“THE SCOREBOARD”
MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL
WASHINGTON 7 TEXAS 2
CHICAGO CUBS 7 NY YANKEES 4
TAMPA BAY 10 ATLANTA 4
ST. LOUIS 4 CHICAGO WHITE SOX 3 (10)
BOSTON 4 OAKLAND 3
KANSAS CITY 4 CLEVELAND 1
TORONTO 4 DETROIT 3 (10)
BALTIMORE 15 MINNESOTA 2
SEATTLE 3 HOUSTON 1
MIAMI 7 PHILADELPHIA 3
MILWAUKEE 1 CINCINNATI 0
SAN FRANCISCO 1 COLORADO 0
SAN DIEGO 6 NY METS 2
PITTSBURGH 4 ARIZONA 2
MINOR LEAGUE BASEBALL
MEMPHIS 13 INDIANAPOLIS 5
FT. WAYNE 8 WEST MICHIGAN 7
PEORIA 6 SOUTH BEND 3
WNBA SCORES
WINGS 77 FEVER 76
SUN 92 MYSTICS 84
MERCURY 78 SPARKS 72
ACES 113 LYNX 89
DREAM 88 SKY 77
2023 INDIANA FOOTBALL”MID-STATE” SCHEDULE
FRIDAY, AUG. 18
BEDFORD NL AT MARTINSVILLE, 7 PM
DECATUR CENTRAL AT COLUMBUS NORTH, 7 PM
FRANKLIN CENTRAL AT PERRY MERIDIAN, 7 PM
GREENWOOD AT SEYMOUR, 7 PM
MOORESVILLE AT BLOOMINGTON NORTH, 7 PM
NEW ALBANY AT FRANKLIN, 7:30 PM
PLAINFIELD AT TERRE HAUTE SOUTH, 7 PM
WHITELAND AT JEFFERSONVILLE, 7 PM
FRIDAY, AUG. 25
FRANKLIN AT MOUNT VERNON, 7 PM
GREENWOOD AT INDIAN CREEK, 7 PM
HARRISON AT PLAINFIELD, 7 PM
KOKOMO AT WHITELAND, 7 PM
MARTINSVILLE AT BLOOMINGTON SOUTH, 7 PM
MOORESVILLE AT DANVILLE, 7 PM
NEW PALESTINE AT DECATUR CENTRAL, 7 PM
PERRY MERIDIAN AT SOUTHPORT, 7 PM
FRIDAY, SEP. 1
DECATUR CENTRAL AT WHITELAND ©, 7 PM
FRANKLIN AT PERRY MERIDIAN ©, 7 PM
GREENWOOD AT MARTINSVILLE ©, 7 PM
PLAINFIELD AT MOORESVILLE ©, 7 PM
FRIDAY, SEP. 8
MARTINSVILLE AT DECATUR CENTRAL ©, 7 PM
MOORESVILLE AT GREENWOOD ©, 7 PM
PERRY MERIDIAN AT PLAINFIELD ©, 7 PM
WHITELAND AT FRANKLIN ©, 7 PM
FRIDAY, SEP. 15
DECATUR CENTRAL AT MOORESVILLE ©, 7 PM
FRANKLIN AT MARTINSVILLE ©, 7 PM
GREENWOOD AT PLAINFIELD ©, 7 PM
WHITELAND AT PERRY MERIDIAN ©, 7 PM
FRIDAY, SEP. 22
MARTINSVILLE AT WHITELAND ©, 7 PM
MOORESVILLE AT FRANKLIN ©, 7 PM
PERRY MERIDIAN AT GREENWOOD ©, 7 PM
PLAINFIELD AT DECATUR CENTRAL ©, 7 PM
FRIDAY, SEP. 29
DECATUR CENTRAL AT GREENWOOD ©, 7 PM
FRANKLIN AT PLAINFIELD ©, 7 PM
MARTINSVILLE AT PERRY MERIDIAN ©, 7 PM
WHITELAND AT MOORESVILLE ©, 7 PM
FRIDAY, OCT. 6
GREENWOOD AT FRANKLIN ©, 7 PM
MOORESVILLE AT MARTINSVILLE ©, 7 PM
PERRY MERIDIAN AT DECATUR CENTRAL ©, 7 PM
PLAINFIELD AT WHITELAND ©, 7 PM
FRIDAY, OCT. 13
FRANKLIN AT DECATUR CENTRAL ©, 7 PM
MARTINSVILLE AT PLAINFIELD ©, 7 PM
MOORESVILLE AT PERRY MERIDIAN ©, 7 PM
WHITELAND AT GREENWOOD ©, 7 PM
©CONFERENCE GAME
BIG 10 WEEKLY FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
WEEK 1
MINNESOTA VS. NEBRASKA
THURSDAY, AUG. 31
WISCONSIN VS. BUFFALO
MICHIGAN STATE VS. CENTRAL MICHIGAN
MICHIGAN VS. EAST CAROLINA
PURDUE VS. FRESNO STATE
RUTGERS VS. NORTHWESTERN
INDIANA VS. OHIO STATE
ILLINOIS VS. TOLEDO
MARYLAND VS. TOWSON
IOWA VS. UTAH STATE
PENN STATE VS. WEST VIRGINIA
WEEK 2
MARYLAND VS. CHARLOTTE
PENN STATE VS. DELAWARE
MINNESOTA VS. EASTERN MICHIGAN
ILLINOIS AT KANSAS
INDIANA VS. INDIANA STATE
IOWA AT IOWA STATE
NEBRASKA AT COLORADO
PURDUE AT VIRGINIA TECH
MICHIGAN STATE VS. RICHMOND
RUTGERS VS. TEMPLE
MICHIGAN VS. UNLV
NORTHWESTERN VS. UTEP
WISCONSIN AT WASHINGTON STATE
OHIO STATE VS. YOUNGSTOWN STATE
WEEK 3
MICHIGAN VS. BOWLING GREEN
WISCONSIN VS. GEORGIA SOUTHERN
INDIANA VS. LOUISVILLE (IN INDIANAPOLIS, IN)
MINNESOTA AT NORTH CAROLINA
NEBRASKA VS. NORTHERN ILLINOIS
NORTHWESTERN AT DUKE
ILLINOIS VS. PENN STATE
PURDUE VS. SYRACUSE
MARYLAND VS. VIRGINIA
RUTGERS VS. VIRGINIA TECH
MICHIGAN STATE VS. WASHINGTON
IOWA VS. WESTERN MICHIGAN
OHIO STATE VS. WESTERN KENTUCKY
WEEK 4
INDIANA VS. AKRON
ILLINOIS VS. FLORIDA ATLANTIC
PENN STATE VS. IOWA
NEBRASKA VS. LOUISIANA TECH
MICHIGAN STATE VS. MARYLAND
NORTHWESTERN VS. MINNESOTA
OHIO STATE AT NOTRE DAME
MICHIGAN VS. RUTGERS
PURDUE VS. WISCONSIN
WEEK 5
PURDUE VS. ILLINOIS
MARYLAND VS. INDIANA
MINNESOTA VS. LOUISIANA
NEBRASKA VS. MICHIGAN
IOWA VS. MICHIGAN STATE
NORTHWESTERN VS. PENN STATE
RUTGERS VS. WAGNER
WEEK 6
NORTHWESTERN VS. HOWARD
OHIO STATE VS. MARYLAND
MINNESOTA VS. MICHIGAN
ILLINOIS VS. NEBRASKA
IOWA VS. PURDUE
WISCONSIN VS. RUTGERS
WEEK 7
MARYLAND VS. ILLINOIS
MICHIGAN VS. INDIANA
WISCONSIN VS. IOWA
RUTGERS VS. MICHIGAN STATE
PURDUE VS. OHIO STATE
PENN STATE VS. UMASS
WEEK 8
MICHIGAN STATE VS. MICHIGAN
IOWA VS. MINNESOTA
NEBRASKA VS. NORTHWESTERN
OHIO STATE VS. PENN STATE
INDIANA VS. RUTGERS
ILLINOIS VS. WISCONSIN
WEEK 9
PENN STATE VS. INDIANA
NORTHWESTERN VS. MARYLAND
MINNESOTA VS. MICHIGAN STATE
WISCONSIN VS. OHIO STATE
NEBRASKA VS. PURDUE
WEEK 10
MINNESOTA VS. ILLINOIS
NORTHWESTERN VS. IOWA (IN CHICAGO, IL)
MICHIGAN STATE VS. NEBRASKA
RUTGERS VS. OHIO STATE
MARYLAND VS. PENN STATE
MICHIGAN VS. PURDUE
INDIANA VS. WISCONSIN
WEEK 11
ILLINOIS VS. INDIANA
NEBRASKA VS. MARYLAND
PENN STATE VS. MICHIGAN
OHIO STATE VS. MICHIGAN STATE
PURDUE VS. MINNESOTA
WISCONSIN VS. NORTHWESTERN
IOWA VS. RUTGERS
WEEK 12
IOWA VS. ILLINOIS
MARYLAND VS. MICHIGAN
INDIANA VS. MICHIGAN STATE
OHIO STATE VS. MINNESOTA
WISCONSIN VS. NEBRASKA
NORTHWESTERN VS. PURDUE
PENN STATE VS. RUTGERS
WEEK 13
NEBRASKA VS. IOWA
FRIDAY, NOV. 24
PURDUE VS. INDIANA
RUTGERS VS. MARYLAND
ILLINOIS VS. NORTHWESTERN
MICHIGAN VS. OHIO STATE
MICHIGAN STATE VS. PENN STATE
MINNESOTA VS. WISCONSIN
COLTS TRAINING CAMP SCHEDULE
WEDNESDAY, JULY 26 – 10-11 A.M.
SATURDAY, AUG. 5 – 6-7:30 P.M.
SUNDAY, AUG. 6 – 2-3:45 P.M.
SATURDAY, AUG. 5 – 6-7:30 P.M.
SUNDAY, AUG. 6 – 2-3:45 P.M.
TUESDAY, AUG. 8 – 9-10:30 A.M.
THURSDAY, AUG. 10 – 9-10 A.M.
TUESDAY, AUG. 15 – 9-10 A.M.
WEDNESDAY, AUG. 16 – 6-8 P.M.
THURSDAY, AUG. 17 – 6-8 P.M.
TOP NATIONAL RELEASES/HEADLINES
MLB NEWS
MLB ROUNDUP: GIANTS’ LOGAN WEBB BLANKS ROCKIES
Logan Webb threw the first complete-game shutout of his career, J.D. Davis provided all the needed run support with a fourth-inning home run and the San Francisco Giants outlasted the visiting Colorado Rockies 1-0 on Sunday afternoon in the final game before the All-Star break.
Having gone winless in his last two starts, Webb (8-7) was brilliant in his first-half finale, limiting the Rockies to two doubles and five singles. He didn’t walk a batter and struck out 10.
It was not only Webb’s first shutout in his five major league seasons, but also his first complete game. His previous season-long outing was 7 2/3 innings, and he had only pitched shutout ball once this year — in a 1-0 loss to the Miami Marlins in May in a game that was 0-0 when he left.
Rockies starter Kyle Freeland (4-10) matched Webb pitch-for-pitch before Davis drilled his first pitch of the fourth inning over the center-field fence for his 11th home run of the season. It was the Giants’ only extra-base hit of the game.
Padres 6, Mets 2
Manny Machado drove in five runs with a pair of home runs off Max Scherzer and Joe Musgrove worked six scoreless innings with the help of three double plays as San Diego defeated visiting New York in the rubber match of a three-game series.
Machado hit a three-run homer in the first and a two-run homer in the fifth, giving him five career homers against Scherzer. Musgrove (8-2) allowed only three hits without issuing a walk and struck out seven en route to his seventh straight win. He also hit four batters.
Scherzer (8-3) has given up 18 homers this season, including five in his last two starts and 11 over his last seven starts. He has given up homers in seven straight games. Machado’s five homers are the most Scherzer has allowed to one player.
Cubs 7, Yankees 4
Pinch hitter Yan Gomes hit a two-run single in the seventh inning following a fielding error by second baseman Gleyber Torres, and Seiya Suzuki lifted a go-ahead sacrifice fly in the eighth as Chicago rallied past New York.
Mike Tauchman opened the eighth with a single off Ron Marinaccio (4-4) before Nico Hoerner and Ian Happ walked. Suzuki, who homered in the fifth for Chicago’s lone hit off Domingo German, followed with a fly ball off Clay Holmes and Tauchman scored when right fielder Giancarlo Stanton’s throw was off target.
Rookie Anthony Volpe hit a two-run homer and Kyle Higashioka followed with a solo shot that gave the Yankees a 4-1 lead in the sixth.
Blue Jays 4, Tigers 3 (10 innings)
Danny Jansen hit a game-tying, two-run home run in the ninth, Nathan Lukes doubled home the go-ahead run in the 10th and visiting Toronto edged Detroit.
Matt Chapman reached base three times and scored two runs for Toronto, which was no-hit by Detroit on Saturday. Jansen’s homer came off Alex Lange, who finished off the Tigers’ combined no-hitter. Yimi Garcia (3-3) pitched an inning of scoreless relief for the win. Jordan Romano set down all three batters he faced for his 26th save.
Riley Greene had two hits, including a solo homer, and Miguel Cabrera added an RBI single for Detroit. Tigers starter Tarik Skubal, making his second appearance this season, tossed four scoreless innings with two hits and five strikeouts.
Red Sox 4, Athletics 3
Masataka Yoshida went 2-for-4 with a go-ahead home run in the bottom of the eighth inning as Boston rallied to sweep visiting Oakland.
After dropping the first two games of the series, Oakland scored first and held a 3-1 lead through six innings. Brent Rooker went 3-for-3 with a solo homer.
Boston tied the game on Adam Duvall’s solo homer and Christian Arroyo’s RBI double in the sixth inning before Yoshida’s solo shot into the Green Monster seats two innings later, extending its winning streak to five games entering the All-Star break.
Rays 10, Braves 4
Tampa Bay snapped its longest losing streak of the season with a win over Atlanta in St. Petersburg, Fla.
Isaac Paredes and Yandy Diaz each connected on home runs, and Zach Eflin (10-4) gave up two runs in five innings with five strikeouts. Diaz had three hits and four RBIs.
With the win, the Rays snapped their seven-game losing streak, while salvaging the series finale in the matchup of MLB’s top two teams based on records.
Orioles 15, Twins 2
Anthony Santander hit two of Baltimore’s season-high six home runs and Kyle Gibson picked up his ninth victory of the season as the visitors cruised to a victory over Minnesota in Minneapolis.
Adley Rutschman, Aaron Hicks, Austin Hays and Ramon Urias also homered for Baltimore, which is riding a five-game winning streak. Gibson (9-6) allowed two runs on three hits over seven innings. He walked one and tied his career high with 11 strikeouts.
Edouard Julien homered, doubled and drove in two runs for the Twins. Minnesota starter Joe Ryan (8-6) suffered the loss, allowing five runs over 4 1/3 innings. He walked two and struck out 10.
Nationals 7, Rangers 2
Joey Meneses, Stone Garrett and Dominic Smith each homered and Patrick Corbin pitched seven solid innings as Washington cruised past visiting Texas to take the three-game series.
Meneses went 1-for-3 with his fourth homer in the past three games after entering the series having hit two all season. Smith went 1-for-3 with two runs and Garrett hit one out of the park in his lone at-bat as pinch hitter.
Josh Jung went 2-for-3, with Adolis Garcia going 1-for-4 with two RBIs for the Rangers.
Marlins 7, Phillies 3
Bryan De La Cruz went 4-for-4 with a homer, a double and two RBIs, leading host Miami to a win over Philadelphia.
The surprising Marlins, who closed the first half of the season in wild-card position at 53-39, also got home runs from Jesus Sanchez and rookie Dane Myers. Jesus Luzardo (8-5), who leads Miami in wins, pitched 6 1/3 innings, allowing four hits, one walk and two runs. He struck out nine and lowered his ERA to 3.29, best among Marlins starters.
All three home runs were hit off Phillies starter Aaron Nola (8-6), who took the loss. Nola allowed eight hits, no walks, five runs, four earned, in six innings as the Phillies lost a road game for just the second time in their past 15 outings.
Brewers 1, Reds 0
Wade Miley pitched six scoreless innings to lead host Milwaukee over Cincinnati.
The Brewers got on the board right away with a two-out, RBI-single from Jesse Winker in the bottom of the first that plated Christian Yelich, who had led off with a double.
