INDIANA HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL
FRIDAY, JUNE 17
CLASS 2A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP
5:30 PM ET / 4:30 PM CT | CENTERVILLE (21-5) VS. ILLIANA CHRISTIAN (21-7)
(INDIANA SRN)
CLASS 3A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP
8 PM ET / 7 PM CT | BREBEUF JESUIT (26-4) VS. ANDREAN (30-4)
(INDIANA SRN)
SATURDAY, JUNE 18
CLASS 1A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP
4:30 PM ET / 3:30 PM CT | TECUMSEH (19-12) VS. LAFAYETTE CENTRAL CATHOLIC (26-6)
(INDIANA SRN)
CLASS 4A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP
8 PM ET / 7 PM CT | INDIANAPOLIS CATHEDRAL (18-10-2) VS. PENN (18-5)
(INDIANA SRN)
INDIANA BASKETBALL: 20TH IHSAA TOP 100 UNDERCLASS SHOWCASE
GIRLS
LAILA ABDURRAQIB, 5-8, LAWRENCE CENTRAL, 2025
MOLLY BAKER, 5-10, COLUMBIA CITY, 2024
LAUREN BARKER, 5-5, COLUMBUS NORTH, 2023
CARLEY BARRETT, 5-9, LAFAYETTE CENTRAL CATHOLIC, 2025
ASIAH BAXTER, 5-10, WARREN CENTRAL, 2023
GIAVONNIE BELTON, 5-6, PIKE, 2023
PAYTON BENGE, 6-1, PLAINFIELD, 2024
ANNA BISHIR, 5-7, NORTHWESTERN, 2025
ADDISON BOWSMAN, 5-6, TWIN LAKES, 2025
ASHLYNN BROOKE, 5-6, PIONEER, 2023
CHANEY BROWN, 5-9, GREEFIELD-CENTRAL, 2025
OLIVIA BROWN, 5-6, HAMILTON SOUTHEASTERN, 2023
ALLIE CALDWELL, 5-10, ZIONSVILLE, 2024
CRISTEN CARTER, 6-2, BEN DAVIS, 2023
KIRSTEN CLARK, 5-9, BEN DAVIS, 2023
AUBRY COLE, 5-6, SEEGER, 2023
AVA COUCH, 5-10, NORTH CENTRAL, 2023
KELSEY DUBOIS, 6-2, UNIVERSITY, 2023
ABBY FLEETWOOD, 5-9, INDIAN CREEK, 2023
RILEY FLINN, 5-11, HARRISON (WEST LAFAYETTE), 2023
LAUREN FOSTER, 5-7, INDIAN CREEK, 2024
KENZIE FULKS, 5-6, BETHESDA CHRISTIAN, 2024
SARAH GICK, 6-0, BENTON CENTRAL, 2024
ISABELLA GIZZI, 5-7, NEW PALESTINE, 2023
AVERY GORDON, 6-5, BROWNSBURG, 2025
LIZZIE GRAHAM, 5-8, TRITON CENTRAL, 2023
TAYLOR GUESS, 6-0, BEN DAVIS, 2023
ALLI HARNESS, 5-8, CARROLL (FLORA), 2024
TALIE HARRIS, 5-7, FISHERS, 2024
RACHEL HARSHMAN, 6-0, MOORESVILLE, 2024
ELLA HAUPERT, 5-6, SOUTHWOOD, 2023
LILLY HICKS, 5-6, KOKOMO, 2024
LAILA HULL, 6-1, ZIONSVILLE, 2023
HANNAH LACH, 5-10, CARMEL, 2023
JAYLAH LAMPLEY, 6-2, LAWRENCE CENTRAL, 2025
MCKENNA LAYDEN, 6-2, NORTHWESTERN, 2023
REAGAN MARTIN, 6-0, OWEN VALLEY, 2023
KYIA MCKINLEY, 5-11, EASTERN (PEKIN), 2023
ELLERY MINCH, 6-2, MT. VERNON (FORTVILLE), 2024
OLIVIA NICKERSON, 5-6, TWIN LAKES, 2024
BAILEY PARHAM, 6-0, TRI, 2023
ABBY PARSONS, 5-8, CASCADE, 2023
CAMRYN RUNNER, 5-7, HAMILTON HEIGHTS, 2024
PAYTON SEAY, 5-8, UNIVERSITY, 2023
ANIAH SMITH, 5-4, AVON, 2025
HAILEY SMITH, 5-9, FISHERS, 2023
OLIVIA SMITH, 5-9, FISHERS, 2023
EMMA SPERRY, 6-0, FRANKTON, 2024
SAIGE STAHL, 6-1, COLUMBUS EAST, 2023
KAILYN TERRELL, 5-5, BROWNSBURG, 2023
SANAA THOMAS, 5-4, WARREN CENTRAL, 2023
TORI THOMPSON, 5-8, LAFAYETTE CENTRAL CATHOLIC, 2023
MEREDITH TIPPNER, 5-9, NOBLESVILLE, 2025
ADRIANNE TOLEN, 5-8, WEST LAFAYETTE, 2024
MADISON WAGNER, 5-10, CARROLL (FLORA), 2024
SYDNEY WARRAN, 6-0, CASCADE, 2023
LEAH WEST, 6-1, GREENSBURG, 2025
MONICA WILLIAMS, 5-9, LAWRENCE NORTH, 2023
REAGAN WILSON, 5-7, NOBLESVILLE, 2024
ISABELLE WOOTEN, 5-10, DANVILLE, 2023
TORI ALLEN, 5-9, ANDREAN, 2023
MADISYN BAILEY, 5-8, BEDFORD NORTH LAWRENCE, 2024
LANEY BAKER, 5-10, EAST CENTRAL, 2023
ADDISON BAXTER, 5-9, COLUMBIA CITY, 2025
CARLEY BEGLE, 5-9, FOREST PARK, 2023
ANIYAH BISHOP, 5-9, LAKE CENTRAL, 2024
TRINITY BRITTON, 5-6, SOUTH SPENCER, 2023
AMIYAH BUCHANAN, 6-0, EVANSVILLE NORTH, 2023
ALLY CAPOUCH, 5-11, KOUTS, 2023
ALEXIS CASTATOR, 6-0, CARROLL (FORT WAYNE), 2024
MACI CHAMBERLIN, 5-7, BLUE RIVER VALLEY, 2024
KENNEDY COLEMAN, 6-0, CHARLESTOWN, 2024
ANNIKA DAVIS, 5-7, FORT WAYNE LUERS, 2024
ANGELICA DEL VALLE, 5-9, PORTAGE, 2023
ASIA DONALD, 5-9, HOBART, 2024
TAYLOR DOUBLE, 5-10, HUNTINGTON NORTH, 2023
JULIA ECONOMOU, 5-11, PENN, 2023
EVA FISHER, 5-8, NORTHRIDGE, 2023
TAYLOR FORDYCE, 5-10, CARROLL (FORT WAYNE), 2023
KENNEDY FUELLING, 5-7, NORWELL, 2024
BREA GARBER, 6-1, FAIRFIELD, 2023
KAYLA GIBBS, 5-10, CARROLL (FORT WAYNE), 2023
CHLOEY GRAHAM, 5-8, GIBSON SOUTHERN, 2024
KENDALL HALE, 6-2, CANNELTON, 2023
PEYTON HARTSOUGH, 5-4, LAKELAND, 2023
KYRA HILL, 6-2, GOSHEN, 2024
SOPHIE JOHNSON, 6-0, EVANSVILLE MEMORIAL, 2024
RASHUNDA JONES, 5-8, SOUTH BEND WASHINGTON, 2023
BAILEY KELHAM, 5-9, GARRETT, 2023
AVERY KELLEY, 5-6, EVANSVILLE MEMORIAL, 2024
BROOKE LINDESMITH, 5-10, CROWN POINT, 2023
OLIVIA MARKS, 5-9, SOUTH CENTRAL (UNION MILLS), 2023
EMILY MATTINGLY, 5-10, EVANSVILLE MEMORIAL, 2023
RILEY MILAUSNIC, 5-6, LAKE CENTRAL, 2024
MONIQUE MITCHELL, 5-11, SOUTH BEND WASHINGTON, 2025
SOPHIA MORRISON, 5-6, EASTBROOK, 2024
KARSYN NORMAN, 5-7, BEDFORD NORTH LAWRENCE, 2023
JORDYN POOLE, 5-5, FORT WAYNE SNIDER, 2024
MAKAYA PORTER, 5-11, MISHAWAKA MARIAN, 2023
AMIYAH REYNOLDS, 6-0, SOUTH BEND WASHINGTON, 2023
KIRA REYNOLDS, 6-4, SOUTH BEND WASHINGTON, 2025
ISABEL SCALES, 5-5, CASTON, 2024
ADDIE SHANK, 6-0, FORT WAYNE LUERS, 2024
KYNDRA SHEETS, 5-6, COLUMBIA CITY, 2024
GABBY SPINK, 5-9, GIBSON SOUTHERN, 2025
CHLOE SPREEN, 5-10, BEDFORD NORTH LAWRENCE, 2024
SAMIYAH STOUT, 5-7, ELKHART, 2-24
BAILEY TABELING, 5-10, TRINITY LUTHERAN, 2023
LILLY TOPPEN, 5-9, KANKAKEE VALLEY, 2023
JOSIE TRABEL, 6-0, EAST CENTRAL, 2023
AMBER TRETTER, 6-1, FOREST PARK, 2023
JOSIE VAUGHN, 5-6, CORYDON CENTRAL, 2025
MADISON VICE, 5-5, CENTRAL NOBLE, 2023
ADDYSON VIERS, 6-1, TRITON, 2024
KYLIE WELLS, 5-9, MERRILLVILLE, 2025
LINZIE WERNERT, 5-9, LANESVILLE, 2023
ZOE WILLEMS, 5-7, BETHANY CHRISTIAN, 2024
RYIAH WILSON, 5-7, SOUTH BEND WASHINGTON, 2025
FAITH WISEMAN, 6-3, INDIAN CREEK, 2024
JULIANN WOODARD, 6-0, JENNINGS COUNTY, 2024
AVA ZIOLKOWKSI, 6-1, CROWN POINT, 2024
BOYS
LUKE ALMODOVAR, 6-3, NOBLESVILLE, 2023
MARCUS ANKNEY, 6-3, CENTER GROVE, 2023
ANTHONY BALL, 6-6, BEECH GROVE, 2023
K.C. BERRY, 6-1, DECATUR CENTRAL, 2024
FLORY BIDUNGA, 6-10, KOKOMO, 2024
JARED BONDS, 6-5, CARMEL, 2023
XAVIER BOOKER, 6-11, CATHEDRAL, 2023
KOBI BOWLES, 6-1, LAWRENCE NORTH, 2024
DEZMON BRISCOE, 6-7, INDIANAPOLIS ATTUCKS, 2025
LYNA BROOKS, 6-4, FRANKLIN CENTRAL, 2024
SABIEN CAIN, 6-4, UNIVERSITY, 2024
AHMERE CARSON, 6-3, ANDERSON, 2023
CAMRON CASKY, 6-3, PIKE, 2024
KANON CATCHINGS, 6-6, BROWNSBURG, 2024
JERMAINE COLEMAN, 6-7, PARK TUDOR, 2023
MYLES COLVIN, 6-5, HERITAGE CHRISTIAN, 2023
DAJOHN CRAIG, 6-0, LAWRENCE CENTRAL, 2023
JAKE DAVIS, 6-6, CATHEDRAL, 2023
MICAH DAVIS, 6-1, FRANKLIN, 2024
CALEB DEWEY, 6-3, EDINBURGH, 2023
ELHADJ DIALLO, 6-3, BROWNSBURG, 2023
ZANE DOUGHTY, 6-9, BEN DAVIS, 2023
GARWEY DUAL, 6-6, CARMEL, 2023
AARON FINE, 6-3, NOBLESVILLE, 2024
DHANI FLANNIGAN, 5-10, FRANKLIN CENTRAL, 2024
SINCERE GERMANY, 6-4, CATHEDRAL, 2023
JOSIAH GUSTIN, 6-7, PENDLETON HEIGHTS, 2024
JALEN HARALSON, 6-7, FISHERS, 2025
JOEY HART, 6-5, LINTON-STOCKTON, 2023
BRYCE HOOVER, 6-0, FRANKLIN CENTRAL, 2023
LOGAN IMES, 6-4, ZIONSVILLE, 2023
KAMARI JONES, 6-4, LAWRENCE CENTRAL, 2023
LUKE KEGERREIS, 6-4, RONCALLI, 2023
DAMIEN KING, 6-3, ANDERSON, 2025
MASON LARKIN, 6-9, FOUNTAIN CENTRAL,
NICKENS LEMBA, 6-7, SOUTHPORT, 2023
MASON LEWIS, 5-9, NORTH CENTRAL, 2024
JORDAN LOMAX, 6-3, AVON, 2024
LUKE MCBRIDE, 6-2, NORWELL, 2023
TADEN METZGER, 6-3, FISHERS, 2024
KEYON MILLER, 6-1, SOUTHPORT, 2023
DYLAN MOLES, 6-3, GREENFIELD-CENTRAL, 2023
BRAYLON MULLINS, 6-3, GREENFIELD-CENTRAL, 2025
SAM ORME, 6-9, CARMEL, 2023
JAXON PARDON, 6-3, CARROLL (FORT WAYNE), 2024
JAYDEN PINKSTON, 6-4, INDIANAPOLIS TINDLEY, 2023
NICK RICHART, 6-9, ZIONSVILLE, 2023
PRESTON ROBERTS, 6-5, NOBLESVILLE, 2023
AZAVIER ROBINSON, 6-1, LAWRENCE NORTH, 2025
RONALD RUTLAND III, 6-1, INDIANAPOLIS ATTUCKS, 2024
SHERIDAN SHARP, 6-3, BEN DAVIS, 2023
IAN STEPHENS, 6-5, NEW PALESTINE, 2023
REPHAIM STEVENSON, 6-7, HAMILTON SOUTHEASTERN, 2023
MYLES STRINGER, 6-2, FISHERS, 2023
JAYMEN TOWNSEND, 6-5, MARION, 2025
BRADEN WALTERS, 6-5, LINTON-STOCKTON, 2024
GAVIN WELCH, 6-6, NEW CASTLE, 2023
SPENCER WHITE, 6-5, CARMEL, 2023
AUSTIN WILLOUGHBY, 6-4, WHITELAND, 2023
K.J. WINDHAM, 6-3, BEN DAVIS, 2024
DEVON WOODS, 5-10, PIKE, 2023
WESTON AIGNER, 6-3, CASTLE, 2023
ISAAC ANDREWS, 6-2, WAPAHANI, 2024
CHASE BARNES, 6-1, FORT WAYNE WAYNE, 2025
JACK BENTER, 6-5, BROWNSTOWN CENTRAL, 2024
LANDON BIEGEL, 6-5, OAK HILL, 2023
PEYTON BLEDSOE, 6-4, LOOGOOTEE, 2023
CADE BRENNER, 6-3, NORTHWOOD, 2023
DARRION BROOKS, 6-4, NEW HAVEN, 2023
MARKUS BURTON, 6-0, PENN, 2023
JOSTEN CARTER JR., 6-4, NEW ALBANY, 2023
JACOB CHERRY, 6-10, EASTERN (PEKIN), 2023
FLETCHER COLE, 6-0, PAOLI, 2025
THOMAS COLLINS, 6-1, CULVER ACADEMY, 2023
DREW COOK, 6-0, NORTHVIEW, 2023
CAMDEN CRAIG, 6-4, SWITZERLAND COUNTY, 2025
AUSTIN CRIPE, 6-3, WEST NOBLE, 2023
HAYDEN DASE, 6-6, KANKAKEE VALLEY, 2023
TUCKER DAY, 6-7, HOMESTEAD, 2024
H.J. DILLARD III, 6-5, FORT WAYNE WAYNE, 2025
MARIAL DIPER, 7-0, ROCK CREEK ACADEMY, 2023
JOSIAH DUNHAM, 6-0, EVANSVILLE CHRISTIAN, 2024
COOPER FARRALL, 6-6, CULVER ACADEMY, 2023
AIDAN FRANKS, 6-2, WAPAHANI, 2023
JOSHUA FURST, 6-6, FORT WAYNE BLACKHAWK CHRISTIAN, 2023
JAXSON GOULD, 6-3, WARSAW, 2023
BRYCEN HANNAH, 6-4, JOHN GLENN, 2023
ANDREW HEDRICK, 6-0, COLUMBIA CITY, 2023
ISAAC HIGGS, 6-3, EVANSVILLE REITZ, 2023
COOPER HORN, 6-3, COLUMBUS NORTH, 2023
CANNEN HOUSER, 6-4, CARROLL (FORT WAYNE), 2024
TARAY HOWELL, 5-8, EVANSVILLE BOSSE, 2024
MASON JONES, 6-7, VALPARAISO, 2023
KYRON KAOPUIKI, 6-3, HOMESTEAD, 2023
CHASE KONIECZNY, 6-4, SOUTH BEND ST. JOSEPH, 2025
JEVON LEWIS JR., 5-9, FORT WAYNE WAYNE, 2024
A.J. LUX, 6-5, CROWN POINT, 2023
WILLIE MILLER, 6-3, LAKE STATION EDISON, 2023
D.J. MOSS, GARY 21ST CENTURY, 2023
JAYLEN MULLEN, 6-0, NORTH DAVIESS, 2023
DOMINIQUE MURPHY, 6-4, EAST CHICAGO CENTRAL, 2025
TYLER MYERS, 5-11, EVANSVILLE DAY, 2023
MARCUS NORTHERN, 6-2, SOUTH BEND WASHINGTON, 2023
IAN RAASCH, 6-5, NORTHWOOD, 2023
JAQUALON ROBERTS, 6-7, BLOOMINGTON NORTH, 2023
MATTHEW ROETTGER, 6-2, PERU, 2024
GAGE SEFTON, 6-5, FORT WAYNE BLACKHAWK CHRISTIAN, 2023
JUSTIN SIMS, 6-6, CHESTERTON, 2024
SHANE SIMS, 6-3, EVANSVILLE HARRISON, 2025
TRENT SISLEY, 6-7, HERITAGE HILLS, 2025
JACK SMILEY, 6-1, VALPARAISO, 2025
JOE SMITH, 5-11, PENN, 2023
DEAGLAN SULLIVAN, 6-2, MISHAWAKA MARIAN, 2023
EZEKIAL TANOOS, 6-3, WEST VIGO, 2024
BRANDON TRILLI, 6-5, MUNSTER, 2023
AJANI WASHINGTON, 6-2, FORT WAYNE CONCORDIA, 2024
CALEB WASHINGTON, 6-6, FLOYD CENTRAL, 2023
DYLAN WATSON, 6-9, CASTLE, 2023
CAMDEN WEBSTER, 6-3, KANKAKEE VALLEY, 2024
ASHTON WILLIAMSON, 6-4, GARY 21ST CENTURY, 2023
GAVIN WISLEY, 6-8, BLOOMINGTON SOUTH, 2023
JACKSON WORS, 6-4, DELTA, 2024
ISAAC ZAY, 6-1, FORT WAYNE LUERS, 2024
US OPEN LEADERBOARD: HTTP://HOSTED.STATS.COM/GOLF/FINAL.ASP?TOUR=PGA
NBA FINALS
GOLDEN STATE 103 BOSTON 90 (WARRIORS WIN SERIES 4 – 2)
BOX SCORE: HTTP://HOSTED.STATS.COM/NBA/BOXSCORE.ASP?GAMECODE=2022061602&HOME=2&VIS=9&FINAL=TRUE
WNBA
NEW YORK 77 WASHINGTON 65
NHL FINALS
GAME 1: AVALANCHE 4, LIGHTNING 3 (OT)
SATURDAY, JUNE 18: LIGHTNING AT AVALANCHE, 8 P.M. ET; ESPN+, ABC, SN, CBC, TVA SPORTS
MONDAY, JUNE 20: AVALANCHE AT LIGHTNING, 8 P.M. ET; ESPN+, ABC, SN, CBC, TVA SPORTS
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 22: AVALANCHE AT LIGHTNING, 8 P.M. ET; ESPN+, ABC, SN, CBC, TVA SPORTS
*FRIDAY, JUNE 24: LIGHTNING AT AVALANCHE, 8 P.M. ET; ESPN+, ABC, SN, CBC, TVA SPORTS
*SUNDAY, JUNE 26: AVALANCHE AT LIGHTNING, 8 P.M. ET; ESPN+, ABC, SN, CBC, TVA SPORTS
*TUESDAY, JUNE 28: LIGHTNING AT AVALANCHE, 8 P.M. ET; ESPN+, ABC, SN, CBC, TVA SPORTS
MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL
CLEVELAND 4 COLORADO 2
OAKLAND 4 BOSTON 3
BALTIMORE 10 TORONTO 2
NY YANKEES 2 TAMPA BAY 1
TEXAS 3 DETROIT 1
LA ANGELS 4 SEATTLE 1
SAN DIEGO 6 CHICAGO CUBS 4
PHILADELPHIA 10 WASHINGTON 1
NY METS 5 MILWAUKEE 4
BOX SCORES: HTTP://HOSTED.STATS.COM/MLB/SCOREBOARD.ASP
MLB WIRE: HTTP://HOSTED.STATS.COM/MLB/WIRE.ASP
MINOR LEAGUE BASEBALL
GWINNETT 10 INDIANAPOLIS 5
FORT WAYNE 9 LANSING 4
QUAD CITIES 8 SOUTH BEND 3
COLLEGE BASEBALL WORLD SERIES
FRIDAY, JUNE 17
OKLAHOMA VS. TEXAS A&M — 2 P.M. ET ON ESPN
NOTRE DAME VS. TEXAS — 7 P.M. ET ON ESPN
SATURDAY, JUNE 18
ARKANSAS VS. STANFORD — 2 P.M. ET ON ESPN
OLE MISS VS. AUBURN — 7 P.M. ET ON ESPN2
TOP NATIONAL HEADLINES
WARRIORS BEAT CELTICS 103-90 TO WIN 4TH NBA TITLE IN 8 YEARS
BOSTON (AP) The Golden State Warriors are NBA champions once again, topping the Boston Celtics 103-90 on Thursday night for their fourth title in the last eight seasons.
