make a name for himself in the college lacrosse world, as he cemented himself as one of the top cover defenseman in the country during his 2024 freshman season.
• Lyght consistently drew the No. 1 option for the opposing attack throughout the season.
• The defenseman held Connor Shellenberger to just one goal between the two matchups, both resulting in wins and he limited Joey Spallina to just one point in their only matchup of the year.
• The sophomore opened the 2025 season against Cleveland State holding his main def=m,ensive assignment to zero points.
• Lyght was the only sophmore to earn first team All-America status in the Inside Lacrosse preseason honors.
FROM THE GRIDIRON TO THE LACROSSE FIELD
• Three Notre Dame lacrosse players on the 2025 squad also suited up for the football team in the fall, as Jordan Faison, Tyler Buchner and Matt Jeffery are both dual-sport athletes.
• Faison finished the season with 30 receptions for 356 yards and a TD, including a seven-catch, 89-yard performance in the first round of the College Football Playoff win against IU.
• Buchner was used in trick plays on special teams, picking up a first down on a fake FG against GT and completing a 23-yard pass on a fake punt against USC.
• Jeffery played in three games on special teams during his freshman season, seeing the field against Purdue, Stanford and Navy.
• All three have seen action during the 2025 lacrosse season, as Buchner has played in five games at SSDM and Faison and Jeffery made their debuts in the win at Georgetown.
NOTRE DAME SOFTBALL
NOTRE DAME DROPS CLOSE BATTLE AT #17 DUKE
DURHAM, N.C. – The Notre Dame softball team battled the 17th-ranked Duke Blue Devils to the very end, but dropped Thursday’s series opener 5-4. The Irish are now 20-25-1 and 6-13 in ACC play.
Rachel Allen started the game with a bang, hitting a two-run homer over the right field fence to score Caroline O’Brien, who led off the game with a double. With the homer, Allen extended her on-base streak to 13 games.
Duke countered in the bottom half of the first with four runs of its own. The first four Blue Devils recorded hits, including back-to-back home runs in the inning.
Allen continued her big day in the top of the third. After Emily Tran and Addison Amaral collected back-to-back hits, the Irish backstop grounded a ball back up the middle to score the pair, tying the game at four-all. The 4 RBI marked a career-high for Allen.
After being held scoreless for nearly three innings, the Blue Devils retook the lead in the bottom of the fourth with a pair of two-out hits, including an RBI double into the right center field gap to give Duke a 5-4 lead after four.
Shannon Becker took over for Kami Kamzik to start the bottom of the sixth. After a shaky first inning, Kamzik only allowed one run over four innings to one of the top hitting teams in the ACC. Becker tossed a 1-2-3 sixth inning.
Pinch hitting in the top of the seventh, Caitlyn Early drew a leadoff walk to put an early baserunner on. Fellow freshman Avery Houlihan pinch ran for her and advanced to second on a groundout to put a runner in scoring position with one out.
Duke starter Cassidy Curd, still in the game in the seventh, got Tran to fly out to left to bring up a critical matchup against Amaral. With a 1-1 count, Amaral ripped a ball into center field, but a perfect one hop throw from center fielder D’Auna Jennings threw Houlihan out at home to end the game.
Notre Dame will look to bounce back tomorrow night. First pitch is set for 6 p.m. and will be broadcast on ACC Network Extra.
NOTRE DAME WOMEN’S LAX
IRISH WITH A DOMINANT 17-6 WIN OVER LOUISVILLE
SOUTH BEND, Ind. – The Notre Dame Fighting Irish (7-8, 2-7) concluded their regular season with a dominant 17-6 win over the Louisville Cardinals (7-10, 1-8) at Arlotta.
It was a big day of scoring as 12 different Irish players netted at least one goal today. Kristen Shanahan led the charge with 2 goals, 3 assists, and 5 points. She was followed by Kathryn Morrissey, who recorded 2 goals, 2 assists, and 4 points for the Irish.
Kate Timarky, Lila O’Brien, and Emma Murphy each netted 2 goals a piece as well in the win at home.
It wasn’t just the offensive squad at work, but the defensive squad was able to get in on the scoring action today. Three defensive players scored their first collegiate goals today as Abby Lyons, Grace Weigand, and Julia Carr netted their first-ever goals in an Irish uniform.
Meghan O’Hare, Fran Frieri, Shannon Earley, and Katie Mallaber each tallied a goal on the day. O’Hare also recorded a team-best 4 caused turnovers and 5 draw controls.
The Irish started off strong, posting an early 10-1 lead after just one quarter of play with nine Irish players chipping in on the scoring in only 15 minutes of play.
Notre Dame maintained control of the game through all four quarters, playing well on both sides of the ball as the team caused 13 turnovers and recorded a season-high 23 ground balls in comparison to Louisville’s 11.
NOTRE DAME WOMEN’S TENNIS
#25 IRISH PREVAIL AND ADVANCE TO ACC QUARTERFINALS
CARY, N.C. – The 25th-ranked/6th-seeded Notre Dame women’s tennis team secured win number 20 on the season after defeating 41st-ranked/14th-seeded Wake Forest 4-2 during the third round of the 2025 ACC Women’s Tennis Championships. After having a bye in the first two rounds, the Irish will take on 12th-ranked/3rd-seeded NC State tomorrow at 12:30 p.m. in the quarterfinals.
The Irish secured the doubles point, but it didn’t come easy. After Wake Forest took No. 1 doubles, Bianca Molnar/Bojana Pozder responded with a 6-3 win at No. 3 doubles to force a winner-take-all situation on court two.
After a back-and-forth battle at No. 2 doubles, Nibi Ghosh/Rylie Hanford prevailed, winning 7-5 to give Notre Dame the crucial early advantage in its first postseason match of the year.
At No. 5 singles, Hanford battled back in a big way. With the Demon Deacons taking a win at No. 4 singles to go up one, Hanford came back after dropping the first set to win 2-6, 6-2, 7-5 for Notre Dame’s second point on the day.
Maria Olivia Castedo put the Irish up 3-2 after a 7-6(3), 6-4 win at No. 6 singles for the senior. Wake Forest responded with a three-set win at No. 2 singles to keep the Demon Deacons in the match.
But like she’s done throughout the season, Akari Matsuno clinched the match for the Irish, taking down 82nd-ranked Nevena Carton 6-4, 3-6, 6-2 at the top singles spot to push Notre Dame into the ACC Quarterfinals.
#25 Notre Dame 4, #41 Wake Forest 2
Singles:
#65 Akari Matsuno (ND) def. #82 Nevena Carton (WFU) 6-4, 3-6, 6-2
Krystal Blanch (WFU) def. Bianca Molnar (ND) 4-6, 6-1, 6-4
Nibi Ghosh (ND) vs. Anna Zhang (WFU) 4-6, 7-5, 2-1, unfinished
Whitley Pate (WFU) def. Bojana Pozder (ND) 6-0, 6-2
Rylie Hanford (ND) def. Kady Tannenbaum (WFU) 2-6, 6-2, 7-5
Maria Olivia Castedo (ND) def. Sankavi Gownder (WFU) 7-6 (7-3), 6-4
Doubles:
#79 Krystal Blanch/Makayla Mills (WFU) def. #71 Carrie Beckman/Akari Matsuno (ND) 6-2
Nibi Ghosh/Rylie Hanford (ND) def. #88 Kady Tannenbaum/Nevena Carton (WFU) 7-5
Bianca Molnar/Bojana Pozder (ND) def. Whitley Pate/Anna Zhang (WFU) 6-3
Order of finish: Doubles (1,3,2); Singles (4,5,6,2,1)
NOTRE DAME BASEBALL
IRISH HEAD WEST FOR STANFORD SERIES
Notre Dame at Stanford – Game Notes (PDF)
SOUTH BEND, Ind. – The Notre Dame baseball team makes their first West Coast ACC trip as the Irish travel to California to face Stanford. The three-game league series between the two squads is set to take place from Friday through Sunday, and game one is slated for April 18 at 6:00 p.m. PT/9:00 p.m. ET.
THE MATCHUP
- Notre Dame enters the weekend 17-17 overall and 4-14 in ACC games in 2025.
- Stanford is 19-14 overall and 6-12 in ACC contests this spring.
- The two teams last met in the Men’s College World Series on June 18, 2002 with the Cardinal taking a 5-3 decision.
- Stanford leads the all-time series 3-0.
- It is the first time the two squads will compete on either of the teams’ respective campuses.
LAST TIME OUT
- The Irish captured a 7-1 win at home against Valparaiso on Tuesday night in the team’s Foundry Giants/Jackie Robinson Day game.
- Connor Hincks, Jayce Lee, and Carson Tinney each belted a home run in the victory. Hincks went 2-for-4 with a pair of RBI, a double, and a run. Lee was 1-for-3 with two RBI and a run. Tinney added a 1-for-3 effort with two walks, two RBI, and a run.
- Kellan Klosterman struck out four with no runs allowed in 3.1 innings of work in a no-decision effort on the mound. Brady Koester picked up the win on the mound after striking out a pair. Xavier Hirsch, Sammy Cooper, Justin Mayes Jr., Chase Van Ameyde, and Keenan Mork all saw action on the bump for the Irish.
2025 CAPTAINS
The 2025 Irish baseball team will look to four captains to help guide the way this spring. John P. and Catherine Murphy Head Baseball Coach Shawn Stiffler announced graduate students OF Brady Gumpf and RHP Jackson Dennies, senior RHP Radek Birkholz, and junior INF Estevan Moreno as team captains for the season.
TOP TALENT
The Irish have four players listed in the D1baseball.com Preseason rankings by position.
- Junior Estevan Moreno was 24th on the Top 50 shortstops list.
- Sophomore Carson Tinney was tabbed 47th on the Top 50 catchers listing.
- Graduate student Jared Zimbardo was 40th on the Top 100 outfielders report.
- Junior Rory Fox was 106th on the Top 150 starting pitchers list.
BUTLER WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
SANIYA JACKSON SIGNS WITH BUTLER
6-0 guard Saniya Jackson will return to the court this season as a member of the Butler women’s basketball program. The Valparaiso transfer missed the 2024-25 campaign with an injury, giving her three years of eligibility at BU.
“Saniya had a tremendous freshmen year showing her versatility on both ends of the floor,” Head Coach Austin Parkinson said. “She is an excellent cutter and explosive out of triple threat. Her length and speed can cause problems on defense with her ability to get steals in passing lanes.”
Jackson is the third transfer to sign an athletic aid agreement with the Bulldogs this week. She joins her twin sister Nevaeh on the 2025-26 roster along with Gabby Wilke who began her collegiate career at South Dakota.
During the 2023-24 season, Jackson started in 26 of Valparaiso’s 30 games. She averaged 9.5 points and 3.3 rebounds per game while also leading the team in steals with 51.
Jackson was one of 17 players nationally with 50 or more steals and 45 or fewer turnovers. She ranked eighth in the MVC in steals per game (1.7) and came up with a career-high eight steals in a game at UAB.
A talented two-way player, Jackson also scored in double figures 16 times during her only year with the Beacons. She scored a season-high 19 points at Drake on 7-of-10 shooting that included going 3-for-4 from behind the arc. She also had 16 points against UNI, Evansville, and versus UIC in the MVC Tournament.
Before committing to Valpo, Jackson was a standout student-athlete at Northrop High School in Fort Wayne. She was an IBCA All-State selection and an ICGSA First Team All-State choice as a senior. The year prior, Jackson was tabbed Second Team All-State.
The three-time First Team All-Conference pick surpassed 1,000 career points while playing at Northrop and helped the Bruins win a conference title in 2022-23, conference, sectional and regional championships in 2020-21 and another sectional title in 2019-20.
BUTLER WOMEN’S TENNIS
BUTLER DEFEATS PROVIDENCE IN THE FIRST ROUND OF THE BIG EAST TOURNAMENT
Cayce, S.C.- On Thursday morning the Butler Women’s Tennis team defeated Providence 4-0 in the first round of the BIG EAST Tournament.
Butler won the doubles point for the match thanks to wins on courts 2 and 3. On court 2, Norah Balthazor and Lauren Cook defeated Elisa Davalos and Lauren Carson 7-5. Over on court 3, Emma Beavin and Jordan Schildcrout took down Mae Abrue and Camila Barrera 6-3.
As for singles play, Butler continued their winning ways. On court 1, Chase Metcalf prevailed past Camila Barrera 6-1, 6-2. On court 2, Norah Balthazor was victorious over Mae Abreu 6-1, 6-1. Moving to court 4, Brooke Arington got the best of Lauren Carson 6-1, 6-0.
The singles wins by Metcalf, Balthazor, and Arington were enough to clinch the 4-0 win for the Dawgs.
Up Next
Butler will take on (#3) St. Johns in the Quarterfinals of the BIG EAST Tournament tomorrow morning at 9am.
Results Butler 4 Providence 0
Singles
No 1 Chase Metcalf (BUT) def Camila Barrera (PC) 6-1, 6-2
No 2 Norah Balthazor (BUT) def Mae Abreu (PC) 6-1, 6-1
No 3 Elise Leik (PC) vs Katie Beavin (BUT) 6-1, 1-3 unfinished
No 4 Brooke Arington (BUT) def Lauren Carson (PC) 6-1, 6-0
No 5 Lauren Cook (BUT) vs Gabriella Plonowski (PC) 6-1, 2-4 unfinished
No 6 Emma Beavin (BUT) vs Allison Root (PC) 6-1, 5-2 unfinished
Doubles
No 1 Chase Metcalf / Brooke Arington (BUT) vs Allison Root / Elise Leik (PC) 6-5 UNFINISHED
No 2 Norah Balthazor / Lauren Cook (BUT) def Lauren Carson / Elisa Davalos (PC) 7-5
No 3 Emma Beavin / Jordan Schildcrout (BUT) def Mae Abreu / Camila Barrera (PC) 6-3
BUTLER BASEBALL
GEORGETOWN WINS OPENER VS. BUTLER 14-3
The Georgetown Hoyas scored 10 runs in the bottom of the third inning to cruise to a 14-3 win over Butler on Thursday afternoon. Jack Moroknek and Ryan Drumm each homered in the setback for the Bulldogs.