From there, the pitching staffs for both teams dominated. Miley (6-2) picked up the win, allowing just four hits with three walks and striking out eight against his former team. Ben Lively (4-5) came off the injured list to start for the Reds, pitching 5 2/3 innings and allowing just the one run, four hits and two walks while striking out five.
Mariners 3, Astros 1
Logan Gilbert worked seven strong innings, and Seattle closed the first half with a win over host Houston that clinched the four-game series.
Gilbert (7-5) followed his first career shutout on Tuesday at San Francisco by limiting the Astros to one run on three hits and no walks with six strikeouts over seven innings.
Seattle capped its seven-game road trip with a 5-2 record and improved to 5-2 against Houston this season. The Astros squandered a chance to close to within one game of the Texas Rangers in the American League West after Texas fell at Washington earlier Sunday.
Pirates 4, Diamondbacks 2
Seven Pittsburgh pitchers limited Arizona to four hits, and Ji Man Choi hit a two-run home run and a double in a win in Phoenix.
Rookie relief pitcher Carmen Mlodzinski had the first start of his career. Ryan Borucki, Osvaldo Bido, Angel Perdomo, Yerry De Los Santos, Colin Holderman and David Bednar also pitched, with none going more than 1 2/3 innings. Bido (1-1) recorded the win, and Bednar earned his 17th save.
The Pirates avoided a three-game sweep against the Diamondbacks, who go into the All-Star break in a virtual tie with the Los Angeles Dodgers for the National League West lead.
Cardinals 4, White Sox 3 (10 innings)
Paul DeJong had two hits, including a go-ahead double in the 10th inning, and Willson Contreras smacked a two-run home run to lift St. Louis to a win against host Chicago.
DeJong delivered against Keynan Middleton (2-1), who allowed one run on one hit with one strikeout. Winner JoJo Romero (1-0) struck out three in the last two innings, fanning Tim Anderson with two runners in scoring position to end the game.
St. Louis overcame three errors to secure a series victory in the first-half finale.
Royals 4, Guardians 1
Ryan Yarbrough allowed just one run over six innings to help Kansas City evade a four-game sweep with a win over host Cleveland.
Yarbrough (2-4) struck out five in his outing while allowing six hits and one walk. Shane Bieber (5-6) got the start for Cleveland and allowed four runs on nine hits across 6 1/3 innings. Bieber also fanned six Royals.
Michael Massey led the way for Kansas City at the dish, going 3-for-4 with a two-RBI triple. Kyle Isbel went 2-for-4 with a home run, scoring twice. Andres Gimenez was the bright spot in Cleveland’s lineup, going 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI single to drive in the Guardians’ only run.
YANKEES FIRE HITTING COACH DILLON LAWSON
The New York Yankees relieved hitting coach Dillon Lawson of his duties, the team announced on Sunday.
“I am a big believer that successes and failures are collective efforts,” Yankees vice president and general manager Brian Cashman said in a statement. “However, I ultimately felt that a change was needed and that a new voice overseeing our hitting operations would give us the best chance to perform closer to our capabilities as we move forward into the second half of our season.
“I want to thank Dillon for all his efforts. He has a bright baseball mind that will continue to lead to a long and fruitful baseball career.”
No replacement has been named.
The announcement came hours after the Yankees lost 7-4 to the visiting Chicago Cubs to enter the All-Star break 4-6 in their past 10 games.
Lawson, 38, joined the Yankees as the team’s minor league hitting coordinator in 2019. He was named the Yankees’ hitting coach in 2022.
Previously, Lawson spent two seasons with the Houston Astros organization (2016, 2018) and was a hitting coach at the University of Missouri (2017).
MLB DRAFT
MLB RELEASE
PIRATES SELECT RHP PAUL SKENES WITH NO. 1 OVERALL PICK
SEATTLE (AP) LSU’s stars stole the spotlight at the College World Series. It carried over to the top of baseball’s amateur draft.
The Pittsburgh Pirates selected hard-throwing LSU right-handed pitcher Paul Skenes with the top pick in the draft on Sunday night, with teammate Dylan Crews going No. 2 to the Washington Nationals.
It’s the first time in the draft’s history teammates went 1-2.
“It’s super humbling. I was in shock when I heard,” Skenes said. “A year ago, two years ago, I never through it was a possibility to be the first overall pick. I don’t know what I was expecting going into today, but it means a lot.”
Skenes went 12-3 with 209 strikeouts in 122 2/3 innings in helping lead the Tigers to the College World Series championship. The pick was announced by Hall of Famer Ken Griffey Jr., the top pick of the 1987 draft by the Seattle Mariners.
Skenes was the first college pitcher selected No. 1 overall since Casey Mize by Detroit in 2018.
“He had an incredibly special season at LSU. He obviously took another step forward this spring,” Pittsburgh general manager Ben Cherington said. “It’s a really special combination of pitches and just as much about the mix and command than any one pitch.”
For the second time in three years, the Pirates held the top overall selection thanks to winning the first draft lottery and jumping Washington in the selection order. The Pirates picked catcher Henry Davis at the top in 2021; he made his major league debut last month for Pittsburgh.
Skenes’ signing bonus is expected to be near the slot value of about $9.7 million. Cherington said the hope is an agreement can come quickly and Skenes could pitch somewhere in the Pirates organization in 2023.
“It will have been a little while since he last pitched in the World Series and we want to be sure that whatever that schedule and progression looks (like) makes sense for him,” Cherington said.
It seemed to be a debate between Skenes and Crews for the top pick. It didn’t take long for Crews to come off the board after hitting .426 with 18 home runs while playing center field for the Tigers. Crews had a 26-game hitting streak as part of his standout season for the Tigers and finished his career at LSU by reaching base in each of his final 75 college games.
Crews said he’s never been to Washington, but saw plenty of the Nationals while growing up and watching Bryce Harper.
“Seeing him in a Nationals uniform, it was pretty awesome,” Crews said. “I’m going to play my game and hopefully have as much impact as him. … He’s just a complete player.”
Crews is the first college position player taken by Washington with its first pick since Anthony Rendon in 2011.
“A guy we’ve watched since he was in high school,” Nationals president of baseball operations Mike Rizzo said. “He’s the type of guy that we want here in Washington. He’s a terrific person. He’s got great character. He’s very competitive and he’s a winner.”
Four LSU players total were selected on the first day, with right-handed pitchers Ty Floyd (No. 38 by Cincinnati) and Grant Taylor (No. 51 by the Chicago White Sox) also picked.
Detroit selected high school outfielder Max Clark from Franklin, Indiana, at No. 3. Clark was the Gatorade national player of the year after hitting .646 with six homers and 33 RBIs during his high school season.
But the first round was tilted to college players, with 17 of the 28 selections.
Florida outfielder Wyatt Langford went No. 4 to Texas, and high school outfielder Walker Jenkins, from Oak Island, North Carolina, went fifth to Minnesota.
Oakland took college shortstop Jacob Wilson, the son of former major league shortstop Jack Wilson, from Grand Canyon at No. 6.
Wake Forest right-hander Rhett Lowder went No. 7 to Cincinnati, Kansas City selected high school catcher Blake Mitchell, from Sinton, Texas, at No. 8, and Colorado picked Tennessee right-hander Chase Dollander.
The top 10 concluded with Miami selecting high school righty Noble Meyer from Jesuit High School in Portland, Oregon.
The first round ended with Houston taking Nebraska shortstop Bryce Matthews at No. 28, but only after Commissioner Rob Manfred had to pause due to boos about the mention of the Astros.
Seattle was the only team with three picks in the first 39 selections after becoming the first team to be awarded an extra promotion incentive pick under the new collective bargaining agreement. That pick was the result of Julio Rodríguez winning AL Rookie of the Year last season and getting a full year of major league service.
Seattle used that incentive pick to take high school outfielder Jonny Farmelo, from Chantilly, Virginia. Seattle also selected high school shortstops Colt Emerson, from New Concord, Ohio, at No. 22 and Tai Peete, of Sharpsburg, Georgia, at No. 30.
The New York Mets and Los Angeles Dodgers each had their first picks dropped by 10 spots for going more than $40 million over the luxury tax threshold last year. The Mets picked 32nd and Dodgers 36th.
The Mets took high school shortstop Colin Houck from Lilburn, Georgia, at No. 32 overall and the Dodgers picked high school outfielder Kendall George from Humble, Texas, at No. 36.
Round 1
1) Pirates: Paul Skenes, RHP, Louisiana State
After it sounded like the Pirates were looking more at this class’ offensive options, they opted to go with the best player on MLB Pipeline’s Draft Top 250. Considered by many to be a generational type of talent, Skenes was the best college pitching prospect since Stephen Strasburg, according to evaluators. In his only year with LSU after transferring from Air Force, the former two-way player (He was a catcher!) put up video game numbers in helping the Tigers win the College World Series, finishing with a 1.69 ERA, 15.3 K/9 and just 1.5 BB/9. His 80-grade fastball sat 98 mph and regularly hit triple digits, his slider is unhittable and his power changeup has the chance to be outstanding as well. Skenes isn’t expected to need too much time to get to the big leagues; some scouts think he could get Major League hitters out with his stuff right now.
2) Nationals: Dylan Crews, OF, Louisiana State
Based on pre-Draft buzz, the only thing that might have kept the Nationals from taking Paul Skenes with their pick was if the Pirates selected him, and that’s exactly what happened. Most felt that if this happened, the Nats would go with Skenes’ teammate, Crews, who was the 2023 Golden Spikes Award Winner and sat atop many Draft boards. The center fielder has a track record of success in the SEC and saved the best for last, hitting .426/.567/.713 in 2023. He can play center field and hit for average and power thanks to an advanced approach at the plate, one that helped him walk more times than he struck out in his LSU career. Like Skenes, it shouldn’t take Crews long to be big league ready; he’s the kind of college hitter who could handle an aggressive assignment and make a beeline to Washington.
3) Tigers: Max Clark, OF, Franklin (Ind.) HS
While this isn’t a huge surprise, as Clark was in the mix at No. 1 and throughout the top five, projections were typically college hitters in this spot, so it’s a little surprising not to see Wyatt Langford go here. That said, Clark might have as high of an upside as anyone in this class. He has the best all-around set of tools in the class and has the chance to have all five at his disposal. He’s a no-doubt center fielder who can really run and has a plus arm from the outfield. He makes consistently hard contact, and while power was the one tool seemingly behind the others, he’d made strides in adding strength during his senior year. Clark plays with a ton of energy and passion at all times.
4) Rangers: Wyatt Langford, OF, Florida
Langford didn’t have to wait long to hear his name called. Some scouts felt he belonged in the same conversation as Dylan Crews, at least in terms of his offensive potential. After not playing much during his freshman year at Florida, Langford burst onto the scene in 2022, hitting 26 homers and finishing with a 1.166 OPS. He somehow upped his game this past season with a 1.282 OPS, walking more times than he struck out while hitting 21 homers. The only thing he hasn’t done much of, compared to Crews, is play center field, though some feel the right-handed hitter has the athleticism to do so, so it will be interesting to see if the Rangers give him a chance to at least start his pro career there. The Rangers have now selected a college player in the first round for a fifth straight year.
5) Twins: Walker Jenkins, OF, South Brunswick HS, Southport, N.C.
While we didn’t predict them in the correct order, the top five talents in the class left the board in the top five. There was a lot of talk that the Twins might end up going with a college hitter here, as they are a team that often lean on their model to inform picks. The left-handed hitter has a ton of power, both now and in the future, and really helped his profile by showing he can play center field and demonstrating more athleticism than he had in the past.
6) Athletics: Jacob Wilson, SS, Grand Canyon
The son of former big leaguer Jack Wilson, Jacob plays the same position as his dad and will be able to do so for a very long time. He also has a very strong track record of hitting, with a .977 OPS in his GCU career. He hit .412/.461/.635 as a junior and continued to be perhaps the best contact hitter in college baseball, striking out in just 2.3 percent of his plate appearances as a junior.
7) Reds: Rhett Lowder, RHP, Wake Forest
After Paul Skenes, Lowder was the best, and most consistent, college pitcher in the class. And while the Reds were looking at a number of hitters available, they couldn’t pass up his combination of stuff, command and competitiveness. He has enough fastball velocity, up to 97 mph at times with good sink, but it’s his plus changeup that’s a separator, and his slider flashes plus. Lowder throws strikes with all three, and it’s easy to dream of him getting to Cincinnati in a hurry.
8) Royals: Blake Mitchell, C, Sinton (Texas) HS
The Royals are no stranger to taking a high schooler this high, having taken their No. 5 prospect, Frank Mozzicato, No. 7 overall in 2021. Like in that scenario, it looks like the Royals have gotten a very good talent who will also be a money saver, so it will be interesting to see how they use their bonus pool money moving forward, with an extra pick at No. 66 overall providing a bigger pool. High school catching can be a risky demographic, but Mitchell has the chance to hit, and with power, and he’s got all the tools to stick behind the plate.
9) Rockies: Chase Dollander, RHP, Tennessee
All signs pointed to the Rockies targeting pitching, and with Rhett Lowder off the board, Dollander was the next-best option among college arms. Stuff-wise, he belongs up this high, with a plus fastball and slider to go along with a good changeup and curve. His results this year didn’t match the stuff, with his command suffering at times. Some believe Dollander’s issues can be fixed with pro instruction, something the Rockies are banking on.
10) Marlins: Noble Meyer, RHP, Jesuit HS, Portland, Ore.
Meyer was considered the best high school arm in the class, offering an enticing combination of stuff, feel for pitching and projection. Coming from the same high school program as Phillies prospect (and 2023 Futures Game starter) Mick Abel, Meyer has a fastball that flirts with triple digits and a slider that should be plus in time. He also has better feel for a changeup than many prepsters and generally is around the strike zone, with frontline starter potential.
11) Angels: Nolan Schanuel, 1B, Florida Atlantic
This has long been considered a landing spot for a college bat; it was a matter of which one. The Angels like taking advanced players who can get to the big leagues quickly, and after their success with Zach Neto last year, Schanuel fits what the Halos are trying to do. He was arguably the best performer in the college game in 2023, hitting .447 with a 1.483 OPS and a ridiculous 14/71 K/BB ratio. He might be athletic enough to handle an outfield corner, but it’s the bat that will carry him.
12) D-backs: Tommy Troy, SS, Stanford
Troy hit well in his sophomore year at Stanford, then kept it going with a strong Cape Cod League last summer to put himself more firmly on the first-round map. He turned it up a notch as a junior, hitting close to .400 with 17 homers and 17 steals. He’s athletic and runs well, and he has shown the ability to play three infield positions.
13) Cubs: Matt Shaw, SS, Maryland
One of the better pure college hitters in the class, Shaw earned Cape Cod League MVP honors last summer, then posted a 1.142 OPS with 24 homers and 18 steals for the Terrapins in 2023. He played mostly shortstop in college but moved around a bit early and while playing on the Cape, with most thinking second base is the best home for him long-term if he stays on the dirt.
14) Red Sox: Kyle Teel, C, Virginia
Teel was a solid high school prospect in 2020 but removed his name from the Draft so he could head to Virginia. Three years later, he played his way into the top 15. He’s a super-athletic backstop who has the chance to stick behind the plate with an arm that’s easily plus. He’s a left-handed hitter with an advanced approach who seemed to find a good balance between hitting for average and power in 2023. This breaks a streak of four straight high school hitters taken by the Red Sox with their first-round picks.
15) White Sox: Jacob Gonzalez, SS, Mississippi
Gonzalez’s name was coming up as high as No. 5 to the Twins. With a solid approach, Gonzalez works counts and draws walks, and he did a better job in 2023 of not getting power-happy while still finishing with a .999 OPS. The left-handed hitter has the chance to be an above-average hitter with better than average power, though it remains to be seen if he can stick at shortstop at the next level, with third or second perhaps better long-term options.
16) Giants: Bryce Eldridge, 1B/RHP, Madison HS, Vienna, Va.
The most interesting part of this pick is that Eldridge was announced as a two-way player, and he’ll join Reggie Crawford as a two-way guy in the organization. His bat had jumped ahead of his mound work during his senior season, with impressive raw power from the left side. The 6-foot-7 right-handed pitcher does have arm strength, with a fastball that touches 96-97 and some feel for spin and a changeup, but his pitching might take more time to develop than his bat.
17) Orioles: Enrique Bradfield Jr., OF, Vanderbilt
Bradfield’s carrying tool is his speed, and he has plenty of it, earning an 80 grade on the scouting scale for his wheels. He should be a serious base stealing threat at the next level, and his speed helps him be a premium defender in center field. While he has added a little strength, his game is making contact and getting on base so he can use that speed to his greatest advantage. The O’s have now taken a college hitter with three of their last four opening picks.