Stephen Curry scored 34 points and was named the NBA Finals MVP as the Warriors claimed the franchise’s seventh championship overall. And this one completed a journey like none other, after a run of five consecutive finals, then a plummet to the bottom of the NBA, and now a return to greatness just two seasons after having the league’s worst record.
“We found a way to just get it done,” Curry said after the Warriors accepted the championship trophy and celebrated on the court. “It’s part of a championship pedigree, our experience. … We built this for 10-11 years. That means a lot when you get to this stage.”
For Curry, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green and Andre Iguodala, it’s a fourth championship. The first three rings came in 2015, 2017 and 2018, when Golden State was dynastic and made five consecutive trips to the finals.
Injuries, including ones that sidelined Thompson for 2 1/2 years, and roster changes changed everything. But this season, with Thompson returning around the midway point, the Warriors were finally back.
Back on top, too. Champions, again, denying the storied Celtics what would have been their record 18th championship, one that would have allowed Boston to break a tie with the Los Angeles Lakers for the most in league history.
This tale for the Warriors ended much differently than what was their most recent finals appearance against Toronto in 2019, one that saw Kevin Durant tear his Achilles tendon in Game 5 and then Thompson tear his ACL in what became the Raptors’ title-clincher in Game 6.
The aftermath of that loss was exacerbated by Durant’s decision to leave that summer in free agency to join the Brooklyn Nets and Thompson’s own Achilles injury while rehabilitating his knee injury.
“It all paid off,” Thompson said. “It was dog days, a lot of tears shed. … You knew it was a possibility, but to see it in real time. . It’s crazy.”
It thrust a Golden State team into a rebuild that became a reload. The Warriors used their two-year hiatus from the NBA’s biggest stages to retool their roster – adding a past No. 1 draft pick in Andrew Wiggins, who excelled in his first finals, along with another rising star in Jordan Poole.
It all clicked. For Golden State coach Steve Kerr, it’s a ninth championship overall after winning five as a player. He’s the sixth coach to capture four titles, joining Phil Jackson, Red Auerbach, John Kundla, Gregg Popovich and Pat Riley.
Jaylen Brown led the Celtics with 34 points. Al Horford added 19. Jayson Tatum finished with 13 points, but shot just 6 of 18 from the field. Boston also committed 22 turnovers, dropping to 1-8 this postseason when committing 16 or more.
It was just the fifth defeat in 22 title-series appearances for Boston, which turned its season around to have a chance at this crown. Boston was 25-25 after 50 games, then went on an absolute tear to get to the finals and nearly claim what would have been just the franchise’s second championship since 1986.
It was the third consecutive season where things were affected by the global COVID-19 pandemic, and while things were closer to normal, pictures and video of the championship celebration will serve as a forever reminder that the virus was still an issue.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver could not be at the game because he remained in the league’s health and safety protocols related to the virus. The redesigned Larry O’Brien Trophy – the golden souvenir given to the NBA champions – was presented to the Warriors by deputy commissioner Mark Tatum instead.
Boston trailed by as many as 22 points but went on a 16-4 in the third quarter to cut the deficit to 76-66 entering the fourth.
A Jaylen Brown 3-pointer made it 86-78 with 5:33 to play, but the Warriors never relinquished the lead.
TIP-INS
Warriors: Went 19 of 45 from the 3-point line. . Improved to 20-1 when Green makes a 3-pointer.
Celtics: Former Celtic Ray Allen, a member of Boston’s last championship team in 2008, sat courtside. Hall of Famer Robert Parish was also in attendance.
A RUN, AND A RESPONSE
The Celtics came out firing, riding the energy from a deafening TD Garden crowd to take an early 14-2 lead.
Golden State wasn’t rattled and responded with a 35-8 run that stretched into the second quarter on the way to building as much as a 22-point lead. The Warriors outscored the Celtics 27-17 for the period and carried a 54-39 lead into the second half as some Celtics fans booed the home team as they left the court.
Boston fought back in the third, but the Warriors found their range from beyond the arc, connecting on six 3s in the quarter.
IVEY, DANIELS HEADLINE LIST OF POINT GUARDS IN NBA DRAFT
Jaden Ivey erupted in his second college season into an All-American with explosive athleticism and scoring ability.
He’s the headliner among floor leaders entering the NBA draft, while Australian teenager Dyson Daniels is also a lottery prospect after his work in the G League Ignite developmental program for elite prospects.
Here’s a look at some of the top point guards in the June 23 draft:
IVEY
The 6-foot-4, 195-pound Purdue guard is a top-5 prospect with his potential both as a scorer and playmaker.
STRENGTHS: With athleticism to play either guard spot, the 20-year-old Ivey went from a complimentary piece as a freshman (11.1 points per game) to a second-team Associated Press All-American averaging 17.3 points and 4.9 rebounds. Ranked as the draft’s No. 4 prospect by ESPN, Ivey has proven the ability to score off the dribble or finish at the rim, whether gliding gracefully through traffic or throwing down with power.
Notably, his improved shooting helped elevate his game beyond highlight-reel moments. Ivey shot 46% from the field (up from 39.9% as a freshman) from the field and 35.8% from behind the arc (up from 25.8%) last season. That included going from having eight games with at least two made 3s as a freshman to 21 such games last year.
CONCERNS: Ivey has the tools to develop into a quality defender but needs more consistency there. Offensively, he had a tendency at times to play out of control with his aggressive edge, making him prone to turnovers (2.6 per game, close to his 3.1-assist average) and forced shots.
DANIELS
The 19-year-old bypassed the college ranks to play for Ignite, bringing size and versatility to the pro ranks.
STRENGTHS: The 6-7, 195-pound Daniels has the size to play and defend multiple positions, particularly as a point guard who added another inch and roughly 20 pounds of strength to his frame in the past year.
Ranked No. 6 by ESPN, Daniels has a nearly 6-11 wingspan and posted the fastest time (2.81 seconds) of any player tested at the NBA scouting combine in the shuttle run, which measures agility and ability to change direction. He averaged 11.3 points, 5.9 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 1.9 assists for Ignite.
“For me, playing the point guard position and being 6-7 is really beneficial to me,” Daniels said in an interview with the AP in late March. “I’m able to go play down in the low post, play with the ball in my hands off pick and rolls and stuff like that. It was a big focus for me putting on size and weight this year.”
CONCERNS: Daniels’ outside shot is still developing. He made 13 of 51 (25.5%) 3-pointers in 14 games with Ignite.
TYTY WASHINGTON JR.
Kentucky’s latest one-and-done player is a first-round prospect with his playmaking ability.
STRENGTHS: The 6-4, 196-pound freshman showed quickness and versatility at both guard spots. That included time at the point for injured Sahvir Wheeler and setting a single-game school record with 17 assists in a January win against Georgia.
Ranked No. 17 by ESPN, Washington was second on the team in scoring (12.5 points) while shooting 45% and averaging 3.9 assists. He also committed more than two turnovers in just six of 31 games.
CONCERNS: The outside shot must improve after making just 36 3-pointers and shooting 35% from behind the arc. Durability also became an issue as he missed three games because of injury and twice failed to hit double figures in the final four games, including going 2 for 10 in the stunning upset loss to No. 15 seed St. Peter’s in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
OTHERS TO WATCH
— KENNEDY CHANDLER: The 6-0, 172-pound Tennessee freshman is a first-round prospect with speed and the defensive skills to rank among the nation’s best in steals (2.2). ESPN’s No. 19 draft prospect also shot 38% from 3-point range, including 17 of 30 (56.7%) over seven games in March, and had the best max vertical leap (41.5 inches) of any player measured at the NBA scouting combine.
— DALEN TERRY: The 6-7 sophomore brought size and defense to the Arizona backcourt as a potential first-round prospect while taking a leading role late in the season due to teammate Kerr Kriisa’s ankle injury.
— ANDREW NEMBHARD: The 6-5 senior was a starter in Gonzaga’s run to the 2021 NCAA title game, then averaged 11.8 points and 5.8 assists last season while improving his 3-point shooting (38.3%). Nembhard could be a late first-round pick.
— JEAN MONTERO: The 6-2, 172-pound Montero bypassed the college ranks to play for the Overtime Elite developmental program, and is a second-round prospect.
HADWIN LEADS US OPEN AS MCILROY MAKES STATEMENT WITH CLUBS
BROOKLINE, Mass. (AP) Adam Hadwin can be excused for the opening round of the U.S. Open – the so-called toughest test in golf – giving him a chance to exhale.
Hadwin was home in Canada last week for his own national open, an even bigger deal because the pandemic had canceled the Canadian Open the previous two years and the golf-mad fans brought enormous energy.
Plus, he has been immune from the endless chatter and speculation of the Saudi-backed rival league that consumed attention all week at The Country Club.
Small wonder he walked off Thursday with a 4-under 66 for this best score in 63 rounds at major championships and a one-shot lead over Rory McIlroy and four others.
“Nice to get down here and a couple of days’ rest and get going for this week,” Hadwin said. “Not that the golf course gets any easier. But yeah, in certain instances it definitely felt a little more relaxed than last week.”
Any lingering thoughts of the rival league came from McIlroy – not from anything he said but with the golf he played.
This time, his bold statement came a clean card and a few tough pars required at the U.S. Open. McIlroy didn’t make a bogey until his final hole when he missed the green and flung his club, a brief fit of anger that revealed as much desire as frustration.
He had a 67 that left him in the large chasing pack with four players, all of whom had to go through 36-hole qualifying – Callum Tarren of England, David Lingmerth of Sweden, MJ Daffue of South Africa and Joel Dahmen.
At the opposite end was Phil Mickelson, who celebrated his 52nd birthday – on the golf course, anyway – with a four-putt double bogey on his way to a 78.
Hadwin ran off three straight birdies to finish the front nine in 31, and he only dropped one shot on the back nine for his 66. His previous low score in a major was 68 on three occasions, most recently the first round of the 2020 PGA Championship at Harding Park.
McIlroy has become a leading voice on the PGA Tour over the last few years, particularly with his rebuke of the Saudi-funded series that is disrupting golf. Thursday was a reminder he’s pretty good at his day job, too.
McIlroy made two straight birdies late in his round to become the first player to reach 4 under, only to miss the ninth green and make his only bogey.
At the moment, McIlroy isn’t concerned with his strong stance against LIV Golf.
“It’s been eight years since I won a major,” he said. “And I just want to get my hands on one again.”
Even with a good start, and coming off a victory last week in the Canadian Open, it doesn’t figure to be easy for McIlroy or anyone else. The Country Club might be as accommodating as it gets all week, with moderate wind and cloud cover keeping the sun from making greens crispy and firm.
And the best anyone could do was a 66.
The group at 68 included two-time major winner Dustin Johnson, Justin Rose and Matt Fitzpatrick, who won the U.S. Amateur at Brookline in 2013.
For McIlroy, it was his second straight major – and third time in his last four U.S. Opens – he opened with a score under par. There is confidence in his game for winning last week in Toronto, and there is passion rare for a Thursday unless the game is going badly.
He tried to drive the reachable par-4 fifth hole and caught an awkward lie in the thick collar above a bunker, forcing him to stand in the sand. He hit that into another bunker, and then twice slammed the club into the sand out of frustration. But he managed to save par.
“You’re going to encounter things at a U.S. Open, whether they be lies or stuff like that, that you just don’t really encounter any other week,” he said. “It’s hard not to get frustrated because I’m walking up there going, `Just come back into the bunker.’ The thickest rough on the course is around the edges of the bunker. So I was sort of cursing the USGA whenever I was going up to the ball.”
And then from the ninth fairway, his approach sailed to the right and he flung his club. He couldn’t save par on that one and had to accept a 67 – not a bad start, and no apologies for his few outbursts of emotion.
“Almost to remind yourself sometimes how much it means to you,” he said.
There’s a lot on the table outside of golf, too, with 13 players at the U.S. Open who took part in the Saudi-backed LIV Golf last week, leading the PGA Tour to suspend those members.
McIlroy, the first to shut down talk of rival leagues in 2020, spoke passionately this week about building on the legacy handed down by Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus. For those taking the guaranteed money for 54-hole events, he said it felt like “the easy way out.”
But now it’s time for golf, and there a vibe of relief that focus could turn to a U.S. Open that first came to Brookline more than a century ago. Thursday was more about birdies and bogeys – mostly the latter in a U.S. Open – and a place in history.
No other major is more open – roughly half the 156-man field has to qualify – and it showed. Seven of the top 13 came through qualifiers, including Hadwin. He was first alternate out of the Dallas section and got in when Paul Casey withdrew because of an ailing back.
JOE MUSGROVE STARS AS PADRES BEAT LOWLY CUBS 6-4
CHICAGO (AP) Joe Musgrove pitched seven effective innings in his third straight win, and the San Diego Padres handed the Chicago Cubs their 10th consecutive loss with a 6-4 victory on Thursday.
Musgrove (8-0) permitted two runs and five hits, struck out a season-high nine and walked one. The 6-foot-5 right-hander has allowed two earned runs or fewer in each of his 12 starts this year.
“He’s one of the best pitchers in major league baseball right now, the way he’s moving pitches, the way he’s locating very good,” Cubs catcher Willson Contreras said. “We had a couple chances but weren’t able to come through.”
San Diego improved to 7-2 in its last nine games with its first four-game series sweep of Chicago since Aug. 16-19, 2010, at Wrigley Field. The Padres’ 41-24 record matches their best 65-game start since 1998, when the club won the NL West and advanced to the World Series.
The Cubs have been outscored 90-28 during their longest slide since they lost 12 consecutive games from Aug. 5-16. They have held leads in seven of the 10 straight losses.
“I don’t try to find similarities, but this one just feels a little like we don’t have that guy coming back around to stop things,” Cubs manager David Ross said.
Cubs rookie Christopher Morel led off the first with his second homer in as many games, but Matt Swarmer (1-2) was knocked out in the fourth.
San Diego went ahead to stay with three runs in the second. Nomar Mazara hit a two-run drive for his first homer with the Padres, and Jake Cronenworth added an RBI double.
“I’ve been feeling pretty good at the plate, but I was looking for that, too, for that first (home run),” Mazara said. “Finally happened, and I’m grateful for it.”
Mazara has five hits and seven RBIs in his last three games.
“A pleasant surprise,” said acting manager Ryan Flaherty, who is running the Padres while Bob Melvin is sidelined due to COVID-19 protocols.
Manny Machado made it 4-2 with an RBI single in the fourth, and Jurickson Profar homered off David Robertson in the eighth. Machado had three hits.
Musgrove allowed one hit after Morel’s single with two out in the second. His 1.59 ERA trails Tony Gonsolin of the Dodgers for the NL lead. Musgrove improved to 3-0 with a sparkling 0.82 ERA in three starts on five days’ rest this season.
Taylor Rogers allowed a run in the ninth before finishing his 20th save in 23 chances.
Ian Happ had an RBI double for Chicago (23-40), and Andrelton Simmons also drove in a run. Swarmer walked five in 3 2/3 innings.
The Padres improved their major league-best road record to 24-11.
SUPPORT FOR ROSS
Cubs President of Baseball Operations Jed Hoyer reinforced his support for Ross amid the losing streak.
“I think he’s done a great job,” Hoyer said. “Our conversation is how to make guys better.”
Hoyer wouldn’t say whether attempts to build the “next great Cubs team” have regressed. “I’ll have a better answer for that later in the season,” Hoyer said.
TRANSACTIONS
Padres: LHP Adrian Morejon was activated from the COVID-19 injured list. LHP Ryan Weathers was optioned to Triple-A El Paso.
Cubs: RHP Adrian Sampson was selected from Triple-A Iowa. LHP Eric Stout was designated for assignment.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Cubs: RHP Marcus Stroman (shoulder inflammation) and LHPs Wade Miley (shoulder strain) and Drew Smyly (oblique strain) are on the 15-day IL, and Hoyer said Stroman is the closest to returning, although Stroman hasn’t resumed throwing yet. “Hopefully weeks,” Hoyer said of his return.
UP NEXT
Padres: LHP MacKenzie Gore (4-2, 2.50 ERA) faces the Rockies on Friday night at Coors Field. Gore allowed six runs in 2 1/3 innings of a 6-2 loss to the Rockies on Saturday.
Cubs: RHP Keegan Thompson (6-2, 3.67 ERA) pitches Friday against the Braves at Wrigley. Thompson was tagged for five runs and recorded two outs in an 18-4 loss to the New York Yankees on Sunday.
RAMÍREZ, GUARDIANS WIN 4TH IN A ROW, BEAT SLOPPY ROCKIES 4-2
DENVER (AP) Jose Ramirez doubled for his eighth straight game with an extra-base hit and the Cleveland Guardians matched a season high with their fourth win in a row, beating the sloppy Colorado Rockies 4-2.
Ramirez hit an opposite-field grounder that hugged the third-base line against an exaggerated shift in the first inning. He is the first major leaguer with extra-base hits in eight consecutive games since Cincinnati’s Joey Votto in 2020.
The Guardians have won 13 of 16.
“We come out of here feeling good, but there was some closeness to every game,” Cleveland manager Terry Francona said. “It’s not always perfect, but they keep plugging. They keep trying to pick each other up. It makes for a fun dugout.”
Amed Rosario extended his hitting streak to 10 games with an RBI single to cap a three-run third inning for a 3-0 lead. He is 18 for 42 (.429) during his hitting string and was 6 for 13 with three extra-base hits in the series at Coors Field.
Triston McKenzie (4-5) gave up one run in six innings. He worked around seven hits, striking out six and walking one. He gave up two hits in each of the first two innings but did not allow a run, striking out three.
Emmnauel Clase earned saves in all three games, and each one ended with a double-play grounder. He used a slider to get Brendan Rodgers to hit into a double play with runners on first and third to finish the series.
“The key is to execute those uncomfortable pitches and also be confident that you can execute those pitches,” Clase, who has 14 saves, said through an interpreter. “I know my stuff. I know the stuff that can get that pitch when the situation allows.”