Moroknek hit a solo shot to right in the fourth to get BU on the scoreboard and Drumm added a two-run home run in the sixth. Butler was limited to just six hits on the day while allowing 13. The 10-run inning in the third for GU came off just four hits.
Tre Benjamin was hit with the loss while the win went to Raab. Leckszas also was credited with a save for tossing the final three innings.
Benjamin was hit with five earned runs and Corbin Snyder allowed the next six. The third Bulldog arm to take the mound was Aidan Hatcher. As a team, BU had three strikeouts and walked 10 batters.
These two teams will go at it again tomorrow night at 6 p.m.
IU INDY WOMEN’S GOLF
WOMEN’S GOLF TO COMPETE AT #HLGOLF CHAMPIONSHIPS THIS WEEKEND
HOWEY-IN-THE-HILLS, Fla. – The IU Indianapolis women’s golf team will trek south this weekend to compete in the #HLGolf Championships, hosted on El Campeon at Mission Inn Resort. Head Coach Jamie Broce’s team has had success at Mission Inn in the past and will be seeking the Horizon League’s automatic berth into NCAA Regional play.
Junior Yanah Rolston has continued to be the team’s top player with a 78.26 stroke average and .635 winning percentage in nine events. Behind her, true freshman Cassidy Ayres owns a 79.75 scoring average and has a top-10 finish.
Collectively, the Jags come in with a 318.46 stroke average.
THE FIELD
Eight of the 11 Horizon League schools compete in women’s golf as Youngstown State, Oakland and Purdue Fort Wayne are the top three seeds. The Jaguars enter as the No. 5 seed in the league, just ahead of Northern Kentucky and just behind Green Bay.
THE COURSE
El Campeon combines beautiful Florida conditions and scenery with a touch of Scotland as the course was designed by George O’Neil in 1917. The course was later reconfigured in 1926 by Charles E. Clarke, who’s roots came from the legendary grounds of Troon, Scotland. The course is both fair and challenging for players of all skill levels.
LINEUP
1. Yanah Rolston (22 rounds / 78.26 average / 2 top-10 finishes)
2. Cassidy Ayres (24 rounds / 79.75 average / 1 top-10 finish)
3. Reagan Sohn (24 rounds / 81.67 average)
4. Sydni Zebrauskas (24 rounds / 80.75 average)
5. Nina Wojtczak (20 rounds / 80.95 average)
Ind. Nerea Lancho (21 rounds / 84.14 average)
LAST TIME OUT
The Jaguars placed fourth of seven teams at their own Lady Jaguar Invitational at Plum Creek in Carmel, carding a 36-hole 644 (323-321). Rolston tied for 17th overall at 160 (77-83) and both Ayres and Zebrauskas finished at 161.
UP NEXT
The winning team will advance to the NCAA Regionals on May 5-7 to be played in Columbus, Ohio, Lexington, Ky., Normal, Okla. and Golf Canyon, Ariz.
IU INDY MEN’S GOLF
MEN’S GOLF HEADS TO FLORIDA SEEKING #HLGOLF CROWN
HOWEY-IN-THE-HILLS, Fla. – The IU Indianapolis men’s golf team will head to Central Florida seeking a Horizon League title as teams will converge on Mission Inn Resort for this week’s #HLGolf Championships. The three-day, 54-hole event will take place on El Campeon at Mission Inn, beginning on Saturday (Apr. 19). The winning team will earn the league’s automatic berth into NCAA Regional play.
The Jaguars earned top-4 finishes in their final two events of the regular season, placing fourth at Butler’s Don Benbow Spring Invitational on Apr. 1, followed by a tie for second at the NKU Jewell Invitational on Apr. 8. As a team, the Jaguars enter the postseason with a 295.75 scoring average. Titus Boswell leads the regulars at 73.45 and classmate Brady Schier checks in at 74.39.
THE COURSE
El Campeon combines beautiful Florida conditions and scenery with a touch of Scotland as the course was designed by George O’Neil in 1917. The course was later reconfigured in 1926 by Charles E. Clarke, who’s roots came from the legendary grounds of Troon, Scotland. The course is both fair and challenging for players of all skill levels.
THE FIELD
Ten of the league’s 11 members compete in men’s golf as Wright State (No. 164) and Oakland (No. 206) are the top two seeds entering play. The Jaguars are the No. 3 seed and are ranked No. 227 nationally.
LINEUP
1. Titus Boswell (20 rounds / 73.45 average / 2 top-10’s)
2. Brady Schier (23 rounds / 74.39 average)
3. Sam McWilliams (26 rounds / 74.54 average / 1 top-10)
4. Morgan Tournemire (20 rounds / 75.35 / 2 top-10’s)
5. Noah Kirsch (23 rounds / 75.30 average / 2 top-10’s)
Sub. Harry Ward (14 rounds / 75.36 average)
LAST TIME OUT
The Jaguars tied for second at the NKU Jewell Invitational with a 36-hole, 574 (282-292) at Elks Run Golf Course. Boswell tied for third overall at 1-under 141 (70-71) and Tournemire tied for sixth at even par 142 (69-73).
UP NEXT
With a tournament win, the Jaguars would advance to NCAA Regionals, which will be May 12-14. Sites include Amherst, Va., Auburn, Ala., Bremerton, Wash., Reno, Nev., Tallahassee, Fla. and Urbana, Ill.
IU INDY WOMEN’S TRACK
WOMEN’S TRACK AND FIELD SETS THREE SCHOOL RECORDS ON FRIDAY
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Both Morgan Hoard and Paige Laffoon got off to fast starts in the multis at Indiana State’s Gibson Invitational on Thursday (Apr. 17) in Terre Haute. Laffoon broke the program record in the high jump with a best mark of 1.70m (5′ 7”) while Hoard broke her own school record in the shot put with a best throw of 11.41m (37′ 5.25”). Later in the evening, graduate Ellie Cates broke the program record in the 5,000m event at the Wake Forest Invitational.
Laffoon finished the day in fourth-place among the 32 competitors with 2,963 points and Hoard was 12th with 2,720 points.
Laffoon just missed a new personal best in the 100m hurdles to start the day, clocking a time of 14.58 seconds, while Hoard went under 15 seconds for the first time in her career at 14.98. Laffoon then finished tied atop the field in the high jump at 1.70m while Hoard’s best jump was 1.46m (4′ 9.5”). Hoard was sixth among the competition in shot put at 11.41m, breaking her previous school record by a full foot. Laffoon was just shy of a new personal best at 9.50m (31′ 2”).
To close the day, Laffoon ran a 200m time of 26.98 seconds while Hoard spun a personal best time of 27.42, taking more than a half-second off her prior best.
In the evening, Cates put on a show in the 5K, clocking a time of 16:58.31 at Wake Forest, placing sixth in her race. In doing so, she broke the school record by nearly 10 seconds and broke her own personal best by 26 seconds. Behind her, Julie Smith spun a time of 17:47.09, missing a new personal best by less than two seconds.
The Jaguars will continue action at both meets on Friday (Apr. 18).
BALL STATE MEN’S VOLLEYBALL
MVB OPENS MIVA TOURNAMENT SATURDAY AT LEWIS
Last Meeting: Lewis 3, Ball State 2 (2/14/25)
Series History (Since 1994): Ball State leads the series 39-37
This Week in Ball State Men’s Volleyball: After ending the regular season 9-7 in conference play, Ball State will enter the Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association (MIVA) tournament as the fifth seed. The team will take on No. 4 Lewis in Romeoville, Illinois on Saturday for match one. First serve is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET in Neil Carey Arena.
Regular Season Accolades:
• Three Cardinals were named to the All-MIVA Teams, including outside hitters Tinaishe Ndavazocheva and Patrick Rogers, and opposite Rajé Alleyne.
• Ndavazocheva is now a three-time All-MIVA first team honoree. This year, he was an offensive asset for the Cardinals, adding 245.5 points while averaging 3.66 points per set. He ended the regular season hitting a .382 clip with 209 recorded kills.
• Rogers is earning his second-consecutive All-MIVA First Team honors. He led the team through the regular season with 417 points, 347 kills, 33 aces and 180 digs. As a major playmaker for the Cardinals, Rogers opened the 2025 season being named the MIVA Offensive Player of the Week for the second time in his career.
• In his first year with the Cardinals, Alleyne became a huge addition to the teams’ success. He earned First Team All-MIVA honors in the 2023 and 2024 seasons with Quincy as the Hawks’ lead scorer. This season, Alleyne was Ball State’s second highest scorer, adding 317 points, 273 kills and 19 aces. He also led the team at a 4.01 points per set average.
Tournament History:
• Prior to this season, Ball State had earned the MIVA regular season title the past three years in a row. The Cardinals’ last tournament championship came in 2022 when they swept sixth-seeded Purdue Fort Wayne 3-0 to claim the title.
• In the MIVA, Ball State holds the second most championship titles with 38 total. The Cardinals have earned 23 regular season and 15 tournament championships.
Last Serve:
• The Cardinals closed the regular season on the road at Loyola Chicago. Despite falling 3-1 (23-25, 29-27, 22-25, 21-25), Ball State put up a good fight against the MIVA leaders, forcing extra points in the second set.
• Patrick Rogers led the team, adding 12 kills, 11 digs and five blocks. Tinaishe Ndavazocheva was also a big factor, recording 11 kills and seven digs on the night.
First Serve vs Lewis:
• Ball State hosted Lewis for both regular season games this season. The two teams split the series, with Ball State taking the first 3-1 (21-25, 25-19, 25-17, 25-23) and dropping match two 2-3 (25-17, 21-25, 17-25, 25-10, 12-15).
• Rajé Alleyne led the Cardinals in both matches, recording 16 kills in match one and hitting a season-high of 27 kills at an impressive .523 clip in match two.
• The Cardinals are 7-3 in their last 10 matchups against the Flyers.
• These two teams last met in the postseason in 2023 for the MIVA Semifinals. The top-seeded Cardinals swept No. 4 Lewis to move on to the championships. Ultimately, Ball State lost in the championships 1-3 to Ohio State.
• Ball State leads 8-4 over Lewis in tournament matches.
Ball State in the NCAA:
• Ball State is among the winningest men’s volleyball teams in the NCAA. Going into the 2025 season, the Cardinals claimed the fifth highest all-time winning percentage at .701 (1283-546). Loyola was fourth at .701 (577-246), Ohio State third at .703 (1189-502), Penn State second at .755 and UCLA led the NCAA with the highest winning percentage of .793 (1482-387). Ball State was also ranked fifth for the most amount of wins from a program in the last five years with 88 wins and a .704 percentage. Rounding out the top five were Lincoln Memorial with 89 wins, UCLA with 104, Penn State with 106 and Hawaii leading the past five years with 111 program wins.
Scouting Lewis:
• The Flyers are coming off a big upset over Loyola Chicago last Thursday. Lewis defeated the MIVA’s top-ranked team 3-0 at home to conclude the regular season. The week prior, Lewis dropped a match to Ohio State on the road, loosing 1-3.
• In the MIVA, Lewis is ranked second for points (16.30/set), hitting percentage (.334) and digs (9.20/set). The teams’ stats rank them among the top teams in the NCAA, placing them eighth for hitting percentage and 16th for digs.
• Junior opposite Oguzhan Oguz is among the conference leaders in multiple categories. Oguz is third for kills (4.01/set) and points (4.57/set), and is also ranked fifth in the MIVA for hitting percentage with a .345 clip.
• Junior libero Nico Paula is also a top MIVA player, leading the conference in digs with 275 on the season while averaging 2.57 digs per set. His numbers rank him sixth in the NCAA.
• The Flyers had five athletes named to All-MIVA teams, including Oguz to First Team and Paula to Second Team. Joining the All-MIVA Second Team honorees were Frederick Krueger-Beer, Tyler Morgan and Max Roquet.
Coach Cruz:
• Ball State head coach Donan Cruz enters his fourth season at the helm of the Cardinals and owns an overall record at BSU of 81-35 (.698) along with a Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association (MIVA) Tournament Championship, three MIVA regular season titles and an NCAA Tournament appearance.
Looking ahead:
• A win would advance the Cardinals to the semifinals where they would take on the winner of No. 1 Loyola Chicago vs. No. 8 Queens. Semifinals will take place on Wednesday, April 23 and will be hosted by the two highest remaining seeded teams.
BALL STATE BASEBALL
TRIO OF HOME RUNS NOT ENOUGH FOR BASEBALL IN SERIES OPENER AT BOWLING GREEN
BOWLING GREEN, Ohio – The Ball State baseball team hit a trio of home runs but fell 6-4 at Bowling Green on Thursday afternoon at Steller Field.
The Cardinals (27-12, 13-3 Mid-American Conference) got a leadoff homer from Alex Richter to gain an early 1-0 edge, but the Falcons (25-11, 13-6 MAC) scored two runs in both the third and fourth innings and would lead the rest of the way to take the series opener.
Garrett Arnold hit an RBI single in the fifth inning to bring home Richter and get the Cardinals within two runs at 4-2. Grego and Giovannetti hit solo shots in the seventh and eighth innings, but the visitors couldn’t complete the comeback against the host Falcons.
Ball State put runners on first and second base with no outs in the ninth inning, but MAC saves leader Connar Penrod induced a double play to pick up his 10th save of the year.
Giovannetti went 3-for-4 at the plate, and Richter and Nick Husovsky each had a pair of hits for a Ball State offense that produced 11 on the afternoon.
Keegan Johnson (6-1) started on the mound for the Cardinals and struck out six while allowing four runs in 3.2 frames before Owen Quinn worked the final 4.1 innings, punching out four.
Bowling Green’s starting pitcher Jacob Turner (3-2) went 5.2 innings of two-run ball to earn the win.
The Cardinals and Falcons are next scheduled to play at 1 p.m. on Saturday.
INDIANA STATE BASEBALL
MCEWEN, MORRIS COMBINE FOR SHUTOUT IN 2-0 SERIES OPENING WIN OVER EVANSVILLE
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – Carter Beck’s solo home run in the fifth inning broke a scoreless tie and Indiana State pitchers Max McEwen and Gavin Morris made it stand as the Sycamores topped host Evansville, 2-0, in Thursday night’s opener at German American Bank Field at Charles H. Braun Stadium.
