“THE SCOREBOARD”
MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL
PITTSBURGH 7 CLEVELAND 5
BALTIMORE 8 LA DODGERS 5
HOUSTON 4 COLORADO 1
SAN DIEGO 2 TORONTO 0
NY METS 5 CHICAGO WHITE SOX 1
TEXAS 5 TAMPA BAY 1
OAKLAND 6 BOSTON 5
LA ANGELS 7 NY YANKEES 3
DETROIT 3 KANSAS CITY 2
MINNESOTA 6 SEATTLE 3
ST. LOUIS 6 MIAMI 4
MILWAUKEE 5 PHILADELPHIA 3
CINCINNATI 3 SAN FRANCISCO 2
ARIZONA 5 ATLANTA 3
CHICAGO CUBS 8 WASHINGTON 3
MINOR LEAGUE BASEBALL
IOWA 7 INDIANAPOLIS 1
SOUTH BEND 5 WEST MICHIGAN 0
FT. WAYNE 11 LAKE COUNTY 3
WNBA
INDIANA 82 WASHINGTON 76
DALLAS 98 NEW YORK 88
INDIANA HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL WEEK 1
FRIDAY
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
COLLEGE FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
WEEK 0
SATURDAY, AUG. 26
NOTRE DAME VS. NAVY (DUBLIN, IRELAND) | 2:30 P.M. | NBC
MERCER VS. NORTH ALABAMA (MONTGOMERY, ALABAMA) | 3:30 P.M. | ESPN
JACKSONVILLE STATE VS. UTEP | 5:30 P.M. | CBSSN
NEW MEXICO STATE VS. UMASS | 7 P.M. | ESPN
SAN DIEGO STATE VS. OHIO | 7 P.M. | FS1
VANDERBILT VS. HAWAI’I | 7:30 P.M. | SEC NETWORK
JACKSON STATE VS. SOUTH CAROLINA STATE (ATLANTA, GEORGIA) | 7:30 P.M. | ABC
USC VS. SAN JOSE STATE | 8 P.M. | PAC-12 NETWORK
LOUISIANA TECH VS. FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL | 9 P.M. | CBSSN
WEEK 1
THURSDAY, AUG. 31
WAKE FOREST VS. ELON | 7 P.M. | ACC NETWORK
UCF VS. KENT STATE | 7 P.M. | FS1
GEORGIA STATE VS. RHODE ISLAND | 7 P.M. | ESPN+
WESTERN MICHIGAN VS. ST. FRANCIS (PA) | 7 P.M. | ESPN+
UCONN VS. NC STATE | 7:30 P.M. | CBSSN
MINNESOTA VS. NEBRASKA | 8 P.M. | FOX
MISSOURI VS. SOUTH DAKOTA | 8 P.M. | SEC NETWORK
UTAH VS. FLORIDA | 8 P.M. | ESPN
TULSA VS. ARKANSAS-PINE BLUFF | 8 P.M. | ESPN+
UAB VS. NORTH CAROLINA A&T | 8 P.M. | ESPN+
ARIZONA STATE VS. SOUTHERN UTAH | 10 P.M. | PAC-12 NETWORK
FRIDAY, SEPT. 1
EASTERN MICHIGAN VS. HOWARD | 6:30 P.M. | ESPN+
MICHIGAN STATE VS. CENTRAL MICHIGAN | 7 P.M. | FS1
MIAMI (FLA.) VS. MIAMI (OHIO) | 7 P.M. | ACC NETWORK
GEORGIA TECH VS. LOUISVILLE (MERCEDES-BENZ STADIUM IN ATLANTA) | 7:30 P.M. | ESPN
KANSAS VS. MISSOURI STATE | 8 P.M. | ESPN+
HAWAI’I VS. STANFORD | 11 P.M. | CBSSN
SATURDAY, SEPT. 2
IOWA VS. UTAH STATE | 12 P.M. | FS1
KENTUCKY VS. BALL STATE | 12 P.M. | SEC NETWORK
LIBERTY VS. BOWLING GREEN | 12 P.M. | CBSSN
MICHIGAN VS. EAST CAROLINA | 12 P.M. | PEACOCK
PURDUE VS. FRESNO STATE | 12 P.M. | BIG TEN NETWORK
SMU VS. LOUISIANA TECH | 12 P.M. | ESPNU
TENNESSEE VS. VIRGINIA (NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE) | 12 P.M. | ABC
TCU VS. COLORADO | 12 P.M. | FOX
BOSTON COLLEGE VS. NORTHERN ILLINOIS | 12 P.M. | ACC NETWORK
OKLAHOMA VS. ARKANSAS STATE | 12 P.M. | ESPN
OLE MISS VS. MERCER | 2 P.M. | ESPN+/SECN+
IOWA STATE VS. UNI | 2 P.M. | ESPN+