Said McKenzie: “After the two (game-ending double plays), I was like, oh, please, we need a third just to make it a clean sweep.”
Brian Serven, who tripled, and Connor Joe each had a career-high four hits for Colorado, which has lost 10 of 14. Colorado had 11 hits but was 1 for 9 with runners in scoring position.
Joe singled in Severn to make it 3-1 in the fifth. But the Rockies could only get C.J. Cron’s sacrifice fly after loading the bases with no outs in the seventh.
“They are getting paid a lot of money to make good pitches, and they did that,” Serven said. “They made good pitches when they had to. It was a tough one.”
The Rockies committed two errors leading to unearned runs in the second and seventh innings and have at least one error in their last 13 home games, the longest streak in franchise history. Colorado has made a major league-high 54 errors.
Chad Kuhl (4-4) gave up two earned runs in five innings.
PRO BOWL QBs TAKE BP
Once and current Denver Broncos quarterbacks Peyton Manning and Russell Wilson took batting practice before the game while filming a segment of “Peyton’s Places” for ESPN+.
Wilson, who was selected by the Rockies in the fourth round of 2010 draft and played two seasons in their minor league system, hit several balls over the left field fence.
“It’s a real swing,” Colorado manager Bud Black said. “It’s a real athlete. Many scouts thought he was headed to be in the major leagues.”
The pair have been picked to 23 Pro Bowls, 14 for Manning.
BRYANT HITS ON THE FIELD
Colorado outfielder Kris Bryant hit off a pitching machine during an extended batting practice session before the game, his third hitting session this week.
“He’s getting very close to a rehab assignment . closer than you think,” Black said.
Bryant was placed on the injured list for the second time this season May 25 after previously missing 3 1/2 weeks with the back issue. This rehab assignment likely will be longer than his first, which lasted two days, Black said.
Bryant is hitting .270 with no homers and four RBIs in 17 games after signing a seven-year, $164 million free agent deal March 18.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Guardians: DH/OF Franmil Reyes (hamstring) was 3 for 4 with a two-run homer as the DH at Triple-A Columbus on Thursday in the second game of his rehab assignment. Reyes could play the outfield this weekend at Columbus, Guardians manager Terry Francona said. . After throwing 76 pitches in a rehab game at Columbus on Wednesday, RHP Aaron Civale (glute) is on track to rejoin the team during the three-game series in Minnesota beginning Tuesday. … LHP Konnor Pilkington was optioned to Columbus after starting Wednesday.
Rockies: INF/OF Garrett Hampson was scratched from the starting lineup after being placed in the COVID-19 protocol following a morning test. “A couple of years ago, we shut down games,” Black said. “I think we are figuring out how to stay as safe as possible.” . INF/OF Sean Bouchard was recalled from Triple-A Albuquerque to fill the roster spot.
UP NEXT
Guardians: RHP Zach Plesac (2-4, 4.70 ERA) is to face Dodgers LHP Clayton Kershaw (4-1, 2.12) on Friday in the opener of a three-game series to conclude the Guardians’ six-game interleague road trip.
Rockies: LHP Kyle Freeland (2-5, 4.39 ERA) is to oppose San Diego LHP MacKenzie Gore (4-2, 2.50) to begin a three-game series at Coors Field on Friday. Freeland beat Gore 6-2 in the second game of a doubleheader in San Diego last Saturday.
A’S HOLD OFF BOSOX, AVOID SWEEP FOR JUST 2ND WIN IN 15 GAMES
BOSTON (AP) Paul Blackburn continued his road success by pitching sharply into the sixth inning, Christian Bethancourt hit a two-run single and the Oakland Athletics held off the Boston Red Sox 4-3 Thursday for just their second win in 15 games.
Chad Pinder added an RBI single for Oakland, which closed its nine-game road trip at 2-7 and avoided being swept in a three-game series by Boston for the second time this month.
“Earlier in the day I got a question about this team’s fight,” A’s manager Mark Kotsay said. “If they didn’t show up and fight today, I don’t know what they did. Long road trip, obviously, not a successful one.”
J.D. Martinez had three singles and drove in a run for Boston. The Red Sox, who had won 11 of 13, left eight runners on in the first four innings and 13 overall.
Boston star Rafael Devers went 0 for 2 with a pair of walks and was hit by a pitch, ending his streak of four straight games with a home run.
Leading 4-1 in the eighth, Oakland third baseman Jonah Bride made a two-out throwing error that let a run score. Martinez followed with an RBI single that second baseman Tony Kemp stopped with a dive in shallow center, keeping the tying run from scoring.
Blackburn (6-2) gave up a run and eight hits, with four strikeouts and two walks in 5 1/3 innings, slightly increasing his road ERA from 0.91 to 1.00. He entered with the majors’ lowest ERA away from home.
“I am,” he said, smiling, when asked if he was aware of his road ERA. “There’s just something about coming into a place and quieting a crowd. It’s just what I’ve always enjoyed.”
“Playing here, I know the fans are going to be great. I know it’s a huge baseball town, they’re going to have this place packed and people are going to be chirping me in the bullpen,” he said. “Just being able to hear those comments and kind of prove people wrong, pitching on the road is a different beast in this game.”
Dany Jimenez got four outs for his 11th save.
After scoring just two total runs in the opening two games of the series, the Athletics grabbed a 3-0 edge in the third against Rich Hill (2-4), taking advantage of a gift double when second baseman Trevor Story appeared to call for Cristian Pache’s one-out pop in shallow center, but had it fall behind him.
Boston manager Alex Cora said center fielder Jarren Duran should have called for it.
“We didn’t make a play, that flyball,” Red Sox manager Alex Cora said. “Jarren needs to take charge on that one. … From there, they score the runs.”
Pache scored on Pinder’s single. Bethancourt lined his two-run hit down the left-field line after Ramon Laureano doubled.
Story went 0 for 5 with three strikeouts, dropping his average to .218.
“A little more ups and downs than usual,” he said. “I’m looking forward to being more consistent, for sure.”
Hill allowed four runs, three earned, in 5 2/3 innings.
SALE DAY
Lefty Chris Sale threw 32 pitches in a two-inning simulated game off the Fenway Park mound in the morning. Cora was impressed by a sharp changeup, a pitch the 33-year-old worked on during the offseason.
Sale has been sidelined since spring training after suffering a fracture in his rib cage.
NIGHT PLANS
Cora said a “lot” of guys were going over to TD Garden Thursday night to watch the Boston Celtics play Golden State in Game 6 of the NBA Finals. He also said Cardinals star Albert Pujols arranged for a luxury box for St. Louis’ players. The Cardinals play at Fenway this weekend.
TWO GOOD, ONE BAD
Red Sox 3B Devers made a diving grab of Sean Murphy’s liner to open the sixth and followed that by going behind the bag to snag Matt Davidson’s grounder before firing across to first base. But he also had Elvis Andrus’ two-out grounder go through his legs for a run-scoring error.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Athletics: RF Stephen Piscotty (left calf strain) has resumed baseball activities.
Red Sox: Devers was hit on the right elbow by a fastball from A.J. Puk but stayed in the game. . OF/INF Kike Hernandez, on the injured list with a right hip flexor, was in the box for Sale’s sim game but didn’t swing the bat. Cora said he’s getting close to a rehabilitation assignment.
UP NEXT
Athletics: RHP Frankie Montas (3-6, 3.40 ERA) is slated to start on Friday night when they face Kansas City in the opener of a six-game homestand.
Red Sox: RHP Michael Wacha (4-1, 2.33) is set to face his old team when Boston opens a three-game series against St. Louis Friday at Fenway. The 30-year-old Wacha spent his first seven seasons with the Cardinals, including 2013 when they lost the World Series to Boston. RHP Adam Wainwright (5-4, 2.84) is in line for St. Louis.
MULLINS HAS 3 HITS AS ORIOLES POUND GAUSMAN, BEAT JAYS 10-2
TORONTO (AP) Cedric Mullins had three hits, Tyler Wells pitched six innings to win back-to-back starts for the first time, and the Orioles pounded former Baltimore pitcher Kevin Gausman in a 10-2 win over the Toronto Blue Jays on Thursday.
Wells (4-4) allowed one run and five hits, completing six innings in consecutive starts for the first time in his career to help the Orioles split the four-game series.
“We took really good at-bats off Gausman,” Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said. “I was really happy with the pressure we put on them, and making him come in the strike zone. We just jumped on him early. It was great.”
Austin Hays hit his ninth home run, a solo shot off Matt Gage in the eighth, and Rougned Odor had two hits and two RBIs as Baltimore won for the fourth time in six games.
“I wasn’t hitting my spots,” Gausman said. “My pitches just didn’t really have anything today. Not acceptable, obviously.”
Facing the team that drafted him for the first time, Gausman (5-6) allowed a season-worst seven runs, five earned, and seven hits in 2 1/3 innings, his shortest outing of 2022.
“I was really excited to face them, honestly,” Gausman said. “Baltimore has always been a special place in my heart. I was there for a long time. I really wanted to go out there and shove it to them, to be honest. Not what I envisioned in my first start against my former team.”
Gausman, who lost his third straight start, hadn’t allowed more than three earned runs in any of his 12 previous starts.
“He wasn’t commanding all his pitches,” Blue Jays manager Charlie Montoyo said. “They did a good job laying off his splitter and slider. It seemed like they were hunting for the fastball and they got him.”
Baltimore selected Gausman with the fourth overall pick in 2012 and he spent parts of six seasons with the Orioles, going 39-51 with a 4.22 ERA in 150 games before a deadline trade to Atlanta in 2018.
Toronto’s Teoscar Hernandez homered for the second straight game, a solo blast off Wells in the fourth that ended a run of nine straight batters retired.
Blue Jays shortstop Bo Bichette left after seven innings, one inning after fouling a pitch off his right foot. The defensive changes saw slugger Vladimir Guerrero Jr. move from first base to third base for the final two innings. He didn’t have any chances at third.
Mullins led off the first inning with a single, stole second, and scored on a fielder’s-choice grounder by Adley Rutschman.
The Orioles broke it open with a six-run, seven-hit third, matching their biggest inning of the season. Mullins started it with a single, and third baseman Santiago Espinal made a two-base error on Hays’ grounder, leading to Ryan Mountcastle’s two-run single.
Rutschman doubled Mountcastle to third, Odor hit a sacrifice fly, and Tyler Nevin and Ryan McKenna hit RBI doubles on consecutive pitches to bring Gausman’s outing to an ugly finish.
“For whatever reason, I couldn’t figure it out and couldn’t make the adjustment,” Gausman said.
David Phelps came on and retired Robinson Chirinos, then gave up an RBI single to Jorge Mateo and Mullins’ second single of the inning before getting Hays to fly out.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Orioles: 1B Trey Mancini (right hand) sat for the third straight game.
Blue Jays: 3B Matt Chapman (left wrist) was not available. Chapman missed three games earlier this week but played Tuesday and Wednesday, going 3 for 8 with two homers. … OF George Springer got the day off.
TWICE AS NICE
Before Mullins did it Thursday, Mountcastle was the last Orioles player with a two-hit inning, doing it on Sept. 8, 2021 against Kansas City.
FULL SET
Baltimore was the only big league team Gausman had not faced before Thursday.
ROSTER MOVES
Baltimore optioned struggling LHP Bruce Zimmermann to Triple-A Norfolk and recalled RHP Michael Baumann from Norfolk. Zimmermann has more home runs allowed (17) than strikeouts (16) over his past seven starts. … Hyde said substitute players OF Kyle Stowers and RHP Rico Garcia will return to Triple-A Norfolk on Friday, with OF Anthony Santander and LHP Keegan Akin being activated off the restricted list.
UP NEXT
Orioles: RHP Dean Kremer (1-1, 3.86 ERA) starts Friday as Baltimore returns home to begin a three-game series against Tampa Bay. RHP Shane Baz (0-1, 19.29) starts for the Rays.
Blue Jays: RHP Ross Stripling (3-1, 3.14) starts Friday as Toronto begins a three-game series against the New York Yankees. LHP Jordan Montgomery (2-1, 2.70) goes for the Yankees.
RIZZO HR IN 9TH, YANKS EDGE RAYS FOR 14TH STRAIGHT HOME WIN
NEW YORK (AP) Anthony Rizzo hit a solo home run with one out in the ninth inning and the streaking New York Yankees beat the Tampa Bay Rays 2-1 Thursday night for their 14th straight home win.
The Yankees have their longest home winning string since taking 15 in a row at the original Yankee Stadium on Aug. 16-Sept. 26, 1961, when Roger Maris was chasing Babe Ruth’s single-season home run record.
Rizzo’s 16th homer gave the Yankees their seventh straight win overall and eighth series sweep this year. New York became the sixth team since 1930 and the first since the 2001 Seattle Mariners to win at least 47 of its first 63 games.
“It’s impressive,” Rizzo said. “We’re winning games in a lot of different ways, which is really good.”
Rizzo gave New York its eighth walk-off win of the season when he lifted a 2-1 sinker against Shawn Armstrong (0-1) into the right-center seats. Rizzo watched the ball soar into the seats, dropped his bat and was met with a wild celebration at home plate.
“Just a great at-bat by Anthony there,” manager Aaron Boone said. “Getting into a good count and leaving some pitches that he should and then getting into one.”
It was Rizzo’s fifth career game-ending homer and first since July 26, 2018, for the Chicago Cubs against Arizona. The Yankees have four walk-off wins since their last home loss on May 23.
Rizzo hit a tying single in the sixth after the Yankees were no-hit into the fifth. He hit his game-winner homer after nearly homering in the first when his flyball was caught at the warning track.
Francisco Mejia homered for Tampa Bay, which dropped to 2-5 in the season series with the Yankees. The Rays also lost for the 10th time in the last 16 meetings with New York and dropped to 1-5 on their nine-game trip.
“We’re frustrated, there’s no doubt losing three ballgames here especially with the way we pitched,” Tampa Bay manager Kevin Cash said. “We really threw the ball really well. We’re going to get out of this. We’d like it sooner or later but we’d find a way to stay together through these tough times.”
Michael King (4-1) struck out two and was aided by right fielder Marwin Gonzalez’s diving catch on Yandy Diaz’s liner in the ninth to set it up for Rizzo’s drive.
New York spot starter Clarke Schmidt allowed one hit in three innings in place of Luis Severino. Ryan Weber followed Schmidt and allowed Mejia’s homer among two hits in 3 2/3 innings, New York’s longest relief outing this year.
“Awesome, Clarke I couldn’t have drawn it up better,” Boone said.
Severino was placed on the COVID-19 injured list and Schmidt found out he was making his third career start Thursday afternoon. After the game, Boone said Severino had tested negative and would accompany the team for a weekend series in Toronto.
“It’s hard to prepare for something like that,” Schmidt said. “It’s kind of like I treat it like almost getting called from the bullpen and just coming into the game.”
Jalen Beeks opened the game for Tampa Bay and pitched two perfect innings after originally scheduled starter Drew Rasmussen was placed on the injured list Wednesday because of a strained left hamstring. Matt Wisler went the next two innings.
The Yankees got their first hit when Aaron Hicks singled to right off Brooks Raley.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Rays: OF Kevin Kiermaier is day-to-day with a sore left calf and Achilles that started to bother him last week. . SS Wander Franco, on the IL since May 31 with a strained right quadriceps could be the DH in an FCL game Saturday. . C Mike Zunino, on the IL since Friday with left shoulder inflammation, will get a Botox shot in his neck. Cash said Zunino may have thoracic outlet syndrome but will not know for three to six days. . 1B Brandon Lowe, on the IL since May 16 with a stress reaction in his lower back, felt discomfort taking swings and will be shut down until Monday.
Yankees: RHP Domingo German, sidelined since March 18, with right shoulder impingement, has been cleared to start a minor league rehab assignment.
UP NEXT
Rays: RHP Shane Baz (0-1, 19.29 ERA) starts Friday in the opener of a three-game series at Baltimore against Dean Kremer (1-1, 3.86).
Yankees: LHP Jordan Montgomery (2-1, 2.70) opens a three-game series in Toronto against RHP Ross Stripling (3-1, 3.14).
DURAN HITS BASES-CLEARING TRIPLE IN 9TH, TEXAS BEATS TIGERS
DETROIT (AP) Ezequiel Duran hit a three-run triple with two out in the ninth inning to give the Texas Rangers a 3-1 win over the Detroit Tigers on Thursday night.
“That kid has ice water in his veins,” Rangers manager Chris Woodward said. “The Tigers have a great closer who is throwing 100 mph, and Ezequiel has no fear, even in a spot like that.”
Tigers closer Gregory Soto loaded the bases on two walks and a hit batter before Duran hit a ball just inside first base and into the right-field corner. All three runners scored, giving Soto his second blown save of the season.
“I’ve been dreaming about this for a long time,” said the 23-year-old Duran, who is hitting .319 since making his major-league debut on June 4. “I have a lot of faith in myself, and I was ready for anything he threw.”
Dennis Santana (3-2) picked up the win with a scoreless eighth inning, and Joe Barlow pitched the ninth for his 12th save.
Soto’s collapse, which led to Detroit’s fifth straight loss, wasted seven scoreless innings by Detroit starter Beau Brieske.
“Gregory lives on the edge some of the time and today it was a bit too much,” Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said. “Beau did a great job of attacking hitters and staying ahead in the counts.”
The Tigers have been outscored 36-7 in the losing streak, and are averaging 2.68 runs – the worst mark by any team since World War II.
“There’s no secret that we aren’t scoring runs, so we have to try to do anything we can to score every run possible,” Hinch said.
Texas starter Martin Perez extended his unbeaten streak to 11 games. He allowed one run on eight hits in seven innings.
“The reason I care about that streak is because I don’t have to have games where I cost us the game,” Perez said. “Today, I kept us close, and the kid did it again. I wish I could have had that kind of poise when I was his age.”
The Tigers had the first good scoring chance, as Miguel Cabrera singled in the third with two out and Eric Haase at second. Haase tried to score, but was easily thrown out by right-fielder Adolis Garcia.
“Garcia obviously has a great arm, but again, we have to do anything we can right now to score a run,” Hinch said.
Jonah Heim bunted against the shift for a single to start the fifth. Nathaniel Lowe followed with a hit, but Duran lined to shortstop Javy Baez, who doubled Heim off second.
Brieske walked two batters in the sixth, but picked Marcus Semien off first and got out of the inning thanks to Spencer Torkelson reaching deep into the Rangers’ dugout to grab Garcia’s foul pop.
Baez’s ground-rule double gave the Tigers runners on second and third in the bottom of the sixth, and Grossman ended Detroit’s 22-inning scoreless streak with a sacrifice fly to right.
ROSTER MOVES
The Rangers activated RHP Jose Leclerc from the 60-day injured list and LHP Brett Martin from the COVID-19 list, with RHP Tyson Miller and LHP Koby Allard headed to Triple-A Round Rock.
OFFENSIVE OUTAGE
The only other team to average fewer than 2.75 runs per game in the last 100 years is the 1942 Philadelphia Phillies, who scored 2.61 while going 42-109.
UP NEXT
The teams continue their four-game series on Friday, with Detroit ace Tarik Skubal (5-3, 2.71) facing Jon Gray (1-3, 4.85).
MIKE TROUT HOMERS, SHOHEI OHTANI PITCHES ANGELS PAST M’S 4-1
SEATTLE (AP) Mike Trout continued to torment Seattle with his 48th and 49th career home runs against his division foe, Shohei Ohtani tossed six innings of three-hit ball and the Los Angeles Angels beat the Mariners 4-1 on Thursday night.
Trout has feasted on Seattle pitching throughout his career and this season appears to be no different. In the first meeting this year between the teams, Trout hit a pair of two-run homers to account for all of the Angels’ offense.
Trout’s first homer came off Seattle starter George Kirby in the third inning. His second came in the seventh against reliever Sergio Romo. Both times, Seattle had two outs in the inning but each time Taylor Ward singled to bring Trout to the plate.
Trout has 18 homers on the season and 30 in his career in Seattle, the most of any visiting player at T-Mobile Park. The 49 career homers against the Mariners is second-most all-time, trailing only Rafael Palmeiro, who had 52 against Seattle.
It was also his 24th career multi-homer game, seven against Seattle.