McEwen (5-2) and Evansville’s Kenton Deverman (2-5) had their opponent’s offenses stymied through the first four innings of the contest with both pitchers showcasing their command of the strike zone to keep the game scoreless.
After Deverman retired the first two Indiana State (20-17, 8-5) hitters in the top of the fifth inning, the Evansville (11-25, 5-8) left-hander and Beck battled to a 2-2 count. The Sycamore center fielder won the battle at the plate with a solo home run over the left field wall giving Indiana State the 1-0 lead.
McEwen pitched around trouble in the bottom of half of the inning getting UE’s Brodie Peart to pop-up to shortstop Nomar Garcia to leave two Purple Aces on the base paths.
After both pitchers kept the other team off the board in the sixth, Indiana State struck again with one out in the seventh inning. Thomas Emerich hammered the one-out first pitch from Deverman down the left field line for a stand-up double. The next pitch, Andrew Ortiz connected on a sharp single back up the middle bringing Emerich sliding home ahead of the throw to put the Sycamore lead to 2-0.
McEwen ran into trouble in the bottom of the seventh as the redshirt sophomore put two on base with two outs following a walk issued to UE’s leadoff batter Ty Rumsey. Morris (S, 3) entered and got Charlie Longmeier on a check-swing strike three to escape the jam and keep the 2-0 lead intact.
Morris took it the rest of the way striking out five of the last six Evansville hitters, including striking out the side in the bottom of the ninth inning to secure the conference series opening win.
Jeremy Martinez and Ortiz combined for four of Indiana State’s eight hits on the day, while Martinez and Carlos Pena both doubled in the win. Beck added his ninth home run of 2025 with the solo shot in the fifth.
McEwen went 118 pitches on the day in going 6.2 innings. The redshirt sophomore allowed four hits while striking out six in claiming his third consecutive win on the mound. Morris went the final 2.1 innings for his third save of the year and added a season-high six strikeouts.
Drew McConnell had two of Evansville’s four hits in the loss, while Longmeier posted the lone extra-base hit with a double in the bottom of the first.
Deverman worked 7.0 innings allowing seven hits and two runs while striking out seven in taking the loss. Max Hansmann worked the final 2.0 innings with a pair of strikeouts to keep the game within striking distance.
How They Scored
Carter Beck broke the scoreless tie in the top of the fifth inning as the sophomore outfielder connected on a two-out solo home run over the left field wall to give Indiana State the 1-0 lead.
The Sycamores added insurance in the seventh inning as Andrew Ortiz followed Thomas Emerich’s double down the left field line with an RBI single back up the middle to provide the final 2-0 scoring margin.
News & Notes
Carlos Pena ran his on-base streak to 31 consecutive games with his leadoff double in the sixth inning. He finished the day 1-for-3 with a walk.
Pena’s double in the sixth inning also extended his hitting streak to 10 consecutive games.
Carter Beck homered for the ninth time of the 2025 season and first since going deep on March 29, 2025, in the first game of the doubleheader at UIC. He’s tied with Keegan Garis for second on the team in home runs trailing just Carlos Pena (11).
Max McEwen picked up his third consecutive series opening win after going 6.2 innings in Thursday’s contest against Evansville. He moves to 3-1 overall in Valley play through the first five weekends.
Gavin Morris recorded a season-high six strikeouts on his way to retiring all seven batters he faced on Thursday evening. The senior right-hander went 2.1 innings in his team-leading third save of the season.
The right field platoon of Andrew Ortiz and Zack Henderson continues to deliver for the Sycamores after Ortiz’s 2-for-3 night with an RBI on Thursday. It runs the Sycamore right fielders to an absurd .786 (11-for-14) batting average over the last four games with seven runs, three RBIs, a double, triple, and home run.
Indiana State’s 2-0 win marked their second shutout of the 2025 season and first since Grant Parson and Colby Morse combined to shutdown SEMO on March 8, 2025, with the 3-0 win at the Redhawks.
The MVC shutout win marked Indiana State’s first conference shutout win since March 23, 2024, when Brennyn Cutts and Jared Spencer combined to record the 3-0 win over Missouri State.
The shutout win over Evansville marked Indiana State’s first shutout win over the Purple Aces since Cam Edmonson and Simon Gregersen combined to post a 6-0 shutout win over UE back on May 27, 2023, in the 2023 MVC Baseball Championship Game.
Up Next
Indiana State and Evansville continue the weekend series tomorrow evening with first pitch set for 7 p.m. ET at GAB Field. The game is set to be carried live on ESPN+ and 105.5 The Legend.
PURDUE FT. WAYNE SOFTBALL
PURDUE FORT WAYNE AND ROBERT MORRIS CLASH IN #HLSB SERIES
FORT WAYNE, Ind. – The Purdue Fort Wayne softball team will visit Robert Morris on Friday and Saturday (April 18-19) for a three-game Horizon League slate.
Who: Robert Morris Colonials
When: Friday, April 18 – doubleheader at 1 PM | Saturday, April 17 – single game at noon
Where: North Athletic Complex | Moon Township, Pa.
Live Stats: Link
Watch: ESPN+
Know Your Foe
Robert Morris is 20-13 and 12-5 in Horizon League action. The Colonials have series victories over Oakland, Green Bay, IU Indianapolis, Northern Kentucky and Youngstown State, with their only series loss coming at the hands of Detroit Mercy. Anna Resnik is the Colonials’ best batter at .373 in league play. Madison DeVault is RMU’s leader in the circle, tossing a 2.06 ERA in league play in 11 appearances.
Series History
RMU leads the series 11-6, but Purdue Fort Wayne won two of the meetings last season. Gracie Brinkerhoff and Alanah Jones both threw complete games.
League Dubs
The Mastodons have nine league wins this season, which matches the best of head coach Amber Bowman’s four-year career with the Mastodons. It also ties the second-most for a Mastodon squad since 2014.
We Want a Batter, Not a Broken Ladder
Purdue Fort Wayne has a team batting average of .317 in Horizon League play, which is second-best the league.
Player of the Weeks
Grace Hollopeter has been named Horizon League Player of the Week twice this season, the only player in the league to earn the award twice. She owns four Player of the Week awards in her career, the most of any Mastodon in program history.
Owning the Batter’s Box
Grace Hollopeter is in the top-10 in Horizon League play in batting average (.391), slugging percentage (.804), on-base percentage (.517), OPS (1.321), home runs (5), walks (9) and RBIs (22) in the Horizon League this season.
She’s The Man(os)
Bailey Manos has the second-best batting average in league play with a .415 mark. Her .698 slugging percentage ranks fifth. Her 0.12 triples per game is top-30 nationally.
Lineup Locks
Four Mastodons have started all 33 games this season: Grace Hollopeter, Brooke Lickey, Addison Zimpleman and Bailey Manos.
Rudd Light, Green Light
Aglaia Rudd is rated as the toughest player to strike out in the Horizon League. Grace Hollopeter is third.
Alanah “W” Jones
Alanah Jones has six wins in Horizon League play, which is the second-most in the league. Her nine wins overall this season is also second-best in the HL. Her 14 complete games rank 17th in the country.
Last Time Out
Purdue Fort Wayne played league leader Cleveland State nearly to a draw. CSU took game one 5-4 and the second in extra innings, then Purdue Fort Wayne won game three 4-3. Grace Hollopeter had the go-ahead home run in the sixth inning of game three.
Up Next
After their series with Robert Morris, the Mastodons will play host to Northern Kentucky on April 25-26 at Indiana Tech’s Warrior Park.
PURDUE FT. WAYNE BASEBALL
BROOKS SAILORS EXTENDS ON-BASE STREAK TO 30 GAMES
FORT WAYNE, Ind. – Brooks Sailors extended his on-base streak to 30 games on Thursday (April 17) in Purdue Fort Wayne’s 7-4 loss to Northern Kentucky in Horizon League play.
Sailors wasted no time extending his streak thanks to a walk to start the bottom of the first inning. He would later add a hit and a run scored in the ninth inning. The next two Mastodons in the lineup, Justin Osterhouse and Camden Karczewski, also had a run and a hit in the contest. Kevin Hall walked twice and drove in Osterhouse in the ninth inning with a triple. Nick Hockemeyer earned three of the Mastodons’ seven walks in the contest.
Dillon Fischer started for the Mastodons and fanned six in seven innings. He took the loss. The biggest hit in the game came in the third inning. Gabe Miranda doubled to right with the bases loaded to put the Norse up 3-0. Jake Paulick added a two-run home run in the sixth inning.
Shawn Parnell got the win in relief for Northern Kentucky. He is 2-2 after Norse starter Kaden Echerman went only four innings.
Sailors’ on-base streak is the longest since Cade Nelis reached in 37 consecutive games in 2023.
Northern Kentucky improves to 20-16 (9-7 Horizon League). The ‘Dons fall to 6-29 (5-10 Horizon League). The two teams will continue the three-game series on Friday (April 18).
EVANSVILLE BASEBALL
DEVERMAN GEM NOT ENOUGH TO POWER ACES BASEBALL PAST INDIANA STATE
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – The University of Evansville baseball team didn’t find its offense in a 2-0 loss to the Indiana State Sycamores on Thursday night.
The Purple Aces had a conference-low four hits against Indiana State in a pitcher’s duel to begin the three-game series. UE starting pitcher Kenton Deverman (Dardenne Prairie, Mo. / Fort Zumwalt West HS) had his second-longest outing of MVC action, pitching seven innings, scattering seven hits, allowing two runs, not allowing a walk, and striking out seven batters. Second baseman Drew McConnell (Blue Springs, Mo. / Blue Springs HS) led Evansville on offense as the only batter with multiple hits, connecting in the second and fifth innings while also reaching base a third time on a fielder’s choice.
The first third of the game went by quickly as the two starting pitchers combined for seven strikeouts and two hits in three innings of work. The Aces had the first hit of the game as left fielder Charlie Longmeier (Seymour, Ind. / Seymour HS) had a stand-up double to left in his first at-bat of the night. UE also picked up singles in the second and fourth innings from McConnell and first baseman Cal McGinnis (Kimberly, Wis. / Bradley).
It took until the fifth inning for Indiana State to score one of the only two runs of the game. After throwing five strikeouts and retiring 13 batters, Deverman gave up a solo home run to the Sycamores’ lead-off hitter. Indiana State held on to the 1-0 lead despite Evansville threatening with two on in the bottom of the fifth.
The Sycamores doubled their lead in the top of the seventh on back-to-back hits from their first baseman and right fielder. The 2-0 lead held over the next three innings as the Aces were only able to get runners on base three more times in the final frames.
UE will look to bounce back on Friday night under the lights at Charles H. Braun Stadium. Evansville and Indiana State will meet in game two of the series starting at 6:00 p.m. on Friday, April 18.
SOUTHERN INDIANA WOMEN’S TENNIS
EAGLES CONCLUDE 2025 SEASON AGAINST TWO-SEEDED LEATHERNECKS
ST. LOUIS, Mo.- University of Southern Indiana Women’s Tennis battled the second-seeded Western Illinois University Leathernecks in the Ohio Valley Conference Quarterfinal, eventually falling 4-0.
Doubles
The veteran duo of junior Khandice Thomas and senior Madison Windham picked up the win in the doubles three match (6-3). Thomas earned her first doubles victory of the season in the clutch moment alongside mainstay in the rotation, Windam.
Freshman Rylie Wilkison and sophomore Lily Meyer teamed up for the second straight match, dropping the doubles two decision by a narrow margin (4-6). However, the point was still in the line on the singles one match. Sophomores Antonia Ferrarini and Sofia Davidoff battled the Leathernecks top duo valiantly, but eventually fell (5-7).
Singles
The Eagles struggled in the four, five, and six slots against a powerful Leathernecks squad, dropping all three decisions and the match. Davidoff and Wilkison won their singles two and three first set before being declared unfinished in the second set.
The USI community congratulates the three seniors Abby Myers, Elle Ossenberg, and Windham who conclude their careers along with the two juniors, Elle Dewees and Thomas who are graduating early. The group helped make history in 2024, becoming the first tennis team to win a NCAA DI conference tournament game.
SOUTHERN INDIANA BASEBALL
USI DROPS OPENING GAME SIUE, 10-4
EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. – University of Southern Indiana Baseball dropped the opening game of a three-game series at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, 10-4, Thursday afternoon at Roy E. Lee Field. USI is 16-21 overall and 7-6 in the OVC, while SIUE is 16-20, 9-4 OVC.
USI flew out in front, 2-0, with a single tally in the first and second frames. Sophomore third baseman Parker Martin scored the first run on a ground out by junior first baseman Kannon Coakley in the opening frame, while sophomore rightfielder Cameron Boyd crossed the plate on a ground out by junior catcher Micajah Wall in the second.
The home team Cougars got on the board in the bottom of the second with a home run before Wall struck again with an RBI single to put the Eagles up, 3-1, in the fourth. SIUE would respond with a three-run rally in the bottom of the fourth to lead, 4-3, and increased the margin to 5-3 with a single tally in the fifth.
The score would remain 5-3 until the top of the seventh when senior centerfielder Khi Holiday drove in a run with a fielder’s choice, scoring sophomore second baseman Anthony Umbach from third and cutting the deficit to 5-4. SIUE would get the run back in the bottom of the seventh, but USI would stay close, 6-4, by turning a double play on a suicide squeeze play.
SIUE would seal the 10-4 decision with a four-spot in the bottom of the eighth. USI would go down in order in the ninth to finish the game.
On the mound for USI, freshman right-hander Sage Stout started and took the loss. Stout (3-3) allowed four runs on four hits and two walks, while striking out three.
Up Next for the Eagles:
USI and SIUE conclude the three-game series with an 11 a.m. doubleheader in Edwardsville. The Saturday and Sunday’s games were moved up due to the forecast of rain on Saturday.
Following the series with SIUE, USI concludes the nine-game road swing by visiting Saint Louis University April 22 at 3 p.m.
The Screaming Eagles return to the friendly surroundings of the USI Baseball Field April 23 when they host Bellarmine University to start a four-game homestand.