TEMPLE VS. AKRON | 2 P.M. | ESPN+
OHIO VS. LONG ISLAND UNIVERSITY | 2 P.M. | ESPN+
AIR FORCE VS. ROBERT MORRIS | 2 P.M. | ALTITUDE SPORTS
OREGON VS. PORTLAND STATE | 3 P.M. | PAC-12 NETWORK
INDIANA VS. OHIO STATE | 3:30 P.M. | CBS
AUBURN VS. UMASS | 3:30 P.M. | ESPN
MARYLAND VS. TOWSON | 3:30 P.M. | BIG TEN NETWORK
WISCONSIN VS. BUFFALO | 3:30 P.M. | FS1
WESTERN KENTUCKY VS. SOUTH FLORIDA | 3:30 P.M. | CBSSN
WASHINGTON VS. BOISE STATE | 3:30 P.M. | ABC
NOTRE DAME VS. TENNESSEE STATE | 3:30 P.M. | NBC
PITT VS. WOFFORD | 3:30 P.M. | ACC NETWORK
CINCINNATI VS. EASTERN KENTUCKY | 3:30 P.M. | ESPN+
TEXAS VS. RICE | 3:30 P.M. | FOX
APPALACHIAN STATE VS. GARDNER-WEBB | 3:30 P.M. | ESPN+
ARKANSAS VS. WESTERN CAROLINA | 4 P.M. | ESPN+/SECN+
MISSISSIPPI STATE VS. SE LOUISIANA | 4 P.M. | SEC NETWORK
NORTH TEXAS VS. CAL | 4 P.M. | ESPNU
SYRACUSE VS. COLGATE | 4 P.M. | ESPN+/ACCNX
GEORGIA VS. UT MARTIN | 6 P.M. | ESPN+/SECN+
CHARLOTTE VS. SOUTH CAROLINA STATE | 6 P.M. | ESPN+
FLORIDA ATLANTIC VS. MONMOUTH | 6 P.M. | ESPN+
GEORGIA SOUTHERN VS. THE CITADEL | 6 P.M. | ESPN+
JAMES MADISON VS. BUCKNELL | 6 P.M. | ESPN+
MARSHALL VS. ALBANY | 6 P.M. | ESPN+
FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL VS. MAINE | 6:30 P.M. | ESPN+
USC VS. NEVADA | 6:30 P.M. | PAC-12 NETWORK
TEXAS A&M VS. NEW MEXICO | 7 P.M. | ESPN
UL MONROE VS. ARMY | 7 P.M. | NFL NETWORK
VANDERBILT VS. ALABAMA A&M | 7 P.M. | ESPN+/SECN+
COLORADO STATE VS. WASHINGTON STATE | 7 P.M. | CBSSN
BAYLOR VS. TEXAS STATE | 7 P.M. | ESPN+
HOUSTON VS. UTSA | 7 P.M. | FS1
KANSAS STATE VS. SOUTHEAST MISSOURI STATE | 7 P.M. | ESPN+
OKLAHOMA STATE VS. CENTRAL ARKANSAS | 7 P.M. | ESPN+
MEMPHIS VS. BETHUNE-COOKMAN | 7 P.M. | ESPN+
SOUTHERN MISS VS. ALCORN STATE | 7 P.M. | ESPN+
TROY VS. STEPHEN F. AUSTIN | 7 P.M. | ESPN+
ALABAMA VS. MIDDLE TENNESSEE | 7:30 P.M. | SEC NETWORK
ILLINOIS VS. TOLEDO | 7:30 P.M. | BIG TEN NETWORK
SOUTH CAROLINA VS. NORTH CAROLINA (CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA) | 7:30 P.M. | ABC
PENN STATE VS. WEST VIRGINIA | 7:30 P.M. | NBC
WYOMING VS. TEXAS TECH | 7:30 P.M. | CBS
LOUISIANA VS. NORTHWESTERN STATE | 7:30 P.M. | ESPN+
VIRGINIA TECH VS. OLD DOMINION | 8 P.M. | ACC NETWORK
TULANE VS. SOUTH ALABAMA | 8 P.M. | ESPNU
NEW MEXICO STATE VS. WESTERN ILLINOIS | 9 P.M. | ESPN+
UTEP VS. UIW | 9 P.M. | ESPN+
ARIZONA VS. NORTHERN ARIZONA | 10 P.M. | PAC-12 NETWORK
BYU VS. SAM HOUSTON | 10:15 P.M. | FS1
UCLA VS. COASTAL CAROLINA | 10:30 P.M. | ESPN
SAN DIEGO STATE VS. IDAHO STATE | 10:30 P.M. | CBSSN
SUNDAY, SEPT. 3
RUTGERS VS. NORTHWESTERN | 12 P.M. | CBS
SAN JOSE STATE VS. OREGON STATE | 3:30 P.M. | CBS
FLORIDA STATE VS. LSU (ORLANDO, FLORIDA) | 7:30 P.M. | ABC
MONDAY, SEPT. 4
DUKE VS. CLEMSON | 8 P.M. | ESPN
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.