A night after breaking up Tyler Anderson’s no-hit bid with a triple in the ninth inning, Ohtani was the one shutting down batters. Ohtani allowed a pair of singles to Eugenio Suarez and a base hit to Adam Frazier but otherwise stymied Seattle’s slumping offense.
Ohtani (5-4) struck out six and won his second straight decision. Raisel Igelsias was the last of three relievers, pitching the ninth for his 13th save.
Seattle snapped a streak of 17 scoreless innings on J.P. Crawford’s RBI double in the eighth, but still scored three runs or less for the sixth time in nine games.
Kirby (1-2) continued Seattle’s stretch of strong starting pitching getting zero help from the Mariners’ anemic offense. Kirby scattered six hits over six innings with six strikeouts.
Over the past five games, Seattle’s starting pitching has allowed five earned runs over 30 2/3 innings pitched. The Mariners are 1-4 during that span.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Angels: 3B Anthony Rendon was feeling better ahead of the game and was in consideration to be a pinch-hit option, interim manager Phil Nevin said. Rendon left Tuesday’s game against the Dodgers after aggravating a right wrist injury. … SS Andrew Velazquez had the day off until the ninth inning. Nevin said he wants to get Velazquez some occasional rest.
Mariners: 1B Ty France got a day off after feeling some general soreness. … 1B Evan White restarted his rehab assignment with Triple-A Tacoma. White had sports hernia surgery in the spring and had a first stint in the minors shut down for a while.
UP NEXT
Angels: RHP Michael Lorenzen (6-3, 3.45) goes for his second straight win after throwing 6 1/3 innings and allowing one run in his last start against the New York Mets. Lorenzen has allowed three earned runs or less in seven of 10 starts.
Mariners: LHP Robbie Ray (5-6, 4.52) is coming off his best start of the season in his last outing against Boston. Ray threw seven shutout innings allowing three hits against Boston but came away with a no decision.
SCHWARBER HITS 2 HOMERS AS PHILS THUMP NATS, 12TH WIN IN 14
WASHINGTON (AP) Kyle Schwarber homered twice, Zack Wheeler won his third consecutive start, and the Philadelphia Phillies routed the Washington Nationals 10-1 in the opener of a five-game series on Thursday night.
Philadelphia, which scored seven unearned runs in the third inning, has won 12 of its last 14 and improved to 11-2 under interim manager Rob Thomson.
“You have to be able to jump on mistakes, and we did it tonight where we put up seven with two outs,” Schwarber said. “It was really cool to see.”
The last-place Nationals have lost five in a row and eight of their last 10. They have dropped nine in a row to the Phillies dating to last season, their longest skid against their NL East rival since a nine-game slide in 2009.
Wheeler (6-3) allowed one run and four hits in seven innings while striking out three. The right-hander improved to 3-0 with a 1.42 ERA in three starts this month.
The Phillies blew the game open with a two-out rally in the third that started when Washington second baseman Cesar Hernandez misplayed Yairo Munoz’s sharp grounder up the middle. Schwarber then drilled a 1-0 fastball from Patrick Corbin into the center field seats.
Things spiraled from there for Corbin (3-9), who yielded a double and a walk before Nick Castellanos and J.T. Realmuto delivered consecutive RBI singles. Both scored on Didi Gregorius’ double, and Gregorius came around for the inning’s seventh unearned run when first baseman Josh Bell sailed a throw to Corbin on Alec Bohm’s grounder.
“It was a tough inning there, for sure,” Bell said. “It seemed like everything that could go wrong did.”
Schwarber led off the fourth with a solo shot to right. It was his 17th career multi-homer game and his third in 2022, his first season with Philadelphia. Schwarber has hit seven home runs this month after hitting 16 for Washington last June.
“You saw it last year, all the home runs in that short period of time,” Thomson said. “When he’s locked in, it’s pretty special.”
Corbin allowed nine runs, two earned, and eight hits in 3 1/3 innings. The struggling lefty’s ERA actually dropped from 6.65 to 6.59.
Munoz led off the eighth with a homer, his first since Sept. 4, 2020.
Bell homered in the fourth for Washington.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Phillies: Thomson said INF Johan Camargo (right knee strain) will begin a rehabilitation assignment Friday at Triple-A Lehigh Valley.
Nationals: OF Juan Soto (bruised right knee) returned to the lineup after a two-game absence.
FIRST OF MANY
Thursday marked the first meeting of the season between the clubs, but they’ll be familiar foes the rest of the year. Philadelphia will play 19 of its last 99 games against the Nationals, while Washington gets 19 of its final 97 games against the Phillies.
UNUSUAL RELIEF
With a doubleheader looming Friday, Washington used utility man Ehire Adrianza to pitch the ninth. He allowed a leadoff walk before retiring the next three hitters, including a strikeout of Bohm. Adrianza is the second position player to pitch for the Nationals; Dee Strange-Gordon worked an inning on April 12.
THE TRADITION CONTINUES
Former National Bryce Harper was once again booed by the smattering of fans in attendance before each plate appearance, a regular occurrence in Washington since he signed a 13-year, $330 million deal with Philadelphia in 2019. Harper, who played his first seven seasons in Washington and was the 2015 NL MVP as a National, went 1 for 4 with a walk and two runs.
UP NEXT
Phillies: LHPs Ranger Suarez (4-4, 4.40 ERA) and Bailey Falter (0-2, 4.20) are set to start in a day-night doubleheader that includes a makeup of a game postponed by the lockout.
Nationals: RHP Joan Adon (1-10, 6.95) will be added as the 27th man and start the first game of the doubleheader. RHP Paolo Espino (0-1, 2.08) gets the nod in the nightcap.
CANHA, PLUMMER HELP METS TO 5-4 COMEBACK WIN OVER BREWERS
NEW YORK (AP) One of the only trouble spots for the New York Mets this season has been keeping their pitchers healthy.
Finding ways to win, however, hasn’t been a problem.
Mark Canha hit a two-run homer and the Mets threw out the potential tying run at the plate in the ninth inning Thursday night to preserve a 5-4 comeback victory over the scuffling Milwaukee Brewers.
After both starting pitchers exited with injuries in the middle innings, the Mets took advantage of a costly error by first baseman Rowdy Tellez to score the go-ahead run in the eighth.
J.D. Davis led off with a single against Brent Suter (1-1) and dashed to third when Tellez – Davis’ high school teammate – fielded Luis Guillorme’s grounder and made a wild throw into left field trying to get a force at second.
“It was a play that I make 1,000 out of 1,000 times and I got lazy and I cost my team the win,” Tellez said. “And that’s something that I’m going to have to roll with. I messed up.”
One out later, pinch-runner Starling Marte scored from third on Nick Plummer’s RBI groundout when Tellez threw to second and got the force this time.
Hunter Renfroe singled to start the ninth against Mets closer Edwin Diaz. After a strikeout, pinch-hitter Tyrone Taylor looped a soft double into shallow right field and Renfroe tried to score all the way from first.
Plummer tracked down the ball at the low retaining wall and made a one-hop throw to first baseman Pete Alonso, who relayed to catcher Tomas Nido in time for him to tag Renfroe in the face as he slid by.
“Really stoked that we made the play in time,” Alonso said. “That was huge, and then Sugar did his job shutting the door.”
Brewers manager Craig Counsell said he thought third base coach Jason Lane made the right call in sending Renfroe – even with one out and Christian Yelich up next.
“You’ve got to go. In their mind, they’ve got to go,” Alonso said. “Renfroe, he’s a really good baserunner. He was hauling around the bases and at that point you’ve got to do whatever you can to tie the game.”
With Taylor on third, Diaz struck out Yelich for his 13th save.
“We got lucky there because then I’ve got to face Yeli with one out, man on second and the situation changes,” Diaz said. “Two outs I said, `This game’s mine,’ so I just made my pitches.”
Drew Smith (1-1) worked a scoreless eighth. Jeff McNeil and Nido had RBI singles for the Mets, who erased a 4-1 deficit and improved the National League’s best record to 42-23.
Yelich hit a leadoff homer in a four-run fourth for the Brewers that included Omar Narvaez’s two-run single. Milwaukee lost two of three in the series and has dropped 10 of 12 overall.
“It’s my fault we lost,” Tellez said.
Mets right-hander Tylor Megill left in the fourth with right shoulder discomfort. It was his second start since spending four weeks on the injured list with right biceps inflammation.
“Pretty curious to see what it is,” said Megill, the rotation replacement for injured ace Jacob deGrom. “It’s very strange. It’s more so in the deceleration and not the actual throwing itself.”
Megill will have an MRI on Friday.
“We’re hoping to get lucky there,” manager Buck Showalter said.
Canha’s homer off left-hander Aaron Ashby in the fifth tied it 4-all. One batter later, Ashby was removed as a precaution because of left forearm tightness.
“Felt like I could’ve kept throwing,” he said.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Brewers: RHP Brandon Woodruff, experiencing numbness in his three middle fingers due to Raynaud’s syndrome, is scheduled to throw about 50 pitches in a rehab start Saturday for Triple-A Nashville. Counsell said Woodruff will need multiple rehab outings before rejoining the rotation. … RHP Trevor Gott (right groin) is scheduled to throw the first of multiple bullpens in Cincinnati this weekend.
Mets: 3B Eduardo Escobar was unavailable. “Non-workplace event, is the way they put it,” Showalter said. “We’ll see how he is tomorrow. That’s all I can really say, legally.” … Marte (bruised right forearm) was out of the starting lineup after getting hit by a pitch Wednesday night. He said he should be back Friday. … RHP Max Scherzer threw 50 pitches in a simulated game as he recovers from a left oblique strain. If he keeps feeling good, the three-time Cy Young Award winner plans to make a minor league rehab start next Tuesday – and it’s at least possible he could return to the Mets after that. … C James McCann (left hamate fracture) went 0 for 4 with three strikeouts and caught six innings for Double-A Binghamton in his first rehab game.
BABY ON BOARD
Brewers All-Star closer Josh Hader and his wife, Maria, welcomed their first child Wednesday, named Lucas Alexander. Hader is on the paternity list and expected to miss another day.
UP NEXT
Brewers: LHP Eric Lauer (5-2, 3.36 ERA) starts Friday at Cincinnati against rookie RHP Hunter Greene (3-7, 5.10) in the opener of a three-game series. Lauer was roughed up for eight runs, equaling his career high, and seven hits over five innings last Saturday in an 8-6 loss at Washington.
Mets: RHP Carlos Carrasco (7-2, 3.93) pitches Friday night against Miami in the opener of a four-game series.
MANFRED SAYS RAYS, A’S NEED NEW BALLPARK DEALS SOON
NEW YORK (AP) Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred said the Tampa Bay Rays and Oakland Athletics need to reach new ballpark deals soon and left open the possibility of considering relocation if agreements are not struck.
“There is urgency with respect to Tampa,” Manfred said Thursday during a news conference following an owners meeting. “There needs to be a resolution in the Tampa Bay region for the Rays.”
Tampa Bay’s lease at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida, where the team has played since its inaugural season in 1998, expires after the 2027 season. The Rays said in January that MLB had rejected the team’s plan to split its season between Florida and Montreal.
“Obviously, the end of that lease is a hard deadline, but you need to take into account that stadiums take a little bit of time to build, right?” Manfred said. “So we are getting to the point where wherever it is in the region that has an interest in having 162 baseball games, they need to get to it, get with the club – I know the Rays are anxious to get something done – and see if a deal can be made.”
Asked whether he was considering relocation, Manfred responded: “Right now, I’m focused on Tampa,” putting emphasis on “right now” and later adding he was referring to the region, not the specific side of the bay. “I think a great man once said, all good things must end at some point. And but right now we’re focused on Tampa.”
The Athletics have played at the Coliseum since 1968 and their lease expires after the 2024 season. The A’s have proposed a new ballpark at Howard Terminal and are working with Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf to gain the necessary approvals.
“There is really significant activity in Oakland. The political process has moved along significantly,” Manfred said. “I met with Mayor Schaaf last week. She has done a really good job at moving the process forward in Oakland. But as you all know, California political processes are their own sort of animal. There’s work to do on the Oakland side. I think the A’s prudently have continued to pursue the Las Vegas alternative. We like Las Vegas as a market. Again, it’s in the same category as Tampa. We need a solution in both those markets and the time has come for that solution.”
Oakland has averaged a major league-low of 8,283 fans this season and the Rays are 25th at 13,740, also ahead of Miami, Cleveland and Pittsburgh.
On other topics:
-The new competition committee will evaluate a pitch clock and limits on defensive shifts, and Manfred hopes for a recommendation ahead of spring training,
-MLB approved the sale of a minority stake in the Cleveland Guardians to David Blitzer, co-owner of the NBA’s Philadelphia 76ers and the NHL’s New Jersey Devils. Blitzer will have the right to increase his stake to a controlling interest in several years.
-MLB hopes to increase digital offerings of games in an era of declining cable viewers.
“We are concerned about our reach,” Manfred said. “We think that we have fans who want to watch baseball, who don’t feel that they have an adequate opportunity to do that.”
Apple is streaming Friday night games this season and Peacock is streaming Sunday morning games starting at 11:30 a.m. and noon EDT.
“We see the Apple and Peacock undertakings as part of the effort to respond to a rapidly changing media environment,” Manfred said. “Having a relationship with Peacock and more broadly with NBC – important for us over the long haul. And Apple’s an innovator, and we need to be innovative in our efforts to deliver games to fans on platforms that they use and visit frequently.”
-On the proposed international draft. The labor contract set a July 25 deadline to reach an agreement with the players’ association.
“Our concern and I think this has been well documented over time, is situations where clubs make commitments to players before they’re technically age-eligible to sign,” Manfred said. “There are individuals involved in those negotiations that take a really significant piece of the compensation that really should be going to the player, off the top.”
Manfred said MLB has sent millions to fight corruption in the Dominican Republic.
“It’s easy to say that it’s the people that cut the check that are engaged in corruption, but somebody’s taking the check, right?” he said.
-On the new minor league housing policy.
“It’s been difficult because of housing shortages, availability of the kind of housing you want,” he said. “We’ll get better at that as time goes on.”
-On whether moving last year’s All-Star Game from Georgia over voting rights will lead to decisions to locate events based on other political issues such as gun control and reproductive rights.
“Individual clubs,” he said, “are going to make decisions about where they want to be in their market on particular issues. But I think the overarching idea is to be as welcoming to as many people as possible.”
-On Michele Meyer-Shipp resigning as chief people and culture officer last September after about a year with MLB. Her responsibilities have been split among Billy Bean, senior vice president for diversity, equity and inclusion; April Brown, vice president for social responsibility; Regan Waters White, senior vice president for human resources; and Mike Hill, senior vice president of on-field operations.
-Former President George W. Bush – the former Texas Rangers owner – was Wednesday’s guest speaker.
CLEMSON HIRES MICHIGAN’S BAKICH TO REVIVE BASEBALL PROGRAM
CLEMSON, S.C. (AP) — Clemson has hired Michigan’s Erik Bakich to revive a baseball program that had missed two straight NCAA Tournaments for the first time in more than three decades.
Bakich replaced Monte Lee, who was fired after seven seasons.
The school announced Bakich’s hiring Thursday. His six-year contract was approved by the school’s board of trustees. Bakich will receive $850,000 next season with his salary increasing $50,000 annually through 2027-28.
Bakich has led Michigan to five NCAA Tournament appearances since 2015 with the Wolverines finishing national runner-up in 2019. The team lost to Louisville in the NCAA Super Regional earlier this month.
Bakich began his college coaching career as a volunteer assistant at Clemson in 2002. He was an assistant coach at Vanderbilt from 2003-09 before becoming Maryland’s head coach for three years and then going to Michigan in 2012.
Bakich’s mission is clear — returning Clemson to the NCAAs. The Tigers had been to 32 of 33 tournaments between 1987 and 2019.
“I am confident in Erik’s ability to compete for ACC Championships and return to Omaha, and do it the right way,” Clemson first-year athletic director Graham Neff said in a statement.
CHIEFS’ MAHOMES ‘SURPRISED’ BY HILL CRITICISM IN PODCAST
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) The Kansas City Chiefs long ago moved on from wide receiver Tyreek Hill, whom they shipped to the Miami Dolphins in the offseason for a package of draft picks that have helped them get younger and deeper across the board.
Hill hasn’t quite done the same in Miami.
In his debut podcast last week, Hill claimed that Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa was more accurate than Kansas City counterpart Patrick Mahomes, a Pro Bowl pick each of his four years as a starter and 2018 league MVP.
Hill also claimed that he didn’t get the ball enough and wasn’t used properly in Kansas City – a veiled shot at coach Andy Reid – even though he saw a career-high 159 targets and caught 111 passes for 1,239 yards and nine touchdowns last season.
So as the Chiefs wrapped up their mandatory three-day minicamp Thursday, and tried to look forward to the start of training camp in just over a month, they were dragged back into discussing their former teammate.
“I’m surprised a little,” Mahomes said of the content in the podcast, which also featured Hill’s agent, Drew Rosenhaus, and his cohost and lawyer, Julius Collins. “I still love him. Saw him at Formula 1 in Miami. I’m sure it all had something to do with getting his podcast some stuff and getting it rolling.”
As for wanting the ball more in Kansas City’s dynamic offense? Mahomes never heard a peep about it during the season.
“Definitely new in the sense of how it was on the podcast,” he said. “When you’re the competitor that he is, and the thing I liked about Tyreek – you want to win. I know he wanted the ball as much as possible to help us win.”
Mahomes largely dismissed the rest of the podcast, including the part about his accuracy, pointing out that Kansas City has played for four consecutive AFC championships, reached two Super Bowls and won one of them with him under center.
“It doesn’t get to me at all. As long as we’re winning football games and putting up points, I’m doing things the right way,” he said. “As long as we’re scoring touchdowns and winning Super Bowls, I’m OK with it.”
Reid took the high road when asked about the podcast, saying only: “I love Tyreek. He’s a good kid.”
Reid simply prefers to focus on the future. They are again among the betting favorites to reach the Super Bowl, and a big part of that success will be based on the success of their revamped wide receiver group.
Already in minicamp, Mahomes has established a strong rapport with Marquez Valdes-Scantling and JuJu Smith-Schuster, who bring experience and more versatility to the group. Mahomes is also high on second-round pick Skyy Moore, who has been slowed a bit by a hamstring injury during the offseason program but should be full-go by training camp.
“They have a nice connection with Pat up to this point,” Reid said. “I’m curious to see what it’s like with the live ball and all that, but I wouldn’t expect it much different than what I’m seeing. And everyone else working in there, too.”
In other news, Reid and Mahomes both expressed confidence that Pro Bowl left tackle Orlando Brown Jr. would reach an agreement on a long-term deal before the July 15 deadline. Brown did not take part in voluntary workouts or the mandatory minicamp, which he could miss because he has not signed his franchise tender.
“I was with him yesterday. I hang out with him a lot,” Mahomes said. “He loves football. He loves the Chiefs. He loves the organization. Now it’s just the business side of it.”
Mahomes and his wife, Brittany, also recently revealed they are expecting another child, and he awkwardly let slip Thursday that he’s hoping for a boy this time. The couple already has a 1-year-old daughter, Sterling.
“Hopefully we get a boy,” Mahomes said with a grin, “but I’ll love him or her either way. It’ll be awesome. Sterling is such an athlete already. She’s so calm. So I know, boy or girl, it’s going to be the wildest child ever.”
LAMAR, RAVENS DISCUSSING DEAL: ‘I EXPECT’ TO PLAY ENTIRE CAREER IN BALTIMORE
Quarterback Lamar Jackson reiterated his intention of remaining with the Baltimore Ravens.
“I expect so,” Jackson told reporters Thursday when asked if he plans to play his entire NFL career in Baltimore, according to ESPN’s Jamison Hensley.
The 25-year-old passer said he had conversations with general manager Eric DeCosta about a new contract this week, according to The Athletic’s Jeff Zrebiec.
However, Jackson said he wasn’t sure if he’d report for training camp in July or play in the upcoming season if he doesn’t sign a new deal, per Hensley.