SOUTHERN INDIANA SOFTBALL
LONG’S WALK-OFF HIT IN EIGHTH INNING GIVES EAGLES SERIES-OPENING WIN OVER UT MARTIN
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Softball captured a 1-0 series-opening win in extra innings against the University of Tennessee at Martin Thursday behind a walk-off hit from sophomore infielder Sydney Long and a sharp pitching performance from senior Josie Newman.
Thursday’s walk-off victory was Southern Indiana’s (11-21, 8-9 OVC) third walk-off win this season. USI previously recorded walk-wins in seven innings against Tennessee Tech University on March 29, in six innings against Southern Illinois University Edwardsville on April 7, and in the eighth inning on Thursday against UT Martin (14-24, 6-12 OVC).
A pitcher’s duel unfolded early in Thursday’s series opener. Skyhawks junior pitcher Ashtyn Green and Newman went toe-to-toe in the pitching circle, matching zeroes and keeping the game hitless through three innings.
UT Martin recorded the game’s first hit in the top of the fourth inning. The Screaming Eagles got in the hit column on a pair of hits by Newman and sophomore catcher Alyssa Mumaw in the bottom of the fifth inning. The game remained scoreless through seven innings, leading to extra innings.
The Screaming Eagles kept UT Martin off the scoreboard to begin extra innings and had their opportunity in the bottom of the eighth inning. With two outs and the potential game-winning baserunner at first base in senior outfielder Kennedy Nalley, a single by junior outfielder Caroline Stapleton advanced Nalley into scoring position. In the next at-bat, Long sent up a pitch back up the box and into centerfield to score Nalley from second base and give Southern Indiana the walk-off victory in the series opener.
Southern Indiana tallied six hits, including the game-winning hit and RBI from Long and a pair of hits at the plate by Newman. In the pitching circle, Newman (7-13) surrendered only two hits in the eight-inning shutout win and struck out 13 batters, which was only two shy of her season-high 15 strikeouts against Winthrop University in late February. The right-hander has seven outings this season with 10-plus strikeouts. Newman’s last start with 10 or more strikeouts was in mid-March at Tennessee State University.
UT Martin’s Green (7-8) also tossed a complete game, allowing only one run with three strikeouts in 7.2 innings of work.
The Screaming Eagles and Skyhawks conclude the series Friday with a doubleheader starting at Noon from USI Softball Field. Friday’s games can be seen with a subscription to ESPN+ and heard on The Spin 95.7 FM. Additional coverage can be found at usiscreamingeagles.com.
VALPO SOFTBALL
COMEBACK EFFORT COMES UP SHORT FOR SOFTBALL THURSDAY
The Valpo softball team scored a pair of sixth-inning runs and had the potential tying run in scoring position with one out in that frame, but was unable to complete the comeback, falling 4-2 in its series opener at Belmont Thursday evening in Nashville, Tenn.
How It Happened
Belmont opened the scoring in the bottom of the second with a two-out RBI double and added another tally with back-to-back hits to open the third.
The Bruins added two more runs in the fourth, one of the unearned variety, to push their lead to 4-0.
Valpo put together a sixth-inning rally to get back into the game. Kyndal Shively (Bloomington, Ill./University) opened the inning with an opposite-field single, and two batters later, Marissa Jackson (Willis, Mich./Huron) won a 13-pitch battle with a single to right to put two runners on with one out.
Mack Gallagher (Frankfort, Ill./Lincoln-Way East [MSU Moorhead]) kept the line moving by dropping a 2-2 pitch into right-center for an RBI single, plating Shively. Azalya Lopez (Corona, Calif./Eleanor Roosevelt [MSU Moorhead]) followed by lining a single into center, scoring Jackson to make it a 4-2 game.
Kayden Krug (Milford, Ohio/Mount Notre Dame) pushed the potential tying run into scoring position with one out by working a full-count walk, loading the bases. Back-to-back strikeouts ended the threat.
Sydney McDermott (Stout, Ohio/Portsmouth West) threw her second consecutive perfect inning to keep it a two-run game, but the Beacons were unable to get a runner on in the seventh as Belmont closed out the win.
Inside the Game
Facing one of the nation’s most prolific pitchers on Thursday in Maya Johnson, the Beacons recorded seven hits — tied for second-most allowed by Johnson in an appearance this season.
Johnson also entered the game far and away the nation’s leader in strikeouts with 261 in 144.1 innings of work. Valpo batters struck out 10 times Thursday, tied for second-fewest in her 18 appearances of at least six innings this year.
Jackson went 2-for-3 with a run scored out of the second spot in the Valpo order, her seventh multi-hit game of the year — tied for second-most on the team.
Kim Rodas (San Bernardino, Calif./Cajon) went 2-for-3 at the plate as well with a double for her fourth multi-hit game of the season.
Shively’s sixth-inning hit was the first of her collegiate career.
Gallagher and Lopez each hit round numbers in the RBI department with their respective run-scoring hits Thursday, as Gallagher owns a team-best 30 RBIs this season and Lopez has driven in 20.
Gallagher’s 30 RBIs are tied for eighth among MVC players.
Erin Metz (Wheaton, Ill./Wheaton North) started in the circle and took the loss despite matching her season high with seven strikeouts in 3.1 innings of work.
McDermott threw 2.2 innings of relief and did not allow an earned run.
Next Up
Valpo (17-23, 6-12) continues the Easter weekend series at Belmont with a game Friday afternoon at 3:30 p.m.
VALPO BASEBALL
BASEBALL DROPS SERIES OPENER TO RACERS IN HEARTBREAKING FASHION
All was right in the Valparaiso University baseball universe when the Beacons broke a 6-6 deadlock by scoring four times in the bottom of the eighth, but Murray State responded with five of its own in the top of the ninth to win 11-10 in Thursday’s series opener at Emory G. Bauer Field. Patrick Ilitch (Detroit, Mich. / University Liggett), Spencer Warfield (Fullerton, Calif. / Servite) and Case Sullivan (Carmel, Ind. / Carmel) all homered for the Beacons.
How It Happened
Valpo played from behind early as Murray State scored three runs in the top of the second including a solo homer by Will Vierling.
The Beacons bounced right back in the bottom of the inning as Ilitch and Warfield launched back-to-back jacks on consecutive pitches. Connor Giusti (Hoffman Estates, Ill. / Fremd) was along for the ride on the Ilitch home run before Warfield’s shot to left tied the game at three. Later in the inning, a run-scoring single by Aidan Thaxton (Chicago, Ill. / St. Ignatius College Prep) put the Beacons in front.
Murray State posted its second straight three-run frame in the third to grab a 6-4 lead.
Valpo came back with single tallies in the fourth and sixth innings to tie the game at six. Sullivan’s shot accounted for the fourth-inning run, before the Beacons got an unearned tally in the sixth.
After having a rare crooked number put up against him in consecutive innings, Valpo ace Connor Lockwood (Libertyville, Ill. / Libertyville) settled in throughout the middle part of the game. He put up zeros in each of the next five innings and retired the side in order in four of those frames.
The Beacons broke through in the eighth, an inning that started with a double by Sullivan before a string of four straight singles. Four runs crossed the plate in the inning to give Valpo a commanding 10-6 lead.
Lockwood went back out for the ninth inning in hopes of finishing what he started. He retired the leadoff batter, but the next three men reached, the third of which was an RBI double, prompting head coach Brian Schmack to make a pitching change.
Redshirt junior Josh Cottrill (Pewaukee, Wis. / Pewaukee) came in with intentions of nailing down the save as he entered with Valpo leading 10-7 and runners at second and third with one away. He struck out the first batter he faced to put Murray State down to its final out before Vierling was intentionally walked. A bases-clearing triple by Luke Mistone tied the game at 10, before a throwing error by the shortstop allowed the go-ahead run to score.
Inside the Game
Lockwood received no decision, going 8 1/3 innings and allowing nine runs on 12 hits while walking one and striking out three. He has pitched at least eight innings in four starts this season including each of the last three.
Lockwood is up to 59 strikeouts and 70 2/3 innings pitched this season, leading the Missouri Valley Conference in both categories. He is 20 innings pitched ahead of the next closest MVC pitcher, as of the end of Valpo’s game on Friday.
Eight Valpo batters were in the hit column including four multi-hit games. Sullivan was on base five times with a double, home run and three walks to lead the way.
This marked Valpo’s sixth one-run loss of the season as the Beacons fell to 1-6 in games dictated by a single run. Five of those six one-run losses have come in conference play as the Beacons have dropped a one-run game in each of the team’s five Valley series. Five of the team’s 10 losses in league play have come by the slimmest of margins.
The game was strangely similar to last year’s series opener between Valpo and Murray State on May 10 in Murray, Ky. The Beacons lost by the identical score of 11-10, that one in 10 innings. That game also featured a big top of the ninth with Valpo leveling the score at 10 by scoring six times, but Murray State walked it off in the bottom of the 10th.
There was plenty of traffic on the bases for the Beacons, who had 12 hits, drew seven walks and had two hit batters. The dozen hits were the team’s most in league play this season and most since 14 on March 18 at Ball State.
This marked the second straight conference game that Valpo hit at least three home runs after four on Sunday at Missouri State.
Ilitch hit his sixth career home run and fifth of the season, Sullivan spanked his fourth round-tripper of the year and Warfield picked up No. 5 for his career including three this season.
Up Next
The Beacons (8-24, 3-10 MVC) will try to bounce back on Friday at 1 p.m. at Emory G. Bauer Field. Admission is free and the game will be aired on ESPN+.
INDIANA SMALL COLLEGE WEB SITES
UINDY ATHLETICS: https://athletics.uindy.edu/
MARIAN ATHLETICS: https://muknights.com/
INDIANA WESLEYAN ATHLETICS: https://iwuwildcats.com/
EARLHAM ATHLETICS: https://goearlham.com/
WABASH ATHLETICS: https://sports.wabash.edu/
FRANKLIN ATHLETICS: https://franklingrizzlies.com/
ROSE-HULMAN ATHLETICS: https://athletics.rose-hulman.edu/
ANDERSON ATHLETICS: https://athletics.anderson.edu/landing/index
TRINE ATHLETICS: https://trinethunder.com/landing/index
BETHEL ATHLETICS: https://bupilots.com/
DEPAUW ATHLETICS: https://depauwtigers.com/
HANOVER ATHLETICS: https://athletics.hanover.edu/
MANCHESTER ATHLETICS: https://muspartans.com/
HUNTINGTON ATHLETICS: https://www.huathletics.com/
OAKLAND CITY ATHLETICS: https://gomightyoaks.com/index.aspx
ST. FRANCIS ATHLETICS: https://www.saintfranciscougars.com/landing/index
IU KOKOMO ATHLETICS: https://iukcougars.com/
IU EAST ATHLETICS: https://www.iueredwolves.com/
IU SOUTH BEND ATHLETICS: https://iusbtitans.com/
PURDUE NORTHWEST ATHLETICS: https://pnwathletics.com/
INDIANA TECH ATHLETICS: https://indianatechwarriors.com/index.aspx
GRACE COLLEGE ATHLETICS: https://gclancers.com/
ST. MARY OF THE WOODS ATHLETICS: https://smwcathletics.com/
GOSHEN COLLEGE ATHLETICS: https://goleafs.net/
HOLY CROSS ATHLETICS: https://www.hcsaints.com/index.php
TAYLOR ATHLETICS: https://www.taylortrojans.com/
VINCENNES ATHLETICS: https://govutrailblazers.com/landing/index
“SPORTS EXTRA”
TODAY IN BASEBALL HISTORY
April 18
1899 — John McGraw made his managerial debut at age 26 with the Orioles. He led them to a 5-3 victory over the New York Giants, a team he later managed for more than 30 years.
1916 — Philadelphia’s Grover Alexander pitched his first of 16 shutouts of the season with a win over the Boston Braves.
1923 — In the first game played in Yankee Stadium, a record crowd of 72,400 watched Babe Ruth lead the Yankees past the Red Sox with a home run.
1945 — In his major league debut, one-armed outfielder Pete Gray had one hit in four at-bats in the St. Louis Browns’ 7-1 victory over the Detroit Tigers.
1942 — Due to the fear of a Japanese attack, west coast military leaders ask the Pacific Coast League to limit crowds to 3,000 fans.
1946 — Jackie Robinson makes his minor league debut for the Montreal Royals, the International League affiliate club of the Brooklyn Dodgers.
1950 — The first opening night game was held in St. Louis. The Cardinals, behind a complete game by Gerry Staley and home runs from Red Schoendienst and Stan Musial, beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 4-2.
1955 — Roberto Clemente’s first major league home run, an inside-the-parker.
1958 — The LA Dodgers play their first game at the Los Angeles Coliseum in front of a crowd of 78,672.
1964 — Sandy Koufax of the Los Angeles Dodgers strikes out the side on nine pitches, becoming the first pitcher in major league history to achieve the feat twice.
1970 — Nolan Ryan of the New York Mets allowed one hit — a leadoff single by Denny Doyle — and struck out 15 in a 7-0 win over Philadelphia.
1982 — The Atlanta Braves defeated the Astros 6-5 in Houston for their 11th straight win to start the season, a National League record.
1987 — Philadelphia’s Mike Schmidt hit his 500th home run with two outs in the ninth to rally the Phillies to an 8-6 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates at Three Rivers Stadium.
1997 — Roger Pavlik of the Rangers became the first AL pitcher to walk the first four batters of the game in a 6-5 loss to Toronto.
2000 — Adam Kennedy tied a club record with eight RBIs and came within a double of the cycle as the Anaheim Angels defeated Toronto 16-10. A hot dog promotion at the SkyDome went awry as fans got splattered with bits of wiener when they fell apart in mid air after being shot from the “Hot Dog Blaster.” Although the hot dogs repeatedly disintegrated, promoters continued shooting them into the stands.
2005 — The New York Yankees scored 13 runs in the second inning of a 19-8 win over Tampa Bay. The last time New York scored 13 runs in an inning was June 21, 1945, in the fifth inning of a 14-4 victory at Boston.
2006 — Luis González of the Arizona Diamondbacks doubles to become the 21st major leaguer with 300 home runs and 500 doubles.