NFL PRE-SEASON SCHEDULE
NFL/HALL OF FAME GAME – AUGUST 3
N.Y. JETS VS. CLEVELAND (NBC), 8:00
WEEK 1
THURSDAY, AUGUST 10
HOUSTON AT NEW ENGLAND, 7:00
MINNESOTA AT SEATTLE, 10:00
FRIDAY, AUGUST 11
N.Y. GIANTS AT DETROIT, 7:00
GREEN BAY AT CINCINNATI, 7:00
ATLANTA AT MIAMI, 7:00
PITTSBURGH AT TAMPA BAY, 7:00
WASHINGTON AT CLEVELAND, 7:30
DENVER AT ARIZONA, 10:00
SATURDAY, AUGUST 12
INDIANAPOLIS AT BUFFALO, 1:00
TENNESSEE AT CHICAGO, 1:00
N.Y. JETS AT CAROLINA, 4:00
JACKSONVILLE AT DALLAS, 5:00
PHILADELPHIA AT BALTIMORE, 7:00
L.A. CHARGERS AT L.A. RAMS, 9:00
SUNDAY, AUGUST 13
KANSAS CITY AT NEW ORLEANS, 1:00
SAN FRANCISCO AT LAS VEGAS, 4:00
WEEK 2
THURSDAY, AUGUST 17
CLEVELAND AT PHILADELPHIA, 7:30
FRIDAY, AUGUST 18
CAROLINA AT N.Y. GIANTS, 7:00
CINCINNATI AT ATLANTA, 7:30
SATURDAY, AUGUST 19
JACKSONVILLE AT DETROIT, 1:00
MIAMI AT HOUSTON, 4:00
BUFFALO AT PITTSBURGH, 6:30
CHICAGO AT INDIANAPOLIS, 7:00
TAMPA BAY AT N.Y. JETS, 7:30
KANSAS CITY AT ARIZONA, 8:00
NEW ENGLAND AT GREEN BAY, 8:00
TENNESSEE AT MINNESOTA, 8:00
DENVER AT SAN FRANCISCO, 8:30
LAS VEGAS AT L.A. RAMS, 9:00
DALLAS AT SEATTLE, 10:00
SUNDAY, AUGUST 20
NEW ORLEANS AT L.A. CHARGERS, 7:05
MONDAY, AUGUST 21
BALTIMORE AT WASHINGTON (ESPN), 8:00
WEEK 3
THURSDAY, AUGUST 24
PITTSBURGH AT ATLANTA, 7:30
INDIANAPOLIS AT PHILADELPHIA (PRIME VIDEO), 8:00
FRIDAY, AUGUST 25
DETROIT AT CAROLINA (CBS), 8:00
NEW ENGLAND AT TENNESSEE, 8:15
L.A. CHARGERS AT SAN FRANCISCO, 10:00
SATURDAY, AUGUST 26
BUFFALO AT CHICAGO, 1:00
SEATTLE AT GREEN BAY, 1:00
CLEVELAND AT KANSAS CITY, 1:00
ARIZONA AT MINNESOTA, 1:00
N.Y. JETS AT N.Y. GIANTS, 6:00
CINCINNATI AT WASHINGTON, 6:05
MIAMI AT JACKSONVILLE, 7:00
BALTIMORE AT TAMPA BAY, 7:00
LAS VEGAS AT DALLAS, 8:00
L.A. RAMS AT DENVER, 9:00
SUNDAY, AUGUST 27
HOUSTON AT NEW ORLEANS (FOX), 8:00
WEEK 1 REGULAR SEASON SCHEDULE
DETROIT LIONS AT KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (THU) 7:20P (CT) 8:20P NBC
CAROLINA PANTHERS AT ATLANTA FALCONS 1:00P (ET) 1:00P FOX
HOUSTON TEXANS AT BALTIMORE RAVENS 1:00P (ET) 1:00P CBS
CINCINNATI BENGALS AT CLEVELAND BROWNS 1:00P (ET) 1:00P CBS
JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS AT INDIANAPOLIS COLTS 1:00P (ET) 1:00P FOX
TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS AT MINNESOTA VIKINGS 12:00P (CT) 1:00P CBS
TENNESSEE TITANS AT NEW ORLEANS SAINTS 12:00P (CT) 1:00P CBS
SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS AT PITTSBURGH STEELERS 1:00P (ET) 1:00P FOX
ARIZONA CARDINALS AT WASHINGTON COMMANDERS 1:00P (ET) 1:00P FOX
GREEN BAY PACKERS AT CHICAGO BEARS 3:25P (CT) 4:25P FOX
LAS VEGAS RAIDERS AT DENVER BRONCOS 2:25P (MT) 4:25P CBS
MIAMI DOLPHINS AT LOS ANGELES CHARGERS 1:25P (PT) 4:25P CBS
PHILADELPHIA EAGLES AT NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS 4:25P (ET) 4:25P CBS
LOS ANGELES RAMS AT SEATTLE SEAHAWKS 1:25P (PT) 4:25P FOX
DALLAS COWBOYS AT NEW YORK GIANTS 8:20P (ET) 8:20P NBC
BUFFALO BILLS AT NEW YORK JETS (MON) 8:15P (ET) 8:15P ESPN/ABC
TOP NATIONAL RELEASES/HEADLINES
MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL
MLB ROUNDUP: ANGELS FINISH OFF SWEEP OF YANKEES
Chase Silseth struck out a career-high 10 hitters to become the latest pitcher to shut down the struggling New York Yankees as the Los Angeles Angels completed a three-game sweep with a 7-3 victory on Wednesday in Anaheim, Calif.
Silseth (2-1), recalled from Triple-A Salt Lake before the game, pitched 5 2/3 innings of one-run ball.
Taylor Ward and Luis Rengifo hit two-run homers off Carlos Rodon (0-3) as the Angels raced out to a 4-0 lead through the opening two innings. The Angels went on to complete their first sweep of the Yankees since July 10-12, 2009.
Giancarlo Stanton and Franchy Cordero homered for the Yankees, who lost for the fourth game in a row and the ninth time in 11 games. Rodon was tagged for six runs and four hits in 4 1/3 innings.
Cardinals 6, Marlins 4
Nolan Gorman drove in four runs to help power St. Louis past visiting Miami and complete a three-game sweep.