Jackson, who negotiates his contract directly, is expected to become one of the highest-paid players in NFL history when he signs his extension. He added that the record contract the Cleveland Browns gave quarterback Deshaun Watson this offseason – a fully guaranteed five-year, $230-million pact – won’t affect his negotiations with Baltimore.
“I’m a man of my own,” he said. “I don’t worry about what those guys did.”
Jackson said last year he’d love to be with Baltimore “forever,” though Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti said in March that the star signal-caller had yet to engage in extension talks with the team.
The quarterback received criticism in May for not showing up to Baltimore’s organized team activities for the first time in his career.
“I just wanted to stay away and just grind,” Jackson said. “I just wanted to come back in and see how I felt. I feel good. I asked my guys how would they feel if I stayed home, and they were like, ‘That’s cool.'”
The 2019 NFL MVP said he worked out with James Proche and Rashod Bateman in February and isn’t concerned about chemistry with his receivers. He also plans to continue practicing with his receiving corps until training camp begins.
“I know that Lamar and the receivers and tight ends are going to meet in Florida at Florida Atlantic with Willie Taggart, the head coach down there. He’s gonna host them for some throwing. That’s gonna be good,” Ravens coach John Harbaugh said Thursday.
Jackson, who missed five games due to injury last year, tossed only 16 touchdowns against 13 interceptions across 12 games in 2021. Baltimore traded Marquise Brown, its former No. 1 wide receiver, to the Arizona Cardinals in April.
WNBA STAR SUE BIRD SAYS 2022 WILL BE HER FINAL SEASON
(AP) — Seattle Storm star and five-time Olympic gold medalist Sue Bird says the 2022 season will be her last playing in the WNBA
The announcement by Bird, 41, ended any speculation about her future; she had acknowledged in February when she re-signed with Seattle that this would likely be her final season. She strongly considered retirement after last season before choosing to return for a 19th season as a player.
Bird’s announcement came a day before Seattle’s game at Connecticut. The Storm will close out their road trip on Sunday in New York, about 30 miles from where Bird grew up in Syosset, New York.
“As the season has gone, like I said, I pretty much knew, and then once I saw the schedule, and then once I started packing for this trip a little bit, I was like, `Oh, this is gonna be my last time playing in New York. My last time playing in front of my family and friends.’ And so that’s why the timing of this is what it is,” Bird said in a video posted by the Storm on social media.
“I just really felt strongly about announcing my retirement, saying it was my last year so I can share that with my family and my friends, all the people in New York who have watched me growing up so they can come and see me play for the last time in my home state. So I’m excited about that. It’s also bittersweet.”
Bird is a four-time WNBA champion, 12-time All-Star and the oldest player in the league. She has spent her entire WNBA career with Seattle since becoming the No. 1 draft pick in 2002 following her storied college career at UConn. This season is her 21st associated with the franchise although just her 19th playing after missing two seasons because of injuries.
Her resume is the envy of anyone in professional sports, let alone basketball. National championships at UConn in 2000 and 2002. WNBA titles with Seattle in 2004, 2008, 2018 and 2020, the last coming inside the WNBA “bubble” in Florida amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Bird hoisted five additional titles playing overseas in the EuroLeague. Last year, she added a fifth Olympic gold in Tokyo to go along with the ones the United States earned in 2004 in Athens, 2008 in Beijing, 2012 in London and 2016 in Rio de Janeiro.
Bird was the AP national player of the year her final season at UConn. She is a five-time all-WNBA first-team selection, the league’s all-time leader in assists and the only player to appear in more than 500 games in league history.
She has been honored on every list imaginable as one of best and most influential players in the history of the league. And she’s the standard by which other point guards are judged.
Bird turns 42 in October and was on the cusp of stepping away a year ago, and when the Storm were eliminated by the Phoenix Mercury in the playoffs, fans chanted “One more year! One more year!” as she did an on-court televised interview.
Those cheers were egged on by Phoenix’s longtime star Diana Taurasi, Bird’s former college teammate at UConn and part of all five of those Olympic gold-medal runs.
In the end, the fans – and Taurasi – got what they wanted. Bird came back, for exactly one more year.
“Sue Bird is Storm basketball,” her WNBA team tweeted moments after Bird made her decision known. “Every moment, every memory has one constant. No. 10. It’s time for the final chapter.”
SEC/BIG 12 CHALLENGE MATCHUPS SET FOR JANUARY 2023
Kansas will visit Kentucky and Baylor is set to host Arkansas in the SEC/Big 12 Challenge next season.
The leagues on Thursday announced the 10 matchups set for Saturday, Jan. 28, 2023. All 10 of the Big 12 members and all but four of the Southeastern Conference teams will participate.
The other games include: Alabama at Oklahoma, Auburn at West Virginia, Florida at Kansas State, Texas Tech at LSU, Mississippi at Oklahoma State, TCU at Mississippi State, Iowa State at Missouri and Texas at Tennessee.
The SEC has held the edge in five of the last six years.
TOP INDIANA RELEASES
INDIANS DROP FOURTH STRAIGHT, LOSE 10-5 TO GWINNETT
LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. – Travis Swaggerty and Ji-Hwan Bae laced triples in back-to-back innings, but the Gwinnett Stripers scored nine runs over the first four frames to hand the Indianapolis Indians their fourth consecutive loss on Thursday night, 10-5.
The Stripers (32-31) never trailed while continuing their recent dominance over the Indians (30-31). The 10-5 setback marked Indy’s 12th loss in its last 13 games at Coolray Field and 19th in its last 23 games overall against Gwinnett since the start of the 2018 season.
After first pitch was delayed by 41 minutes, Gwinnett grabbed a brief 1-0 lead in the opening inning on a sacrifice fly. Rodolfo Castro brought the Indians back even at 1-1 in the second with a sacrifice fly of his own following Swaggerty’s third three-bagger of the season, but the Stripers pulled away from there.
The Stripers overshadowed Indy’s three-run third inning with four runs in the second, one in the third and three in the fourth to go up 9-4. Down four through two innings, the Indians hung around thanks to a run-scoring balk, an RBI triple off the bat of Bae and a Bligh Madris infield single that made it 5-4.
Swaggerty and Bae paired together for Indianapolis’ final tally in the fifth. Bae reached second base on a throwing error, took third on a Madris groundout and scored on a two-out bunt single by Swaggerty. The Indians’ last threat came in the sixth inning when they loaded the bases with one out, but Jared Oliva struck out and Bae grounded out.
Bryce Elder (W, 3-3) pitched into the sixth inning and yielded five runs (four earned) on eight hits and one walk with three strikeouts in 5.0 frames. Osvaldo Bido (L, 1-4) surrendered six runs (five earned) on seven hits – including two home runs – in the defeat.
The Indians committed four errors to up their season total to 68, second highest in Triple-A. Oneil Cruz, Bae, Swaggerty and Taylor Davis had two hits apiece.
Indianapolis and Gwinnett will meet again Friday at 7:05 PM ET at Coolray Field. RHP Jerad Eickhoff (3-3, 5.27) is expected to start for Indy against LHP Tucker Davidson (1-2, 4.02).
INDIANS ANNOUNCE 2022 “FLICKS AT VICTORY FIELD” LINEUP
INDIANAPOLIS – For a third consecutive year, the Indianapolis Indians will host fans for a trio of movies
as part of the organization’s “Flicks at Victory Field” summer series presented by Indiana WIC and
Toyota. Jurassic Park (PG-13) leads off the series on Saturday, July 16 and will be followed by Shang-
Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (PG-13) on Thursday, July 28 and Encanto (PG) on Saturday, Oct.
1. Gates open at 6 PM ET and showtimes are at 7 PM ET.
“We are excited to welcome our fans and movie-goers back to the ballpark for our third annual ‘Flicks at
Victory Field’ experience,” said Randy Lewandowski, Indianapolis Indians President and General
Manager. “Victory Field provides a movie-watching experience unlike any other, and our 2022 Flicks
lineup is a treat for fans of all ages.”
Advance ticket buyers receive $2 off each ticket when making their purchase at least one week ahead of
each movie showing. Attendees must purchase before 11:59 PM ET on July 9 to receive the $2 discount
for Jurassic Park on July 16, and the same advance purchase time on July 21 for Shang-Chi and the
Legend of the Ten Rings and Sept. 24 for Encanto.
On-field seating highlights the viewing experience for attendees, with the Victory Field outfield
accommodating 800 individuals for $15 per ticket. Picnic blankets, lawn chairs and tarps are permitted for
on-field guests. General admission seating bowl tickets are just $10. Knot Hole Kids Club members may
use their membership to receive a complimentary on-field or seating bowl ticket.
Attendees can also enjoy a premium experience in the Yuengling Landing and Elements Financial Club,
with table seating and two-hour bar access serving popcorn, soda and beer from 6:30-8:30 PM.
Packages start at $50 for two people. Tickets may be purchased in advance online.
VIP group experiences are available in the First and Third Base Terraces (minimum 15 people) along with
the Party Deck (minimum 15 people) at $40 per ticket for each location. Popcorn, soda and beer are
included for two hours from 6:30-8:30 PM. To book, contact the Victory Field Box Office at (317) 269-
3545, email Tickets@IndyIndians.com or submit a group interest form here.
Limited $5 parking will be available starting at 5 PM ET in the Victory Field parking lot, and concourse
concession stands will also be open.
Indians single-game tickets are available along with season tickets, mini plans, group and premium
reservations. For more on the Indians, visit IndyIndians.com or contact the Victory Field Box Office at
(317) 269-3545 or Tickets@IndyIndians.com.
INDY ELEVEN CONCLUDES THE SECOND HALF OF THEIR TWO-GAME WEEK LOUISVILLE
The first half of Indy Eleven’s two-game week began with a trip to the Kentucky region to face Kings Hammer FC. Tuesday’s match for the Girls in Blue resulted in a 1-1 draw thanks to a lone goal from Katie Soderstrom. Battling a heatwave that brought extremely high temperatures to the Midwest, Head Coach Paul Dolinsky said the girls did not appear to be themselves. He said the team did not have the extra energy and punch they are accustomed to every game.
“The game was played at an incredibly slow pace for various reasons. We are not a slow pace playing team,” Dolinsky said. “The fact that it was as hot as it was definitely made the game less interesting than they usually are.”
A goal from Kings Hammer put the team up 1-nil in the opening two minutes of the contest. However, This did not deter Indy Eleven, as forward Katie Soderstrom’s lone goal in the 19th minute tied the game at halftime and eventually brought the game to a close. Soderstrom said that it was not the team’s finest performance, but she believes they battled hard and are looking forward to improving ahead of Friday’s match.
“It was definitely a hard, hard-fought battle but it wasn’t our best performance as a whole,” Soderstrom said. “But we definitely showed a lot of grit and effort and to come back from being behind so early on.”
Soderstrom’s goal on Tuesday was her sixth of the season, making her the Indy Eleven’s goal leader as well as one of the league’s top goal scorers. With a hand in half of Indy’s 17 goals thus far, Dolinsky believes she is one of the main components of the team’s success.
“With her ability to get behind defenders and create goal-scoring opportunities to score goals herself, she’s a massive impact on any team she plays for,” Dolinsky said.
Soderstrom said having the accolade is really exciting but credits her teammates for helping put her in this position.
“It comes from great play for my teammates and them setting me up,” Soderstrom said. “I’m just trying to do my part to help us win games. But, it’s all on them for putting me in those positions to succeed.”
The second part of Indy Eleven’s two-game week will conclude on Friday with a home match against Racing Louisville FC. The squad had their first taste of the Lousiville-Indianapolis Proximity Association Football Contest rivalry at Racing Lousiville on May 20, dishing up a 2-0 win. With five wins and two draws, Indy Eleven sits atop of the W League’s Great Lakes Division standings, while Louisville sits in the second place with five wins, one loss and two draws. Dolinsky acknowledged that Friday’s game is going to be pivotal, but he wants his girls to be ready for the battle. “We need to go into that game understanding that it is a game with two teams at the top of the table and as well as the rivalry game and try to beat a team twice in succession,” Dolinsky said.
BIG TEN CONFERENCE ANNOUNCES MEN’S BASKETBALL OPPONENTS FOR 2022-23 SEASON
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – The Big Ten Conference released opponents for the 2022-23 men’s basketball season on Thursday with league play beginning in December with two games, followed by 18 more matchups from late December to early March. A full schedule with dates, times and television designations will be announced in the coming months.
The Hoosiers will play seven conference opponents in a home and home series including Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Michigan State, Northwestern, Purdue and Rutgers. IU will only play one game against the remaining six members of the league. At home, the Hoosiers will take on Nebraska, Ohio State and Wisconsin, while IU will travel to Maryland, Minnesota and Penn State.
Indiana returns four starters from a team which advanced to the NCAA Tournament and the Big Ten Tournament semifinals. In addition, its recruiting class is ranked as high as eighth in the country.
The 2023 Big Ten Tournament will be held in Chicago after spending the last three years in Indianapolis.
Indiana 2022-23 Big Ten Opponents
Home & Away
Illinois
Iowa
Michigan
Michigan State
Northwestern
Purdue
Rutgers
Home Only
Nebraska
Ohio State
Wisconsin
Away Only
Maryland
Minnesota
Penn State
SINGLE AND DOUBLE PLAY BIG TEN OPPONENTS ANNOUNCED FOR 2022-23 SEASON
ROSEMONT, Ill. – The Big Ten Conference announced the 2022-23 single play and two-play conference opponents. League play will feature an 18-game format once again this season.
Each team will play five opponents twice, four opponents only at home and four opponents only on the road. Times, dates and TV designations for the matchups will be announced at a later time.
Indiana is coming off its second-consecutive Sweet Sixteen appearance in 2021-22 and are led by ninth year head coach Teri Moren. The Hoosiers went 24-9 overall last season and earned a No. 3 seed in the NCAA Tournament. All-Americans guard Grace Berger and forward Mackenzie Holmes, the team’s 1-2 scoring punch from a season ago, will also return for the upcoming campaign.
Season ticket deposits are being accepted through the IU Ticket Office with full season tickets to go on sale at a later date. A $15 deposit will secure your seat and be put towards your final purchase of your 2022-23 season ticket.
2022-23 Big Ten Conference Opponents
Home & Away – Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Ohio State, Purdue
Home Only – Maryland, Nebraska, Rutgers, Wisconsin
Away Only – Michigan State, Minnesota, Northwestern, Penn State
INDIANA VOLLEYBALL ANNOUNCES 2022 SCHEDULE
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Indiana Volleyball announced their full 2022 schedule. The schedule includes three road tournaments, one home tournament, and 20 Big Ten Conference matches.
Indiana will face eight opponents who were ranked in the final ACVA Coaches Poll, including defending national champions Wisconsin. They face eight who made it to the NCAA Tournament in 2021.
“We are thrilled to finally get the schedule as we prepare for the 2022 season. Our program has had a fantastic spring and so many of our young players made great strides. Our trip to Europe aided in that development and we feel good about our team heading into the fall,” Head Coach Steve Aird said. “We play a very challenging pre-season, and it will test us early and often. We feel that is important to test ourselves, travel and play excellent teams on the road. The Big Ten portion of the schedule is always a challenge, but that is the beauty of playing in one of the nation’s premier conferences. It is an honor to compete in the Big Ten and I know our entire program is preparing hard and understands the challenges ahead.”
The Hoosiers will open the 2022 campaign with the Indiana Invitational August 26 and 27. They will play host to Indiana State, Chicago State, and Jacksonville State.
Indiana hits the road for their first away tournament of the season at Texas A&M Corpus Christi September 2 and 3 before heading to Raleigh, N.C. the following weekend. While in Raleigh the Hoosiers will face Western Carolina, TCU, and host school NC State.
They wrap up the non-conference slate in Bowling Green, Ky. September 16 and 17. While at Western Kentucky they will play Texas A&M, Tennessee Tech, and the Hilltoppers.
Shifting to the conference schedule, Indiana looks to play six Sunday matches and four Wednesday matches throughout the Big Ten tilt.
The Hoosiers spend the first Big Ten weekend on the road with matches at Penn State and Maryland. The Hoosiers play the Nittany Lions Friday, September 23 and the Terrapins Sunday, September 25.
Indiana sees its first homestand with Iowa on Wednesday, September 28. They continue the home slate with Ohio State on Saturday, October 1 and will close the three-game home stretch with defending national champions Wisconsin on Wednesday, October 5.
Next, the Hoosiers head to Iowa for a midweek match Wednesday, October 8. They will then be back in Wilkinson Hall with matches against in-state rival Purdue and Michigan State. They will face the Boilermakers Friday, October 14 before taking on the Spartans on Sunday, October 16. After two home games, Indiana takes a trip up north for the weekend to square off against Michigan and Michigan State October 21 and 23.
Upon going on a three-game road tilt, the Hoosiers will have a home contest against Rutgers Friday, October 28. The road slate begins with Purdue on Sunday, October 30 in West Lafayette, Ind. They will then travel to Nebraska for a midweek clash on Wednesday, November 2 before traveling to Wisconsin for a match on Sunday, November 6.
Week four of the Big Ten schedule begins at home against Penn State on Friday, November 11. Indiana will then travel to Minnesota for a Sunday match November 13.
On Tuesday, November 18 the Hoosiers play host to the Northwestern Wildcats before hitting the road for their final away match at Ohio State Thursday, November 20.
The Hoosiers end the regular season at home with Illinois and Maryland on November 23 and 26, respectively.
Start times for all matches will be added to the IUHoosiers.com schedule page as they become available.
BIG TEN ANNOUNCES 2022-23 CONFERENCE OPPONENTS
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – The Big Ten Conference has announced the single-play and home-and-away conference opponents for the 2022-23 men’s basketball season.
For the fifth straight season, the league will play 20 games with three protected rivalries on the league slate (Purdue vs. Indiana, Northwestern vs. Illinois, Michigan vs. Michigan State). Purdue owns a 52-27 league record over the previous four seasons with a 20-game conference slate.
Home-and-Away Series (7)
Indiana
Maryland
Michigan State
Minnesota
Nebraska
Ohio State
Penn State
Single-Play Home Games (3)
Illinois
Iowa
Rutgers
Single-Play Road Games (3)
Michigan
Northwestern
Wisconsin
Purdue’s Home Games: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maryland, Michigan State, Minnesota, Nebraska, Ohio State, Penn State, Rutgers
Purdue’s Road Games: Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, Michigan State, Minnesota, Nebraska, Northwestern, Ohio State, Penn State, Wisconsin
Finalized dates, times and television assignments will come at a later date.
Last season, Purdue finished with a 29-8 overall record and No. 10 final Associated Press ranking, reaching the Sweet 16 for the fourth time in the last five tournaments. Purdue returns two starters, five regular contributors and a seven-member freshman class (two redshirts) that is ranked among the nation’s top 25 classes.
ZACK BYRD NAMED PURDUE HEAD WOMEN’S GOLF COACH
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – With a career that includes winning a national championship in 2021, Zack Byrd has been named the new head coach for Purdue Women’s Golf. One of the top recruiters in the country, Byrd takes over the Boilermakers following the retirement of 25-year head coach Devon Brouse.
“We are excited to introduce Zack Byrd as our new Head Women’s Golf coach, and we look forward to welcoming him, his wife Alison and children, Payton and Avery, to West Lafayette,” said Vice President and Director of Intercollegiate Athletics, Mike Bobinski. “Through the search process, Coach Byrd’s focus, approach and energy for building a championship women’s golf program stood out to us, and we’re confident he’ll create a culture of success that will honor the proud tradition of Purdue Women’s Golf.”
Byrd spent the past four seasons at Ole Miss, serving as assistant coach before being elevated to associate head coach following the team’s 2021 national title. The Rebels captured the 2021 NCAA National Championship, the first ever by a women’s team in school history.
“I am elated to join the Purdue family and am grateful to Mike Bobinski, Tim House and Director of Golf Rob Bradley for this opportunity,” said Byrd. “After spending five minutes on the Birck Boilermaker Golf Complex, you can see why Purdue has a prolific golf history. I look forward to carrying that rich tradition into the future. I’d also like to thank Kory Henkes for the guidance she has provided me during my time at Ole Miss. My family and I cannot wait to get to West Lafayette and join the Purdue family. Boiler Up!”