2007 — Mark Buehrle of the Chicago White Sox faced the minimum 27 batters in a 6-0 no-hit victory over the Texas Rangers. Buehrle walked Sammy Sosa with one out in the fifth, then promptly picked him off first base.
2009 — Asdrubal Cabrera and Mark DeRosa went a combined 8-for-13, with 11 RBIs in Cleveland’s 22-4 victory against New York at Yankee Stadium. The Indians put together the first record-setting performance in the new Yankee Stadium, scoring 14 runs in the second inning — the most allowed by New York in an inning.
2017 — Pirates All-Star CF Starling Marte is handed an 80-game suspension for testing positive for a performance-enhancing drug.
2018 — Owners of the worst record in the majors at 3-15, the Reds fire manager Bryan Price following a 2-0 loss to the Brewers.
2023 — Clayton Kershaw records the 200th win of his career with a typical performance, holding the Mets scoreless over seven innings while racking up nine strikeouts in a 5 – 0 Dodgers win. At 200-88, Kershaw is just the fourth pitcher of the modern era to record his 200th win before having 100 losses, following Whitey Ford, Lefty Grove and Pedro Martinez.
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April 19
1900 — The Philadelphia Phillies beat the Boston Braves 19-17 in 10 innings to set a major league record for most runs scored by two clubs on opening day. The Braves scored nine runs in the ninth inning to put the game into extra innings.
1920 — Al Schacht, who later became the “Clown Prince of Baseball,” was all business in pitching the Senators to a 7-0 victory over the Philadelphia Athletics.
1938 — Emmett Mueller of the Phillies and Ernie Koy of the visiting Dodgers each homered in their first major league at-bats as Brooklyn defeated Philadelphia 12-5.
1949 — The New York Yankees unveil a granite monument to Babe Ruth.
1956 — The Brooklyn Dodgers beat the Philadelphia Phillies 5-4 in 10 innings at Jersey City’s Roosevelt Stadium, the first major league game held in New Jersey.
1960 — Roger Maris makes his New York Yankees debut.
1981 — In an International League night game, the Rochester Red Wings and Pawtucket Red Sox played to a 2-2 tie through 32 innings before play was suspended at 4:07 a.m. The game was completed later in the season with Pawtucket scoring the winning run in the 33rd inning of the longest game in professional baseball history.
1987 — Rob Deer hit a three-run homer to tie the score and Dale Sveum won the game with a two-run shot as the Milwaukee Brewers rallied for five runs in the ninth inning to beat the Texas Rangers 6-4 and set an American League record with their 12th straight victory to start the season.
1996 — Juan Gonzalez homered and drove in six runs as Texas beat Baltimore 26-7. The Rangers scored 16 runs in the eighth inning — one short of the modern major league mark — and scored the most runs by an AL team in 41 years.
1997 — A major league game is played in Hawaii for the first time.
2002 — Jeff Cirillo of the Seattle Mariners ties a major league record with 99 consecutive errorless games played at third base.
2004 — Seattle became the third team since 1974 to win a game on a balk in extra innings, edging Oakland 2-1. With runners on first and third and two out in the bottom of the 14th inning A’s reliever Justin Duchscherer was called for a balk to score Quentin McCracken from third.
2012 — Curtis Granderson hit three home runs in the first four innings and matched a career high with five hits, sending the New York Yankees to a 7-6 victory over the Minnesota Twins.
2012 — The Houston Astros set a franchise record by hitting three triples in a five-run first inning on the way to an 11-4 victory over Washington. Jose Altuve, Brian Bogusevic and Matt Downs had the triples off Edwin Jackson.
2022 — The Padres are the first team to announce a deal to have advertisements on their uniforms, as they will sport the logo of Motorola on their jersey sleeves starting next season.
2023 — The Oakland Athletics sign a binding agreement to buy a plot of land near the famous strip in Las Vegas, NV, with the plan of building a $1.5 billion ballpark with a partially retractable roof there. The A’s lease with the city of Oakland, CA for the aging Oakland Coliseum expires after the 2024 season, and negotiations to find a new site for a ballpark in the East Bay area over the past decade have proved futile. The new digs could be ready by 2027.
2024 — Travis d’Arnaud hits three homers including a grand slam to lead the Braves over the Rangers, 8 – 3. He is the first catcher with a three-homer game for the Braves since Dale Murphy in 1979.
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April 20
1910 — Addie Joss of Cleveland pitched the second no-hitter of his career, a 1-0 win over the White Sox in Chicago.
1912 — Fenway Park was opened in Boston and the Red Sox defeated the visiting New York Highlanders, later known as the Yankees, 7-6 in 11 innings. Tiger Stadium in Detroit also opened its doors as the Tigers defeated the Cleveland Indians 6-5.
1916 — The Chicago Cubs played their first game at Weeghman Park — renamed Wrigley Field in 1926 — defeating the Cincinnati Reds 7-6 in 11 innings.
1920 — Manager Gavvy Cravath of the Philadelphia Phillies inserted himself as a pinch hitter and beat the New York Giants with a three-run homer, 3-0. It was his last home run in the majors.
1937 — Gee Walker hit for the cycle on opening day to lead the Detroit Tigers to a 4-3 win over Cleveland. Walker hit the cycle in reverse order: home run, triple, double, single.
1938 — Cleveland’s Bob Feller pitched the first of 12 career one-hitters, beating the St. Louis Browns 9-0.
1939 — In his first major league game, Ted Williams hit a 400-foot double in four at-bats as the Boston Red Sox lost 2-0 to New York at Yankee Stadium.
1941 — The Brooklyn Dodgers become the first major league team to wear protective headgear.
1967 — Tom Seaver of the New York Mets recorded his first major league victory with a 6-1 triumph over the Chicago Cubs. Seaver went 7 2-3 innings and gave up eight hits and one run.
1982 — The Atlanta Braves recorded their 12th consecutive victory from the beginning of the season — a 4-2 decision over Cincinnati in Atlanta — and eclipsed the major league record set a year earlier by the Oakland A’s.
1988 — The Baltimore Orioles set a major league record with their 14th straight defeat at the start of the season, losing to the Milwaukee Brewers 8-6.
1990 — Seattle’s Brian Holman lost his bid for baseball’s 13th perfect game with two outs in the ninth inning on Ken Phelps’ pinch-hit home run in the Mariners’ 6-1 victory over the Oakland Athletics.
1997 — The Chicago Cubs stopped their season-opening losing streak at 14 games, rallying in the sixth inning to beat the New York Mets 4-3 in the second game of a doubleheader. The Mets won the opener 8-2. Chicago’s 0-14 start set a National League record and was the second worst behind the 1988 Baltimore Orioles, who began 0-21.
1999 — Cincinnati Reds owner Marge Schott agrees to sell her controlling interest in the Reds to a group headed by Carl H. Lindner, ending her 14-year tenure.
2001 — Carlos Delgado of the Blue Jays hit three homers for the second time this season, as Toronto beat the Kansas City Royals 12-4.
2006 — Julio Franco became the oldest player in major league history to hit a home run when he hit a two-run, pinch-hit shot in the eighth inning to help the New York Mets rally for a 7-2 win over San Diego. Franco, 47, replaced Athletics pitcher Jack Quinn in the record book who was 46 years, 357 days old when he homered on June 27, 1930.
2007 — Alex Rodriguez went 3-for-5 with two home runs in a 7-6 loss to Boston and joined Mike Schmidt, who hit 12 homers in the first 15 games in 1976, as the fastest to reach a dozen in baseball history.
2008 — The Blue Jays release former superstar Frank Thomas, who has 516 major league home runs.
2010 — Pitcher Edinson Volquez of the Reds is suspended for 50 games for failing a PED test during spring training.
2011 — Commissioner Bud Selig steps in and takes control of the day-to-day operations of the Los Angeles Dodgers from owner Frank McCourt.
2012 — Drew Stubbs had three hits and drove in three runs to lead the Cincinnati Reds to a 9-4 win over the Chicago Cubs — the 10,000th victory in franchise history.
2021 — Corbin Burnes strikes out 10 batters and walks none in 6 innings in a 6-0 Brewers win over the Padres.
April 21
1910 — The Cleveland Indians played their first game at League Park and lost to the Detroit Tigers 5-0, in front of 19,867.
1955 — The Brooklyn Dodgers beat the Philadelphia Phillies 14-4 at Ebbets Field for their 10th consecutive victory from the start of the season — a major league record that lasted until 1981.
1957 — A power failure stops a major league game for the first time in history. The night game between the Baltimore Orioles and Washington Senators at Griffith Stadium is halted after five innings.
1961 — The Minnesota Twins, formerly known as the Washington Senators, play their first home game in Minnesota at Metropolitan Stadium, losing to the expansion “new” Washington Senators, 5-3.
1967 — After 737 consecutive games, the Dodgers were rained out for the first time since moving to Los Angeles. The St. Louis Cardinals were scheduled.
1982 — The Atlanta Braves beat the Cincinnati Reds 4-3 for their 13th straight victory.
1984 — In his second start since August 1982, Montreal pitcher David Palmer threw five perfect innings against the St. Louis Cardinals in a 4-0 victory stopped by rain.
1987 — The Milwaukee Brewers’ 13-game winning streak from the start of the season ended with a 7-1 loss to the Chicago White Sox. Milwaukee shared the major league streak of 13 straight, set by the Atlanta Braves in 1982.
1994 — Eddie Murray set a major league record with his 11th switch-hit home run game, helping the Cleveland Indians beat the Minnesota Twins 10-6.
1996 — Brady Anderson led off the first inning with a home run for the fourth straight game for Baltimore. The Texas Rangers overcame that homer, beating the Orioles 9-6.
2002 — Randy Johnson struck out 17 batters while giving up two hits in Arizona’s 7-1 win over Colorado.
2002 — Atlanta’s Rafael Furcal tied a modern major league record and became the first Braves player in 46 years to hit three triples in a game, as Atlanta beat Florida 4-2.
2006 — Manny Ramirez of the Boston Red Sox hits two home runs in the 12-inning, 7 – 6 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays. Ramirez’s first homer is his 200th with the Red Sox and 436th for his career. He also hit 236 homers with the Cleveland Indians, becoming the fourth major leaguer to hit 200 homers with two different teams, after Jimmie Foxx, Mark McGwire and Rafael Palmeiro.
2006 — Albert Pujols hit his major league leading 11th homer of the season and drove in four RBIs in St. Louis’ 9-3 win over Chicago. Pujols’ first inning two-run blast was his 1,000th career hit. He became the fastest player in major league history to reach that milestone with 200 homers.
2012 — Phil Humber threw the first perfect game in the majors in almost two years, leading the Chicago White Sox to a 4-0 victory over the Seattle Mariners. It was baseball’s 21st perfect game and first since Philadelphia’s Roy Halladay threw one against the Florida Marlins on May 29, 2010.
2012 — Nick Swisher hit a grand slam to help the New York Yankees erase a nine-run deficit, then he added a two-run double to give them the lead as they posted back-to-back seven-run innings to beat Boston 15-9 at Fenway Park.
2014 — Ike Davis became the first player to hit grand slams for different teams in the same April, and Neil Walker had a game-winning single with two outs in the ninth inning for Pittsburgh. The Pirates twice overcame deficits to beat the Cincinnati 6-5.
2015 — Jay Bruce and Todd Frazier each hit two-out grand slams, powering the Cincinnati Reds past the Milwaukee Brewers 16-10. Elian Herrera hit a grand slam for the Brewers. It was the fourth time in major league history two teams combined for three grand slams.
2016 — Jake Arrieta of the Chicago Cubs pitched his second no-hitter in a span of 11 regular-season starts, shutting down the Cincinnati Reds in a 16-0 rout.
2019 — Rangers slugger Joey Gallo ends a bizarre streak when he drives in a run on a sacrifice fly in the 4th inning, as part of a wild 11 – 10 win over the Astros. Gallo had gone 1,145 at-bats in his career without recording a sac fly, the longest such streak since it was introduced as an official statistic in 1954. In the game.
April 22
1876 — In the first National League game, Joseph Borden of Boston beat the hometown Philadelphia team 6-5.
1898 — Theodore Breitenstein of the Cincinnati Reds and James Hughes of Baltimore each pitched no-hit ball games. Breitenstein no-hit the Pittsburgh Pirates 11-0 and Hughes no-hit the Boston Braves 8-0.
1903 — The New York Highlanders lost their first game at Washington 3-1 before 11,950 fans.
1914 — At age 19, Babe Ruth plays his first professional game as a pitcher, as he throws a six-hit, 6 – 0 shutout for the Baltimore Orioles over the Buffalo Bisons.
1934 — Chicago’s Lon Warneke pitched his second consecutive one-hitter, beating St. Louis and Dizzy Dean 15-2.
1957 — John Kennedy becomes the first black to play for the Philadelphia Phillies, making them the last National League team to integrate.
1959 — The Chicago White Sox scored 11 runs with only one hit in the seventh inning of a 20-6 rout of the Kansas City A’s. Johnny Callison had the hit — a single. In the inning, Chicago was the recipient of 10 walks — five with the bases loaded — three Kansas City errors and one hit batsman.
1962 — The Pittsburgh Pirates beat the New York Mets 4-3 in a game in which two NL records were tied. Bill Mazeroski tripled in a run in the eighth to give the Pirates a 10-0 record, which matched the record for most consecutive wins since the start of the season set by the 1955 Brooklyn Dodgers. The Mets lost their ninth straight to match the mark set by Brooklyn in 1918 and tied by the Boston Braves in 1920.
1970 — Tom Seaver of the Mets struck out the last 10 Padres he faced for a 2-1 victory over San Diego. He gave up two hits and finished with a total of 19 strikeouts, tying Steve Carlton’s major league record.
1976 — Montreal’s Tim Foli hit for the cycle in a 12-6 victory over the Chicago Cubs.
1978 — Andre Thornton of the Cleveland Indians hit for the cycle in a 13-4 win against the Boston Red Sox.
1980 — Ivan DeJesus of the Chicago Cubs hit for the cycle in 16-12 win against the St. Louis Cardinals.