Gorman hit a three-run homer and an RBI single as the Cardinals extended their winning streak to five games. Cardinals starter Dakota Hudson allowed two runs on five hits in three innings. Zack Thompson (2-2) pitched two scoreless innings to earn the victory and Chris Stratton earned his first save.
Marlins starting pitcher Sandy Alcantara (3-9) allowed four runs on eight hits and two walks in six innings.
Athletics 6, Red Sox 5
JJ Bleday, Cody Thomas and Jace Peterson each hit two-run home runs, the bullpen didn’t allow an earned run over the final 4 2/3 innings and Oakland held on to defeat visiting Boston for a rare series win.
Lucas Erceg, Angel Felipe, Sam Long and Trevor May protected a slim lead after the A’s stopped scoring after the fourth inning, helping the hosts beat Boston for the second time in as many days following an eight-game losing streak.
Red Sox starter Brayan Bello (7-6) took the loss, pulled after allowing all six Oakland runs and five hits in four innings. He walked two and struck out three.
Padres 2, Blue Jays 0
Yu Darvish worked six scoreless innings and Manny Machado drove in a pair of runs with a two-out, fifth-inning single as visiting San Diego beat Toronto.
Steven Wilson, Nick Martinez and Josh Hader each followed Darvish with a scoreless inning of relief as the Padres shut out Toronto on six hits. It was the Padres’ ninth shutout of the season.
The Blue Jays are on a two-game skid following a four-game winning streak. Jose Berrios (8-7) gave up two runs on four hits and four walks with nine strikeouts in six innings.
Mets 5, White Sox 1
Justin Verlander tossed eight solid innings and Brett Baty homered for a second straight game as host New York beat Chicago.
Baty finished with two RBIs for the Mets, who have won three straight and are 9-4 in July. Francisco Alvarez, Luis Guillorme and Brandon Nimmo each had one RBI in a four-run fourth. Verlander (4-5) allowed one run — a Luis Robert Jr. homer in the seventh — on three hits and struck out seven.
Touki Toussaint (0-3), making his first start since July 8, allowed five runs on four hits and four walks while striking out three over six innings — his longest start since Aug. 16, 2021, when he was pitching for the Atlanta Braves.
Diamondbacks 5, Braves 3
Ryne Nelson allowed two runs and three hits over seven innings to help visiting Arizona to a win against Atlanta.
Nelson (6-5) struck out five and walked one as Arizona won for the second straight game to open a three-game series. Nick Ahmed had two hits and two RBIs and Christian Walker delivered two hits and two runs for the Diamondbacks.
Marcell Ozuna and Austin Riley homered for the Braves, who have lost four straight since winning their first game after the break. Atlanta starter Charlie Morton (10-7) allowed four runs and six hits in 5 2/3 innings. He struck out four and walked three.
Rangers 5, Rays 1
Jonah Heim delivered a game-sealing home run, the bullpen stepped up after Jon Gray exited early with an injury and Texas went on to a victory over visiting Tampa Bay.
The Rangers completed the three-game sweep. The American League East-leading Rays were swept for just the second time this season.
The AL West-leading Rangers are off to a 6-0 start following the All-Star break. Gray had his start cut short when he took a 112 mph comebacker off his left leg in the fifth inning. The Rangers announced that Gray had a bruised shin and X-rays were negative.
Pirates 7, Guardians 5
Ji Man Choi and Jared Triolo hit two-run singles in a five-run seventh as Pittsburgh rallied to avoid a series sweep with a win over visiting Cleveland.
Jack Suwinski added an RBI double and Nick Gonzales an RBI single for the Pirates, who lost the first two games of the series while being outscored 21-1. Reliever Ryan Borucki (1-0) gave up one run in 1 1/3 innings to earn the win.
Josh Bell homered and added an RBI single and Amed Rosario contributed a two-run double for the Guardians. Sam Hentges (1-2), who allowed four runs while getting one out, was charged with the loss.
Orioles 8, Dodgers 5
Ramon Urias drove in three runs and Gunnar Henderson homered as Baltimore salvaged the finale of a three-game series against visiting Los Angeles.
Urias went 2-for-3 with two doubles, while Henderson went 1-for-3 with a solo homer for the Orioles. Reliever Danny Coulombe (3-1) picked up the win by allowing just one hit over 2 1/3 scoreless innings. Felix Bautista picked up his 26th save of the season.
Max Muncy hit a two-run homer and James Outman added a solo shot for the Dodgers. Los Angeles starter Julio Urias (7-6) gave up eight runs on eight hits in five innings.
Astros 4, Rockies 1
Chas McCormick homered, Jake Meyers had two hits and Houston beat Colorado in Denver.
Brandon Bielak (5-5) pitched well over 5 2/3 innings and combined with four Houston relievers to hold Colorado to two hits. The Astros improved to 22-6 against the Rockies since the start of 2013.
C.J. Cron homered for Colorado, which finished its homestand 3-2 against the New York Yankees and Astros. Rockies starter Austin Gomber (8-8) allowed four runs on eight hits and struck out five in six innings.
Brewers 5, Phillies 3
William Contreras doubled twice, singled and drove in two runs to lift Milwaukee past host Philadelphia.
Blake Perkins added two hits, two RBIs and two runs for the Brewers, who have won five of their past six games. Four Brewers relief pitchers, including winner Hoby Milner (2-0), combined to throw four scoreless innings.