A well-known recruiter internationally, Byrd brought some of Europe’s best players to Ole Miss to turn the Rebels into a national powerhouse. Spending a decade as a professional golfer himself allowed Byrd to connect with players looking to reach the highest level of the sport.
“This was a tremendously competitive search featuring women and men who are sitting Division I head coaches and high-level assistants at some of the top programs in the country,” said Executive Senior Associate Athletics Director Tim House, the search chairman who serves as the administrator for Purdue Golf. “Coach Byrd’s passion for this particular opportunity, his documented success in recruiting and player development, and his proven ability to help a program win a national title are what set him apart. His wife Ali has been a professional golf instructor for the past 15 years, so there is no doubt that the Byrds are a golf family. We are thrilled to welcome the entire Byrd family to West Lafayette, and we are looking forward to championships in the years to come.”
Byrd joined Ole Miss in the spring of 2019, making an immediate impact with the Rebels. Ole Miss progressed throughout the campaign, playing its best golf at the right time. Byrd and the Rebels captured the SEC Championship, the first conference title in program history. Throughout the championship, Byrd walked alongside Macy Somoskey, who played an astounding 63 holes during the match play portion of the tournament, resulting in three match-deciding victories. Ole Miss rode the momentum into the NCAA Norman Regional, playing well enough to advance to the NCAA Championships. The Rebels placed 14th on the national stage, a then-program best, ending a successful first season for Byrd in Oxford.
Building off year one, Byrd’s second season at Ole Miss featured four team tournament titles, another school record for a single season. He helped guide the Rebels to wins at the Golfweek Conference Challenge, Jim West Challenge, Battle at the Beach and the Moon Golf Invitational. The Jim West Challenge included a 19-under first round, the lowest team round in program history. Ole Miss led the conference in scoring average (284.22, 4-under par), and three Rebels earned All-SEC honors. Ole Miss finished the year with its best ranking in all major polls, at No. 11 in the WGCA Coaches Poll, No. 12 in Golfstat’s team rankings and No. 13 on Golfweek’s national rankings.
Byrd and the Rebels reached the mountaintop in 2021, one year after the 2020 championship season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In the fall, Ole Miss won the East Lake Cup by defeating Texas and South Carolina to showcase the Rebels’ strength in match play. It was a preview of what was to come in the spring when the Rebels reached the NCAA Championships and qualified for match play that determines the national champion. Ole Miss took down Texas once again before rallying from behind to beat Arizona to earn a spot in the championship match. In the finals, the Rebels cruised past Oklahoma State 4-1 to win the first women’s national title in Ole Miss history.
Byrd coached Julia Johnson and Kennedy Swann, who both earned WGCA All-America honors at the end of the championship campaign. Johnson collected first team accolades, while Swann received honorable mention recognition.
Most recently, Byrd coached All-American Chiara Taburlini at last month’s NCAA Championships. He walked alongside Tamburlini for all 72 holes of the national championship, helping her manage the difficult Grayhawk Golf Club’s Raptor Course. Tamburlini not only made the cut, but she secured a top-10 finish by placing eighth.
Prior to venturing south to Mississippi, Byrd served as an assistant coach at Colorado State. He helped the Rams post their best fall three-round average (292.1) since 2011. Colorado State had four top-10 individual finishes in their four fall tournaments in 2018. The Rams won the Ron Moore Women’s Intercollegiate with a four-under 860, the second lowest three-round score in program history.
Before transitioning to coaching, Byrd spent 10 years as a professional golfer. Ending his playing career on South Africa’s Sunshine Tour, he finished 44th on the money list while making the cut at the 2018 BMW SA Open. Byrd gained full status for the 2018 campaign after finishing runner-up for Sunshine Tour Rookie of the Year in 2017. That season, he posted a 70.98 stroke average with seven top-20 finishes and three top-10s. A second-place finish at the Investec Royal Swazi Open, that included a 63 in the final round, helped Byrd break into the Top-700 of the world rankings.
Byrd qualified for the Canadian PGA Tour in 2015 and also competed on the PGA’s China and Latin America tours. He held conditional status with the Web.com Tour in 2014, as well as the Nationwide Tour in 2012 and Web.com Tour in 2013 after again making the final stage of Q School.
Byrd began his pro career with numerous wins and top-10 finishes on mini tour circuits in the Southeast United States and nationwide in PGA sectional events. In 2011, he qualified and competed in the U.S. Open at Congressional Country Club, while also making the final stage of the PGA Tour’s Q School.
Byrd is a 2009 graduate of Coastal Carolina University where he was a five-year member of the men’s golf team. As a freshman, he won the Big South Conference individual championship and was named Big South Freshman of the Year. During his time at Coastal, he helped lead the Chanticleers to three NCAA Championship berths alongside 2016 U.S. Open Champion Dustin Johnson. Byrd posted his best season of collegiate golf as a senior, collecting Third Team All-America honors by PING and Golfweek. That same year, he was the Big South Player of the Year and Co-Scholar-Athlete of the Year, and he broke the school record for lowest round with a 9-under 63. Byrd was also a two-time GCAA All-America Scholar in his junior and senior seasons. In 2015, he was inducted in the Coastal Carolina Hall of Fame.
Joining Byrd in the move to West Lafayette is his wife, Alison, and their two daughters, Payton (6) and Avery (4).
ALBRECHT HONORED AS ALL-REGION SHORTSTOP
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Evan Albrecht’s team-leading .365 batting average coupled with his defensive consistency as the captain of the infield earned Purdue baseball’s senior shortstop All-Region honors from the American Baseball Coaches Association.
Albrecht was a second-team selection in the Midwest Region, which features teams in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota and Iowa. Rawlings is the presenting sponsor of the ABCA All-Region Teams.
While posting the Boilermakers’ top batting average since 2009, making his .365 clip the program’s best of the BBCOR bat era (2011-present), Albrecht committed to return to Purdue as a fifth-year student-athlete for the 2022-23 school year. He’ll exercise an eligibility extension available after the 2020 campaign was cut short. The four-year starting middle infielder was also on the watch list for the Brooks Wallace Award this season, an honor that recognizes the nation’s top shortstop.
Despite not starting the season opener, Albrecht’s all-around excellence at shortstop led to him not leaving the field beginning with the first pitch of game No. 4 of the season on Sunday, Feb. 20. He compiled a .958 fielding percentage at shortstop, including a sparkling .991 mark while committing just one error in Big Ten play.
Albrecht stole 22 bases in 24 attempts, joining forces with Curtis Washington Jr. (31) and Mike Bolton Jr. (28) to help Purdue break the team record for steals with 116. The Boilermakers had three players with 20-plus steals for the first time ever. Albrecht entered the season with 10 steals in 106 career games.
After serving as Purdue’s nine-hole hitter through the end of March, Albrecht’s consistency led to him being elevated in the lineup. He batted in the two through six portion for 21 games before settling into the seven-hole for much of the stretch run. He kept his average over .400 through April 19 and finished the season with a team-high .452 on-base percentage.
Albrecht’s 11 three-hit games were the most by a Boilermaker since 2010 while making him just the fourth Purdue player since 2001 with three or more hits in at least 10 games. He also enjoyed a career-best 25-game on-base streak as one of six Boilermakers with a streak of at least 20 games this season.
Albrecht follows in the footsteps of former teammate Ben Nisle, who was recognized as an All-Midwest Region outfielder last season after enjoying a 1.000 OPS season. Prior to Nisle, Purdue had not had an All-Region honoree since the 2012 Big Ten Championship team produced four.
BUTLER ATHLETICS ANNOUNCES 2022 HALL OF FAME CLASS
The Butler Athletics Hall of Fame will welcome seven individuals and two teams with its Class of 2022. The group includes three standouts from Butler’s men’s basketball Final Four teams as well as the most decorated women’s basketball team in program history.
The Class of 2022 includes men’s basketball student-athletes Matt Howard, Gordon Hayward and Shelvin Mack, as well as Andrew Baker (men’s cross country/track and field), Andy Howard (football), Ian Borgerhoff (men’s swimming), the 1998 baseball team, and the 1995-96 women’s basketball team. June Olkowski, the coach of that women’s basketball team, will also be inducted as a Special Service Award honoree.
This year’s Hall of Fame class will be celebrated Saturday, Sept. 24 at Hinkle Fieldhouse. Information on purchasing tickets to the event will be available soon.
“Our Hall of Fame class is comprised of dedicated individuals and teams who left a lasting mark on Butler Athletics during their time on campus,” said Barry Collier, Butler Vice President/Director of Athletics. “Butler has produced decades of tremendous student-athletes and strong representatives of the Butler Way, and this group is among the best of the best. We look forward to celebrating these elite Bulldogs and their impact on our university in September.”
Matt Howard and Mack led the Bulldogs to back-to-back national championship games in 2010 and 2011, while Hayward starred on the 2010 team before being selected ninth in the NBA Draft that same year.
At the time of his graduation, Howard ranked third in career scoring (1,939 points) and rebounds (884). He received the NCAA Elite 88 Award in both 2010 and 2011, presented to the student-athlete with the highest cumulative GPA at the Final Four. He earned Academic All-America honors for three consecutive seasons, the first Butler student-athlete to do so. He was a three-time All-Horizon League first-team selection and became the first player in Horizon League history to be named to the conference’s All-Tournament Team in each of his four seasons (2008-11).
In his three seasons at Butler, Mack scored 1,527 career points. He was named the Most Outstanding Player at the NCAA Southeast Regional in 2011, leading the Bulldogs’ return to the Final Four. At the 2011 NCAA Final Four, he was selected to the All-Tournament team. He twice earned All-Horizon League honors and was named to the 2011 Horizon League All-Tournament Team. Mack’s 357 assists and 216 three-pointers in only three seasons remain in Butler’s Top 10 list. Mack was selected in the second round of the 2011 NBA Draft, which began an eight-year NBA career.
Hayward starred at Butler for two seasons (2008-09 and 2009-10) before starting his successful NBA career that continues today. Hayward was selected as the Most Outstanding Player at the NCAA West Regional in 2010, leading the Bulldogs to the program’s first Final Four appearance. At the Final Four, he was chosen as a member of the All-Tournament Team. He earned All-Horizon League first-team honors in each of his two seasons and was the 2010 Horizon League Player of the Year. In just two seasons, he scored 992 points and had 512 rebounds. Hayward earned Academic All-America third-team honors in 2009-10.
Baker was a three-time Horizon League Cross Country Athlete of the Year (2007-09), while also starring for the track and field program. At the 2008 Horizon League Indoor Track and Field Championships, Baker won the mile, 3k and 5k in addition to helping the Bulldogs to a distance medley relay title. On the national level, Baker posted a pair of Top-40 finishes at the NCAA Cross Country Championships, earning All-America honors. Baker also earned Academic All-American honors twice during his Butler career.
Andy Howard led the Butler football team in rushing yards in each of his four seasons (1979-82). At the time of his graduation, his 2,691 rushing yards ranked second on Butler’s career list. He earned Heartland Collegiate Conference all-conference honors three times, and was recognized as Butler’s Offensive Player of the Year twice.
Borgerhoff was a four-time All-Midwestern Collegiate Conference honoree in men’s swimming, including being named the Most Outstanding Performer at the 1990 championships. The four-time Butler Most Valuable Swimmer won the conference championship four times in both the 100 breaststroke and the 200 breaststroke. He was the 200 individual medley champion three times and won the 400 individual medley in 1990.
The 1995-96 women’s basketball team made the first NCAA Tournament appearance in program history by capturing the Midwestern Collegiate Conference Tournament title with an upset of top-seeded Green Bay on the Phoenix’s home court. The Bulldogs then lost a close match-up to No. 2 seed Iowa in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. The team finished with a 21-9 record, including a 13-3 mark in conference play, which was second in the regular season standings.
Olkowski led that 1995-96 championship team, one of her many highlights among her six seasons guiding the Butler women’s basketball program (1993-99). The three-time MCC Coach of the Year led the Bulldogs to a 114-56 overall record, including 66-22 in conference play. Her Bulldogs won the 1998 MCC regular season title and would compete in the 1998 WNIT. Three of her six seasons included 20 wins.
Butler’s 1998 baseball team, led by coach Steve Farley, won a then- school record 33 games, capturing both the regular season and the conference tournament for the Midwestern Collegiate Conference. The team advanced to the NCAA Tournament. Nine players earned all-conference honors, led by Player of the Year Justin Beasley and Pitcher of the Year Ryan Harber. Farley was named the conference’s Coach of the Year. The pitching staff ranked fourth nationally with a 3.81 ERA, while the offense set program records in hits, home runs, doubles, slugging percentage and total bases. Ten Bulldogs from that team went on to play professional baseball.
The Butler Hall of Fame was created in 1991 to provide a forum in which those who have brought honor and respect to Butler University and its athletic program could be acknowledged and permanently enshrined in Hinkle Fieldhouse. Inductees have made exceptional contributions to the prestige of the University in the field of athletics, and continued to demonstrate in their lives the values imparted by athletics.
AULT NAMED GATORADE INDIANA BOYS SOCCER PLAYER OF THE YEAR
CHICAGO (June 16, 2022) — In its 37th year of honoring the nation’s best high school athletes, Gatorade today announced Palmer Ault of Noblesville High School is the 2021-22 Gatorade Indiana Boys Soccer Player of the Year. Ault is the first Gatorade Indiana Boys Soccer Player of the Year to be chosen from Noblesville High School.
The award, which recognizes not only outstanding athletic excellence, but also high standards of academic achievement and exemplary character demonstrated on and off the field, distinguishes Ault as Indiana’s best high school boys soccer player. Now a finalist for the prestigious Gatorade National Boys Soccer Player of the Year award to be announced in June, Ault joins an elite alumni association of state award-winners in 12 sports, including Alexi Lalas (1987-88, Cranbrook High School, Mich.), Steve Cherundolo (1996-97, Mt. Carmel High School, Calif.), Abby Wambach (1997-98, Our Lady of Mercy School of Young Women, N.Y.), Heather O’Reilly (2001-02 & 2002-03, East Brunswick High School, N.J.), Matt Besler (2004-05, Blue Valley West High School, Kans.), Jack Harrison (2013-14, Berkshire High School, Mass.) and Mallory Pugh (2014-15, Mountain Vista High School, Colo.).
The 5-foot-11, 170-pound senior midfielder led the Millers to a 20-1-1 record and the Class 3A state championship this past season. Ault tallied 26 goals and 16 assists, including a goal in Noblesville’s 3-1 win over Carmel High in the state title game. The unanimous choice as the Indiana Soccer Coaches Association Player of the Year, Ault is also a two-time United Soccer Coaches High School All-American selection. He concluded his prep soccer career with 67 goals and 39 assists.
Ault has volunteered locally at the Boys & Girls Club of Noblesville and as a youth soccer coach. He has also donated his time on behalf of multiple community service initiatives through his church. “Noblesville had an incredible season and Palmer Ault was the catalyst for their great success,” said Rob Jordan, head coach of Zionsville High School. “He is intuitive and has a great understanding of the game. He was always in the right position at the right time.”
Ault maintained a 3.80 GPA in the classroom. Taking advantage of NCAA early signing rules, Ault inked a financial- aid agreement that paved the way for him to enroll at Butler University. He graduated from high school in December and attended classes in the spring semester.
The Gatorade Player of the Year program annually recognizes one winner in the District of Columbia and each of the 50 states that sanction high school football, girls volleyball, boys and girls cross country, boys and girls basketball, boys and girls soccer, baseball, softball, and boys and girls track & field, and awards one National Player of the Year in each sport. The selection process is administered by the Gatorade Player of the Year Selection Committee, which leverages experts including coaches, scouts, media and others as sources to help evaluate and determine the state winners in each sport.
Ault joins recent Gatorade Indiana Boys Soccer Players of the Year Zack Bowser (2020-21, Chesterton High School), Chris Freeman (2019-20, Zionsville Community High School), Jack Eaton (2018-19, Chesterton High School), and Andrew Cross (2017-18, Reitz Memorial High School), among the state’s list of former award winners.
Gatorade has a long-standing history of serving athlete communities and understands how sports instill valuable lifelong skills on and off the field. Through Gatorade’s “Play it Forward” platform, Ault has the opportunity to award a $1,000 grant to a local or national organization of their choosing that helps young athletes realize the benefits of playing sports. Ault is also eligible to submit a short video explaining why the organization they chose is deserving of one of twelve $10,000 spotlight grants, which will be announced throughout the year. To date, Gatorade Player of the Year winners’ grants have totaled more than $3.5 million across more than 1,300 organizations.
Since the program’s inception in 1985, Gatorade Player of the Year award recipients have won hundreds of professional and college championships, and many have also turned into pillars in their communities, becoming coaches, business owners and educators.
LINDAUER TABS JOSH STANFIELD AS ASSISTANT COACH
SOUTH BEND, Ind. — Peterson Family Head Swimming Coach Chris Lindauer has made another addition to his staff as he has hired Josh Stanfield as an assistant coach. Stanfield comes to the Irish after spending the previous four seasons with the Duke Blue Devils as an assistant coach.
“Josh will immediately make an impact on our team culture at Notre Dame,” said Lindauer. “His passion and dedication to our student-athletes is his number one priority. Josh brings with him a proven track record in recruiting and developing high achieving academic student-athletes that will fit the Notre Dame standard. No matter where you are on pool deck, you will always hear Josh supporting our student-athletes with everything he has! Josh, Kristin, and Ruby…welcome to our Irish Family! Go Irish!”
During his time in Durham, the Blue Devils tallied a number of individual and team-best performances. In his most recent season with Duke, the women’s squad matched its best finish at the ACC Championships, as they finished fifth overall. At the NCAA’s, the women’s team finished 24th. Stanfield worked with Sarah Foley who earned All-ACC and All-American honors in 2021-22. He also coached the men to two new sprint freestyle relay records in both 200 (1:17.86) & 400 Freestyle relays (2:52.71). Both records that were broken were set three years prior.
“My wife and I are extremely excited about joining the Notre Dame family and we are grateful to the administration and to Chris for this opportunity,” said Stanfield. “The mission, and the vision that Chris has for the program is clear and I am thrilled to be part of this with him, Kelsi, Kameron, Mark, and the rest of staff.
“Notre Dame has been a place that stood out to me, and the environment on campus and within our program will be special to be a part of. I look forward to the interactions with the student athletes, alumni, and Notre Dame family…GO IRISH!!”
During the pandemic-shortened season in 2019-20, 10 Blue Devils were set to compete at the NCAA Championships. Alyssa Marsh broke three school records during the season as the men’s and women’s teams earned their highest rankings each side had received in program history. The women were dubbed ninth in the final CSCAA poll while the men reached 15th during the November edition of the poll.
In his first year in Durham, Stanfield guided the Blue Devils to 18 school record times, including nine of the ten relay events. Overall, Stanfield worked with nine CSCAA All-American honorees in his first season with the Blue Devils. Both squads had strong finishes at the NCAA’s, the women finished 23rd (highest since 2011) and the men finished 29th (highest since 2014).
Prior to working at Duke, he spent six years at Gardner-Webb. He started as an assistant coach but was elevated to associate head coach in his final season. In 2017-18, he mentored a squad that won three Coastal Collegiate Sports Association (CCSA) titles and tallied five NCAA ‘B’ cuts. In the season prior in Boiling Springs, they set 10 program records and won four individual CCSA titles.
Stanfield’s previous coaching experience includes time as a volunteer assistant coach at his alma mater, Southwestern University in Georgetown, Texas. Stanfield also held an age group coaching position at Texas-based Nitro Swimming and was the primary coach for several individual state champions.
A native of Huntsville, Texas, Stanfield graduated from Southwestern in 2011 with a bachelor’s degree in kinesiology.
MALONE PLACES FOURTH IN 100M RACE TO ZERO
OSLO, Norway – Indiana State sophomore sprinter Noah Malone earned a fourth-place finish in the 100m Race to Zero Thursday afternoon at the Diamond League Bislett Games.
Competing against multiple classes of para athletes, Malone ran a time of 10.70 (w: -0.5) at Bislett Stadion. Norway’s Salum Ageze Kashafali won on his home turf in a photo finish, with the top three all within one-hundredth of a second of each other.