1981 — Los Angeles Dodgers rookie Fernando Valenzuela pitches his third shutout in four starts, strikes out 11, and has the game’s only RBI with a single in a 1 – 0 win against the Houston Astros.
1982 — The Atlanta Braves’ major league record for the fastest start was stopped at 13 straight victories when they lost 2-1 to the Cincinnati Reds.
1991 — San Francisco’s Robby Thompson hit for the cycle in a 7-5 loss to the San Diego Padres.
1993 — Chris Bosio pitched a no-hitter to give the Seattle Mariners a 7-0 win over the Boston Red Sox.
2007 — The Boston Red Sox hit four straight home runs against the New York Yankees, tying a major league record. Manny Ramirez, J.D. Drew, Mike Lowell and Jason Varitek connected in a span of 10 pitches during the third inning against Chase Wright, who was making his second major league start for New York. Boston won 7-6.
2008 — Atlanta’s John Smoltz became the 16th pitcher in major league history to reach the 3,000-strikeout plateau in the Braves’ 6-0 loss to the Washington Nationals.
2014 — Albert Pujols became the first major leaguer to hit his 499th and 500th homers in the same game, driving in five runs to help the Los Angeles Angels beat the Washington Nationals 7-2.
2020 — The Commissioner issues his findings in his investigation into allegations of sign-stealing by the 2018 Boston Red Sox, in the wake of a similar investigation into the illicit doings of the 2017 Houston Astros. While the investigation reveals that the Red Sox’s scheme was more limited in scope than the Astros’, it was still illegal, and the person responsible for the team’s video room is issued a one-year suspension, while the team must forfeit its second-round selection in the 2020 amateur draft. While there is no additional punishment for manager Alex Cora, already handed a one-year suspension for his role with the Astros.
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April 23
1903 — The New York Highlanders won their first game as a major league team, 7-2 over the Washington Senators.
1913 — New York Giants ace Christy Mathewson beat the Phillies 3-1, throwing just 67 pitches.
1939 — Rookie Ted Williams went 4-for-5, including his first major league home run, but the Red Sox lost to Philadelphia 12-8 at Fenway Park.
1946 — Ed Head of the Brooklyn Dodgers no-hit the Boston Braves 5-0 at Ebbets Field. Head was making his first start after a year’s military service.
1952 — Bob Feller of the Cleveland Indians and Bob Cain of the St. Louis Browns matched one-hitters. Cain wound up as the winner, 1-0.
1952 — Hoyt Wilhelm of the Giants hit a home run at the Polo Grounds in his first major league at-bat. He was the winner, too, and pitched 1,070 games in the majors — but never hit another homer.
1954 — Hank Aaron hit the first home run of his major league career. The drive came against Vic Raschi in the Milwaukee Braves’ 7-5 victory over St. Louis.
1962 — After an 0-9 start, the expansion New York Mets won their first game beating the Pittsburgh Pirates 9-1 behind Jay Hook.
1964 — Ken Johnson of the Houston Colt .45s became the first pitcher to lose a nine-inning no-hitter when Pete Rose scored an unearned run to give the Cincinnati Reds a 1-0 victory.
1978 — Joe Morgan of the Cincinnati Reds makes an error at second base, bringing his major league record of 91 consecutive errorless games to an end.
1989 — Nolan Ryan came within two outs of his sixth career no-hitter, losing it when Nelson Liriano tripled in the ninth inning as the Texas Rangers beat the Toronto Blue Jays 4-1. Ryan finished with his 10th lifetime one-hitter.
1990 — Steve Lyons of the Chicago White Sox plays all nine positions during an exhibition game against the Chicago Cubs.
1999 — Fernando Tatis of St. Louis became the first in major league history to hit two grand slams in one inning in a 12-5 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers. Tatis also set the record with eight RBIs in one inning.
2008 — The Chicago Cubs won their 10,000th game, joining the Giants as the only franchise to reach that mark with a 7-6 10-inning victory at Colorado.
2009 — Ichiro Suzuki lined James Shields’ second pitch of the game for a home run, the only run of Seattle’s 1-0 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays. It was the 22nd time a leadoff homer was the deciding run in a game, and it was just the second time it happened for the Mariners.
2012 — Ivan Rodriguez, who has caught more games than anyone in big league history, announces his retirement after a 21-year career.
2013 — B.J. Upton and his brother Justin hit back-to-back homers for the first time, leading the Atlanta Braves past the Colorado Rockies 10-2 to complete a doubleheader sweep. It was the 27th time in major league history that brothers homered in the same game, but only the second time they went deep in consecutive at-bats. Lloyd and Paul Waner of the Pittsburgh Pirates also accomplished the feat on Sept. 15, 1938.
2022 — Miguel Cabrera of the Tigers becomes the 33rd member of the 3,000 hit club.
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April 24
1901 — Chicago defeated Cleveland 8-2 in the first American League game. Three other scheduled games were rained out. The game lasted 1 hour, 30 minutes in front of a reported crowd of 14,000 at the Chicago Cricket Club.
1911 — Battle Creek of the South Michigan League turned two triple plays in the first two innings against Grand Rapids.
1917 — George Mogridge of the New York Yankees pitched a no-hitter against the Red Sox in Boston, winning 2-1.
1947 — Johnny Mize of the New York Giants hit three consecutive homers in a 14-5 loss in Boston. It was a major league-record fifth time in his career that Mize hit three home runs in one game.
1957 — The Chicago Cubs set a National League record by walking nine batters in the 5th inning of a 9-5 loss to the Cincinnati Redlegs.
1962 — Sandy Koufax struck out 18 Chicago Cubs and pitched the Los Angeles Dodgers to a 10-2 victory at Wrigley Field.
1965 — Casey Stengel recorded his 3,000th victory as a manager as the Mets beat the San Francisco Giants 7-6.
1978 — Nolan Ryan of the California Angels strikes out 15 batters for the 20th time in his career.
1994 — Julio Franco and Robin Ventura twice hit back-to-back homers in Chicago’s 7-6 loss to Detroit.
1996 — Greg Myers and Paul Molitor each had five RBIs as the Minnesota Twins set a team record for runs and routed the Detroit Tigers 24-11. It was the highest run total against the Tigers in 84 years, matching the mark set in a 24-2 loss to the Philadelphia Athletics on May 18, 1912.
1998 — Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Mike Piazza ties a major league record hitting his third grand slam of the month.
1998 — Moises Alou drove in five runs and Carl Everett homered from each side of the plate to lead Houston to an 8-4 win over Montreal.
2001 — The American League celebrates its 100th anniversary as a major league.
2007 — Oakland set a major league record in a 4-2 win over Baltimore, keeping the Orioles off the scoreboard in the first inning. It was the 20th straight game in which the A’s did not allow a first-inning run, a record for the start of the season.
2009 — Zack Greinke continues to dominate opposing hitters as he pitches a second straight complete game for the Kansas City Royals.
2012 — Chipper Jones homers on his 40th birthday as the Braves beat the Dodgers, 4-3. He becomes the fifth player in major league history to do this, following Bob Thurman, Joe Morgan, Wade Boggs and Tony Phillips.
2014 — P Michael Pineda of the Yankees is handed a ten-game suspension after being caught using pine tar on the mound in the previous day’s game.
2015 — Rumors emerge that the Rangers have reached a tentative deal with the Angels to acquire troubled OF Josh Hamilton. Hamilton left Texas after the 2012 season to sign a five-year deal worth $125 million, but has not been as productive a player since the deal and suffered a relapse of dependency problems. He has yet to play a game this season.
TODAY IN SPORTS HISTORY
April 18
1908 — Tommy Burns knocks out Jewey Smith in the fifth round in Paris to retain the world heavyweight title.
1942 — Stanley Cup Final, Maple Leaf Gardens, Toronto, ON: Toronto Maple Leafs beat Detroit Red Wings, 3-1 for a 4-3 series win.
1946 — Jackie Robinson debuts as 2nd baseman for the Montreal Royals.
1959 — The Montreal Canadiens win their fourth consecutive Stanley Cup with a 5-3 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs in the fifth game.
1962 — Boston’s Bill Russell scores 30 points and grabs 40 rebounds to lead the Celtics to a 110-107 overtime win over the Los Angeles Lakers and their fourth consecutive NBA title. Russell’s 40-rebound effort matches his NBA Finals record set on March 29, 1960.
1966 — Bill Russell is named the coach of the Boston Celtics to become the first African American head coach of an NBA team.
1967 — Rick Barry scores 55 points as the San Francisco Warriors beat Philadelphia, 130-124, in Game 3 of the NBA Finals.
1984 — Joan Benoit runs world record female marathon.
1986 — Washington ends the game on a 18-0 run in the last 3 minutes, 49 seconds and wins it on a banked Dudley Bradley 3-pointer at the horn. The 76ers had a seemingly safe 94-77 lead, but do not score in the 3:39 in the opening game of the first-round of the NBA playoffs.
1987 — Philadelphia’s Mike Schmidt hits his 500th home run with two outs in the ninth to rally the Phillies to an 8-6 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates at Three Rivers Stadium.
1988 — Ibrahim Hussein of Kenya battles past Juma Ikangaa of Tanzania in the final 100 yards to win the Boston Marathon by 1 second, the closest ever.
1991 — John Stockton breaks his own NBA single-season assist record as the Utah Jazz rout the Seattle SuperSonics 130-103. Stockton’s 11 assists give him 1,136 for the season, two more than the record he set last season.
1993 — PGA Seniors’ Championship Men’s Golf, PGA National GC: American Tom Wargo pars second playoff hole to beat Bruce Crampton of Australia and take his first and only major title.
1995 — Quarterback Joe Montana announces his retirement from football.
1998 — NFL Draft: Tennessee quarterback Peyton Manning first pick by Indianapolis Colts.
1999 — Wayne Gretzky ends his NHL career at Madison Square Garden with an assist, setting up a second-period goal as his New York Rangers fall to Pittsburgh 2-1 in overtime. Before the game, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman announces the league is retiring No. 99 in honor of “The Great One.”
2001 — A.C. Green plays in his 1,192th consecutive game, which remains the NBA record. His streak began on November 19, 1986.
2005 — Defending champion Catherine Ndereba of Kenya becomes the first woman to win a fourth Boston Marathon and Ethiopia’s Hailu Negussie wins the men’s race to break the Kenyan stranglehold on the world’s oldest annual marathon.
2007 — Mark Buehrle of the Chicago White Sox faces the minimum 27 batters in a 6-0 no-hit victory over the Texas Rangers. Buehrle walks Sammy Sosa with one out in the fifth, then promptly picks him off first base.
2008 — NBA owners give approval of a potential Seattle SuperSonics’ relocation to Oklahoma City in a 28–2 vote by the Board of Governors.
2017 — Portuguese superstar Cristiano Ronaldo becomes first player to score 100 goals in the Champions League.
2017 — The NCAA awards coveted men’s basketball tournament games and other events to North Carolina, effectively ending a boycott that helped force the state to repeal parts of a law that limited protections for LGBT people. The governing body announced decisions for events through 2022, two weeks after the NCAA said it had “reluctantly” agreed to consider North Carolina again for hosting duties.
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April 19
1897 — John J. McDermott wins the first Boston Marathon in 2 hours, 55 minutes, 10 seconds.
1930 — Clarence DeMar wins the Boston Marathon for a record seventh time, in 2:34:48.2.
1944 — 1944 NFL Draft: Angelo Bertelli from University of Notre Dame first pick by Boston Yanks.
1947 — The Toronto Maple Leafs post a 2-1 victory over the Montreal Canadiens to take the NHL Stanley Cup in six games.
1948 — Gerard Cote of Canada wins his fourth Boston Marathon with a time of 2:31:02.
1950 — Nineteen-year-old Ham Kee Yong becomes the youngest to win the Boston Marathon with a 2:32:39 clocking.
1965 — The Boston Celtics have five players score 20 or more points in a 129-123 victory over Los Angeles in Game 2 of the NBA Finals. It’s the first time in Finals history there are five 20-point scorers on one team. John Havlicek leads Boston with 24 points, Tom Sanders and Bill Russell each score 23, Tommy Heinsohn adds 22 and Sam Jones finished with 20. Jerry West leads the Lakers with 45.
1986 — Michael Spinks wins a split decision against Larry Holmes to retain the world heavyweight title in Las Vegas.
1990 — Pistons & 76’ers get into a fight accruing $162,500 fines (NBA record).
1991 — Evander Holyfield retains the heavyweight title with a unanimous 12-round decision over 42-year-old challenger George Foreman in Atlantic City, N.J.
1992 — Michael Jordan of the Chicago Bulls wins his sixth straight NBA scoring title with a 30.1 average.
1992 — PGA Seniors’ Championship Men’s Golf, PGA National GC: Lee Trevino beats Mike Hill by 1 stroke for his 3rd seniors major title.
1997 — NFL Draft: Ohio State offensive tackle Orlando Pace first pick by St. Louis Rams.
1998 — San Antonio beats Denver 96-82 to set an NBA record for the largest single-season turnaround. The Spurs improve by 36 games from 20 wins in 1997.
1998 — Chicago’s Michael Jordan scores 44 points to lead the Bulls over the Knicks, 111-109, in the final game of the regular season, securing his record 10th NBA scoring title with a 28.7-point average.
1998 — PGA Seniors’ Championship Men’s Golf, PGA National GC: Hale Irwin makes it 3 straight titles in the event.
2009 — Rafael Nadal becomes the first player to win five straight Monte Carlo Masters titles by beating Novak Djokovic 6-3, 2-6, 6-1. The top-ranked Spaniard, however, loses a set at the clay court tournament for the first time since the 2006 final against Roger Federer.
2010 — Kenya’s Robert Kiprono Cheruiyot wins the Boston Marathon, breaking the course record with a time of 2:05:52. Ethiopia’s Teyba Erkesso wins the women’s race in a time of 2:26:11, outsprinting Russia’s Tatyana Pushkareva to win by three seconds.