Nick Castellanos hit a solo home run and Kyle Schwarber added a two-run single for the Phillies, who had their four-game winning streak end. Jeff Hoffman (3-2) took the loss.
Reds 3, Giants 2
Will Benson belted a three-run homer and Graham Ashcraft tossed six-plus innings as host Cincinnati snapped a six-game skid with a victory over San Francisco.
Ashcraft (5-7) allowed two runs on five hits with three strikeouts and two walks. The Reds mustered just four hits en route to posting their first win since an 8-5 triumph over the Milwaukee Brewers on July 8.
Blake Sabol belted an opposite-field homer to lead off the seventh inning and recorded two of the six hits for the Giants, who saw their seven-game winning streak come to a halt. Ross Stripling (0-3) was saddled with the loss.
Tigers 3, Royals 2
Miguel Cabrera delivered the tiebreaking single and Eduardo Rodriguez pitched seven strong innings to help Detroit win at Kansas City for the second time in three days.
Cabrera’s sixth-inning single put the Tigers ahead to stay. Detroit’s Javier Baez homered, and Riley Greene had three hits.
Rodriguez (6-5) allowed two runs and four hits while striking out seven and walking none. Jason Foley tossed a scoreless eighth, and Alex Lange worked out of a jam in the ninth for his 16th save. Kansas City’s Ryan Yarbrough (2-5) worked 5 2/3 innings before leaving with a cramp in his left hamstring. He gave up three runs, six hits and one walk while fanning four.
Cubs 8, Nationals 3
Nico Hoerner’s first career grand slam highlighted a five-run eighth inning and Chicago overcame blowing a two-run lead in the top of the frame to beat visiting Washington.
Mike Tauchman homered for one of his three hits and had three RBIs, and Yan Gomes, on his 36th birthday, gave the Cubs a 4-3 lead with his sacrifice fly against Mason Thompson (3-3) in the eighth. Then with two out, Hoerner (two hits) sent a 1-1 fastball from Cory Abbott well into the left field bleachers to break the contest open and help Chicago to a second straight victory — and get its first home series win since June 16-18.
Trevor Williams yielded two runs on seven hits and two walks with one strikeout in five innings for Washington, which is 1-4 since winning three straight.
Twins 6, Mariners 3
Max Kepler homered and scored the go-ahead run on a passed ball as Minnesota won in Seattle to continue its fast start to the second half of the season.
Edouard Julien and Alex Kirilloff also went deep and Kenta Maeda pitched 6 1/3 strong innings for the Twins, who have won five of six games since the All-Star break. Twins reliever Emilio Pagan (4-1) pitched a scoreless inning for the victory, and Jhoan Duran created but escaped a ninth-inning jam for his 16th save.
Tom Murphy and Eugenio Suarez homered for the Mariners, who dropped to 2-4 on their 10-game homestand. Seattle will look to win on Thursday to gain a split of the four-game series. Reliever Andres Munoz (2-3) took the loss after surrendering the lead an inning after the Mariners tied it.
NFL NEWS
GIANTS’ SAQUON BARKLEY CONSIDERING HOLDING OUT AFTER FAILING TO GET A NEW DEAL
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) A frustrated Saquon Barkley considered sitting out the 2023 season among his options if the star running back couldn’t get a new contract from the New York Giants.
In an interview on a podcast released Monday, Barkley discussed the negotiations leading up to Monday’s deadline for players on a franchise tag to reach a new multi-year deal with teams. The 26-year-old used an expletive several times in noting a holdout would thumb his nose at the Giants and his teammates and show them his true value.
Barkley and the Giants, who reached the playoffs last season for the first time since 2016, failed to reach a new contract agreement on Monday, meaning the Penn State alum will earn $10.1 million this season.
The two sides talked until the 4 p.m. deadline but could not settle on a deal, even though the Giants reportedly offered one worth more than $12 million annually.
Barkley’s only comment after not getting a deal was a tweet: “It is what it is.”
During “The Money Matters” podcast recorded on July 11 – six days before the deadline – Barkley had hoped he would be able to get a new contract, noting his leverage would be to hold out, a move that he felt would hurt the team and his teammates. He felt it would show everyone how valuable he was to the team after rushing for a career-high 1,312 yards as well as 10 touchdowns last season.
“Anybody who knows me knows that’s not something I want to do,” Barkley said. “But is it something that crossed my mind, I never thought I would ever do that. But now I’m at a point where it’s like, ‘Jesus, I might have to take it to this level.’ Am I prepared and willing to take it to the level. I don’t know. That’s something I gotta sit down. I gotta sit down and talk to my family. I gotta sit down and talk to my team, gotta really strategize about this. Can’t just go off emotions.”
Barkley insisted all he wants to do is win and bring a title to New York.
Barkley has not signed his franchise tender offer so he cannot be fined for not reporting to training camp next Tuesday. While he can’t reach an agreement on a multi-year contract, the two sides can sign a sweetened one-year deal for 2023.
The Giants would retain the right to franchise Barkley again next season.
LINEBACKER ALEX HIGHSMITH SIGNS CONTRACT TO STAY WITH THE STEELERS THROUGH 2027
PITTSBURGH (AP) Coming off a breakout season, outside linebacker Alex Highsmith has signed a new contract that will keep him with the Pittsburgh Steelers for the next five seasons.