18) Brewers: Brock Wilken, 3B, Wake Forest
If you like power, you’re going to like Wilken. He has as much raw pop as anyone in the class, and he got to it in college, setting Wake Forest records for career homers after smashing 31 this season. He improved his overall approach in 2023, with more walks than strikeouts (though there will always likely be some swing and miss to his game), helping him get to his pop even more. He might be able to stick at third, but it’s the bat the Brewers bought here. That’s now five straight college bats in the first round for Milwaukee.
19) Rays: Brayden Taylor, 3B, Texas Christian
We were hearing Taylor’s name as high as No. 6, so the Rays are likely very excited his sweet left-handed swing was still on the board here. He makes a ton of hard contact and does a good job working counts, helping him get to his power more. He profiles as someone who should hit for average and power even if he hunted homers more in 2023 (and got them, with 23). He’s a good athlete and defender, with more projection than many college bats.
20) Blue Jays: Arjun Nimmala, SS, Strawberry Crest HS, Dover, Fla.
One of the youngest players in the class, the 17-year-old Nimmala offers an intriguing combination of projection and raw power in a middle infielder package. He can drive the ball to all fields and should tap into that raw pop more consistently as he refines his approach. He has every chance to stick at shortstop for a long time and has impressive upside, with the potential to develop plus tools across the board.
21) Cardinals: Chase Davis, OF, Arizona
Since his high school days, Davis — whose name came up as early as the Red Sox’s pick at 14 — has shown glimpses of his plus raw power from the left side of the plate. In 2023, he carried over some adjustments and showed a much better approach, cutting down his strikeout rate considerably and upping his power production as a result. He’s probably a corner outfielder in the future but could get the chance to play center to start out.
22) Mariners: Colt Emerson, SS/3B, Glenn HS, New Concord, Ohio
A year ago, the Mariners took a left-handed-hitting middle infielder out of the high school ranks in Cole Young, and they did it again here. Emerson has a similar profile to Young as a prep player with the chance to be a plus hitter with a very advanced approach at the plate. There is power for him to grow into as well, and while he’s a solid defender, he may not play shortstop forever, but third or second could work just fine. More >
23) Guardians: Ralphy Velazquez, C/1B, Huntington Beach (Calif.) HS
A number of high school bats were mentioned here, and Velazquez has a chance to be a really good one. A left-handed hitter who stood out at USA Baseball’s National High School Invitational this spring, Velazquez routinely finds the barrel and has plenty of raw power and strength to tap into. There’s some question about whether he can stick behind the plate, but even if he has to move to first, his bat should profile well there.
24) Braves: Hurston Waldrep, RHP, Florida
The Braves didn’t think Waldrep would still be available, as he was generally perceived to be one of four college arms who were sure-fire first-rounders. Purely in terms of stuff, Waldrep belonged higher than here, with a fastball that touches the upper 90s, a solid slider and an absolutely nasty splitter that misses bats at a very high rate. The only thing holding the Gators right-hander back is his command, something he can refine to be a starter long-term.
25) Padres: Dillon Head, OF, Homewood-Flossmoor HS, Flossmoor, Ill.
Head can challenge Enrique Bradfield Jr. for the honor of fastest player in the class. A true 80 runner, he knows how to use his speed on both sides of the ball, playing an outstanding center field with good reads and routes while stealing bases regularly. He’ll likely never be a true power guy but should have enough strength to impact the ball while being a contact-first, on-base type who could hit at the top of the lineup. A kind of typical Padres upside pick here.
26) Yankees: George Lombard Jr., SS/3B, Gulliver Prep, Pinecrest, Fla.
After taking a college hitter for three years in a row, the Yankees went back to the high school infielder group for the first time since they picked Anthony Volpe in 2019. The son of George Lombard Sr., a former big leaguer who is now the Tigers’ bench coach, Lombard had some helium as the Draft approached, ultimately reaching the first round. With an athletic 6-foot-3 frame, he looks the part and has a ton of raw pop to tap into from the left side, though it comes with some swing and miss. While he might start out as a shortstop, Lombard could fill out his frame and land at third, but the power should profile fine there.
27) Phillies: Aidan Miller, SS, Mitchell HS, New Port Richey, Fla.
This could end up looking like one of the steals of the first round when we look back at it. Miller won the High School Home Run Derby and All-American Game MVP honors in Los Angeles a year ago and looked like he might be one of the best high school hitters in the class. But he missed most of his senior year after breaking the hamate bone between the palm and wrist of his left hand, making him harder to evaluate. Miller has the chance to hit, and with a ton of power. Even though he was announced as a shortstop, he might profile best at the hot corner.
28) Astros: Brice Matthews, SS, Nebraska
This one might have taken some by surprise, as Matthews profiled more as a second-round type of talent. But he does have an exciting combination of home run potential and plus speed. Don’t be surprised if the Astros give him the chance to stick at short, but he might be better suited as an offensive-minded second baseman in the long term.
Prospect Promotion Incentive Pick
29) Mariners: Jonny Farmelo, OF, Westfield HS, Chantilly, Va.
Farmelo’s name had been creeping up Draft boards as the spring progressed, with some area scouts thinking his tools matched up favorably with any prep player in the class. A left-handed hitter who could have solid to plus tools across the board, Farmelo has plus wheels now, making him a dangerous baserunner and a solid center fielder.
Competitive Balance Round A
30) Mariners: Tai Peete, SS, Trinity Christian HS, Sharpsburg, Ga.
That’s a trifecta of exciting high school position players for the Mariners, who are using their extra picks to aim high, something all Mariners fans should love. Peete has plus speed, should be able to play shortstop for a long time due to his strong arm and boasts raw pop to spare.
31) Rays: Adrian Santana, SS, Doral (Fla.) Academy
Sometimes you don’t know if a young high school shortstop will be able to stick at the premium position. That isn’t the case with Santana, who is one of the better defenders at the position in this class. He has 80-grade speed, an asset for him on both sides of the ball, and while he’ll have to add strength, he has a simple and repeatable swing and should have enough impact as he matures.
32) Mets: Colin Houck, SS, Parkview HS, Lilburn, Ga.
This is a solid get for the Mets with their first selection of the Draft (their pick dropped 10 spots because they exceeded the Competitive Balance Tax threshold by more than $40 million). Houck’s name was being mentioned in the top half of the first round; he was a two-sport standout as a high school quarterback. That could mean there’s upside to get to now that he’s focusing on baseball full time, and he already possesses terrific raw power and bat speed. More >
33) Brewers: Josh Knoth, RHP, Patchogue-Medford HS, N.Y.
The Lance McCullers Jr. comps are real here, as Knoth is a smaller (6-foot-1), but strong and compact right-hander. He has one of the best breaking balls in the class, a plus curve that routinely registers RPMs north of 3,000. His fastball was ticking upward this year, touching 96 mph, and while there’s a little risk here that he ends up a reliever, a better changeup will give him every chance to start.
34) Twins: Charlee Soto, RHP, Reborn Christian Academy, Kissimmee, Fla.
After getting one of the top high school bats in the country in Walker Jenkins at No. 5, the Twins follow with a pitcher many felt topped the second tier of prep arms. He’s super young at 17 and is now 6-foot-5, a former shortstop who outgrew the position. His stuff has all ticked up, hitting the upper 90s, and he has the chance to develop an above-average slider and splitter.
35) Marlins: Thomas White, LHP, Phillips Academy, Andover, Mass.
The Marlins have managed to draft the top two high school pitchers in the class, getting White after taking Noble Meyer at No. 10. The top lefty of any kind, White has the chance to have a true three-pitch mix coming from his 6-foot-5 frame. He’s going to need an over-slot bonus to be signed away from Vanderbilt, no doubt, but the Marlins’ extra pick means they have the bonus pool to get it done.
36) Dodgers: Kendall George, OF, Atascocita HS, Texas
Dodgers fans had to wait a while for their pick, as it was dropped 10 spots because they exceeded the Competitive Balance Tax threshold by more than $40 million. They’re getting one of the fastest players in the Draft, one some scouts felt was a high school version of Enrique Bradfield Jr. George knows his game, getting on base and wreaking havoc while playing outstanding defense in center field, albeit without power.
37) Tigers: Kevin McGonigle, SS, Monsignor Bonner HS, Drexel Hill, Pa.
There was buzz that McGonigle seemed “unsignable” and would head to Auburn, but he doesn’t go here if he’s not ready to start his pro career. A real gamer, McGonigle has the chance to be a plus hitter with solid power, one who routinely finds the barrel. He might end up at second, like his idol, Chase Utley. This will be an over-slot deal, so the Tigers will have to save some money in other spots, and it makes me wonder if Max Clark’s bonus might be a little under slot at No. 3 to help make this signing happen.
38) Reds: Ty Floyd, RHP, Louisiana State
Floyd’s name seemed to be racing up boards as we got close to the Draft, going from a third-round type to a sure-fire second-round pick to a name that was popping up in some first-round conversations. His 17-strikeout performance in the College World Series certainly didn’t hurt, and the physical right-hander could have a solid four-pitch mix with a chance to start long term if he can keep throwing strikes. The Reds hit the CWS hard, getting a pair of mound heroes in Rhett Lowder and Floyd with their first two picks.
39) Athletics: Myles Naylor, 3B, St. Joan of Arc Catholic SS, Ontario, Canada
The A’s snag the final Naylor brother, and some think Myles might be better than Josh or Bo, featuring a blend of his brothers’ power and hitting ability, even if he’s not as polished as his older siblings were coming out of high school. His hands and arm should work well at the hot corner, and he should have the power profile to play there if he can refine his approach.
Best of the rest from Night 1
Here are 10 picks from the first night of the Draft that came after the first 39 picks and stood out:
40) Nationals: Yohandy Morales, 3B, Miami
Projected to go as high as the middle of the first round, even the Nats were surprised that Morales and his power potential were still around to kick off the second round.
43) Reds: Sammy Stafura, SS, Walter Panas HS, N.Y.
Stafura’s name came up at the back end of the first round in a group of talented prep shortstops with a ton of tools and he’s a terrific athlete who has gained strength and can stick at short.
44) Royals: Blake Wolters, RHP, Mahomet-Seymour HS, Ill.
An athletic and projectable prep right-hander who used to also play basketball, Wolters’ velocity has climbed up to 95-96 mph early in games to go along with a slider that flashes plus, with more to come as he physically matures.
47) Marlins: Kemp Alderman, OF, Ole Miss
Alderman had some of the best raw power and exit velocities in the class and while he’s likely to always swing-and-miss, he’s made enough adjustments with his approach to be confident he’ll fit the power profile for an outfield corner at the next level.
50) Red Sox: Nazzan Zanetello, SS, Christian Brothers College HS, Mo.
It’s not the prettiest swing in the world, but Zanetello makes it work with excellent bat speed and strength that point to plenty of pop in the future while likely being able to stick at short.
52) Giants: Walker Martin, SS, Eaton HS, Colo.
Another high school shortstop who was generating first-round buzz, the Giants were thrilled to get this two-sport standout (He was his high school’s QB) who has solid tools across the board he’s just starting to tap into.
58) Guardians: Alex Clemmey, LHP, Bishop Hendricken HS, R.I.
Pure stuff-wise, Clemmey belongs among the top prep arms in the class with a fastball that touches the upper-90s and a power curve, but he’ll need to refine his command at the next level.
60) Dodgers: Jake Gelof, 3B, Virginia
He might be power-over-hit in the future because he has a big swing, but he managed to limit strikeouts while getting to his power during his junior year at Virginia.
65) Rockies: Cole Carrigg, C, San Diego State
Carrigg made some waves with some Statcast-wowing throws at the MLB Draft Combine, but he’s also a superb athlete who has shown the ability to play multiple positions and a good approach at the plate.
69) Giants: Joe Whitman, LHP, Kent State
Some felt he was the best healthy college lefty in the class, with a solid three-pitch mix and much better command after cleaning up his delivery after transferring to Kent State.
Round 2
40) Nationals: Yohandy Morales, 3B, Miami
41) Athletics: Ryan Lasko, OF, Rutgers
42) Pirates: Mitch Jebb, SS, Michigan State
43) Reds: Sammy Stafura, SS, Walter Panas HS, N.Y.
44) Royals: Blake Wolters, RHP, Mahomet-Seymour HS, Ill.
45) Tigers: Max Anderson, 2B, Nebraska
46) Rockies: Sean Sullivan, LHP, Wake Forest
47) Marlins: Kemp Alderman, OF, Ole Miss
48) D-backs: Gino Groover, 3B, NC State
49) Twins: Luke Keaschall, 2B, Arizona St.
50) Red Sox: Nazzan Zanetello, SS, Christian Brothers HS, St. Louis
51) White Sox: Grant Taylor, RHP, Louisiana State
52) Giants: Walker Martin, SS, Eaton HS, Eaton, Colo.
53) Orioles: Mac Horvath, OF, North Carolina
54) Brewers: Mike Boeve, 3B, Nebraska-Omaha
55) Rays: Colton Ledbetter, OF, Mississippi State
56) Mets: Brandon Sproat, RHP, Florida
57) Mariners: Ben Williamson, 3B, William & Mary
58) Guardians: Alex Clemmey, LHP, Bishop Hendricken HS, R.I.
59) Braves: Drue Hackenberg, RHP, Virginia Tech
60) Dodgers: Jake Gelof, 3B, Virginia
61) Astros: Alonzo Tredwell, RHP, UCLA
Competitive Balance Round B
62) Guardians: Andrew Walters, RHP, Miami
63) Orioles: Jackson Baumeister, RHP, Florida St.
64) D-backs: Caden Grice, LHP, Clemson
65) Rockies: Cole Carrigg, C, San Diego State
66) Royals: Carson Roccaforte, OF, Louisiana Lafayette
67) Pirates: Zander Mueth, RHP, Belleville East HS, Belleville, Ill.
Compensation Picks
68) Cubs: Jaxon Wiggins, RHP, Arkansas
(Compensation for Willson Contreras signing with the Cardinals)
69) Giants: Joe Whitman, LHP, Kent State
(Compensation for Carlos Rodón signing with the Yankees)
70) Braves: Cade Kuehler, RHP, Campbell
(Compensation for Dansby Swanson signing with the Cubs)
HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL
Electronic Communication Devices from Dugout to Catchers to be Permitted in High School Baseball
The use of a one-way communication device between a coach in the dugout and a team’s catcher for the purposes of calling pitches will be permitted in high school baseball beginning in 2024.
This change to Rules 1-6-2 and 3-2-5 was one of five rules revisions approved by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) Baseball Rules Committee at its June 4-6 meeting in Indianapolis. The recommendations were subsequently approved by the NFHS Board of Directors.
The new rules prohibit coaches from communicating with any other player besides the catcher on defense and with any player while batting. The coach must also be in the dugout when using the communication device.
“This change is consistent with the growth of the game and is indicative of a measured and responsible approach to enable technology into our level of competition,” said Elliot Hopkins, NFHS Director of Sports and Educational Services and liaison to the Baseball Rules Committee. “The committee has made these changes to maintain the balance between offense and defense; increase the pace of play; and will responsibly manage technology so there is no advantaged gained by schools that have more available resources than some of their contemporaries. Creating a level playing field is paramount to education-based athletics.”
Game management by umpires was addressed with a change to Rule 10-2-3h. The edit removes spectators’ behavior from the umpire-in-chief’s jurisdiction when deciding to forfeit a contest. Only infractions by players, coaches or team/bench personnel are under the umpire’s jurisdiction. The committee agreed that poor behavior by spectators should be handled by game administration.
“This change is a complementary rule to support schools’ game management role in addressing unacceptable behavior and will allow the umpire to focus on the action and players on the field,” Hopkins said.
Rule 1-6-1 was added and designates a wristband with defensive shifts, pitching choices or game directions as non-electronic equipment and must be a single, solid color and worn on the forearm. Pitchers’ cards must not be white, gray or a distracting color and worn on their non-pitching arm.
A complete listing of the baseball rules changes will be available on the NFHS website at www.nfhs.org. Click on “Activities & Sports” at the top of the home page and select “Baseball.”
According to the most recent NFHS High School Athletics Participation Survey, baseball is the fourth-most popular sport for boys with 481,004 student-athletes in 15,925 high schools nationwide. The survey also indicated that 1,156 girls across the country play high school baseball.