Thursday’s performance caps an outdoor season for Malone that saw him win multiple all-conference honors and qualify for the NCAA East Preliminary Round. He was the anchor leg of Indiana State’s 4x100m relay team that won the MVC title in 40.06 and also earned All-MVC honors in the 100m with a time of 10.36 in the final. Malone also scored in the 200m at the MVC Championships and qualified for the NCAA East Preliminary in the event.
Malone also earned a top-five finish in the 60m at the MVC Indoor Championships. His performances helped Indiana State sweep the MVC Men’s Track & Field Championships for the first time since 2014. Individually, Malone set personal-best times in the 60m (indoor), 100m (outdoor) and 200m (outdoor) in the 2021-22 season.
PURDUE FORT WAYNE UNVEILS 2022 WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL SCHEDULE
FORT WAYNE, Ind. – Purdue Fort Wayne women’s volleyball head coach Steve Florio has announced the schedule for the 2022 season.
The Mastodons’ season has 12 home matches, 12 true road matches and five neutral site matches. There are 18 Horizon League contests, with a home-and-home for all nine league opponents.
The Horizon League Championship will be on November 19-21. The top six teams in the regular season will qualify for the Championship.
The season opens with an exhibition against Ball State on August 20. This precludes the Purdue Fort Wayne Invitational, which includes Canisius, Western Illinois and new Division I member Lindenwood. The Mastodons will play in three other tournaments hosted by Xavier (Sept. 2-3), Eastern Kentucky (Sept. 9-10) and Toledo (Sept. 16-17). Toledo played in the National Invitational Volleyball Championship a year ago.
Horizon League play opens on September 20 with defending regular season champion Milwaukee visiting the Gates Sports Center. The ‘Dons head to IUPUI (Sept. 24) before welcome Green Bay (Sept. 27) three days later. The ‘Dons head to Robert Morris (Sept. 30) and Youngstown State (Oct. 1) before Wright State (Oct. 7) and Northern Kentucky (Oct. 8) visit Fort Wayne. The first half of league play wraps up with a three-match road trip to Cleveland State (Oct. 14), Oakland (Oct. 15) and Green Bay (Oct. 18).
The Mastodons return home for three matches against IUPUI (Oct. 22), Youngstown State (Oct. 28) and Robert Morris (Oct. 29). Three more road matches at Milwaukee (Nov. 1), Northern Kentucky (Nov. 4), and Wright State (Nov. 5) round out the road schedule, then Oakland (Nov. 11) and Cleveland State (Nov. 12) will come to the Summit City to close the regular season.
A majority of home matches will be streamed on ESPN+ this season.
WOMEN’S GOLF ANNOUNCES THREE ADDITIONS
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – Following a Missouri Valley Conference Championship in 2021, the momentum continues to build around the University of Evansville women’s golf program. Pieces continue to fall into place for head coach John Andrews, who announced the signing of Destynie Sheridan and Ekaterina “Kate” Petrova to National Letters of Intent to play for UE beginning in the fall of 2022 while Grace Vandenburg will join as a walk-on.
“Destynie and Kate will help us right away with their background and experience,” Andrews explained. “Kate has competed in tournaments representing her country throughout Europe while Destynie has won three state championships in her four high school seasons at North. I believe that Grace’s best golf is in front of her. We look forward to having all three ladies ready to go for the fall.”
Destynie Sheridan joins the Purple Aces following a championship career at Evansville’s North High School. In her four seasons, the Huskies won three state championships while earning a runner-up finish in the other season. That includes a championship in October of 2021 that saw her team win by 18 strokes.
Individually, Sheridan had several exceptional performances, including a 5-under 65 in September of last year to help North win its 10th straight IHSAA Sectional Championship. Her efforts contributed to a team score of 274, which was the lowest sectional score in Indiana state history. Her top finish at the state championship came in 2020 when scores of 76 and 78 tied her for 7th. As a senior, her final tally of 155 put her a in tie for 15th on the way to the third championship in four years.
Ekaterina “Kate” Petrova comes to Evansville with a World Amateur Golf Ranking of 340. The native of Moscow, Russia has had an exceptional career that includes a berth in the European Girls’ Team Championship. Over the last two years, she has recorded two victories while picking up 12 top-10 finishes.
In July of 2021, she was medalist at the Russian Junior Tour – Gorki Golf Club. Rounds of 65 and 72 gave her a 137, which was five ahead of second place. At the end of September, Petrova was victorious once again, taking top honors at the Russian Cup. The Russian Golf Association event was held at Gelendzhik Golf Club.
Vandenburg joins the program from Mishawaka High School where she made it out of the Penn Sectional as an individual in her senior season.
TRAILBLAZER BASKETBALL HITS THE DAILY DOUBLE AFTER SIGNING KING TWINS
VINCENNES, Ind. – The 2022 Vincennes University men’s basketball picked up a pair of big signings Thursday afternoon in the form of six-foot-five twins Kris and Kent King from Fort Union Military Academy in Fork Union, Va.
The King twins were key members of a Blue Devil Post Grad squad that finished the season with a 27-11 record and earned a spot in the National Prep Championships this past season.
Fort Union’s Post Grad basketball team was consistently ranked near the top as one of the best post grad teams in the country under Head Coach Bob Williams.
This past season was Williams’ first at Fork Union, but came to the Blue Devils with many years of coaching experience at the collegiate level.
Williams most recently spent 17 seasons as head coach at NAIA West Virginia University Tech, after coaching at NCAA Division II Glenville State College and NJCAA Division III Jefferson Community College (NY).
Kris King is a six-foot-six wing, who averaged 12.3 points, five rebounds and 3.3 assists per game last season for Fork Union.
Kris shot 58.5-percent on two-point shots and 32.5-percent on three-point shots this past season and was a Second-Team All-Fork Union Military Circuit Tournament team honoree.
Kent King is a six-foot-five combo guard, who averaged 12.8 points, 5.3 rebounds and four assists per game for the Blue Devils.
Kent shot 53.7-percent on two-point shots and 33 percent on three point shots last year.
“Signing the King twins happened pretty fast,” VU Hall of Fame Head Coach Todd Franklin said. “I had reached out to Coach Williams earlier in the Spring about another player and at that time these two were pretty set and thought they were going to go Division I. It’s tough to find a place to play, especially if you are twins that want to go together.”
“They had a great year last year at Fork Union,” Franklin added. “Fork Union was top-five in the country at different times, stayed in the top-10 all year, made the National Post Grad Championships and Kris and Kent were a driving force behind that. They had a lot of schools that liked them and visited with them. They were rated as low to mid-major guys and I think they are both legitimate and have played against legitimate level competition.”
“They are strong,” Franklin said. “Kent can play anywhere one through three on the floor. He played a lot of point guard last year for Fork Union. Kris is more of a big wing or a stretch four. We were looking for players like that, it just so happens that we get it as a package with the twins. We wanted to get a little older, their age would be that of a returning sophomore. Physically they are both men and their versatility of playing different spots makes it easy to fit with other good players.”
“They fit the areas that we were looking at filling with our last three scholarships,” Franklin added. “We were looking for a bigger wing, who could also play some stretch four and I think we did. We were also looking for a bigger, older guard, who could play some point and we did.”
“I was also attracted to the fact that they had spent a year at Fork Union Military Academy,” Franklin said. “Coach Williams is a guy that has been around for a while in college basketball and is a guy you can respect. Plus the way that you have to live at Fork Union, being a military, wearing uniforms all day and getting up in the morning. There is really no way to do anything that you are not supposed to.”
“They went through that and handled that very, very well,” Franklin added. “Everybody involved was very complimentary of Kris and Kent. They fit us and what we are trying to do here. You never know until they are here, but all evidence suggests that they are. They are great young men to talk to and I think that they are ready and excited about having a place where they can go and play together and we are excited about having them here.”
The King twins join a Trailblazer squad that is already halfway through their summer school workouts, with 10 members of the 2022-23 VU team able to be on campus this summer.
“I think the attitude has been pretty good this summer,” Franklin said. “I think the guys have worked pretty hard. I think that we are physically stronger. I think this squad more resembles the teams that we had that made the National Tournament nine years in a row. I think there has been more ability to score, we will see in the games whether that translates or not. But if you are just watching them, there is a lot more options and ability to put the ball in the basket and create.”
“We are physically much stronger with naturally stronger guys,” Franklin added. “And we don’t have some of our strong guys here. The four guys that aren’t here yet, counting the twins, are all between six-five and six-nine, 210 to 230 pound guys. But those are four guys with significant size not only in height but they are strong.”
“You add that with what we have seen out here this summer and it’s exciting,” Franklin said. “We’ve got a chance, but we have to work at it every day. So far, the difference is almost night and day from the last two years. But everything has been more normal. Normal offseason where I can get out and recruit. It’s been a more normal year and what we have seen on the floor this summer is more of what we would consider to be more normal. Compared to my first 24 years, where we are right now seems to be more normal than the past two years and that’s a good thing.”
“Normal for us has been pretty good in the past and I feel like that is why we have a chance to be back,” Franklin added. “We obviously have to stay healthy and guys have to keep their eyes on the prize. These guys that we’ve signed have to come in and add to, which I think they can. There is going to be a lot of competition and there will be a lot of competition for playing time and I’ve been very open about that.”
“The twins are versatile,” Franklin said. “So guys like that, if they happen to be two of our better players, it’s easy to put them together with some of our other best players. That’s what you try to do when you are trying to put together your best eight or nine guys. That’s really more of what I worry about. I don’t worry about the starting five, I worry more about who are my eight. If you want to win a National Championship, you have to be eight starters deep and those eight have to be good enough to do what we do. With what we have, I think there is a good chance for us to end up with eight or nine guys that can be that kind of good. I’m happy with where we are right now.”
The Vincennes University Athletic Department is excited to welcome Kris and Kent King to the 2022 recruiting class.
FORMER NORTH KNOX STANDOUT MALLORY ROGERS TO JOIN VUVB TRAILBLAZERS
VINCENNES, Ind. – The 2021 Region 24 Champion Vincennes University Trailblazer volleyball program added local North Knox defensive specialist/libero Mallory Rogers to the 2022 recruiting class.
Mallory helped guide the Warriors to a 20-9 record this past season, ending the season with 360 digs, 60 aces and 42 set assists in 84 sets, averaging 4.29 digs per set last year. Mallory also helped North Knox win the 2021 Robinson Invitational Tournament.
Rogers is a four-year letter winner at North Knox, was twice named to the Vincennes Sun-Commercial All-Area team and was named All-Blue Chip Conference this past year.
“Mallory was a phenomenal back court player for us,” North Knox Head Coach Tammy Meurer said. “When our opponent served or attacked in her vicinity, it was very difficult for them to score on us. Mallory embraced her position as libero and played with passion on the court. She approached practices with intent and it carried over to her stellar performances in our matches.”
“Not only was she an amazing defender, but she was also a very effective server,” Meurer added. “She could put the ball wherever I directed her to do so. I am confident that Mallory will be an asset to the Vincennes University volleyball team.”
“We’ve had a hard time this offseason finding back row defensive specialists who can serve receive on a really consistent basis and Mallory is someone who can do that,” VUVB Head Coach Gary Sien said. “One of the other things that led us to Mallory was that she started out as a setter before becoming a libero, so now we have five different players that can do a little bit of setting this year, which is never a bad thing.”
“My philosophy that I have had since I began coaching at this level is that we try to look at the best local players first and then expand our recruiting out from that,” Sien added. “I always feel it’s best to do that so you can try to build as big of a local fan base as possible. We’ve done a pretty good job over the years of bringing in players from Knox, Greene, Gibson and Daviess counties, so we are always looking to add good local players.”
“Coach Tammy Meurer, whose daughter Madison played for us in 2016, reached out to us with a few players that might be looking to play in college,” Sien said. “Knowing that we were going to need some defensive specialists/liberos, we began looking at Mallory and she has got some really exceptional skills that we really like and that can be developed. We see quite a bit of potential, as a player and as a leader, in Mallory, which helped her stand out.”
Mallory is the daughter of Doug and Yvonne Rogers and her major at Vincennes University is still undecided.
The Vincennes University Athletic Department is excited to welcome Mallory Rogers to the 2022 recruiting class.
TODAY IN BASEBALL HISTORY
1915 Cubs right-handed reliever George Washington Zabel, called into the game with two outs in the bottom of the first inning, throws 18 and 1/3 innings of the Cubs’ 4-3 victory over the Robins at Chicago’s West Side Park. ‘Zip,’ establishing the major league record for the longest relief stint in one game, beats Brooklyn starter Jeff Pfeffer, who tosses a 19-inning complete game.
1930 Phillies right fielder Chuck Klein, who collects 53 hits in 110 at-bats for a .482 batting average during the streak, sets a modern-day franchise record when he hits safely in 26 consecutive games. The 25-year-old Hoosier Hammer repeats the feat later in the season, matching the accomplishment with a hit in every contest from July 12th to the first game on August 3rd.
1941 In the Yankees’ 8-7 loss to Chicago, Joe DiMaggio’s hitting streak is extended to 30 straight games when his seventh-inning grounder takes a bad hop off Luke Appling’s shoulder. The Yankee Clipper’s fortunate hit also breaks the team’s record for hits of 29 consecutive games, previously shared by Roger Peckinpaugh (1919) and Earle Combs (1931).
1942 During the second game of a twin bill in Boston, Paul Waner, standing on first base, gestures to the official scorer, Jerry Moore of the Boston Globe, not to credit him with a hit on the ground ball in the hole that was knocked down by Reds shortstop Eddie Joost. Big Poison doesn’t want a questionable roller to be his historic 3000th hit, which the Braves right-fielder will collect with a clean single after tomorrow’s off day.
1943 Red Sox player-manager Joe Cronin hits a three-run pinch homer in both games of a doubleheader, becoming the first major leaguer to come off the bench to go deep in each end of a twin bill. Boston defeats Philadelphia in the opener 5-4 but drops the nightcap at Fenway Park, 8-7.
1944 Although he will continue to play in the minor leagues until 1955, Ed Levy appears in the 40th and final game of his three-year tenure in the major leagues. The Irish Catholic first baseman, born as Edward Clarence Whitner in 1911, is asked to start using his stepfather’s surname by Yankee team president Ed Barrow to help the club attract more Jewish fans to the Bronx ballpark.
1956 Joe Adcock’s ninth-inning home run off Brooklyn right-hander Ed Roebuck, his second round-tripper of the game, proves to be the game-winner in the Braves’ 5-4 victory over the Dodgers. The first baseman’s blast to left field, which clears an 83-foot wall at the 350-foot mark, becomes the only homer to land on the roof at Ebbets Field.
1956 Fred Haney, named yesterday to replace Charlie Grimm, wins two games in his managerial debut with the Braves when the team sweeps a doubleheader against the Dodgers at Ebbets Field, 5-4 and 3-1, starting a streak of 11 consecutive victories. The club’s former coach will compile a 341-231 (.596) record, guiding Milwaukee to two pennants and a world championship during his four seasons at the helm.
1958 Tiger third baseman Ozzie Virgil, who became the first black to play for the team eleven days ago, collects four singles and a double in his first home game at Briggs Stadium. The 26-year-old Dominican’s 5-for-5 performance at the plate helps Detroit beat the Senators, 9-2.
1960 Ted Williams becomes the fourth major leaguer to hit 500 career home runs when he goes deep off the Tribe’s moundsman Wayne Hawkins. ‘Teddy Ballgame’s’ two-run blast proves to be the difference when the Red Sox beat the Indians at Cleveland’s Municipal Stadium, 3-1.
1962 In a play indicative of the struggling Mets, first baseman Marv Throneberry’s apparent first-inning triple becomes an out on an appeal play for missing second base in an 8-7 loss to the Cubs at the Polo Grounds. According to legend, when New York manager Casey Stengel questions the call, he is told by an umpire, “Don’t bother arguing, Casey, he missed first base, too.”
1962 Gene Woodling, purchased from the Senators for a reported $45,000, substantially more than $20,000 waiver fee, becomes the first major leaguer to play for the Yankees and the Mets. In his National League debut, the 39-year-old outfielder goes 2-for-4, scoring two runs for the new expansion team in an 8-7 loss to the Cubs at the Polo Grounds.
1962 In the second inning of Game 1 of a twin bill against the Yankees, the bottom of the Indians’ lineup, Jerry Kindall, Bubba Phillips, and Jim Mahoney hit consecutive home runs, helping Dick Donovan improve his record to 10-2. The Tribe also takes the nightcap to complete a four-game sweep of the World Champs, much to the delight of the largest home crowd in eight seasons.
1970 At Candlestick Park, Willie Mays (615) and Ernie Banks (504) both homer in the Cubs’ 6-1 victory over the Giants. It is the first time in baseball history two players with 500 career home runs have gone deep in the same game.
1971 Don Kessinger goes 6-for-6, stroking five singles and a double. The Cubs’ leadoff hitter’s perfect performance at the plate contributes to the team’s 7-6 ten-inning victory over the Cardinals at Wrigley Field.
1974 After completing the first 1000 games in franchise history with a winning percentage of .332, the Mets compile a 517-482-1 record in their next thousand contests. During the span, including Tom Seaver winning 12% of the team’s victories, New York wins two National League pennants and a World championship.
1976 At Shea Stadium, Dave Kingman hits a walk-off homer to give the Mets a 1-0 victory over the Dodgers. Sky King’s game-ending blast comes off Charlie Hough in the 14th inning.
1978 The crowd at Yankee Stadium initiates a new baseball tradition when they begin to rhythmically clap each time there are two strikes on the batter, inspired by Ron Guidry’s 18-strikeout performance, establishing a new American League mark for southpaws. The left-hander’s performance in the 4-0 victory over the Angels will lead the team’s television announcer, Phil Rizzuto, to coin a new nickname, referring to the Lafayette native as ‘Louisiana Lightning.’
1980 At Cleveland Stadium, the Indians temporarily closed a 10,500 bleachers seats due to rowdy fans, who pelted Milwaukee’s outfielders Gorman Thomas and Sixto Lezcano with various objects during yesterday’s 5-3 loss to the Brew Crew. The Tribe will reopen the section at the end of the month, putting tighter security and limiting the sale of beer.
1987 Dick Howser, former manager of the Royals and Yankees, loses his courageous battle against cancer, succumbing to a brain tumor. After three surgeries to remove the disease, the 51-year-old frail-looking skipper had tried to make a comeback with Kansas City but had to resign after one day of spring training workouts, becoming physically too weak to perform his duties.
1992 Mike Piazza, believing he was low balled in his contract negations, takes exception to the team, giving a reported bonus of $500,00 to top draft pick Ryan Luzinski, a 220-pound catcher from Holy Cross High (Delran, NJ). Next season, the Dodger farmhand will be selected as the National League’s Rookie of the Year and will hit .331 in seven seasons for LA, and Luzinski will never play in a major league game.
1993 Baseball owners vote overwhelmingly, 26-2, in favor of expanding the playoffs for the first time since 1969. The new system, beginning in 1994, will double the number of teams that qualify for postseason play to eight by realigning each league to three divisions and adding two wild-card teams.
2001 Blake Stein ties an American League record when he records eight consecutive strikeouts in the Royals’ 5-2 loss to the Brewers at Miller Park. The right-hander’s streak started by striking out Richie Sexson for the last out of the first inning and ended after he fanned Mark Loretta to start the fourth frame.
2003 Mets starter Jae Seo, and two relief pitchers, David Weathers and Armando Benitez, combine to one-hit Florida, 5-0. The contest is the third consecutive one-hitter the team has played; Steve Trachsel limited the Angels to one single two days ago, and last night, Dontrelle Willis beat New York, 1-0, yielding just one safety.
2003 The Phillies enter into a 25-year naming rights agreement to call their new home Citizens Bank Park, promoting one of the nation’s largest commercial holding companies. At Philadelphia’s latest ballpark, a gigantic Liberty Bell, towering 100 feet above street level, will come to life after every Phillies’ homer.