The two sides announced the deal on Wednesday, a week before the Steelers reported to training camp. The 25-year-old Highsmith was in the final year of his rookie contract, and this will extend it through 2027.
“This means everything,” Highsmith said in a statement provided by the team after the signing. “I know I am a Pittsburgh Steeler through and through, and just to be a part of this amazing organization for four more years means the world to me, to my wife, to my whole family. This is where I want to be. This is where I want to play ball.”
A third-round pick in the 2020 draft, Highsmith has played in 49 career games, starting 38. He has 179 tackles, 32 tackles for loss, 22 1/2 sacks, 41 quarterback hits, six forced fumbles, two passes defensed and one interception.
Highsmith ranks first in the NFL for the most strip sacks (five) and forced fumbles (six) and is tied for second most in sacks (17.5) in his last 20 games, dating to Week 16 of the 2021 season. He also has recorded seven multiple sack games in his career.
Highsmith led the team with a career-high 14.5 sacks last season. The total was tied for sixth-most in the league, and fifth-most in Steelers history for a single season.
“It was a good year, but I’m far from satisfied,” said Highsmith in the offseason. “I never get complacent or comfortable, but I am grateful for a better year and being injury free for a year. I never want to get complacent, but I always want to be grateful.”
In addition, Highsmith’s team-high five forced fumbles were also tied for most in the NFL last year. He finished the season with 63 tackles, 20 quarterback hits, 12 tackles for loss and one pass defensed.
“It gave me a lot of confidence,” he said. “In 2021, I didn’t have a good start to my year dealing with injuries. I ended up finishing the year strong. This past year, I just wanted to start fast and continue it throughout the year. I felt like I was playing with more consistency and more confidence because I know the type of player that I can be. I just want to continue to get better every year.”
CLEVELAND BROWNS RELEASE DEFENSIVE TACKLE PERRION WINFREY FOLLOWING SPATE OF OFF-FIELD PROBLEMS
CLEVELAND (AP) Defensive tackle Perrion Winfrey was cut by the Cleveland Browns on Wednesday after police opened an investigation into him being involved in an armed robbery.
The team made the swift move just days before training camp is scheduled to begin, ending Winfrey’s troubled tenure with the Browns, who selected him in the fourth round last year from Oklahoma.
Cleveland police spokesperson Sgt. Jennifer Ciaccia said its law department processed a report on Winfrey, who is listed as a “suspect in an aggravated robbery incident.”
According to the police report, an unidentified woman said an agitated Winfrey threatened to hit her and a female companion during an argument outside a downtown Cleveland hotel on Tuesday. The woman recorded the encounter on a phone that the 6-foot-4, 290-pound Winfrey was trying to take from her.
Police said Winfrey can be heard saying, “I’ll smack the (expletive) outta you,” and, ”you know I got it on me.”
The woman told police that during the argument Winfrey pulled up his shirt to show that he had a hand gun tucked in his waistband. She said the gun was dark gray and resembled a Glock.
Winfrey later spoke over the phone to a police officer and claimed the women were harassing him. He was asked to return to the hotel, but declined saying he played for the Browns and “was concerned about security issues,” according to the report.
Police said security cameras outside the hotel “were unable to show much of the what occurred.”
Winfrey, 22, was previously arrested in April after he allegedly caused “bodily injury” during an argument with a woman he was dating in Texas. The charge was dropped after Winfrey completed a pretrial diversion program.
Winfrey’s agent wasn’t immediately able to be reached.
Winfrey had a rough rookie season with Cleveland. He played in 13 games and recorded 22 tackles while also dealing with some immaturity issues with the team and was disciplined by the Browns, who benched him for several games.
Before the team’s mandatory minicamp in June, Winfrey told police he was robbed at gunpoint by six masked men outside a nightclub. Winfrey was with cornerback Greg Newsome II, who had his truck stolen.
Winfrey wasn’t on the field for two days of the minicamp before participating in the final workouts. Coach Kevin Stefanski declined to say if Winfrey was being disciplined.
The Browns will begin training camp Saturday in Sulphur Springs, West Virginia.
JETS WILL RELEASE WIDE RECEIVER DENZEL MIMS IF THEY FIND NO TRADE PARTNER, AP SOURCES SAY
FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (AP) The New York Jets will release wide receiver Denzel Mims if they don’t find a trade partner for the disappointing 2020 second-round draft pick, two people with knowledge of the situation said Wednesday.
Mims requested a trade last summer when he became unhappy about his reduced role in the offense. New York chose to instead keep the former Baylor star, but he finished with just 11 catches for 186 yards in 10 games.
The 25-year-old Mims will now get a fresh start elsewhere, according to the people who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the team didn’t announce its intentions.
The New York Post first reported the Jets’ plan to trade or release Mims, who was excused from joining the team when rookies and veterans reported for training camp Wednesday. The team’s first camp practice with Aaron Rodgers at quarterback is scheduled for Thursday.
In three seasons with New York, Mims had 42 catches for 676 yards and no touchdowns in 30 games, including 15 starts.
Mims came to the Jets as what was expected to be a speedy addition to then-coach Adam Gase’s offense. He dealt with hamstring issues early as a rookie, but showed some flashes with 23 catches for 357 yards in nine games.
A case of food poisoning caused him to lose 20 pounds during the 2021 offseason and then he dealt with a rough bout of COVID-19 during the season – and his role in new offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur’s system dwindled to nearly nonexistent. He finished with just eight catches for 133 yards in 11 games.