NBA NEWS
WEMBANYAMA MORE AGGRESSIVE IN STRONGER SECOND SUMMER LEAGUE GAME WITH SPURS IN LAS VEGAS
LAS VEGAS (AP) Victor Wembanyama was yelling in celebration, punching the air, even got a Band-Aid on his right cheek because of some physicality.
For his second act in Las Vegas, Wembanyama showed some fire.
The No. 1 pick in this year’s draft looked much more like himself in his second game of Summer League on Sunday. He finished with 27 points and 12 rebounds, but the Spurs lost 85-80 to the Portland Trail Blazers.
“I was just getting going,” Wembanyama said.
He was 9 of 14 from the floor, 7 of 12 from the line, blocked three shots and led a comeback where the Spurs cut a 19-point deficit down to one, but they never got the lead.
“I wish we would have won the game,” Wembanyama said. “I think I could have done more. … Have to keep learning.”
There also were moments that reminded everyone that he’s still an NBA work in progress – he airballed his third 3-pointer in two games, got moved off his spot a couple of times on rebound opportunities – but it was clearly a more Wemby-like game than was the case in his debut on Friday night.
He was only 2 for 13 from the field in San Antonio’s Vegas-opening win over Charlotte; he shot far better in Game 2. He missed his first shot, then missed a pair of free throws before connecting on an 18-foot jumper from the right wing for his first points, and was off and running from there.
“It’s normal to get better every game,” Wembanyama said.
And there were highlights. He tipped a rebound to himself with his left hand, basically alley-ooping the ball to himself for a dunk over Portland’s Jabari Walker. That seemed to energize him; moments later, after blocking a shot at one end, he ran the floor, got rewarded with a pass from Julian Champagnie and threw down another dunk over the Blazers’ Justin Minaya.
He went looking for contact in the third quarter as well; after missing from down low, he went across the lane to grab his own miss and scored off the glass with his left hand while getting fouls, drawing more yells from the crowd that was basically reacting one way or another to everything he did.
Sunday was still a sellout at Summer League – all three days have been sold out so far, a first for Vegas and clearly part of the Wemby effect – but the scene for Wembanyama’s game wasn’t as over-the-top as it was for Friday’s debut. The lower bowl at the Thomas and Mack Center was filled; the upper bowl had some rows toward the very top that were empty, which wasn’t the case Friday.
“I think the best show for the fans is to win,” Wembanyama said.
Spurs coach Gregg Popovich, whose new five-year contract with the team to remain as coach and president was announced Saturday, was in the stands for the second straight game. Jerry West was watching again as well, just as he was Friday in his customary baseline seat, and Spurs teammates Keldon Johnson and Jeremy Sochan were among the NBA players with good seats for the show.
The NBA scheduled Spurs-Blazers thinking it would be the No. 1 pick against the No. 3 pick, just like the Wembanyama debut had him going up against No. 2 pick Brandon Miller on Friday. But the third pick in the draft, Portland’s Scoot Henderson – a player Wembanyama faced twice last year near Las Vegas in exhibitions – missed the game with a shoulder injury suffered in his summer opener.
Spurs summer coach Matt Nielsen said he wasn’t sure if Wembanyama would continue playing in Vegas. If this was the end of Wembanyama’s Vegas stint, it would continue the trend of No. 1 picks having their summer stay conclude early.
Paolo Banchero played two games for Orlando in 2022, Cade Cunningham played three games for Detroit in 2021, Zion Williamson played in just one game – just nine minutes, really – for New Orleans in 2019 before his stay was shortened by injury, and Deandre Ayton got in four games with Phoenix in 2018. There was no Summer League in 2020 because of the pandemic.
Wembanyama said he would be talking to Popovich and map out the rest of the summer – whether he’ll keep playing in Vegas, plus a workout and vacation plan leading into the start of training camp this fall.
“I’m ready to make any sacrifice for the team,” Wembanyama said.
NFL NEWS
BRONCOS RB JAVONTE WILLIAMS (ACL) PLANS TO BE READY FOR CAMP
Coming off a torn ACL last season, Denver Broncos running back Javonte Williams feels ready to be cleared for the start of training camp, he said Sunday.
Williams spoke with reporters Sunday at a football camp in Colorado that he co-hosted with teammate Pat Surtain II, and was asked whether he’d be healthy enough for the opening of camp on July 25.
“I mean, that’s the plan,” Williams said. “I feel like I’m ready to go.”
The Broncos’ second-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, Williams had a strong rookie showing with 203 carries for 903 yards and four touchdowns, plus three receiving scores. But he suffered the ACL tear in Week 4 of last season against the Las Vegas Raiders, ending his sophomore campaign.
He had 47 attempts for 204 yards and no touchdowns when he went down.
As for what’s left in Williams’ recovery process, the 23-year-old said it’s up to “how the Broncos feel about it … Just seeing how I feel, moving, just trying to get my speed back to normal, things like that.”
The Broncos are moving forward with Williams as their No. 1 option at running back and signed Samaje Perine from the Cincinnati Bengals over the offseason to back him up.
NFL PREVIEW: THE NFL IS READY TO HEAR THE LIONS ROAR
It’s been a long time since the Lions have mattered.
In fact, no team has a longer drought of success, with it being 30 seasons since Detroit last hosted a playoff game. Only the Browns have gone longer without a division title (Cleveland last won one in 1989, while Detroit was the NFC Central champ in ’91), but even then, the Lions reign supreme when you realize the Browns didn’t exist for three seasons.
Yet things are finally changing in Motown. The Lions finished last year with an 8–2 mark over their final 10 games, and many believe they’re ready to become a playoff team with real upside in the wide-open NFC. Detroit used the offseason to upgrade defensively, particularly in the secondary with free agents C.J. Gardner-Johnson, Cameron Sutton and Emmanuel Moseley having joined the fold.
The big question is whether that’s enough to vault the defense, which last year finished dead last in total yards allowed and yards per play. If Detroit can even become average, the offense should do its part with a resurgent quarterback in Jared Goff, along with Pro Bowl receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown and rookie running back Jahmyr Gibbs.
For the first time in forever, the Lions might roar.
Biggest gamble this offseason: Not adding another receiver
Detroit has talent on the perimeter, but it will be missing second-year receiver Jameson Williams for part of the season.
Williams was suspended six games for violating the NFL’s gambling policy, leaving St. Brown as the lone big-play threat until late October. In 2022, St. Brown caught 106 passes for 1,161 yards and six touchdowns, pacing Detroit in all three categories. Unfortunately for the franchise, there wasn’t much behind St. Brown, with Kalif Raymond being the second-most productive wideout with 616 yards.
After trading up to the No. 12 pick in last year’s draft to get Williams, while he rehabbed from a torn ACL, the thought was he would pair with St. Brown to stretch and overwhelm defenses. Now, with his talents sidelined for a tough early stretch, the Lions are relying heavily on a rookie back in Gibbs and a supporting cast that seems a bit too thin to scare good defenses until Williams returns.
Toughest stretch of the season: Weeks 1 to 4
The Lions are going to be tested right away in 2023.
Detroit has the exciting but unenviable task of visiting Kansas City when the Chiefs unveil their Super Bowl LVII banner to open the season, before coming home to take on the high-powered Seahawks. After a winnable game at Ford Field against the Falcons in Week 3, it’s back on the road for a divisional tilt with the Packers on short rest, playing on Thursday night.
If the Lions get off to a good start, they could pull away in the middling NFC North. However, with myriad suspensions tied to gambling, Detroit will be shorthanded early on.
Breakout player to watch: DE Aidan Hutchinson
Hutchinson was consistently excellent as a rookie, shining from start to finish: In Week 2, the 2022 No. 2 pick dominated the Commanders with three sacks before totaling two sacks in Week 18 during a victory over the Packers at Lambeau Field.
Entering 2023, Hutchinson has experience to match his massive talent. Standing 6’7″ and 265 pounds, he has a freakish blend of size and strength, along with a 4.74 40 time to showcase his acceleration.
If Hutchinson takes the proverbial next step and becomes a Pro Bowl–level player, Detroit has a good chance to find the leap it needs from its defense.
Position of strength: Offensive line
Few teams have better front walls than the Lions, who have seen the dividends from investing heavily in their line.
Since 2016, Detroit has used three first-round picks on offensive linemen, including left tackle Taylor Decker, center Frank Ragnow and right tackle Penei Sewell. Ragnow and Sewell have become Pro Bowlers, while Denver has long been a top-tier performer at his position.
At guard, the Lions enjoy another Pro Bowler on the left side with Jonah Jackson, while Ragnow’s right is flanked by Halapoulivaati Vaitai. Detroit doesn’t have a weakness in front of Goff, giving him the time and space he needs to thrive.
Position of weakness: Tight end
The Lions are banking on second-round pick Sam LaPorta to replace veteran T.J. Hockenson, who Detroit traded at the deadline last year to the Vikings.
Without Hockenson, the Lions did very little at tight end last season, with backup Brock Wright catching 18 passes for 216 yards and four touchdowns. Wright will likely stay at second on the depth chart, with LaPorta getting the majority of the reps.
At Iowa, LaPorta caught 111 passes for 1,327 yards and four scores over his last two seasons with the Hawkeyes. If he can’t develop quickly as a rookie, the Lions have a significant hole.
X-factor: Secondary holding up
No team remade their secondary more radically this offseason. The Lions signed three new starters in the aforementioned Gardner-Johnson, Moseley and Sutton, giving them a new look on the back end.
The question is whether it’s enough. Sutton was a full-time starter with the Steelers in his final two years there, but can he handle top assignments in his new role? Gardner-Johnson has long been a quality player with both the Saints and the Eagles, but he could get only a one-year deal in free agency. Moseley is talented but coming off a torn ACL.
Last year, the Lions ranked 30th in pass defense and 31st in air yards against. They need a transformation, not just modest improvement.
Sleeper/fantasy pick: TE Sam LaPorta
LaPorta is the latest in a long line of solid, pass-catching tight ends from Iowa. He might not be a consistent point producer, but the Lions like to use their tight ends in the offense, and LaPorta certainly has the most upside on the roster. He’s worth a late-round selection. —Michael Fabiano, SI Fantasy
Best bet: Take the over on Jared Goff’s 4,000.5 passing yards
Goff has done this in three of his last five seasons, including 2022, when he passed for 4,438 yards. Expect the Lions offense to pick up where it left off, as they are the current favorites at SI Sportsbook to win the NFC North. —Jennifer Piacenti, SI Betting
Final record: 10–7, first in NFC North
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
NORTHWESTERN WILL GATHER MORE INFORMATION ON FOOTBALL HAZING ALLEGATIONS AMID FITZGERALD SUSPENSION
(AP) — More than six months after Northwestern began investigating allegations of hazing within its football team, and two days after announcing that coach Pat Fitzgerald had been suspended for two weeks without pay, the program remains shrouded in uncertainty even with the start of fall practices just weeks away.
The school said Friday that Fitzgerald, a onetime star player and now the Wildcats’ winningest coach, was suspended after an investigation led by attorney Maggie Hickey of law firm ArentFox Schiff did not find “sufficient” evidence that the coaching staff knew about ongoing hazing – though there were “significant opportunities” to find out about it.
The next day, though, The Daily Northwestern published a story detailing allegations from a former play who described specific instances of hazing and sexual abuse. The report also indicated that Fitzgerald “may have known that hazing took place.”
That led Northwestern President Michael Schill to write an open letter to the university community in which he acknowledged focusing “too much on what the report concluded (Fitzgerald) didn’t know and not enough on what he should have known.” Schill went on to say that he planned to speak with university leadership, members of the board of trustees and leaders of the faculty senate to determine his next steps, which could include additional punishment for Fitzgerald and his staff.
“As the head coach of one of our athletics programs,” Schill wrote, “Coach Fitzgerald is not only responsible for what happens within the program but also must take great care to uphold our institutional commitment to the student experience and our priority to ensure all students – undergraduate and graduate – can thrive during their time at Northwestern.
“He failed to uphold that commitment,” Schill added, “and I failed to sufficiently consider that failure in levying a sanction.”
A university spokesman declined to provide any update Sunday on Schill’s plans or discussions that may have occurred.
The school first learned of the hazing allegations in late 2022, and the former player who brought the complaint spoke to investigators earlier this year as part of a six-month probe launched by the university. The report concluded the claims could be “largely supported by the evidence” but could not determine whether the coaching staff was aware of the incidents.
Along with Fitzgerald’s two-week suspension, the university said preseason football camps in Wisconsin would be discontinued; the locker room would be monitored by an official outside the purview of the coaching staff; the school would create an online tool for anonymously reporting hazing; coaches, staff and athletes would be required to take anti-hazing training; and the university would form a working group to report on policy, culture, training and enforcement.
“We respect the courage of the individuals who came forward to make us aware of the issue, and we vow to do our part to create a more positive environment moving forward,” Northwestern athletic director Derrick Gragg said in a statement Friday.
Northwestern is only the latest school forced to confront hazing within its athletic programs.
Last month, two former New Mexico State basketball players agreed to an $8 million settlement with the university after filing a lawsuit in April alleging they were sexually assaulted by teammates. The lawsuit was filed two months after one of the players brought his allegations to campus police, which ultimately led to the cancellation of the remainder of the season.
Then-Aggies coach Greg Heiar, who was fired in February, was recently hired to coach Mineral Area College in Missouri.
Also last month, Harvard women’s hockey coach Katey Stone announced her retirement months after The Boston Globe published a report detailing multiple instances of verbal abuse, hazing and pressure to return prematurely from injuries. Stone had led the Crimson for nearly three decades and made four national title games while winning the 1999 championship.
Fitzgerald, who starred for Northwestern in the 1990s and was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2008, was hired to coach his alma mater in 2006 after the sudden death of then-coach Randy Walker. Fitzgerald has led the Wildcats to 110 wins over 17 seasons, including 10 trips to the bowl games, and five times they have finished in the final AP Top 25 poll.
Many current and former players rushed to Fitzgerald’s defense after suspension was announced.
Wildcats quarterback Ryan Hilinski tweeted: “When it comes to being a man I admire and respect, Coach Fitz has always been that man for me in my time at Northwestern! He always offers an ear when I need to talk and a hand whenever I need help up! I’ve got his back like he always has had ours.”
Former quarterback Trevor Semien, now with the Cincinnati Bengals, tweeted: “Fitz emphasized integrity, sacrificing for others, respect, and accountability. These are values that I strive to uphold now as a husband and father. While I won’t speak for anyone else, I can say that my experience at NU did not reflect what I read in the Daily Northwestern.”
A letter circulated on social media, signed by “The ENTIRE Northwestern Football Team” but without disclosing an authors, said that “throughout his tenure, Coach Fitzgerald has consistently prioritized the well-being and development of his players, and we stand behind him in his unwavering commitment to our team.”
The Wildcats, who went 1-11 last season, open the coming season Sept. 3 at Rutgers.
GERMAN LB JUSTIN OKORONKWO COMMITS TO ALABAMA
Alabama landed a 2024 commitment of linebacker Justin Okoronkwo of Germany on Sunday.
He’s listed as a three-star prospect by the 247Sports composite, and he had offers from other Power Five schools, including Penn State and Michigan.
Okoronkwo committed to Maryland last Nov. 29 and made an official visit on June 23. But on his U.S. trip, he also attended camps at Alabama, Georgia and Nebraska and apparently reconsidered the Terrapins, decommitting from Maryland on Saturday.
The 6-foot-3 Okoronkwo announced his decision on Twitter on Sunday.
He becomes the 11th commit to the Crimson Tide’s Class of 2024, which is led by five-star quarterback Julian Sayin of Carlsbad, Calif.
5-STAR TE DAVON MITCHELL RECLASSIFIES, COMMITS TO OKLAHOMA
Five-star tight end Davon Mitchell has joined Oklahoma’s Class of 2024, reclassifying from 2025.
He chose the Sooners over Miami and Alabama.
“I wanted to find a school where they throw the ball to the tight end, where I had a good connection with the coaching staff and where I felt comfortable with the players and the campus and in the end, I just felt like OU was the best option for me,” he told 247Sports.
The 247Sports composite lists the 6-foot-4, 245-pound Mitchell as the No. 2 tight end and No. 16 overall player in the 2025 class. Rankings haven’t been updated to reflect his spot on the 2024 list.
He told 247Sports that he has been taking extra classes and going to summer school to be able to graduate from Los Alamitos (Calif.) High School early.
“I’m going to play out my season this fall and then I’m going to early enroll in December,” Mitchell said. “It’s been a fun journey for me but I’m ready for the next level. I’m excited to play out my season this fall and then ready for the next challenge when I get to Oklahoma.”