2004 At New Hampshire’s Holman Stadium, the Atlantic League’s Nashua Pride celebrate the 32nd anniversary of the Watergate break-in by giving away Richard Nixon bobbleheads to the first 1,000 fans in attendance. The independent minor league’s promotion, which included free entrance to anyone named Woodward or Bernstein and eighteen and a half minutes of silence to match the time of the gap in the infamous Watergate tape, had no reports of stolen signs during the game.
2005 Baseball owners vote overwhelmingly, 26-2, to expand the playoffs for the first time since 1969. The new system, beginning in 1994, will double the number of teams that qualify for postseason play to eight by realigning each league to three divisions and adding two wild-card teams.
2007 Columbus Clippers outfielder Brandon Watson, with a base hit against the Ottawa Lynx, extends his International League hitting streak to 43 games, breaking a 95 year-old International League record. The Nationals farmhand surpasses the mark set by Jack Lelivelt in 1912 when he played for the Rochester Hustlers.
2007 At the Rogers Centre in Toronto, Blue Jay Frank Thomas strokes his record-setting 244th round-tripper as a designated hitter in a 4-2 loss to Washington. The third-inning solo shot off Micah Bowie moves the 39 year-old veteran past Edgar Martinez for the most home runs hit by a DH in major league history.
2008 In the Mariners’ 5-4 win over Florida at Safeco Field, Felix Hernandez strikes out the side on nine pitches to become the 13th pitcher in American League history to throw an immaculate inning. King Felix’s fourth frame victims include Jeremy Hermida (swinging), Jorge Cantu (swinging), and Mike Jacobs (looking).
2008 Cecil Cooper of the Astros and Ron Gardenhire of the Twins become the first two managers fined by Major League Baseball for failing to comply with the pace of game regulations. Last month, the MLB asked the teams to help enforce existing rules to decrease the time required to complete a big-league contest.
2008 After a 9-6 victory against the Angels in the first game of a West Coast road trip, the Mets fire manager Willie Randolph, pitching coach Rick Peterson, and first-base coach Tom Nieto, shortly after 3 a.m. Eastern time. The team’s 18th manager, who compiled a 302-253 record in 3+ seasons with New York, will be replaced by bench coach Jerry Manuel on an interim basis until the end of the season.
2009 At the Rangers Ballpark in Arlington, Astros catcher Ivan Rodriguez passes Carlton Fisk for the most games caught in a career when he makes his 2,227th appearance behind the plate. The veteran backstop, also known as Pudge, establishes the mark against the Rangers, the team he broke in with as a 19-year-old in 1991.
2009 At Fenway Park, fans attending tonight’s game will have an opportunity to win food and prizes, along with one lucky patron, sitting 500 feet from the plate, receiving a pair of tickets for a future contest. The Red Sox are treating their fans to celebrate the 500th straight sellout at home, a streak begun on May 15th, 2003, in which almost 18 million have seen the club compile a 326-173 record over the first 499 games of the record span.
2013 Max Scherzer becomes the second Tiger starter in the 104-year history of the franchise to begin the season at 10-0 when Detroit beats Baltimore at Comerica Park, 5-1. George Mullin, known as Wabash to his teammates, started the 1909 season with an 11-0 record, en route to a 29-8 record for the eventual American League champs.
2014 With their ninth straight victory, the Royals take over the lead in the American League Central, beating last year’s Cy Young Award winner, Max Scherzer, and the Tigers at Comerica Park, 11-4. The last time Kansas City had sole possession of first place after playing 70 games was on June 25, 1980, when they led Chicago by 8.5 in the AL West, en route to winning the American League pennant.
TODAY IN SPORTS HISTORY JUNE 17
1880 Providence Grays MLB pitcher John M. Ward throws a perfect game beating the Buffalo Bisons, 5-0; second perfect game in National League in 6 days; next one takes 84 years
1901 US Open Men’s Golf, Myopia Hunt GC: Willie Anderson of Scotland wins first of his 4 Open titles by 1 stroke in an 18-hole playoff with Alex Smith
1906 International Lawn Tennis Challenge, Wimbledon: Laurence Doherty & Reginald Doherty beat Raymond Little & Holcombe Ward 3-6, 11-9, 9-7, 6-1 to give British Isles an unassailable 3-0 lead over US (ends 5-0)
1911 US National Championship Women’s Tennis, Philadelphia CC: Hazel Hotchkiss Wightman beats Florence Sutton 8-10, 6-1, 9-7 for her third straight US singles title
1927 US Open Men’s Golf, Oakmont CC: American-based Scotsman Tommy Armour defeats Harry Cooper by 3 strokes in an 18-hole playoff to win the first of his 3 major titles
1943 Player-manager Joe Cronin of Red Sox hits two 3-run pinch home runs
1954 Rocky Marciano beats Ezzard Charles by unanimous points decision in his 3rd world heavyweight boxing title defence at Yankee Stadium, NYC
1960 Ted Williams hit his 500th HR
1962 US Open Men’s Golf, Oakmont CC: Jack Nicklaus wins his first major title by 3 strokes in an 18-hole playoff with Arnold Palmer
1962 FIFA World Cup Final, Estadio Nacional, Santiago, Chile: Brazil go 1-down early but recover to beat Czechoslovakia, 3-1
1962 Chicago Cub Lou Brock is 2nd to HR into Polo Grounds right-center field bleachers
1973 Canadian Open Golf (La Canadienne), Montreal Municipal GC: Jocelyne Bourassa of Canada wins inaugural event in a playoff with Sandra Haynie & Judy Rankin
1973 US Open Men’s Golf, Oakmont CC: Johnny Miller fires a record final round 63 (-8) to win his first major championship, 1 stroke ahead of runner-up John Schlee
1976 ABA (Nets, Pacers, Nuggets & Spurs) merges into NBA
1979 US Open Men’s Golf, Inverness Club: Hale Irwin wins his second Open title, 2 strokes ahead of former champions Jerry Pate and Gary Player
1989 US beats Guatemala 2-1 in 3rd round of 1990 world soccer cup
1990 US Open Men’s Golf, Medinah CC: Hale Irwin wins his 3rd Open title; defeats Mike Donald at the 91st hole, the first in sudden-death, after tying the 18-hole Monday playoff
1992 Philadelphia 76ers trade Charles Barkley to Phoenix Suns
1994 O.J. Simpson doesn’t turn himself in on murder charges, LA police chase his Ford Bronco for 1½ hours before he eventually gives up (seen live on national TV)
1995 WLAF World Bowl 3, Olympic Stadium, Amsterdam: Frankfurt Galaxy beats Amsterdam Admirals, 26-22
1997 NHL announces it will add Nashville in 1998, Atlanta in 1999 & Minneapolis-St Paul & Columbus, Ohio in 2000
2003 Moneyball, a book about the 2003 Oakland Athletics baseball team and GM Billy Beane’s sabermetric approach, inspired by Bill James, is published
2007 US Open Men’s Golf, Oakmont GC: Ángel Cabrera wins his first major title, 1 stroke ahead of Jim Furyk and Tiger Woods; first Open won by an Argentine or a South American
2008 NBA Finals: Boston Celtics beat Los Angeles Lakers, 131-92 in Game 6 for first title since 1986 and 17th overall; MVP: Paul Pierce
2010 NBA Finals: Depending champion Los Angeles Lakers beat Boston Celtics, 83-79 in Game 7 for franchise’s 16th NBA title; MVP: Kobe Bryant
2012 US Open Men’s Golf, Olympic Club, SF: American Webb Simpson wins his first major title, 1 stroke ahead of runners-up Graeme McDowell and Michael Thompson
2018 US Open Men’s Golf, Shinnecock Hills GC: Brooks Koepka wins by 1 stroke from Tommy Fleetwood for first back-to-back Open titles since 1988-89 (Curtis Strange)
2018 24 Hours of Le Mans: Former F1 world champion Fernando Alonso teams with Kazuki Nakajima and Sébastien Buemi to win for Toyota Gazoo Racing
TV FRIDAY
| COLLEGE BASEBALL | TIME ET | TV |
| Oklahoma vs Texas A&M | 2:00pm | ESPN |
| Notre Dame vs Texas | 7:00pm | ESPN |
| GOLF | TIME ET | TV |
| US Open | 9:30am | USA |
| LPGA Tour: Meijer Classic | 3:00pm | GOLF |
| US Open | 4:00pm | NBC |
| MLB | TIME ET | TV |
| Philadelphia at Washington | 1:05pm | NBCS-PHI MANS/2 |
| Atlanta at Chi. Cubs | 2:20pm | MARQ Bally Sports |
| Tampa Bay at Baltimore | 6:05pm | MASN/2 Bally Sports |
| Milwaukee at Cincinnati | 6:40pm | Bally Sports |
| Philadelphia at Washington | 7:05pm | NBCS-PHI MASN/2 |
| San Francisco at Pittsburgh | 7:05pm | NBCS-BAY ATTSN-PIT |
| NY Yankees at Toronto | 7:07pm | YES Sportsnet |
| Miami at NY Mets | 7:10pm | SNY Bally Sports |
| St. Louis at Boston | 7:10pm | NESN Bally Sports |
| Texas at Detroit | 7:10pm | Bally Sports |
| Chi. White Sox at Houston | 8:10pm | NBCS-CHI ATTSN-SW |
| San Diego at Colorado | 8:40pm | Bally Sports ATTSN-RM |
| Kansas City at Oakland | 9:40pm | Bally Sports NBCS-CA |
| Minnesota at Arizona | 9:40pm | Bally Sports |
| LA Angels at Seattle | 10:10pm | Bally Sports Root Sports |
| Cleveland at LA Dodgers | 10:10pm | Bally Sports Sportsnet |
| SOCCER | TIME ET | TV |
| NWSL: Washington Spirit vs Racing Louisville FC | 7:30pm | Paramount+ |
| WNBA | TIME ET | TV |
| Seattle at Connecticut | 7:00pm | CBSSN |
TV SATURDAY
| BOXING | TIME ET | TV |
| Light heavyweights: Artur Beterbiev vs. Joe Smith Jr. | 10:00pm | ESPN |
| COLLEGE BASEBALL | TIME ET | TV |
| Arkansas vs Stanford | 2:00pm | ESPN |
| Ole Miss vs Auburn | 7:00pm | ESPN2 |
| GOLF | TIME ET | TV |
| US Open | 9:30am | USA |
| LPGA Tour: Meijer Classic | 3:00pm | GOLF |
| US Open | 12:00pm | NBC |
| MLB | TIME ET | TV |
| Atlanta at Chi. Cubs | 2:20pm | MARQ Bally Sports |
| NY Yankees at Toronto | 3:07pm | YES Sportsnet |
| Tampa Bay at Baltimore | 4:05pm | MASN/2 Bally Sports |
| San Francisco at Pittsburgh | 4:05pm | NBCS-BAY ATTSN-PIT |
| Kansas City at Oakland | 4:07pm | Bally Sports NBCS-CA |
| Milwaukee at Cincinnati | 4:10pm | Bally Sports |
| Miami at NY Mets | 4:10pm | SNY Bally Sports |
| Texas at Detroit | 4:10pm | FS1 Bally Sports |
| Chi. White Sox at Houston | 4:10pm | NBCS-CHI ATTSN-SW |
| LA Angels at Seattle | 4:10pm | Bally Sports Root Sports |
| Philadelphia at Washington | 4:35pm | NBCS-PHI MANS/2 |
| St. Louis at Boston | 7:15pm | FOX NESN Bally Sports |
| Cleveland at LA Dodgers | 7:15pm | FOX Bally Sports Sportsnet |
| San Diego at Colorado | 9:10pm | Bally Sports ATTSN-RM |
| Minnesota at Arizona | 10:10pm | Bally Sports |
| LA Angels at Seattle | 10:10pm | Bally Sports Root Sports |
| MMA | TIME ET | TV |
| Featherweights: Calvin Kattar vs. Josh Emmett | 7:00pm | ESPN |
| MOTORSPORTS | TIME ET | TV |
| NASCAR Clean Harbors 150 Truck Series | 9:00pm | FS1 |
| NHL PLAYOFFS | TIME ET | TV |
| Stanley Cup Finals: Tampa Bay at Colorado | 8:00pm | ABC |
| SOCCER | TIME ET | TV |
| MLS: Seattle Sounders FC vs Los Angeles FC | 3:00pm | ABC |
| Brasileirão: Atlético Goianiense vs Juventude | 3:30pm | Paramount+ |
| MLS: LA Galaxy vs Portland Timbers | 5:00pm | ESPN |
| Argentina Primera División: Arsenal vs Talleres Córdoba | 5:00pm | Paramount+ |
| Brasileirão: Cuiabá vs Ceará | 6:00pm | Paramount+ |
| MLS: New York RB vs Toronto FC | 7:00pm | ESPN+ |
| MLS: Orlando City SC vs Houston Dynamo | 7:30pm | ESPN+ |
| MLS: CF Montréal vs Austin | 7:30pm | ESPN+ |
| MLS: Columbus Crew vs Charlotte | 7:30pm | ESPN+ |
| Argentina Primera División: Sarmiento vs Patronato | 7:30pm | Paramount+ |
| Brasileirão: Santos vs RB Bragantino | 8:00pm | Paramount+ |
| MLS: Chicago Fire vs DC United | 8:00pm | UniMas |
| NWSL: Kansas City Current vs Chicago Red Stars | 8:30pm | Paramount+ |
| MLS: Dallas vs Vancouver Whitecaps | 9:00pm | ESPN+ |
| MLS: Real Salt Lake vs SJ Earthquakes | 9:30pm | ESPN+ |
| NWSL: OL Reign vs Angel City | 10:00pm | Paramount+ |
| USFL | TIME ET | TV |
| Philadelphia at New Jersey | 12:00pm | USA |
| Birmingham at Tampa Bay | 4:00pm | FOX |
MLB STANDINGS
| American League | |||||||||||
| East | |||||||||||
| Team | W | L | Pct | GB | Home | Road | East | Central | West | Last 10 | Streak |
| NY Yankees | 47 | 16 | .746 | – | 29 – 7 | 18 – 9 | 22 – 10 | 17 – 5 | 5 – 1 | 9 – 1 | W 7 |
| Toronto | 37 | 26 | .587 | 10 | 20 – 12 | 17 – 14 | 11 – 12 | 9 – 7 | 14 – 5 | 6 – 4 | L 1 |
| Tampa Bay | 35 | 28 | .556 | 12 | 21 – 13 | 14 – 15 | 10 – 9 | 6 – 9 | 12 – 9 | 4 – 6 | L 3 |
| Boston | 34 | 30 | .531 | 13.5 | 15 – 15 | 19 – 15 | 7 – 14 | 6 – 7 | 19 – 7 | 7 – 3 | L 1 |
| Baltimore | 28 | 37 | .431 | 20 | 15 – 15 | 13 – 22 | 13 – 18 | 7 – 10 | 4 – 6 | 5 – 5 | W 1 |
| Central | |||||||||||
| Team | W | L | Pct | GB | Home | Road | East | Central | West | Last 10 | Streak |
| Minnesota | 37 | 28 | .569 | – | 20 – 14 | 17 – 14 | 11 – 9 | 17 – 10 | 9 – 7 | 6 – 4 | W 1 |
| Cleveland | 32 | 27 | .542 | 2 | 16 – 10 | 16 – 17 | 5 – 5 | 12 – 8 | 9 – 8 | 8 – 2 | W 4 |
| Chi White Sox | 30 | 31 | .492 | 5 | 13 – 17 | 17 – 14 | 11 – 11 | 10 – 12 | 5 – 5 | 6 – 4 | W 3 |
| Detroit | 24 | 39 | .381 | 12 | 16 – 21 | 8 – 18 | 7 – 11 | 11 – 14 | 1 – 9 | 3 – 7 | L 5 |
| Kansas City | 21 | 41 | .339 | 14.5 | 12 – 21 | 9 – 20 | 4 – 9 | 11 – 17 | 2 – 7 | 4 – 6 | W 1 |
| West | |||||||||||
| Team | W | L | Pct | GB | Home | Road | East | Central | West | Last 10 | Streak |
| Houston | 39 | 24 | .619 | – | 16 – 10 | 23 – 14 | 3 – 6 | 11 – 2 | 21 – 12 | 5 – 5 | W 2 |
| Texas | 30 | 33 | .476 | 9 | 14 – 18 | 16 – 15 | 5 – 8 | 6 – 4 | 15 – 18 | 5 – 5 | W 1 |
| LA Angels | 30 | 35 | .462 | 10 | 17 – 18 | 13 – 17 | 6 – 14 | 6 – 2 | 13 – 11 | 3 – 7 | W 1 |
| Seattle | 28 | 36 | .438 | 11.5 | 14 – 15 | 14 – 21 | 6 – 14 | 7 – 6 | 11 – 11 | 4 – 6 | L 2 |
| Oakland | 22 | 43 | .338 | 18 | 7 – 23 | 15 – 20 | 8 – 12 | 6 – 12 | 6 – 14 | 2 – 8 | W 1 |
| National League | |||||||||||
| East | |||||||||||
| Team | W | L | Pct | GB | Home | Road | East | Central | West | Last 10 | Streak |
| NY Mets | 42 | 23 | .646 | – | 21 – 9 | 21 – 14 | 19 – 7 | 7 – 3 | 13 – 10 | 6 – 4 | W 1 |
| Atlanta | 37 | 27 | .578 | 4.5 | 20 – 14 | 17 – 13 | 13 – 10 | 11 – 6 | 9 – 8 | 10 – 0 | W 14 |
| Philadelphia | 33 | 31 | .516 | 8.5 | 19 – 17 | 14 – 14 | 9 – 15 | 4 – 2 | 13 – 10 | 8 – 2 | W 2 |
| Miami | 28 | 33 | .459 | 12 | 15 – 14 | 13 – 19 | 16 – 9 | 2 – 4 | 6 – 14 | 6 – 4 | L 1 |
| Washington | 23 | 43 | .348 | 19.5 | 11 – 23 | 12 – 20 | 5 – 21 | 7 – 7 | 9 – 11 | 2 – 8 | L 5 |
| Central | |||||||||||
| Team | W | L | Pct | GB | Home | Road | East | Central | West | Last 10 | Streak |
| St. Louis | 37 | 28 | .569 | – | 21 – 13 | 16 – 15 | 4 – 6 | 19 – 10 | 9 – 5 | 5 – 5 | L 1 |
| Milwaukee | 35 | 30 | .538 | 2 | 15 – 12 | 20 – 18 | 11 – 13 | 19 – 11 | 3 – 5 | 2 – 8 | L 1 |
| Pittsburgh | 25 | 37 | .403 | 10.5 | 13 – 17 | 12 – 20 | 3 – 5 | 10 – 22 | 11 – 7 | 1 – 9 | W 1 |
| Chi Cubs | 23 | 40 | .365 | 13 | 11 – 24 | 12 – 16 | 1 – 2 | 13 – 15 | 7 – 14 | 0 – 10 | L 10 |
| Cincinnati | 23 | 40 | .365 | 13 | 12 – 17 | 11 – 23 | 3 – 5 | 10 – 13 | 6 – 17 | 5 – 5 | L 1 |
| West | |||||||||||
| Team | W | L | Pct | GB | Home | Road | East | Central | West | Last 10 | Streak |
| San Diego | 41 | 24 | .631 | – | 17 – 13 | 24 – 11 | 11 – 6 | 19 – 10 | 10 – 7 | 8 – 2 | W 4 |
| LA Dodgers | 39 | 23 | .629 | 0.5 | 19 – 10 | 20 – 13 | 9 – 8 | 8 – 5 | 14 – 8 | 4 – 6 | W 2 |
| San Francisco | 35 | 27 | .565 | 4.5 | 19 – 14 | 16 – 13 | 13 – 10 | 5 – 6 | 11 – 9 | 7 – 3 | L 1 |
| Arizona | 30 | 35 | .462 | 11 | 15 – 18 | 15 – 17 | 12 – 10 | 10 – 11 | 5 – 13 | 4 – 6 | W 1 |
| Colorado | 27 | 37 | .422 | 13.5 | 16 – 19 | 11 – 18 | 8 – 16 | 6 – 4 | 8 – 11 | 4 – 6 | L 3 |
X – Clinched Division, Y – Clinched Playoff Spot