Mims was still low on the depth chart last summer and was never able to see consistent snaps – prompting his trade request.
Even with Rodgers now at quarterback and Nathaniel Hackett the Jets’ offensive coordinator, Mims likely would have had a tough time cracking New York’s rotation. Garrett Wilson, last season’s NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, tops a depth chart that includes Corey Davis, Allen Lazard, Mecole Hardman and Randall Cobb – all of whom were starting camp ahead of Mims.
NFL PREVIEW: MINNESOTA VIKINGS
Few teams in NFL history have ever won 13 games, cruised to a division title and simultaneously been more doubted than last year’s Vikings.
And the criticism was warranted. Despite going 13–4, Minnesota had a negative point differential and a 31st-ranked defense. Then the Vikings lost in the wild-card round at home to Daniel Jones and the Giants, ending what was one of the more improbable seasons in some time.
The result of it all? Defensive coordinator Ed Donatell was fired, with former Dolphins head coach Brian Flores replacing him. The roster changed a bit, as well, with corner Byron Murphy Jr., defensive end Dean Lowry and edge rusher Marcus Davenport all brought in this offseason to jump-start the group. Furthermore, some of the aging veterans were left to leave, including corner Patrick Peterson, edge rusher Za’Darius Smith and linebacker Eric Kendricks.
All told, Minnesota will look far different, but that’s perhaps for the better. The Vikings are talented, but they have only one postseason win in the Kirk Cousins era. If they’re going to break through and enjoy January success, something needed to change.
Biggest gamble this offseason: Not extending Cousins or having a long-term plan
This may prove to be the correct decision by Minnesota, but it remains a risky one. Cousins turns 35 years old in August, and while nobody is clamoring for him to be given a four-year deal, keeping him around for a few more seasons is reasonable.
Cousins draws plenty of ire, but he’s been remarkably consistent. Over the past eight years, the quarterback has thrown for at least 4,000 yards seven times. He’s also topped 25 touchdown passes in all eight campaigns while making four Pro Bowl appearances.
With Nick Mullens as Cousins’s backup, Minnesota doesn’t have a long-term answer at the position. The latter is a free agent after this year, and while the Vikings could retain him, it won’t be cheap.
At some point, the front office either needs to extend Cousins at a respectable number or find his replacement in the draft while potentially playing a bridge option in 2024.
Toughest stretch of the season: Weeks 2 to 5
The Vikings can’t do a ton of complaining when it comes to their schedule. After all, Minnesota doesn’t have any elongated trips or a gantlet of 2022 playoff teams at any point.
However, after opening with a should-be win against the Buccaneers, things are rough for the next month. Minnesota visits the Eagles in Week 2 (for the second straight year) before coming home to welcome in the Chargers. After that, it’s a battle in Carolina with rookie quarterback Bryce Young and the Panthers, with the Chiefs coming to the Twin Cities to finish off the tough stretch.
If the Vikings can emerge 3–2 or better after five weeks, they’re in great shape.
Breakout player to watch: OT Christian Darrisaw
Darrisaw has established himself as one of the league’s best tackles, but he could become a Pro Bowler in 2023 with better health.
In his two seasons with Minnesota, the former first-round pick has missed eight games. If Darrisaw can piece together a 17-game campaign, he’ll start being talked about in the tier only below men like Trent Williams of the 49ers and Lane Johnson of the Eagles.
Last year, Darrisaw committed only two penalties and allowed five sacks, earning a 90.3 grade from Pro Football Focus … this despite playing in front of the immobile Cousins.
Position of strength: Receiving targets
If there’s one thing we know about the Vikings, it’s their ability to move the ball through the air.
Minnesota has the league’s best receiver in Justin Jefferson, who through three seasons has already been named a first-team All-Pro and a three-time Pro Bowler, while earning Offensive Player of the Year honors. He’ll be flanked by first-round rookie Jordan Addison, who at USC caught 59 passes for 875 yards and eight touchdowns last season.
At tight end, veteran tight end T.J. Hockenson will have his first full season with the purple and gold. Last year, Hockenson accounted for 519 yards and three scores in 10 games.
Position of weakness: Cornerback
Although the Vikings signed Murphy in the offseason, there are still major questions when Minnesota is in coverage.
General manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah let veteran corner Peterson walk in free agency and released Cameron Dantzler, who signed with the Bills in early June. To replace them, Minnesota went with Akayleb Evans and Andrew Booth Jr., along with a pair of mid-round draft picks in Mekhi Blackmon and Jay Ward.
If the Vikings are going to repeat as division champs, they’ll need a few of their younger corners to step up, while Murphy proves himself to be a No. 1 boundary option.
X-factor: Brian Flores’s impact
After working under Bill Belichick for 11 years in various roles with the Patriots, Flores got a headcoaching gig with the Dolphins, which lasted only two seasons despite a respectable 24–25 mark.
Now, following one year as linebackers coach with the Steelers, Flores has the defensive coordinator job in Minnesota. Taking over for Donatell, Flores is in a good position to improve the unit, but by how much? The Vikings need a defensive overhaul, and from a scheme standpoint that’ll happen immediately with Flores. But beyond shifting away from a ton of Cover 2 looks, can Flores make a quick impact?