NEBRASKA CORNHUSKERS COLLEGE FOOTBALL PREVIEW 2023
2022 Record: 4-8 overall, 3-6 in Big Ten
Head Coach: Matt Rhule, 1st year: 0-0, 8th year overall: 47-43
Not yet, Husker fans. It’s coming, but give it just a wee bit longer before the success finally returns.
The world is a better place when the schools with superpower football bloodlines are great. USC, Michigan, Texas, Tennessee, Notre Dame – college football needs programs that have a rich history of success, especially when there’s a powder keg base of generational fans just waiting to explode.
Welcome to Nebraska.
Husker fans aren’t asking to party like it’s 1995. For now, they just want a team that can show a glimmer of hope that the wins and success might be returning again.
It’s been six LONG years without a winning season, and the weirdest-worst part about it all was that Nebraska wasn’t totally awful over the run. Over and over and over and over again it seemed like a moment was there when just one play or right break could turn the corner, and every time … yoink.
Now the six-time defending national champion at inventing new and creative ways to lose close games has a coach who might be able to change all of that. It should’ve worked with Scott Frost, didn’t, and now Matt Rhule takes over as a prize hire to restore the glory.
But again, be patient. The guy is being paid more than $9 million a season over the next eight years to get this right.
Rhule took over Temple in 2014 – and went 2-10 and 6-6 before leading the way to two straight ten-win seasons and an American Athletic Conference Championship.
He left for Baylor when it was in reboot mode after one of the most horrific scandals in college football history – and went 1-11 and 7-6 before guiding the team to an 11-win season in 2019 with an appearance in the Big 12 Championship.
(By the way, Baylor didn’t beat anyone who was that great in Rhule’s three years, and the Carolina Panthers are paying over $30 million for him to not be their head coach, but let’s not yuck the yum because …)
College football will be more fun when Nebraska is terrific, and everything is banking on Rhule to make that happen.
Nebraska Cornhuskers Preview: Offense
This is hardly going to be a ground-and-pound attack under new offensive coordinator Marcus Satterfield, but the Huskers couldn’t generate a push against anyone over the second half of last year, failing to hit 100 rushing yards in five of its last seven games.
There’s a reshuffling happening up front with a slew of new starters around veteran tackle Turner Corcoran – who might work at guard – and with a potentially strong anchor in Arizona State transfer Ben Scott at center. It also helps that the Huskers have a few nice backs in Anthony Grant and Gabe Ervin – they just need a little room – and …
The starting quarterback can move. Casey Thompson is now at Florida Atlantic – he was a decent passer, but didn’t add anything to the ground game. Coming in to take over from Georgia Tech is Jeff Sims, a tall, slippery playmaker who threw for close to 4,500 yards with 30 touchdowns and ran for 1,152 yards and 11 scores in his three years. He’s dangerous, but he also has to stay healthy after playing in 15 games over the last two years.
The Huskers have a No. 1 wide receiver. Top target Trey Palmer is gone to Tampa Bay after catching 71 passes and nine of the team’s 17 touchdown throws, but No. 2 receiver Marcus Washington is back on the outside and a slew of fantastic prospects are coming from the recruiting class – remember the name Malachi Coleman. Ready to take over as the new star is Billy Kemp, a sixth-year senior who might not be the big play guy Palmer was, but he’s about to catch a whole lot of throws.
Nebraska Cornhuskers Preview: Defense
When Matt Rhule turned it around at Baylor he did it with the defensive side. His offenses were okay, but the Ds were great at forcing mistakes and shutting things down in key spots. Last year’s Nebraska defense suffered the indignity of getting rolled by a miserable Northwestern team for 528 yards in its only win of the season, and it didn’t get a whole lot better from there.
New defensive coordinator Tony White will have some work to do up front. The D line is in need of a major overhaul, and this is where the patient side of things has to come in.
Ty Robinson is a good-sized veteran nose tackle who should be able to hold up, but top pass rusher Garrett Nelson and Ochaun Mathis left early for the NFL. Here comes the youth movement with true freshmen Princewill Umanmielen and Cameron Lenhardt about to get very, very long looks at starting jobs.
The linebacking corps also has a few changes to make, but Luke Reimer is the team’s most productive returning player making 194 tackles with 11 broken up passes over the last two years. He’ll be a force inside, and with Ernest Hausmann off to Michigan, Georgia transfer MJ Sherman and Florida’s Chief Borders will play big roles around the main man.
The front six might need a little adjusting, but the secondary has the parts to be far better right away. Quinton Newsome is a good playmaking corner to handle one side, and the safety combination of Myles Farmer and Issac Gifford – the teams second and third leading tacklers, respectively – will be stat sheet fillers.
Nebraska Cornhuskers Key To The Season
Stop the run, and then stop it again, and then stop it one more time. Absolutely everything else revolves around Nebraska being better on the defensive front after getting plowed over way too easily. There’s a reason why the team went 0-8 against FBS teams that ran for 125 yards or more – too often the other teams dictated the tempo. To take this a little higher, the program is 0-13 over the last two years when allowing more than 175 yards.
Nebraska Cornhuskers Top Transfer, Biggest Loss
TE Arik Gilbert in from Georgia, LB Ernest Hausmann to Michigan. Hausmann didn’t do too much behind the line, but he’s a very tough, very talented young linebacker who’s about to fit into the Wolverine defense and potentially be one of the team’s top tacklers. For a Husker D that needs to be better against the run, he would’ve been a huge help.
From QB Jeff Sims (Georgia Tech) to WR Billy Kemp (Virginia) to C Ben Scott (Arizona State), there are several sure-thing transfers who’ll make a major impact. The star tight end transfer is hardly a lock to be a massive factor. However …
NFL tools-wise, Arik Gilbert is out of central casting.
The former superstar recruit only caught two passes in his two seasons at Georgia after making 35 grabs for 368 yards and two scores as a freshman at LSU. If he’s able to get a transfer waiver from the NCAA – the odds seem pretty good that he will – and if he puts it all together under a coaching staff that will push to make this work, he’s a potential three-run home run of a get who can change the Nebraska offense.
NHL NEWS
RED WINGS TRADE FOR MICHIGAN NATIVE ALEX DEBRINCAT, AND SEND 2 PLAYERS AND DRAFT PICKS TO SENATORS
DETROIT (AP) The Detroit Red Wings acquired Michigan native Alex DeBrincat from the Ottawa Senators on Sunday in exchange for two players and draft picks.
The Red Wings signed the 25-year-old DeBrincat, a two-time 41-goal scorer from Farmington Hills, to a four-year extension worth about $7.8 million annually.
In exchange for DeBrincat, the Senators acquired forward Dominik Kubalik, defensive prospect Donovan Sebrango, a conditional 2024 first-round draft pick and Detroit’s 2024 fourth-round selection.
DeBrincat has 187 goals, 186 assists and 373 points in 450 NHL games with the Senators and the Chicago Blackhawks, who selected him in the second round, 39th overall, in the 2016 draft.
Last season, he ranked among Ottawa’s team leaders with 27 goals (fourth), 39 assists (fifth) and 66 points (fourth). He also had 11 power-play goals and six game winners.
The 5-foot-8, 178-pound DeBrincat was acquired by the Senators after playing five seasons with the Blackhawks.
The 27-year-old Kubalik played in all but one game last season with the Red Wings. He posted a career-high 25 assists and had 20 goals.
The 21-year-old Sebrango, a native of Ottawa, split last season with the AHL’s Grand Rapids Griffins and the ECHL’s Toledo Walleye. He recorded 12 points (one goal, 11 assists) in 23 games with Toledo and seven points (four goals, three assists) in 39 games with Grand Rapids.
Sebrango was an alternate captain with Team Canada at the 2022 IIHF World Junior Championship in Edmonton and helped the Canadians capture a gold medal, recording two points (two assists), while skating in each of his team’s seven tournament games.
MEN’S SOCCER
MATT TURNER SAVES USA IN GOLD CUP SHOOTOUT WIN OVER CANADA
Matt Turner made two penalty-kick shootout saves when the U.S. men’s team rallied to defeat Canada in Cincinnati on Sunday to advance to the semifinals of the CONCACAF Gold Cup.
The U.S. won the shootout 3-2 with it decided in the top of the fifth round when the shot by Canada’s Charles-Andreas Brym hit the crossbar.
Cade Cowell, Gianluca Busio and Jesus Ferreira scored in the shootout for the Americans after the game was tied 1-1 after regulation and 2-2 following 30 minutes of extra time.
Wednesday, the U.S. plays Panama in San Diego while Mexico and Jamaica meet in the other semifinal in Las Vegas.
The U.S. is trying to tie Mexico with an eighth Gold Cup championship in 17 tries. Canada is the only other country to win it (2000).
Jacob Shaffelburg gave Canada a 2-1 lead in the 109th minute but the U.S. got the equalizer five minutes later on an own goal. Dayne St. Clair made a kick save on a Busio shot but the rebound went off Canadian defender Scott Kennedy.
Brandon Vazquez of FC Cincinnati scored in the 88th minute to give the U.S. 1-0 lead before Steven Vitoria tied it in the third minute of stoppage time on a penalty kick.
Vazquez, who tied Jamaica 1-1 in the 88th minute in the tourney opener, got his head on a 30-yard ball by DeJuan Jones for his third goal in seven matches.
Soon after, U.S. defender Miles Robinson was called for a handball after video review and Vitoria scored down the middle on Canada’s first shot on goal to send the match to 30 minutes of extra time.
Late in the first half, a Canadian corner kick went to review for another possible handball on Robinson. The replay appeared to show it was a penalty but referee Marco Antonio Ortiz Nava saw Busio pushed to the ground by a Canadian player before the handball and ruled it a foul, negating a possible PK.
The border countries last met June 18 in Las Vegas when the U.S. won the Nations League final 2-0.
RACING NEWS
BYRON WINS RAIN-SHORTENED ATLANTA NASCAR RACE FOR 4TH WIN OF SEASON
HAMPTON, Ga. (AP) William Byron overcame a spin early in the second stage that knocked him back a lap, and then was in the right position when weather took control at Atlanta Motor Speedway.
Byron won the rain-shortened NASCAR race at Atlanta on Sunday night for his series-leading fourth victory of the season. It was the second win in Atlanta in the last two years for Byron, who took the NASCAR points lead.
Byron said it was “kind of pins and needles” after his crew made changes to his No. 24 Hendricks Motorsports Chevrolet that had been damaged by the spin.
“When I spun, I was like here we go,” Byron said. “… It was not good at that moment. We lost a lap, changed tires.”
The threat of rain affected strategy as drivers fought to move toward the front of the field before weather delayed or ended the race.
On lap 185, with 75 laps to go, NASCAR ordered cars to pit road due to rain and the possibility of lightning. Cars were covered while officials waited to see if the rain ended.
Only six minutes later, fans were warned of severe weather within eight miles of the track and were encouraged to leave the stadium immediately, and NASCAR called the race soon after that announcement.
“I 1,000% agree with erring on the side of caution,” said Kyle Bush, who finished fifth.
Daniel Suarez, looking for his first win of 2023, was second. AJ Allmendinger was third, followed by Michael McDowell.
Suarez said he had “a little bit of mixed feelings” about NASCAR’s decision to end the race.
“I wish we had one more shot to get ahead and then it could rain all it wants,” Suarez said with a laugh.
The race became official after 130 laps. After that, the weather watch factored heavily into race strategy.
“We knew the rain was coming,” McDowell said. “We wanted to give ourselves the best chance to win the race.”
Kevin Harvick, a three-time Atlanta winner, had a spin with 89 laps remaining. Harvick was able to drive to pit road without a caution, but the spin all but ended his hopes of a win in his final Atlanta race.
The increased threat of rain placed an increased emphasis on drivers to compete for top spots in the second stage, perhaps contributing to two wrecks that knocked out Ross Chastain, Kyle Larson and Austin Hill.
Denny Hamlin and Alex Bowman were involved in another crash late in the second stage, leaving Brad Keselowski and Ryan Blaney at the front of the field. The stage ended under caution.
Despite the stage win, Keselowski was left with a big decision as he talked with his crew about the threat of rain and the possibility of staying on the track. He chose to pit for fuel, saying he had no real choice.
“No, we had 12 to 14 laps left of fuel and that was not enough and we ended up running 15 laps or so,” Keselowski said. “I think we made the right call. We just needed the rain to be 10 minutes earlier or 10 minutes later.”
A collision between Bubba Wallace and Ryan Preece caused another caution early in the final stage, leaving Byron in the lead, ahead of Suarez.
POLE-WINNER ALMIROLA 18TH
Aric Almirola, who won the pole, led the first 39 laps before being passed by Joey Logano for the first time. Blaney held off Larson to win the first stage. Almirola finished 18th.
Chase Elliott, still looking for his first win of the season, finished 13th. Elliott won for the first time at his Atlanta home track in the 2022 summer race.
HARVICK’S 29 RETURNS TO AMS
Harvick’s first NASCAR win came on March 12, 2001, at Atlanta Motor Speedway in a No. 29 Chevrolet originally built for Dale Earnhardt Sr. before Earnhardt died in a crash at the Daytona 500 weeks earlier.
The 29 returned to AMS, this time driven by grand marshal Richard Childress, 77, who was the team owner for Harvick in 2001. With Harvick’s No. 4 Ford driving beside him, Childress led the field around the track to the green flag for Sunday night’s race. Childress held up three fingers in a tribute to Earnhardt after entering pit road, just as Harvick did after winning in 2001. Some fans answered Childress with their own three-finger Earnhardt tribute.
“I couldn’t be more excited about seeing it lead the field to the green and I know how excited Richard is,” Harvick said Saturday. “I’m excited as well but Richard has been super excited to drive it and that makes me happy, too.”
BELL SENT TO BACK OF FIELD
Chris Sherwood, the car chief for Christopher Bell’s No. 20 Toyota, was ejected before the race and Bell had to start at the back of the field at 36th due to unapproved adjustments to the car Sunday afternoon. It wasn’t much of a blow to Bell’s chances; he qualified 34th in the 37-car field.
Bell charged through the field to finish the first stage sixth, but finished 23rd.
UP NEXT
The NASCAR Cup Series moves to New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon next Sunday.
MEN’S GOLF
SEPP STRAKA WINS JOHN DEERE CLASSIC WITH FINAL-ROUND 62 DESPITE CLOSING DOUBLE BOGEY
SILVIS, Ill. (AP) Sepp Straka won the John Deere Classic on Sunday with a final-round 9-under 62 that could have been much better, making double bogey on the final hole but taking the title by two shots when Brendon Todd and Alex Smalley were unable to catch him.
The 30-year-old Austrian who played in college at Georgia won for the second time on the PGA Tour, moved to No. 27 in the world and increased his chances of representing Europe in the Ryder Cup this fall in Rome. He shot 73 on Thursday but followed with rounds of 63, 65 and 62.
“At my best, I do feel like I can compete with anybody. Obviously the last three days I could have competed with just about anybody in the world, but growing up I never would have thought I would have a chance to even play on the PGA Tour,” Straka said. This is all just a big dream come true.”
Straka, who teed off an hour ahead of the final group, started birdie-eagle and made four more birdies on the front nine to turn in 7-under 28 at TPC Deere Run. He made par on the par-5 10th hole but ran off four birdies in a row, none from longer than 14 feet.
At that point, Straka was 11 under for the day and 23 under for the tournament, needing to play the final four holes in 1 under to shoot 59. Paul Goydos shot golf’s magic number in the first round in 2010 at TPC Deere Run
“I wasn’t going to change my game plan or strategy for the 59,” Straka said. “The goal was still to keep the same game plan and try to finish and win a golf tournament. As fun as the 59 would be, I think winning the golf tournament is always more fun.”
Straka made routine pars on Nos. 15 and 16 and failed to get up-and-down from a greenside bunker on the par-5 17th, missing a 9-footer for birdie. On the par-4 18th, he hooked his approach from 181 yards into the pond next to the green, leading to a 6 and a 21-under 263 total.
“I hit the ball really solid, but I just pulled it way left of my target,” Straka said. “So, yeah, it was an unfortunate time for a bad swing, but thankfully it didn’t hurt me.”
Straka went to the driving range to stay loose for a possible playoff. Todd and Smalley, playing in the final group, had plenty of holes to match him, with Todd getting closest when he birdied the par-4 14th hole to reach 20 under. But Todd bogeyed the par-3 16th and hit a sloppy wedge into the par-5 17th for another par.
“Obviously Sepp went out there and played an unbelievable round. Hats off to him. Really happy for him. He is a friend of mine,” said Todd, who also played at Georgia.