2017 — James Harden scores 35 points and the Houston Rockets overcome 51 points from Oklahoma’s Russell Westbrook in the highest-scoring triple-double in playoff history. The Rockets win 115-111 to take a 2-0 lead in the first-round Western Conference playoff series. Westbrook sets a franchise playoff scoring record and adds 13 assists and 10 rebounds. It’s the sixth career playoff triple-double for Westbrook, who had an NBA-record 42 in the regular season. But he shoots just 4 for 18 in the fourth quarter as the Rockets clawed back from a double-digit deficit to surge ahead before holding on.
2021 — San Jose Sharks forward Patrick Marleau breaks Gordie Howe’s NHL record for most games played.
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April 20
1912 — Fenway Park opens in Boston with the Red Sox beating the New York Yankees 7-6 in 11 innings. Tiger Stadium in Detroit also opens its doors as the Tigers defeat the Cleveland Indians 6-5.
1939 — Ted Williams’ first MLB hit.
1944 — NFL legalizes coaching from bench.
1958 — The Montreal Canadiens win the NHL Stanley Cup for the third straight year with a 5-3 victory over the Boston Bruins in the sixth game.
1967 — NY Mets pitcher Tom Seaver wins his 1st game
1986 — Chicago’s Michael Jordan sets an NBA single-game playoff scoring record with 63 points in a 135-131 double overtime loss to the Boston Celtics, in Game 2 of the first round in the Eastern Conference.
1990 — Pete Rose pleads guilty to hiding $300,000 in income.
1991 — Mark Lenzi becomes the first person to score 100 points on a single dive. On his last dive, Lenzi scores 101.85 points on a reverse 3½ somersault from the tuck position to win the 3-meter springboard title at the U.S. Indoor Diving Championships.
1996 — NFL Draft: Keyshawn Johnson from Southern Cal first pick by New York Jets.
1997 — Chicago’s Michael Jordan wins an unprecedented ninth scoring title with an average of 29.6 points, the first time in those nine seasons that he fails to average at least 30 points.
1997 — PGA Seniors’ Championship Men’s Golf, PGA National GC: Defending champion Hale Irwin wins his second of 3 straight Senior PGA Championships.
2002 — NFL Draft: Fresno State quarterback David Carr #1 pick by Houston Texans.
2007 — Roger Federer wins his 500th career match, defeating David Ferrer 6-4, 6-0 in the quarterfinals of the Monte Carlo Masters.
2008 — Danica Patrick becomes the first female winner in IndyCar history, capturing the Indy Japan 300 in her 50th career start. Patrick takes the lead from pole-sitter Helio Castroneves on the 198th lap in the 200-lap race and finishes 5.8594 seconds ahead of Castroneves.
2008 — Lorena Ochoa becomes the first LPGA Tour player in 45 years to win four tournaments in consecutive weeks. Ochoa shoots a 3-under 69 in the final round of the Ginn Open and beats rookie Yani Tseng by three strokes for her fifth victory in six starts. Mickey Wright did it in 1963.
2014 — Bernard Hopkins, 49, becomes the oldest to win a unification light heavyweight bout as he captures a split 12-round decision over 30-year-old Beibut Shumenov of Kazakhstan. Hopkins, who improves to 55-6-2, retains his IBF title and wins the WBA and IBA belts.
2015 — Lelisa Desisa of Ethiopia wins the 119th Boston Marathon, his second victory here. Desisa, who finishes in 2:09:17, also won the 2013 race just hours before a pair of bombs exploded at the finish line. Caroline Rotich of Kenya wins the women’s race.
2017 — LeBron James finishes with 41 points, 13 rebounds and 12 assists, and the Cleveland Cavaliers set an NBA postseason record by erasing a 25-point halftime deficit to beat the Indiana Pacers 119-114 and take a 3-0 lead. Cleveland trailed by 26 in the first half and was still down 74-49 at halftime. The largest halftime deficit overcome to win a playoff game had been 21 points by Baltimore against Philadelphia in 1948.
2017 — Roman Josi scores twice, Pekka Rinne has 30 saves and the Nashville Predators beat the Chicago Blackhawks 4-1 to complete a surprising sweep of the Western Conference’s top seed. It’s the first time a No. 1 seed is swept in the first round since the NHL adopted its current playoff format in 1994.
2021 — All six EPL clubs withdraw from the controversial European Super League just 3 days after it was announced – Chelsea, Manchester City, Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester United and Tottenham.
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April 21
1904 — Ty Cobb makes his pro debut for Augusta (South Atlantic League)
1948 — Basketball Association of America Finals: Baltimore Bullets beat Philadelphia Warriors, 88-73 to take series, 4 games to 2.
1951 — Bob Davies’ two foul shots and Jack Coleman’s layup give the Rochester Royals a 79-75 triumph over the New York Knicks in the seventh game of the NBA championship series.
1951 — The Toronto Maple Leafs win the Stanley Cup for the fourth time in five years as they beat the Montreal Canadiens 3-2 in the fifth game.
1955 — Brooklyn Dodgers win, then record 10th straight game to begin a season.
1980 — Bill Rodgers wins his third straight Boston Marathon. Rosie Ruiz is disqualified eight days later as women’s champion when it’s discovered she did not run the entire distance.
1989 — George W. Bush and Edward W. Rose become joint CEOs of the Texas Rangers.
1991 — NFL Draft: University of Miami defensive tackle Russell Maryland first pick by Dallas Cowboys.
1991 — PGA Seniors’ Championship Men’s Golf, PGA National GC: Jack Nicklaus wins his 4th of 8 Champions Tour majors by 6 strokes.
1995 — Defending champion Utah continues its domination of the NCAA women’s gymnastics championships, capturing its ninth national title since the event began in 1982 with a score of 196.650.
1996 — The Chicago Bulls wrap up the most successful regular season in NBA history with their 72nd victory, getting 26 points from Michael Jordan in a 103-93 decision over Washington. Jordan sets an NBA record by winning his eighth NBA scoring title, breaking Wilt Chamberlain’s record of seven.
1996 — PGA Seniors’ Championship Men’s Golf, PGA National GC: Hale Irwin beats Japan’s Isao Aoki by 2 strokes for his first of 4 Senior PGA Championships.
2001 — Hasim Rahman flattens Lennox Lewis with a stunning right hand near the end of the fifth round to capture the WBC and IBF heavyweight titles in one of the biggest upsets in boxing history in Brakpan, South Africa.
2001 — NFL Draft: Virginia Tech quarterback Michael Vick first pick by Atlanta Falcons.
2008 — Robert Cheruiyot of Kenya wins the Boston Marathon in 2:07:46 to become the fourth man to win the race four times. Ethiopia’s Dire Tune outkicks Alevtina Biktimirova after a back-and-forth last mile to win by 2 seconds in the closest finish in the history of the women’s race.
2012 — Phil Humber throws the first perfect game in the majors in almost two years, leading the Chicago White Sox to a 4-0 victory over the Seattle Mariners.
2013 — Raphael Jacquelin of France wins a record-tying playoff at the Spanish Open, edging Germany’s Maximilian Kieffer on their ninth try at the 18th hole. The only other European Tour event decided by a nine-hole playoff was the 1989 Dutch Open.
2013 — Takuma Sato becomes the first Japanese driver to win an IndyCar race in the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach.
2013 — Rookie Marc Marquez wins his first MotoGP race, capturing the Grand Prix of the Americas in Austin, Texas. The 20-year-old Spaniard, last season’s Moto2 champion, becomes the youngest winner at motorcycle racing’s top level.
2013 — Joe Scarborough, a 50-year-old self-employed electrical contractor, rolls the first 900 series in Professional Bowlers Association history — three straight perfect games. He opened the first round of qualifying in the PBA50 Sun Bowl with three games of 300, throwing 36 consecutive strikes.
2014 — American Meb Keflezighi wins the Boston Marathon, a year after a bombing at the finish line left three dead and more than 260 people injured. No U.S. runner had won the race since Lisa Larsen-Weidenbach took the women’s title in 1985; the last American man to win was Greg Meyer in 1983. Rita Jeptoo of Kenya successfully defends the Boston Marathon title, becoming the seventh three-time Boston Marathon champion.
2018 — Oakland A’s left hander Sean Manaea no-hits the Boston Red Sox.
April 22
1876 — The first official National League baseball game is played with Boston beating Philadelphia 6-5.
1914 — Babe Ruth’s 1st professional game (as a pitcher) is a 6-hit 6-0 win.
1945 — The Toronto Maple Leafs edge the Detroit Red Wings 2-1 to win the Stanley Cup in seven games.
1947 — The Philadelphia Warriors, behind Joe Fulks’ 34 points, beat the Chicago Staggs 83-80 in Game 5 to win the first Basketball Association of America title.
1954 — NBA adopts 24-second shot clock & 6 team-foul rule.
1957 — All NL baseball teams integrate, John Irwin Kennedy becomes the 1st Black player for the Philadelphia Phillies.
1962 — The Toronto Maple Leafs capture the Stanley Cup in six games with a 2-1 triumph over the Chicago Black Hawks.
1969 — Joe Frazier knocked out Dave Zyglewicz in 96 seconds to retain the heavyweight boxing title. Zyglewicz, 28-1 against journeymen, was fighting as the hometown hero at the Sam Houston Coliseum in Houston.
1981 — Dodgers rookie Fernando Valenzuela tosses his 3rd shutout in 4 starts.
1987 — The NBA grants expansion franchises to Charlotte, Miami, Minnesota and Orlando. Charlotte and Miami join the league in the 1988-89 season, while Minnesota and Orlando join in 1989-90.
1988 — New Jersey’s Patrik Sundstrom sets an NHL playoff record scoring eight points — three goals and five assists — in a 10-4 rout of Washington in the Stanley Cup quarterfinals.
1990 — NFL Draft: University of Illinois quarterback Jeff George first pick by Indianapolis Colts.
1993 — The Pittsburgh Penguins’ 4-3 victory over the New Jersey Devils extends their NHL playoff record to 14 straight wins.
1994 — Shannon Miller wins the women’s all-around title for the second straight year at the World Gymnastics Championships in Brisbane, Australia.
1994 — American figure skater Tonya Harding sues ex-husband Jeff Gillooly for $42,500.
1994 — Michael Moorer outpoints Evander Holyfield to win the IBF and WBA titles and become the first left-handed heavyweight champion.
1995 — George Foreman beats Axel Schulz in 12 for heavyweight boxing title in Las Vegas.
1995 — NFL Draft: Penn State running back Ki-Jana Carter first pick by Cincinnati Bengals.
2003 — Minnesota and Vancouver become the first teams since 2000 to come back from 3-1 series deficits and win. The Wild take Game 7 in Colorado on Andrew Brunette’s overtime goal for a 3-2 win. The Canucks oust St. Louis with a 4-1 win.
2003 — Patrick Roy plays his final career NHL game.
2006 — New Jersey scores a playoff-record five power-play goals in its 6-1 win over New York.
2006 — In Berlin, Germany, Wladimir Klitschko stops Chris Byrd in the seventh round of a one-sided fight to gain the IBF heavyweight title.
2007 — The Boston Red Sox tie a major league record by hitting four straight home runs in a 7-6 win over the New York Yankees. Manny Ramirez, J.D. Drew, Mike Lowell and Jason Varitek connect in a span of 10 pitches during the third inning against Chase Wright.
2008 — John Smoltz of Atlanta becomes the 16th pitcher in major league history to reach the 3,000-strikeout plateau in the Braves’ 6-0 loss to Washington.
2010 — NFL Draft: Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford first pick by St. Louis Rams.
2013 — Manchester United defeat Aston Villa to claim the 2012/2013 English Premier League.
2014 — Albert Pujols becomes the first major leaguer to hit his 499th and 500th homers in the same game, driving in five runs to help the Los Angeles Angels beat the Washington Nationals 7-2.
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April 23
1903 — The New York Highlanders, later renamed Yankees, win their first game as a major league team, 7-2 over the Washington Senators.
1939 — Boston Red Sox Ted Williams hits his 1st HR.
1946 — Ed Head of the Brooklyn Dodgers pitches a no-hitter against the Boston Braves 5-0 at Ebbets Field.
1950 — The Detroit Red Wings edge the New York Rangers 4-3 in Game 7 to win the Stanley Cup.
1950 — The Minneapolis Lakers become the first team to win back-to-back NBA championships by defeating the Syracuse Nationals 110-95 in Game 6 of the finals. George Mikan leads the Lakers with 40 points in a game marred by three fights, four Minneapolis players fouling out, and Nats coach Al Cervi being ejected for complaining too vociferously about a call.
1954 — The NBA adopts the 24-second shot clock.
1954 — Hank Aaron hits 1st of his 755 homers.
1969 — Jerry West scores 53 points to lead the Los Angeles Lakers over Boston 120-118 in the opening game of the NBA finals.
1989 — Kareem Abdul-Jabbar scores 10 points in his last game as a Laker in a 121-117 win over Seattle SuperSonics at the LA Forum.
1989 — NFL Draft: #1 pick UCLA quarterback Troy Aikman by Dallas Cowboys.
1993 — The Dallas Mavericks avoid matching the 1972-73 Philadelphia 76ers as the worst team in NBA history, beating Minnesota 103-100 for their 10th triumph of the season.
1993 — Orlando’s Nick Anderson scores 50 points in the Magic’s 119-116 win over the New Jersey Nets at The Meadowlands. Anderson’s feat is overshadowed by Shaquille O’Neal, who rips down the backboard in the first quarter, delaying the game 45 minutes. 1999 — Fernando Tatis hits two grand slams in one inning to lead the St. Louis Cardinals to a 12-5 win over Los Angeles. Tatis becomes the first player in major league history to hit two grand slams in one inning and set the record with eight RBIs in an inning.
2002 — Brent Johnson of the St. Louis Blues ties an NHL record with three straight shutouts in the playoffs. That had not happened in 57 years. Johnson reaches the milestone with a 1-0 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks.
2005 — NFL Draft: University of Utah quarterback Alex Smith first pick by San Francisco 49ers.
2008 — The Chicago Cubs win their 10,000th game, joining the Giants as the only franchise to reach that mark with a 7-6 victory in 10 innings at Colorado.
2011 — The Portland Trail Blazers rally from 23 points down in the second half, including an 18-point deficit to start the fourth quarter to defeat Dallas 84-82 and tie the first-round series at 2-2. Portland’s Brandon Roy scores 18 in the fourth quarter, including a 4-point play and the go ahead jumper with 39 seconds left. Roy outscores Dallas 18-15 in the quarter.