Smalley was 19 under after his birdie on No. 14 but three-putted for par on the 17th. Both players needed to hole their approaches on the 18th and neither came close. They finished at 19 under.
Smalley said he didn’t know what Straka was doing ahead of him until broadcaster Colt Knost gave him a heads-up.
“I actually had no idea what was going on. I didn’t look at all, and that was my plan,” Smalley said. “If it wasn’t enough, then it wasn’t enough, and Sepp deserves to win with a 62. That’s incredible playing.”
Ludvig Aberg closed with a 63 to tie for fourth, the Swede’s best finish in four starts as a professional after an outstanding college career at Texas Tech. He was 18 under alongside Adam Schenk (68).
“I expected it to be a lot of fun, but it’s even more fun than I thought it would be,” Aberg said of life as a pro.
Cameron Young, the highest-ranked player in the field at No. 19 in the world and the 36-hole leader, closed with a 68 and was part of a group of seven players at 16 under.
WOMEN’S GOLF
ALLISEN CORPUZ WINS THE US WOMEN’S OPEN AT PEBBLE BEACH FOR HER FIRST LPGA TITLE
PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. (AP) Allisen Corpuz found herself on the biggest and most beautiful stage in women’s golf and made it look like a stroll on the beach.
Never mind that she had never won on the LPGA Tour or that she had heard all week about the historic occasion of the U.S. Women’s Open held at Pebble Beach for the first time. Nothing could make her crack.
“Every few holes I kind of looked out and said, ‘I’m here at Pebble Beach. There’s not many places that are better than this,’” Corpuz said.
There weren’t many better performances, either. Corpuz turned a tight duel with Nasa Hataoka into a runaway, closing with a 3-under 69 on Sunday for a three-shot victory to become the first American in 20 years to make the U.S. Women’s Open her first LPGA title.
At Pebble Beach, no less.
The 25-year-old from Hawaii was calm and cool, no matter the shot or the circumstances, until reality set in as she took a three-shot lead down the 18th fairway. It’s a path taken over the years by the likes of Jack Nicklaus, Tom Watson and Tiger Woods, all of them U.S. Open champions at Pebble Beach.
“Just knowing the history … Tiger just absolutely annihilated this place. Yeah, it’s really special,” Corpuz said. “Twenty, 30 years from now, I think just the fact that it’s a U.S. Open means a lot to me. But know that it’s at Pebble makes it even sweeter.”
She won by three shots over Charley Hull (66) and Jiyai Shin (68) and claimed the $2 million prize, the richest ever for an LPGA major champion.
Corpuz couldn’t contain a wide smile when she tapped in for par, only to cover it with her hand as the tears began to flow. She wiped them with her Aloha-print tower.
Former President Barack Obama was among the first to congratulate her on Twitter. Both went to Punahou School in Honolulu.
“Unreal,” Corpuz said. “This week has felt like a dream come true.”
Hilary Lunke in 2003 at Pumpkin Ridge was the last American to get her first win at the U.S. Women’s Open, that one in a three-way Monday playoff.
Corpuz, who finished at 9-under 279, was the only player to break par all four days.
Corpuz never gave anyone much of a chance. Hataoka lost her one-shot lead on the opening hole when Corpuz hit her approach to 5 feet for birdie, and the 24-year-old from Japan dropped too many shots down the home stretch.
They were tied at the turn until Corpuz hit her approach to just inside 10 feet for birdie on the 10th. The key moment was at the par-3 12th, when Corpuz came up short in the bunker and had 15 feet for par. Hataoka rolled her birdie putt from the fringe 5 feet by the hole. Corpuz made her par, Hataoka missed her putt and the lead was at two.
It only got larger, Corpuz stretching it to four shots with superb wedges to 8 feet on the par-5 14th and 4 feet on the 15th, both birdies that made the final act a battle for second place.
Hull, who started the final round seven shots behind, closed to within two shots early on the back nine and stayed in the game with a 30-foot birdie putt on the 16th. Only later did she realize Corpuz was pulling away. Hull kept firing, hitting 3-wood from under the cypress tree in the middle of the 18th fairway and nearly pulling it off.
“Shy kids don’t get sweets,” she told herself on the 18th before lashing away and dropping to a knee to watch its flight.
Shin made a birdie on the 18th to join Hull as a runner-up. The two-time major champion from South Korea never had a serious chance to win, but she celebrated a big moment for Corpuz and for women’s golf.
“I’m only watching the TV to Pebble Beach and then finally we are here to play,” Shin said. “This course has a great history, and then finally the women’s history is in.”
That history belonged to Corpuz. She joined Michelle Wie West as the only major champions from Hawaii – Wie West won the Women’s Open at Pinehurst No. 2 in 2014 and played her final major this week at Pebble Beach.
They are linked by the Aloha State, their high school (Punahou) and their emphasis on education – Wie West graduated from Stanford, Corpuz got a business degree and an MBA from USC – and their early start in USGA events. Corpuz broke Wie West’s record as the youngest player to qualify for the U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links as a 10-year-old.
“I never really thought I’d get this far. Just watching Michelle, she’s been such a huge role model to me, and it was really awesome to break her record for the Public Links,” Corpuz said. “But I’ve never really compared myself to her. I’ve always wanted to make my own name. She’s just served as a really big inspiration.”
Corpuz was playing in her 19th USGA championship. She knows the USGA formula of fairways and greens, and loads of patience. She is built for this, especially given her concentration that not even a gorgeous day on the Monterey Peninsula could crack.
Officiating behind the fifth green was Mary Bea Porter King, the pioneer of junior golf in Hawaii and one of the most influential figures in the game. Corpuz first came into the Hawaii junior program at age 7.
“She’s always been calm, cool and … I won’t say serious, but she just plodded along. She was sort of a giant killer,” Porter King said. “I don’t think she was fearful of anything.”
That much was obvious at Pebble Beach, which had enough wind to be challenging as ever. Only seven players finished under par.
Hataoka, whose 66 on Saturday was nearly nine shots better than the field, had a 40 on the back nine and tied for fourth with Bailey Tardy, the 36-hole leader who went 75-73 on the weekend for her best finish in her LPGA rookie season.
Rose Zhang, who dominated the amateur scene and then won her first LPGA Tour start as a pro, never got on track and closed with a 72 to tie for ninth. She now has top 10s in both majors as a pro, though this time she was never in the mix.
TOP INDIANA RELEASES
INDIANS BASEBALL
INDIANS LAUNCH THREE HOMERS IN SUNDAY FINALE LOSS
INDIANAPOLIS – The Memphis Redbirds batted around in the third inning and posted crooked numbers in three consecutive frames to defeat the Indianapolis Indians in Sunday’s series finale at Victory Field, 13-5.
Indianapolis (40-46, 7-5) got on the board in the bottom of the first inning on Miguel Andújar’s 10th home run of the season, a shot that also extended his current hitting streak to 11 consecutive games. The left fielder was one of four Indians batters to record multiple hits in the contest, along with Vinny Capra, Ryan Vilade and Liover Peguero.
Memphis (43-44, 4-8) retaliated in a big way with a five-run third inning against Luis Ortiz (L, 2-2) in which 10 batters came to the plate. The Indians cut their deficit to 5-3 on a two-run homer by Chris Owings in the bottom of the third – his second in as many games – but the Redbirds took an insurmountable lead with four runs in the fourth and another two in the fifth.
After the two teams traded runs in the seventh inning – the Indians’ coming courtesy of Alika Williams’ fourth home run – Memphis plated one more in the ninth to cap the scoring and secure a series split in the six-game set.
After Redbirds starter Matthew Liberatore fanned seven through four innings, Logan Gragg (W, 1-0) entered in relief and allowed one run in 2.0 innings as Memphis continued to pile on.
The Indians are off for four days for the All-Star break before beginning a nine-game road trip with a weekend set at the Omaha Storm Chasers. Action returns to Victory Field on Tuesday, July 25 for a six-game series vs. the Louisville Bats.
FEVER BASKETBALL
INDIANAPOLIS – In a game featuring 13 lead changes, the Indiana Fever (5-14) had another close matchup end in defeat on Sunday to the Dallas Wings at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, 77-76.
All-Star rookie center Aliyah Boston was the leading scorer for Indiana in the loss as she notched 18 points on 7-of-12 shooting from the court. Forward NaLyssa Smith followed close behind in the scoring column with 17 points, while All-Star reserve Kelsey Mitchell added 12 points and a team-high four assists.
In addition, Erica Wheeler contributed nine points, Lexie Hull pitched in seven points and Grace Berger came off the bench to record a career-high in the scoring column on 2-of-2 shooting to go along with three assists.
Five Fever players recorded at least six rebounds in the loss, highlighted by Boston’s eight rebounds. Smith, Wheeler, Hull and Victoria Vivians recorded six rebounds each. The occasion marked the first time five Fever players had recorded at least six rebounds in a game since Indiana beat the Seattle Storm on August 20, 2020.
Though opening the game shooting 55.6 percent (5-of-9) from the court, the Fever offensive pace slowed midway through the quarter as they finished the first frame shooting 8-of-19 (42.1 percent) from the floor. Boston added six points on a perfect 3-of-3 shooting clip within the first ten minutes of play, and Mitchell dished out three assists in support. Dallas shot 60 percent from the field and finished the first frame ahead, 27-17, in the midst of what would extend into a 23-8 scoring run in the beginning of the second quarter.
The Wings extended their lead to as many as 13 to start the second quarter, but a 12-0 Indiana run lasting three minutes allowed the Fever to reduce the deficit to one point. The Indiana scoring run, which eventually expanded to 19-6 after another three minutes, was capped off by a Smith three-point play that allowed Indiana to take the lead with 22.1 seconds remaining in the half. In addition, the Fever held the Wings to a season-low 11 second quarter points as they outscored Dallas, 21-11. A Natasha Howard completed layup sent the teams into the locker room tied, 38-38, at the half.
The third quarter was efficient out of the locker room for the Fever as an 8-of-13 shooting clip in the first eight minutes of the half allowed Indiana to extend to as many as eight points. Mitchell caught fire and guided Indiana in the scoring attack as she notched 10 of her 12 points on 4-of-6 shooting from the floor and 2-of-3 shooting from behind the arc. The Wings caught up to the Fever with an 8-0 scoring run and tied the matchup going into the final frame, 59-59.
Though Indiana took possession of and held the lead for the first five minutes of the fourth quarter, it was Wings guard Arike Ogunbowale that helped to take back the lead and propel Dallas to the win as she rattled off 14 of her 20 second half points in the last six minutes of play alone. Indiana was just shy of regaining the lead after a made layup from Smith brought the Fever within one point with 35.7 seconds remaining in regulation, but the Fever were unable to convert on their last possession following two missed free-throws from Teaira McCowan.
For the Wings, Dallas was led by Ogunbowale, one of its two All-Star starters, who netted 28 points on 10-of-20 shooting from the court. Ogunbowale also recorded five assists and shot a perfect 6-of-6 from the free throw line. Forward Natasha Howard pitched in 16 points to the win to go along with eight rebounds.
Dallas, who entered the matchup leading the league in both offensive rebounds and total rebounds, was held to 33 total rebounds and nine offensive rebounds. The Wings also shot a season-low 16.7 percent (2-of-13) from behind the arc.
UP NEXT
The Fever play the last home game before the WNBA All-Star break on Wednesday afternoon against the New York Liberty at Noon ET. Wednesday’s game will be broadcast on the official Indiana Fever Facebook page.
COLTS FOOTBALL
PFF PROJECTS COLTS’ WIN TOTAL FOR 2023
With just a few weeks left until training camp arrives at the end of the month, the Indianapolis Colts are one of the more difficult teams to project.
The addition of a first-year head coach and enticing (but inexperienced) rookie quarterback gives the Colts an extremely wide range of outcomes for the 2023 season.
From a record perspective, they could be one of the worst teams in the NFL or they could surprise everyone and compete for a wild-card spot.
Pro Football Focus recently ran simulations for every team, projecting their 2023 win total. It came out to 7.77 wins, which came out to be the eighth-fewest in the NFL. That means they would be holding the No. 8 overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft.
In the AFC South, the Jacksonville Jaguars led the way with 9.09 simulated wins. That was followed up by the Tennessee Titans at 8.56 simulated wins. The Colts were next at 7.77 while the Houston Texans projected to be the worst in the entire league with 5.93 simulated wins.
Much of the outlook for the Colts depends on the development of the rookie quarterback in Anthony Richardson. He has a long way to go as a passer simply because of his inexperience, but if he can get by using his legs while developing his passing, the Colts could be more competitive than most believe.
It’s a quarterback-driven league so it’s no shock that it all comes down to his development. But a 7-10 or 8-9 season would be considered pretty solid considering the heavy changes the offseason brought.
INDIANA TRACK AND FIELD
HOOSIERS ON INTERNATIONAL DUTY
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Current and former Hoosiers have been busy this summer contesting various national and international competitions following the conclusion of the NCAA season.
A list of results from the world’s biggest meets can be found below.
This list will continue to be updated through the summer.
Toyota USATF Outdoor Championships
Athletes contested events in Oregon from July 6-9.
Andrew Bayer | 3000-meter steeplechase
After retiring from the sport all together, the 2012 NCAA Champion in the 1500 meters and 2019 world finalist in the 3000-meter steeplechase, Bayer returned to running this year and competed in the U.S. Outdoor Championships.
He ran a season’s best of 8:25.18 in the opening round to qualify for the final in the steeplechase before running 8:27.38 to finish ninth in the finals.
Daniel Michalski | 3000-meter steeplechase
IU’s school record holder in the 3000-meter steeplechase, Daniel Michalski finished 13th in the event at the U.S. Outdoor Championships.
Representing the U.S. Air Force, Michalski went 8:24.16 in the opening round before crossing the line in 8:33.34 in the finals on Saturday evening.
Camden Marshall | 800 meters
The 2023 Big Ten Outdoor Champion in the 800 meters, Marshall ran 1:48.70 in the second heat of the opening round of the 800 meters. He missed a spot in the semifinal by just .18 seconds.
Over two seasons in Bloomington, he has won two Big Ten titles and has made/scored in every final in the 800 meters. He ran opening leg on IU’s school record and All-American Distance Medley Relay team this past season.
Sophie Gutermuth | Pole Vault
An All-American for the Hoosiers, the Leo, Ind. native contested the U.S. Outdoor Championships over the weekend. She no-heighted at the opening bar of 4.36m/14-3.5.
Sydney Walter | Pole Vault
A three-time Big Ten Champion for the Hoosiers, Walter (previously Clute) contested the pole vault at the U.S. Championships. She no-heighted on three attempts at the opening bar of 4.36m/14-3.5.
Monique Riddick | Shot Put
A member of IU’s top-10 lists in both the shot put and the hammer throw, Riddick threw 16.71m/54-10 to finish 14th in the shot put.
Toyota USATF U-20 Outdoor Championships
Athletes contested events in Oregon from July 6-9.
Alex Smith | Long Jump
A freshman at IU in 2023, Smith capped off his opening campaign in Bloomington with an 11th-place finish at the U-20 U.S. Championships in the long jump.
He bounded out to a mark of 7.00m/22-11.75 on his opening attempt of the competition.
Central American and Caribbean Games/Puerto Rican Championships
Athletes contested events in San Salvador and in Puerto Rico.
Paola Fernandez-Sola | Long Jump
A busy competitor this summer for her native Puerto Rico, the 2023 Big Ten Champion was second in the Puerto Rican National Championships before finishing fourth at the Central American and Caribbean Games.
She recorded a big mark of 6.51m/21-4.5 at her national championship meet before jumping a wind-aided 6.39m/20-11.75 (+2.2) in San Salvador at the Central American and Caribbean Games.
She sits 53rd in the world rankings as of July 4th. The World Championships takes 32 athletes in the long jump with spots, not earned by athletes with world standards, filled by world rankings.
European Team Championships
Athletes contested events in Silesia, Poland.
Sean Mockler | Hammer Throw
Competing for Team Ireland, Mockler won the men’s hammer throw in the division three section of the European Team Championships.
His mark of 63.83m earned him gold in the event and helped Ireland to a team victory and promotion to the European second division.
AFN 2023 World Championships Trials
Athletes contested events in Nigeria.
David Olowookere | 400-meter hurdles
Running at the Nigerian team trials, Olowookere made the finals of the 400-meter hurdles but was unable to compete in the finals after qualifying through in the semis.