2017 — Kenyan runner Mary Keitany breaks Paula Radcliffe’s women-only marathon world record with a third victory in London. Keitany completes the 26.2-mile course in 2 hours, 17 minutes and 1 second to shave 41 seconds off Radcliffe’s 12-year-old mark.
2020 — NFL Draft: LSU quarterback Joe Burrow first pick by Cincinnati Bengals.
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April 24
1945 — Albert B. “Happy” Chandler, junior Senator from Kentucky, is elected baseball commissioner by a unanimous vote of the major league club owners. Chandler is elected to a seven-year term and succeeds Kenesaw Mountain Landis, who died in November 1944.
1962 — LA Dodgers pitcher Sandy Koufax’s 2nd career 18-strikeout, in a 10-2 win over Cubs in Chicago.
1963 — Bob Cousy ends his 13-year career by scoring 18 points as the Boston Celtics win their fifth consecutive NBA championship, beating the Los Angeles Lakers 112-109 in Game 6.
1967 — The Philadelphia 76ers win the NBA championship in six games with 125-122 comeback victory over the San Francisco Warriors. Billy Cunningham scores 13 points in the final 12 minutes as the 76ers overcome a five-point deficit entering the fourth quarter.
1974 — Tampa, Fla. is awarded the NFL’s 27th franchise.
1978 — Angels Nolan Ryan strikes out 15 Mariners, 20th time he has 15 in game.
1981 — San Antonio blocks 20 Golden State shots to set NBA regular season game record.
1988 — NFL Draft: Auburn tight end Aundray Bruce first pick by Atlanta Falcons.
1993 — George Branham III becomes the first black bowler to win a PBA Triple Crown event when he beats Parker Bohn III 227-214 in the Tournament of Champions.
1994 — David Robinson scores 71 points to win the NBA scoring title as the San Antonio Spurs end the regular season with a 112-97 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers. Robinson, the fourth NBA player to score more than 70 points in a game, edges Orlando’s Shaquille O’Neal for the scoring title.
1994 — NFL Draft: Ohio State defensive tackle Dan Wilkinson first pick by Cincinnati Bengals.
1996 — Petr Nedved scores a power-play goal with 44.6 seconds left in the fourth overtime, ending the longest NHL game in 60 years and giving the Pittsburgh Penguins a 3-2 victory over the Washington Capitals.
2003 — Petr Sykora scores 48 seconds into the fifth overtime as Anaheim outlasts Dallas 4-3 to win the opener of the Western Conference semifinal series. The game is the fourth-longest in NHL history.
2004 — NFL Draft: Ole Miss quarterback Eli Manning first pick by San Diego Chargers.
2010 — Jamaican Usain Bolt dazzles a capacity crowd with a lightning-fast final leg, overtaking USA Blue’s Ivory Williams to win the 4×100-meter relay at the Penn Relays. A quartet of Mario Forsythe, Yohan Blake, Marvin Anderson and Bolt finishes in 37.90 seconds for Jamaica Gold, setting a Penn Relays record. Trailing entering the final leg, Bolt takes the handoff and finishes the final 100 meters in an unofficial time of 8.79 seconds.
2016 — Klay Thompson scores 23 points and the Golden State Warriors set an NBA playoff record with 21 3-pointers to overcome another injury to Stephen Curry and beat the Houston Rockets 121-94 for a 3-1 series lead. The Warriors made eight 3s in the third quarter alone to set a franchise playoff record for 3-pointers in a period. Thompson led the way from long range, going 7 of 11, and Draymond Green made four.
TV SPORTS FRIDAY
| MLB REGULAR SEASON | TIME ET | TV |
| Arizona at Chi. Cubs | 2:20pm | DBacks.TV MARQ |
| Cleveland at Pittsburgh | 6:40pm | CleGuardians.TV ATTSN-PIT |
| Kansas City at Detroit | 6:40pm | FanDuel Sports KC FanDuel Sports DET |
| Miami at Philadelphia | 6:45pm | FanDuel Sports FL NBCS-PHI |
| Cincinnati at Baltimore | 7:05pm | FanDuel Sports Ohio MASN |
| NY Yankees at Tampa Bay | 7:05pm | FanDuel Sports Sun YES |
| Seattle at Toronto | 7:07pm | Apple TV+ ROOT Sportsnet |
| Chi. White Sox at Boston | 7:10pm | NESN CHSN |
| St. Louis at NY Mets | 7:10pm | SNY FanDuel Sports MW |
| Minnesota at Atlanta | 7:15pm | FanDuel Sports South Twins.TV |
| LA Dodgers at Texas | 8:05pm | SNLA RSN |
| Athletics at Milwaukee | 8:10pm | FanDuel Sports WI NBCS-CA |
| San Diego at Houston | 8:10pm | SCHN Padres.TV |
| Washington at Colorado | 8:40pm | MASN Rockies.TV |
| San Francisco at LA Angels | 9:38pm | FanDuel Sports West NBCS-BAY |
| NBA POSTSEASON | TIME ET | TV |
| East Play-In Tournament: Atlanta Hawks vs Miami Heat | 7:00pm | TNT truTV MAX |
| West Play-In Tournament: Memphis Grizzlies vs Dallas Mavericks | 9:30pm | ESPN |
| COLLEGE BASEBALL | TIME ET | TV |
| Virginia at Florida St. | 7:00pm | ESPN2 |
| Georgia Tech at Miami | 8:00pm | ACCN |
| Florida at Mississippi St. | 8:00pm | SECN |
| Texas Tech at Arizona St. | 10:00pm | ESPN2 |
| COLLEGE SOFTBALL | TIME ET | TV |
| Virginia Tech at Pittsburgh | 6:00pm | ACCN |
| Alabama at Florida | 6:00pm | SECN |
| Oklahoma St. at UCF | 7:00pm | ESPNU |
| MOTORSPORTS | TIME ET | TV |
| NASCAR Truck: Black’s Tire 200 | 5:00pm | FS1 |
| UFL | TIME ET | TV |
| Memphis at Michigan | 8:00pm | FOX |
| GOLF | TIME ET | TV |
| PGA Tour: Puntacana Championship | 10:00am | GOLF |
| PGA Tour: Puntacana Championship | 2:00pm | GOLF |
| LPGA Tour: LA Championship | 6:00pm | GOLF |
| SOCCER | TIME ET | TV |
| Scottish Championship: Livingston vs Ayr United | 2:45pm | Paramount+ |
| Ligue 1: Rennes vs Nantes | 2:45pm | Fanatiz USA beIN SPORTS |
| La Liga: Espanyol vs Getafe | 3:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Liga MX: Puebla vs Necaxa | 11:00pm | VIX |
TV SPORTS SATURDAY
| MLB REGULAR SEASON | TIME ET | TV |
| Miami at Philadelphia | 1:05pm | FanDuel Sports FL NBCS-PHI |
| Kansas City at Detroit | 1:10pm | FanDuel Sports KC FanDuel Sports DET |
| Arizona at Chi. Cubs | 2:20pm | DBacks.TV MARQ |
| Seattle at Toronto | 3:07pm | ROOT Sportsnet |
| Washington at Colorado | 3:10pm | MASN Rockies.TV |
| LA Dodgers at Texas | 4:05pm | FOX |
| St. Louis at NY Mets | 4:05pm | FOX |
| Cleveland at Pittsburgh | 4:05pm | CleGuardians.TV ATTSN-PIT |
| Cincinnati at Baltimore | 4:05pm | FanDuel Sports Ohio MASN |
| NY Yankees at Tampa Bay | 4:10pm | FanDuel Sports Sun YES |
| Chi. White Sox at Boston | 4:10pm | NESN CHSN |
| Athletics at Milwaukee | 7:10pm | FanDuel Sports WI NBCS-CA |
| San Diego at Houston | 7:10pm | SCHN Padres.TV |
| Minnesota at Atlanta | 7:15pm | FanDuel Sports South Twins.TV |
| San Francisco at LA Angels | 9:38pm | FanDuel Sports West NBCS-BAY |
| NBA PLAYOFFS | TIME ET | TV |
| East Quarterfinals Game 1: Milwaukee Bucks vs Indiana Pacers | 1:10pm | ESPN |
| West Quarterfinals Game 1: Los Angeles Clippers at Denver Nuggets | 3:30pm | ESPN |
| East Quarterfinals Game 1: Detroit Pistons at New York Knicks | 6:00pm | ESPN |
| West Quarterfinals Game 1: Minnesota Timberwolves at Los Angeles Lakers | 8:30pm | ABC |
| COLLEGE BASEBALL | TIME ET | TV |
| Georgia Tech at Miami | 4:00pm | ACCN |
| Alabama at LSU | 6:00pm | SECN |
| Indiana St. at Evansville | 6:00pm | ESPNU |
| Florida at Mississippi St. | 8:30pm | ESPNU |
| COLLEGE SOFTBALL | TIME ET | TV |
| LSU at Texas | 12:00pm | ESPN2 |
| Mississippi at Georgia | 12:00pm | SECN |
| Alabama at Florida | 2:00pm | ESPN2 |
| Mississippi St. at Oklahoma | 2:00pm | SECN |
| Coppin St. at Norfolk St. | 2:00pm | ESPNU |
| Texas Tech at Arizona | 4:00pm | ESPNU |
| Texas A&M at Missouri | 4:00pm | SECN |
| Georgia Tech at Florida St. | 7:00pm | ACCN |
| COLLEGE GYMNASTICS | TIME ET | TV |
| Women’s NCAA Tournament | 4:00pm | ABC |
| Men’s NCAA Tournament | 6:30pm | ESPN2 |
| UFL | TIME ET | TV |
| St. Louis at Arlington | 12:30pm | ABC |
| Birmingham at Houston | 7:00pm | FOX |
| MOTORSPORTS | TIME ET | TV |
| AMA Supercross Championship | 3:00pm | NBC |
| Xfinity: North Carolina Education Lottery 250 | 4:00pm | CW |
| GOLF | TIME ET | TV |
| PGA Tour: RBC Heritage | 1:00pm | GOLF |
| PGA Tour: Puntacana Championship | 3:00pm | GOLF |
| PGA Tour: RBC Heritage | 3:00pm | CBS |
| LPGA Tour: LA Championship | 6:00pm | GOLF |
| LACROSSE | TIME ET | TV |
| NLL: Ottawa at Saskatchewan | 9:00pm | ESPNU |
| SOCCER | TIME ET | TV |
| La Liga: Rayo Vallecano vs Valencia | 8:00am | ESPN+ |
| Serie A: Lecce vs Como | 9:00am | CBSSN Paramount+ |
| Bundesliga: RB Leipzig vs Holstein Kiel | 9:30am | ESPN+ |
| Bundesliga: Heidenheim vs Bayern München | 9:30am | ESPN+ |
| Bundesliga: Werder Bremen vs Bochum | 9:30am | ESPN+ |
| Bundesliga: Freiburg vs Hoffenheim | 9:30am | ESPN+ |
| Bundesliga: Mainz 05 vs Wolfsburg | 9:30am | ESPN+ |
| EPL: Everton vs Manchester City | 10:00am | USA Peacock |
| EPL: Crystal Palace vs AFC Bournemouth | 10:00am | Peacock |
| EPL: Brentford vs Brighton & Hove Albion | 10:00am | Peacock |
| EPL: West Ham United vs Southampton | 10:00am | Peacock |
| La Liga: Barcelona vs Celta de Vigo | 10:15am | ESPN+ |
| Ligue 1: PSG vs Le Havre | 11:00am | Fanatiz beIN Sports |
| Serie A: Monza vs Napoli | 12:00pm | CBS Paramount+ |
| EPL: Aston Villa vs Newcastle United | 12:30pm | NBC Peacock |
| La Liga: Mallorca vs Leganés | 12:30pm | ESPN+ |
| Bundesliga: Union Berlin vs Stuttgart | 12:30pm | ESPN+ |
| Ligue 1: Monaco vs Strasbourg | 1:00pm | Fanatiz beIN Sports |
| MLS: Austin vs LA Galaxy | 1:45pm | FOX MLS Season Pass |
| Serie A: Roma vs Hellas Verona | 2:45pm | Paramount+ |
| La Liga: Las Palmas vs Atlético Madrid | 3:00pm | ESPN+ |
| Ligue 1: Olympique Marseille vs Montpellier | 3:05pm | Fanatiz beIN Sports |
| MLS: Columbus Crew vs Inter Miami | 4:30pm | MLS Season Pass |
| Liga MX: América vs Mazatlán | 7:00pm | FS2 fuboTV |
| MLS: Charlotte vs San Diego | 7:30pm | MLS Season Pass |
| MLS: CF Montréal vs Orlando City SC | 7:30pm | MLS Season Pass |
| MLS: New England vs New York City | 7:30pm | MLS Season Pass |
| MLS: New York RB vs DC United | 7:30pm | MLS Season Pass |
| MLS: Philadelphia Union vs Atlanta United | 7:30pm | MLS Season Pass |
| MLS: Seattle Sounders FC vs Nashville SC | 7:30pm | MLS Season Pass |
| MLS: Chicago Fire vs Cincinnati | 8:30pm | MLS Season Pass |
| MLS: Houston Dynamo vs Colorado Rapids | 8:30pm | MLS Season Pass |
| MLS: Minnesota United vs Dallas | 8:30pm | MLS Season Pass |
| MLS: St. Louis City vs Vancouver Whitecaps | 8:30pm | MLS Season Pass |
| Liga MX: Toluca vs Cruz Azul | 9:05pm | Univision VIX |
| MLS: Real Salt Lake vs Toronto FC | 9:30pm | MLS Season Pass |
| MLS: Portland Timbers vs Los Angeles FC | 10:15pm | FS1 MLS Season Pass |
| MLS: SJ Earthquakes vs Sporting KC | 10:30pm | MLS Season Pass |
| Liga MX: Tigres UANL vs Pumas UNAM | 11:00pm | fuboTV |
| Liga MX: Atlas vs Guadalajara | 11:10pm | VIX |