PURDUE MEN’S GOLF
DENTINO PUNCHES TICKET TO U.S. AMATEUR AT CHERRY HILLS
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Purdue’s Nick Dentino shot a 7-under par 135 (67-68) to finish second in a qualifier at Forest Akers Golf Club in Lansing, Michigan, to advance to the 123rd U.S. Amateur.
Dentino finished second by one shot behind Michigan State freshman Lorenzo Pinili, who shot an 8-under par 134 (70-64). Dentino cleared qualifying by two shots over William Preston and Brock Reschly, who both shot 5-under par totals of 137.
This marks the second time Dentino has qualified for the U.S. Amateur, also competing at Oakmont in 2021, missing the cut after shooting 74-77=151.
Currently, Dentino is the only current Boilermaker to have qualified for the U.S. Amateur, but Herman Sekne will likely qualify by ranking in the World Amateur Golf Ranking’s (WAGR) top 50. Sekne is currently ranked 27th in the world amateur rankings.
A year ago, Peyton Snoeberger became the first Boilermaker since Adam Schenk in 2012 to reach the Round of 32 at the U.S. Amateur.
Dentino played all 11 events this last season at Purdue, registering a 72.90 stroke average with two top-10 finishes and 13 rounds of even-par or better.
Dentino is expected to return to Purdue for the 2023-24 season, using his CoVid-allowed fifth season of competition.
NOTRE DAME WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
PROSPER HELPS LEAD TEAM CANADA TO FIBA AMERICUP BRONZE
LEON, Mexico — In what is a busy summer for Irish women’s basketball players abroad, Cassandre Prosper is the first to earn a medal. On Sunday, Canada defeated Puerto Rico by a score of 80-73 to win bronze in the 2023 FIBA Women’s AmeriCup.
Over the course of the seven-game tournament, Prosper was a major contributor for Team Canada. The rising sophomore played 19.8 minutes per game and averaged 7 points and 2.9 rebounds. She added 1.6 steals per contest on the defensive end of the floor, which was tied for ninth in the tournament.
The 6-2 lengthy guard’s best game came against the Dominican Republic during group play. In just 16 minutes, Prosper went 6-8 from the floor and finished with 13 points and 3 rebounds. She also had a nice game in the semifinals against the United States, playing 31 minutes and finishing 6-9 with 12 points, 6 rebounds and 3 blocks.
Up next, Prosper is headed across the pond to Madrid, Spain where she will join Canada’s U19 team for the FIBA U19 Women’s Basketball World Cup. Fellow Notre Dame guard Hannah Hidalgo will join her as a representative of Team USA. The event will take place from July 15-23.
NOTRE DAME TRACK
MARKEZICH, O’BRIEN WOW AT USATF OUTDOOR CHAMPIONSHIPS
EUGENE, Ore. — Over the last four days, five Notre Dame track and field athletes competed at the 2023 Toyota USATF Outdoor Championships at the University of Oregon. Three of them return to South Bend having placed in the top six in the nation.
Around a month after bringing home an NCAA title in the women’s 3000M steeplechase, Olivia Markezich continues to draw eyes. The Washington native finished fourth in the event this week, posting a new personal best time of 9:17.93. According to the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association, that time ranks second all-time in collegiate track.
Jadin O’Brien and John Keenan each finished sixth in their respective events. O’Brien posted a personal best in the women’s heptathlon (5960 points). Her three best events were the long jump (6.04M), javelin (40.52M) and shot put (14.04). She finished fourth, fourth and second, respectively. Keenan wrapped up his graduate season with a 73.65M performance in the men’s javelin.
In addition to the three aforementioned student-athletes, Katie Ryan and Katie Thronson took to the track in Eugene this week. Ryan finished 30th in the 800M (2:07.30), and Thronson took 18th in the 3000M Steeplechase (10:07.49).
SMALL COLLEGE ATHLETIC SITES:
INDIANA WESLEYAN ATHLETICS: https://iwuwildcats.com/
EARLHAM ATHLETICS: https://goearlham.com/
WABASH ATHLETICS: https://sports.wabash.edu/
FRANKLIN ATHLETICS: https://franklingrizzlies.com/
ROSE-HULMAN ATHLETICS: https://athletics.rose-hulman.edu/
ANDERSON ATHLETICS: https://athletics.anderson.edu/landing/index
TRINE ATHLETICS: https://trinethunder.com/landing/index
BETHEL ATHLETICS: https://bupilots.com/
DEPAUW ATHLETICS: https://depauwtigers.com/
HANOVER ATHLETICS: https://athletics.hanover.edu/
MANCHESTER ATHLETICS: https://muspartans.com/
HUNTINGTON ATHLETICS: https://www.huathletics.com/
OAKLAND CITY ATHLETICS: https://gomightyoaks.com/index.aspx
ST. FRANCIS ATHLETICS: https://www.saintfranciscougars.com/landing/index
IU KOKOMO ATHLETICS: https://iukcougars.com/
IU EAST ATHLETICS: https://www.iueredwolves.com/
IU SOUTH BEND ATHLETICS: https://iusbtitans.com/
PURDUE NORTHWEST ATHLETICS: https://pnwathletics.com/
INDIANA TECH ATHLETICS: https://indianatechwarriors.com/index.aspx
GRACE COLLEGE ATHLETICS: https://gclancers.com/
ST. MARY OF THE WOODS ATHLETICS: https://smwcathletics.com/
GOSHEN COLLEGE ATHLETICS: https://goleafs.net/
HOLY CROSS ATHLETICS: https://www.hcsaints.com/index.php
TAYLOR ATHLETICS: https://www.taylortrojans.com/
VINCENNES ATHLETICS: https://govutrailblazers.com/landing/index
“SPORTS EXTRA”
MLB STANDINGS
| American League | |||||||||||
| East | |||||||||||
| Team | W | L | Pct | GB | Home | Road | East | Central | West | Last 10 | Streak |
| Tampa Bay | 58 | 35 | .624 | – | 35 – 15 | 23 – 20 | 17 – 10 | 14 – 3 | 9 – 7 | 3 – 7 | W 1 |
| Baltimore | 54 | 35 | .607 | 2 | 26 – 18 | 28 – 17 | 16 – 11 | 18 – 7 | 10 – 7 | 6 – 4 | W 5 |
| Toronto | 50 | 41 | .549 | 7 | 23 – 18 | 27 – 23 | 7 – 20 | 16 – 6 | 11 – 8 | 6 – 4 | W 1 |
| NY Yankees | 49 | 42 | .538 | 8 | 28 – 23 | 21 – 19 | 13 – 17 | 8 – 8 | 14 – 8 | 4 – 6 | L 1 |
| Boston | 48 | 43 | .527 | 9 | 26 – 22 | 22 – 21 | 16 – 11 | 11 – 8 | 10 – 6 | 8 – 2 | W 5 |
| Central | |||||||||||
| Team | W | L | Pct | GB | Home | Road | East | Central | West | Last 10 | Streak |
| Cleveland | 45 | 45 | .500 | – | 24 – 22 | 21 – 23 | 7 – 8 | 13 – 13 | 13 – 6 | 6 – 4 | L 1 |
| Minnesota | 45 | 46 | .495 | 0.5 | 26 – 22 | 19 – 24 | 12 – 17 | 18 – 12 | 5 – 4 | 5 – 5 | L 3 |
| Detroit | 39 | 50 | .438 | 5.5 | 20 – 25 | 19 – 25 | 3 – 16 | 15 – 11 | 7 – 9 | 5 – 5 | L 1 |
| Chi White Sox | 38 | 54 | .413 | 8 | 21 – 25 | 17 – 29 | 6 – 16 | 15 – 11 | 9 – 14 | 3 – 7 | L 2 |
| Kansas City | 26 | 65 | .286 | 19.5 | 13 – 31 | 13 – 34 | 4 – 10 | 8 – 22 | 4 – 11 | 3 – 7 | W 1 |
| West | |||||||||||
| Team | W | L | Pct | GB | Home | Road | East | Central | West | Last 10 | Streak |
| Texas | 52 | 39 | .571 | – | 27 – 18 | 25 – 21 | 11 – 11 | 11 – 5 | 16 – 11 | 3 – 7 | L 2 |
| Houston | 50 | 41 | .549 | 2 | 25 – 22 | 25 – 19 | 5 – 5 | 8 – 11 | 17 – 10 | 6 – 4 | L 1 |
| Seattle | 45 | 44 | .506 | 6 | 24 – 20 | 21 – 24 | 7 – 11 | 7 – 6 | 15 – 11 | 7 – 3 | W 1 |
| LA Angels | 45 | 46 | .495 | 7 | 23 – 20 | 22 – 26 | 8 – 9 | 11 – 8 | 15 – 12 | 1 – 9 | L 5 |
| Oakland | 25 | 67 | .272 | 27.5 | 12 – 32 | 13 – 35 | 5 – 18 | 7 – 8 | 4 – 23 | 4 – 6 | L 4 |
| National League | |||||||||||
| East | |||||||||||
| Team | W | L | Pct | GB | Home | Road | East | Central | West | Last 10 | Streak |
| Atlanta | 60 | 29 | .674 | – | 30 – 15 | 30 – 14 | 22 – 6 | 8 – 1 | 10 – 7 | 8 – 2 | L 1 |
| Miami | 53 | 39 | .576 | 8.5 | 30 – 18 | 23 – 21 | 13 – 16 | 11 – 6 | 9 – 10 | 5 – 5 | W 2 |
| Philadelphia | 48 | 41 | .539 | 12 | 22 – 16 | 26 – 25 | 9 – 15 | 9 – 4 | 11 – 12 | 6 – 4 | L 2 |
| NY Mets | 42 | 48 | .467 | 18.5 | 20 – 19 | 22 – 29 | 13 – 13 | 5 – 14 | 14 – 11 | 6 – 4 | L 2 |
| Washington | 36 | 54 | .400 | 24.5 | 15 – 32 | 21 – 22 | 9 – 16 | 5 – 9 | 9 – 13 | 4 – 6 | W 2 |
| Central | |||||||||||
| Team | W | L | Pct | GB | Home | Road | East | Central | West | Last 10 | Streak |
| Cincinnati | 50 | 41 | .549 | – | 23 – 21 | 27 – 20 | 12 – 11 | 12 – 14 | 9 – 6 | 7 – 3 | L 1 |
| Milwaukee | 49 | 42 | .538 | 1 | 26 – 21 | 23 – 21 | 6 – 1 | 17 – 9 | 8 – 15 | 6 – 4 | W 1 |
| Chi Cubs | 42 | 47 | .472 | 7 | 21 – 22 | 21 – 25 | 6 – 13 | 12 – 11 | 9 – 8 | 5 – 5 | W 1 |
| Pittsburgh | 41 | 49 | .456 | 8.5 | 22 – 21 | 19 – 28 | 5 – 5 | 11 – 15 | 14 – 11 | 3 – 7 | W 1 |
| St. Louis | 38 | 52 | .422 | 11.5 | 17 – 25 | 21 – 27 | 5 – 8 | 11 – 14 | 7 – 13 | 5 – 5 | W 2 |
| West | |||||||||||
| Team | W | L | Pct | GB | Home | Road | East | Central | West | Last 10 | Streak |
| LA Dodgers | 51 | 38 | .573 | – | 29 – 16 | 22 – 22 | 9 – 6 | 15 – 12 | 14 – 11 | 7 – 3 | W 4 |
| Arizona | 52 | 39 | .571 | – | 26 – 24 | 26 – 15 | 11 – 14 | 10 – 5 | 17 – 11 | 4 – 6 | L 1 |
| San Francisco | 49 | 41 | .544 | 2.5 | 26 – 22 | 23 – 19 | 10 – 9 | 13 – 7 | 15 – 10 | 4 – 6 | W 2 |
| San Diego | 43 | 47 | .478 | 8.5 | 25 – 23 | 18 – 24 | 12 – 10 | 7 – 13 | 12 – 13 | 6 – 4 | W 2 |
| Colorado | 34 | 57 | .374 | 18 | 20 – 24 | 14 – 33 | 11 – 14 | 8 – 10 | 6 – 19 | 3 – 7 | L 2 |
TODAY IN BASEBALL HISTORY
1911 After being ejected for disputing a called third strike, Sherry Magee knocks out home plate umpire Bill Finneran with just one punch. The National League suspends the star Phillies flychaser for the rest of the season, but he misses only 36 games due to an appeal.
1911 When umpire Bill Klem stops the Phillies-Cardinals contest to have an unruly fan banned from the Baker Bowl, the removal marks the first expulsion of a patron from a game. At the time, the standard practice was to use bodyguards after the contest to protect the arbitrators rather than risk the crowd’s ire by ousting one of their own.
1914 Although limited to one hit, the Yankees beat the Indians at the Polo Grounds, 1-0, when darkness postpones the second game of a twin bill after five and a half innings. The next time the team wins a game while being one-hit will occur again in 102 years with a 1-0 nine-inning victory over the Rays at Tropicana Field.
1917 Thanks to Ray Caldwell’s nine and two-thirds innings of five-hit relief, the Yankees beat the Browns in St. Louis, 7-5, in a 17-inning game. Later in the day, the St. Louis police arrest the hard-living right-hander, charging him with grand theft for allegedly stealing a diamond ring from a woman.
1920 Tris Speaker, who has collected 11 consecutive hits, is finally thwarted by Washington hurler Tom Zachary. The “Grey Eagle’s” effort establishes a record that will not be broken until 1938 when Red Sox third baseman Pinky Higgins hits 12 knocks in a row.
1928 Although the Indians bang-out 14 hits, the team fails to score a run in a 9-0 nightcap loss to the Senators in a Griffith Stadium twin bill. The Tribe becomes only the second club shutout after collecting that many hits.
1932 Indians’ flychaser Johnny Burnett, in 11 at-bats, collects a record nine hits in an 18-inning game where the A’s outscore the Tribe, 18-17. Replacing Lew Krausse in the second inning, A’s Ed Rommel, giving up a record 29 hits in 17 innings in relief to get the victory, his 171st and final major league win, when manager/owner Connie Mack, trying to save train fare, brings only two pitchers.
1934 At the All-Star Game played in New York’s Polo Grounds, Giants pitcher Carl Hubbell faces a starting lineup comprised of nine eventual Hall of Famers. After giving a single and a walk to his first two batters, King Carl consecutively fans Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Jimmie Foxx, Al Simmons, and Joe Cronin.
1935 Babe Herman, in the fourth evening contest ever played in major league history, becomes the first player to hit a home run during a night game. The Reds’ cleanup hitter’s seventh-inning round-tripper off Dutch Leonard contributes to the 15-2 rout over the Brooklyn at Crosley Field.
1935 Galveston Buccaneers right-hander Ed Cole throws the first perfect game in Texas League history, beating the Tulsa Oilers at Moody Park, 1-0. Bill McGhee’s inside-the-park home run with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning accounts for the contest’s only run.
1936 At Forbes Field, Chuck Klein becomes the first National League player to hit four home runs in one game this century. The Phillies’ 36-year-old outfielder’s offensive outburst, which includes his final round-tripper on the first pitch in the tenth inning, powers Philadelphia’s 9-6 victory over Pittsburgh.
1943 Some of the Dodgers, led by infielder Arky Vaughan, threaten not to play to protest manager Leo Durocher’s suspension of Bobo Newsome, resulting in the Ebbets Field contest, an eventual 23-6 rout of the Pirates, to begin ten minutes late. In a few days, Newsome, who had argued with his skipper over a pitch selection in a previous game, is traded to the Browns for Archie McKain and Fritz Ostermueller.
1947 Home plate umpire Jocko Conlan asks Reds hurler Bucky Walters to make the calls at first base when some of his crew fails to show up for a rescheduled contest between Cincinnati and Boston necessitated by a rainout on May 1. Dick Culler covers third base with second base remaining without an arbitrator in the hometown’s 6-4 victory at Braves Field.
1947 During the first game of a twin bill in front of 47,871 Tribe fans, Don Black retires the final ten A’s batters he faces to record the first no-hitter in the history of Cleveland’s Municipal Stadium. The crowd, the largest ever to witness a no-hitter, endures the rain and six walks as the Indians right-hander completes the 3-0 victory, the eighth no-no in franchise history.
1951 In the second All-Star Game played in Detroit, the National League beat their AL rivals at Briggs Stadium, 8-3. Although their team’s circuit loses, the 52,075 Motor City fans witness home runs hit by hometown favorites George Kell and Vic Wertz.
1953 With Roy Campanella’s second-inning home run off Giants hurler Sal Maglie, the Dodgers establish a National League record, homering in their 24th consecutive game, one shy of the major league mark set by the 1941 Yankees. Campy’s homer, his 22nd of the season, is the only run Brooklyn scores as the Giants extend their winning streak to seven with the 6-1 victory at Ebbets Field.
1962 John F. Kennedy returns to D.C. Stadium and becomes the first president to throw the ceremonial first pitch at an All-Star Game, a 3-1 National League victory. In April, JFK, who will stay for the entire contest, threw the ceremonial first pitch at the Senators’ home opener, the first game in Washington’s new $24-million ballpark.
1968 The American League and National League agree on next year’s expansion and playoff format. Each league will divide its twelve teams into two six-team divisions, playing a best-of-five game league championship series to determine the pennant winner.
1972 Phillies owner Bob Carpenter announces Paul Owens, named the GM five weeks ago, will become the team’s manager, replacing a visibly upset Frank Lucchesi, who guided the team this season to the worst record in baseball, winning only 26 of 76 contests. The new skipper, known as the Pope, will use the opportunity to better evaluate his last-place team before returning to the front office next year, before building Philadelphia into pennant contenders within three seasons.
1979 With his team trailing the Padres 5-3 in the bottom of the ninth with two outs at Veterans Stadium, Phillies pinch-hitter Del Unser hits a three-run walk-off home run, giving the team a 6-5 comeback victory. The dramatic dinger makes Del Unser only the second player in major league history to hit a homer in three consecutive at-bats as a pinch-hitter, a feat also accomplished by Lee Lacy of the Dodgers last season.
1984 At San Francisco’s Candlestick Park, Dodger southpaw Fernando Valenzuela and Mets rookie Dwight Gooden combine to strike out six consecutive American League All-Stars on the 50th anniversary of Carl Hubbell’s memorable 1934 Midsummer Classic performance of setting down five future Hall of Famers on strikes. At 19, Dwight Gooden becomes the youngest player to participate in an All-Star Game.
1984 The National League beats the Junior Circuit at Candlestick Park, 3-1. Expos’ catcher Gary Carter, the game’s MVP, and Braves outfielder Dale Murphy’s home runs prove to be the difference in the 55th Midsummer Classic.
1986 A very disappointed Oil Can Boyd (11-6, 3.71) begins shouting and throwing clothes in the clubhouse after learning KC manager Dick Howser had not selected him as one of the eight pitchers to make the American League All-Star team. The inconsolable Red Sox right-hander, who will storm out of Fenway Park before the team’s scheduled game against California, will be suspended, without pay, for three days for his tirade.
1986 After allowing three runs in the top of the twelfth, the Red Sox score four times in the bottom of the inning, with the final tally coming on a walk-off bases-loaded balk. The winning run in Boston’s 8-7 improbable victory over the Angels when home plate ump Joe Brinkman rules Todd Fischer moved his hands after coming to a set position before delivering the first pitch of his outing, ending the Fenway contest without throwing a ball.
1999 At Leland’s ‘Hero’s Auction’ of sports memorabilia held in New York, Carlton Fisk’s 12th inning Game 6 home run ball, to end one of the most dramatic games in World Series history, is sold for $113,273. Reds’ left fielder George Foster retrieved the historic horsehide after it hit the Fenway foul pole, deciding to sell the 1975 souvenir, realizing the ball’s potential value after Mark McGwire’s 70th home run ball sold for almost $3 million.
2001 In his final All-Star appearance, Cal Ripken is named the MVP of the game. The Orioles shortstop’s home run, along with consecutive dingers from Derek Jeter and Magglio Ordonez, power the AL to its fifth victory in a row, beating the National League at Seattle’s Safeco Field, 4-1.
2001 Derek Jeter becomes the first Yankee to homer in an All-Star Game in 42 years when he goes deep, leading off the sixth inning off Jon Lieber at Safeco Field. Yogi Berra was the last Bronx Bomber to accomplish the feat, homering off Don Drysdale in 1959.
2007 The Clemente Museum, housed in the historic Engine House 25 in the Lawrenceville section of Pittsburgh, opens its doors to the public. The meticulously renovated firehouse features a wealth of baseball memorabilia, photographs, literature, and art that captures Roberto Clemente’s career with the Pirates, his personal life, and the humanitarian causes he championed.
2009 Beating the Padres 8-0 at AT&T Park, Giants’ southpaw Jonathan Sanchez throws the first no-hitter in franchise history since John “The Count” Montefusco accomplished the feat in 1976. The 22-year-old, a replacement for an injured Randy Johnson, sees his bid for a perfect game end when third baseman Juan Uribe makes an error in the eighth inning.
2010 In his 19th season, Arthur Rhodes becomes the longest-tenured major leaguer to go to an All-Star Game for the first time. The 40-year-old Reds southpaw reliever, who does not play in the Midsummer Classic, surpasses the 1988 selection of 18-year veteran Doyle Alexander for the dubious distinction.
2013 David Ortiz establishes a new record for career hits by a designated hitter when he doubles in the second inning of the Red Sox’ 11-4 victory over Seattle at Safeco Field. ‘Big Papi’ surpasses Harold Baines with his 1,689th hit as a DH.
2017 Aaron Judge, overcoming 22 first-round round-trippers from Justin Bour and a dozen blasts from Cody Bellinger in the second, slams 11 homers in the finals to defeat Miguel Sano, becoming the first rookie to win the All-Star Home Run Derby outright. The Yankees outfielder hit 47 long balls that traveled a combined 3.9 miles, including back-to-back dingers of 507 and 513 feet.
BASEBALL HALL OF FAME
J.L. WILKINSON
Executive
J.L. Wilkinson was the principal owner of the Kansas City Monarchs from 1920-48, one of the most dominant Negro Leagues teams ever assembled.
The Monarchs ruled two separate leagues in two separate time periods. A charter member of the Negro National League in 1920, the team won the NLL pennant four times in the 1920s. Then, as a charter member of the Negro American League, the Monarchs finished first seven times in the 1930s and 40s.
Wilkinson’s Monarchs also won two of four Negro World Series in which they played. They won the first Series in 1924, defeating Hilldale of the Eastern Colored League. And they won the initial Series when the competition resumed in 1942, beating the Homestead Grays.
From 1931-37, when African-American baseball was facing financial challenges, Wilkinson turned the Monarchs into a pure barnstorming club, drawing on their substantial popularity in the Midwest. To enable the team to play additional games at night in addition to their daytime schedule, Wilkinson purchased a portable lighting system, trucking it along behind the team bus when the Monarchs hit the road.
Several Hall of Famers elected as Negro Leaguers – Cool Papa Bell, Bill Foster, Satchel Paige, Bullet Rogan, Hilton Smith, Turkey Stearnes and Willie Wells – played for Wilkinson’s Monarchs, as did Jackie Robinson, Ernie Banks and Elston Howard, among others, before integrating Organized Baseball.
Wilkinson began his baseball career in his home state of Iowa as a pitcher until he hurt his arm. He then became a baseball entrepreneur, first in 1909 with a traveling women’s team.
In 1912, he organized the All Nations squad in Des Moines. The team, which had players from several ethnic backgrounds, was a top barnstorming club until the military called many players to serve during World War I. By then, Wilkinson had made Kansas City his base – and reorganized his team as the Monarchs after the war.
Wilkinson passed away on Aug. 21, 1964. He was elected to the Hall of Fame in 2006.
FOOTBALL HISTORY
July 10, 1926 – The Brooklyn Lions franchise formed in the NFL. The article talks of Brooklyn Lions President and Manager Eddie Butler signing up players to his recently founded Lions team. The team was put together there with support from the League offices so as to counter the first AFL’s deployment of their team the Brooklyn Horsemen.
July 10, 1926 – Hartford Blues franchise is accepted into the NFL and survives only during the inaugural season in the League. According to the ConnecticutHistory.org website the Blues were the only NFL team to have called the State of Connecticut their home, that is except for the New York Giants who played at the New Haven Yale Bowl in 1973 and 1974 awaiting their new Meadowlands stadium to be completed. The Blues team actually started in Waterbury, Connecticut according to writer Andy Piaskic in the article. George Mulligan a local sports promoter started the Waterbury Blues in 1924 as an independent pro football team. Mulligan in 1926 moved the team to Hartford and paid the NFL entry fee and they became a member in the League. It was a rough year as they played against some great players including Ernie Nevers and Johnny Blood of Duluth, Guy Chamberlin of the Frankford Yellow Jackets, Harry Stuhldreher (one of the famed Four Horsemen of Notre Dame) who played for Brooklyn in 1926, Steve Owen of the Giants, and Pete Henry of Canton. They were supposed to also face Jim Thorpe when playing against the Bulldogs but he was injured for that game and did not participate. The Blues only manage to finish the season with a 3-7 record despite playing all home games save two. The NFL in 1927 wanted to shed some of its numbers thus after a vote Hartford was dropped from its ranks. The Blues did play as an independent team one more season though posting a 7-1 record as the Hartford Giants and then shortly after the season, disbanded. It is interesting to note that according to an ad in the Hartford Courant on September 25, 1926 a person could buy a season ticket for the Blues home games for $17.25! Isn’t that about the cost of a beer and a hotdog at an NFL game now?
July 10, 2017 – According to the NFL.com website the Kansas City Chiefs promoted co-director of player personnel Brett Veach to the position of General manager. Since that move the Chiefs have made at least the conference title game every season since 2018 & have appeared in the last 2 Super Bowls of course winning Super Bowl LIV. The NFL.com article goes on to note that both Andy Reid and Brett Veach were signed to 6-year contract extensions in 2020. SOme of the highlight Chiefs Transactions that Veach helped orchestrate were the trade of QB Alex Smith to Washington in 2018 that made Patrick Mahomes starter in just his second season.The KC signing of safety Tyrann Mathieu to a 3-year, $42M deal in 2019. The unprecedented contract extensions of Patrick Mahomes for 10 years, $450M, tight end Travis Kelce at 4 years, $57.3M and defensive tackle Chris Jones with an inking of 4 years, $80 million in 2020.
HALL OF FAME BIRTHDAY FOR JULY 10
July 10, 1960 – Cleveland, Ohio – Darryl Talley the West Virginia linebacker from 1979 to 1982 was born. The National Football Foundation tells us that Darryl was such a versatile athlete at linebacker that he could play either at the line of scrimmage or on the outside. Talley registered 484 career tackles which was a school record that stood for 21 years. Darryl also posted 28 tackles for loss, 19 sacks, and five interceptions in his four seasons in Morgantown. Talley was a unanimous All-America and was named the WVU team’s Most Valuable Player in 1982 as a senior. Darryl Talley was selected to enter into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2011. After college he was a second round pick of the Buffalo Bills in the 1983 NFL Draft. He enjoyed 12 seasons in the NFL with the Bills, Atlanta Falcons and Minnesota Vikings, starting 187-of-216 career games he was on the roster for. The two-time Pro Bowler played in four Super Bowls with Buffalo and was named First Team All-Pro by the Sporting News in 1990 and 1993. Talley logged 38.5 career sacks and forced 17 fumbles for his brilliant pro career.
OTHER NOTABLE JULY 10 FOOTBALL BIRTHDAYS
July 10, 1960 – Roger Craig was a 4 time Pro Bowl running
back for the San Francisco 49ers. He was a part of 3 Super Bowl Winning teams for the Niners and in 1988 won the Offensive Player of the Year. He played for the San Francisco 49ers, Los Angeles Raiders and Minnesota Vikings. Interesting fact is that Roger was the first NFL player to have 1,000 yards rushing and receiving in the same season. Marshall Faulk and Christian McCaffrey are the only other players to have accomplished that feat.
July 10, 1988 – Antonio Brown is a Pro -Bowl wide receiver that played for the Pittsburgh Steelers, Oakland Raiders (sort of), New England Patriots, and won a Super Bowl ring with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
July 10, 1989 – Cameron Jordan the defensive lineman that played for the New Orleans Saints.
FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME
BOBBY ANDERSON
Position: Quarterback/Running Back
Years: 1967-1969
Place of Birth: Midland, MI
Date of Birth: Oct 11, 1947
Jersey Number: 11
Height: 6-0
Weight: 208
High School: Boulder, CO (Boulder HS)
Younger brother of Hall of Fame safety Dick Anderson, Bobby Anderson was a local kid who made good. Raised in Boulder, he idolized Buffalo players as a child, went on to stardom at Boulder High School and then stayed in town to play at the University of Colorado. While Dick was staring in the Colorado defensive secondary, Bobby was in control of the Buff offense as the team’s quarterback as a sophomore and junior. Not a classic drop-back passer, Anderson was one of the game’s great running quarterbacks. In 1967 he led the team in both rushing and passing. He repeated the feat his junior season. That season he ran or passed the ball on 405 of the team’s 726 offensive snaps. The 1967 team went 9-2 and placed second in the Big Eight. Anderson scored two times as Colorado beat Miami in the Bluebonnet Bowl. With the team facing injuries in the backfield, Anderson was moved to running back for the third game of his 1969 senior season. The team rebounded from a loss the previous week to thrash Indiana. Colorado placed third in the conference and went to the Liberty Bowl where Anderson rushed for a bowl record 254 yards and three touchdowns in a victory over Alabama. That season he gained consensus All-America status. After CU, Anderson continued playing in Colorado, this time with the Denver Broncos. The first round draft pick played four years with Denver before completing his career with New England and Washington. He has continued to be a Buff fan as he is a long-time broadcaster on the CU Football Network.
SPORTS NUMBERS
11 – 3 – 4 – 7
July 10, 1938 – After producing 11 straight hits, Cleveland Indians outfielder, Tris Speaker and his torrid pace was halted by Tom Zachary of Washington. Speaker, also known as the “Grey Eagle” produced this record, which would not be broken until 1938 when Red Sox third baseman Pinky Higgins hit safely in 12 at bats in a row.
July 10, 1929 – Here is an interesting development to remember. In game between Pirates and Phillies there were a total of 9 Home Runs hit in the contest, 1 in each inning. Pittsburgh’s George Grantham had two circuit smashers as the Phillies produced 4 base cleaning hits themselves. The Pirates got the better of the Phils on the scoreboard 15-9.
July 10, 1934 – Talk about taking on the big boys single-handily! National League New York Giants pitcher Number 11, Carl Hubbell struck out Babe Ruth (Number 3 Yankees), Lou Gehrig (Number 4 Yankees), Jimmie Foxx (Number 3 Phil. A’s), Al Simmons (Number 7 White Sox) and Joe Cronin (Number 4 Senators) for an MLB All Star game record for consecutive strikeouts. Hubbel could only do his part as the American League and their fire power still overcame and won, 9-7.
July 10, 1936 – Philadelphia Phillies slugger Chuck Klein, wearing the Number 4 uniform, became the fourth player in the MLB to have hit four Home Runs in a single game. The others that did so before Klein were: Bobby Lowe was the first to hit four home runs in a single game, doing so on May 30, 1894 for the Boston Beaneaters
Ed Delahanty of the Philadelphia Phillies became the second player on July 13, 1896
Lou Gehrig for the Yankees on June 3, 1932 against the Philadelphia A’s.
There have been 14 additional times of a player having 4 wall clearing HR’s in a game since 1936 including the two most recent times in 2017 with:
Scooter Gennett on June 6, 2017 as he and the Cincinnati Reds pounded the St. Louis Cardinals 13-1
J. D. Martinez had his day on September 4, 2017 with the Arizona Diamondbacks and he slugged his way through the Los Angeles Dodgers pitching staff.
TV MONDAY
| MLB REGULAR SEASON | TIME ET | TV |
| MLB Home Run Derby | 8:00pm | FOX |
| NBA SUMMER LEAGUE | TIME ET | TV |
| Memphis vs. Cleveland | 6:00pm | ESPNews |
| Phoenix vs. Miami | 6:30pm | NBATV |
| Philadelphia vs. Dallas | 8:00pm | ESPNU |
| Indiana vs. Orlando | 8:30pm | NBATV |
| Minnesota vs. Utah | 10:00pm | ESPNU |
| Sacramento vs. LA Clippers | 10:30pm | NBATV |
| SOCCER MATCHES | TIME ET | TV |
| Argentina Primera División: Barracas Central vs Argentinos Juniors | 1:00pm | Paramount+ |
| Argentina Primera División: Colón vs Belgrano | 3:30pm | Paramount+ |
| Argentina Primera División: Rosario Central vs Central Córdoba SdE | 5:00pm | Paramount+ |
| Argentina Primera División: Talleres Córdoba vs Unión Santa Fe | 6:30pm | Paramount+ |
| Argentina Primera División: Boca Juniors vs Huracán | 8:30pm | Paramount+ |