Sleeper/fantasy pick: WR Jordan Addison
Addison landed in the best spot of any rookie wideout, as he’ll be the No. 2 behind Jefferson. And there will be plenty of targets for Addison to absorb after the team parted with Adam Thielen. The Vikings were also third among all offenses in pass percentage last season. —Michael Fabiano, SI Fantasy
Best bet: Take the over on Cousins’s 28.5 passing touchdowns
Cousins has exceeded this number four of the past five seasons, including every season he has played with Jefferson. He’s in a contract year and has the benefit of throwing to the best wide receiver in the NFL. Barring injury, he should go over. —Jennifer Piacenti, SI Betting
Final record: 9–8, second in NFC North
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
NORTHWESTERN HAZING SCANDAL INCLUDED MULTIPLE SPORTS, MEN AND WOMEN, ACCORDING TO ATTORNEYS
CHICAGO (AP) Allegations of hazing in Northwestern’s athletic programs broadened Wednesday as attorneys said male and female athletes reported misconduct within two other sports and suggested sexual abuse and racial discrimination within the football program was so rampant that coaches knew it was happening.
Civil rights attorney Ben Crump said he other attorneys have received disturbing details from former baseball and softball players at the university, in addition to growing complaints of abuse in the football program, which players described as rampant and devastating.
“This is a civil rights issue for me,” said Crump, who said 50 former Northwestern athletes – male and female – and one cheerleader have spoken to the Levin & Perconti law firm. “I think these players have the right to be respected and valued and not hazed, intimidated and retaliated.”
Black football players appeared to have faced an additional layer of abuse.
A lawsuit filed Tuesday accuses fired football coach Pat Fitzgerald of enabling a culture of racism, including forcing players of color to cut their hair and behave differently to be more in line with the “Wildcat Way.”
“The abusive culture was especially devastating for many players of color,” said former Northwestern quarterback and receiver Loyd Yates, who is Black.
Crump and Chicago-based attorney Steven Levin said they have not filed a lawsuit yet on behalf of any athletes. The attorneys represent 15 people, including Yates, and have been in touch with dozens of former athletes. Crump said the majority of those are football players.
Warren Miles Long, a running back on Northwestern’s football team starting in 2013, said players were put into a culture where sexual violence and hazing was “rampant.” He said new recruits had no sense of whether it was normal or limited to Northwestern.
The attorneys declined to detail the former athletes’ complaints about the baseball or softball programs.
The Evanston, Illinois-based private school fired baseball coach Jim Foster amid allegations of misconduct last week, three days after Fitzgerald was dismissed.
Northwestern has been added to a long list of American universities to face a scandal in athletics and may eventually join the trend of making large payouts following allegations of sexual abuse.
A former Wildcats football player filed the first lawsuit against Fitzgerald and members of the school’s leadership Tuesday, seeking damages stemming from the hazing scandal.
More lawsuits, filed by multiple law firms, are expected to follow from former football and baseball players as well as from student-athletes who played other sports for the private school.
Yates said every member of the team were victims, “no matter what our role was at the time,” and lamented the school and team’s lack of leadership.
“The university and football program let us down and that’s why we are here today,” Yates said, surrounded by some teammates who have also retained the Crump-led team of attorneys.
In a letter to Northwestern’s faculty and staff, University President Michael Schill wrote that an outside firm will be hired to evaluate how the school detects threats to student-athletes’ welfare and to examine the athletics culture in Evanston, Illinois, and its relationship to academics at the prestigious institution.
Northwestern fired Fitzgerald last week after a university investigation found allegations of hazing by 11 current or former players, including “forced participation, nudity and sexualized acts of a degrading nature,” Schill wrote.
After the school initially suspended Fitzgerald, The Daily Northwestern published an article including allegations from a former player who described specific instances of hazing and abuse and suggested he may have been aware.
Fitzgerald, who led Northwestern for 17 seasons and was a star linebacker for the Wildcats, has maintained he had no knowledge of the hazing. Fitzgerald said after being fired that he was working with his agent, Bryan Harlan and his lawyer, Dan Webb, to “protect my rights in accordance with the law.”
An emailed statement Wednesday from Fitzgerald’s defense team quoted Webb responding to allegations, saying: “no arguments were made that would present any substantive, detailed, factual allegations, let alone evidence, about Coach Fitzgerald’s conduct,” and that Fitzgerald’s legal team “will aggressively defend against these and any other allegations with facts and evidence.” Webb, a former U.S. attorney, has been one of the most sought-after private lawyers in the country for decades.
The former Northwestern football player, identified in the Tuesday lawsuit as John Doe, alleged Fitzgerald, Schill, the board of trustees and athletic director Derrick Gragg enabled and concealed sexual misconduct and racial discrimination. The player, who was on the football team from 2018 to 2022, had his filing submitted by the Chicago-based Salvi Law Firm.
“It wasn’t just confined to one bad actor,” attorney Parker Stinar said in an interview with The Associated Press.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL PREVIEW: FLORIDA STATE
2022 Record: 10-3 overall, 5-3 in ACC
Head Coach: Mike Norvell, 4th year: 18-16; 8th year overall: 56-31
Under the late legendary head coach Bobby Bowden, Florida State won ten games or more in every season from 1987 to 2000.
Under Jimbo Fisher, Florida State won ten games or more in six of seven seasons from 2010 to 2016, with the one outlier a 9-4 2011 campaign before winning the national title two years later. And then soon after there wasn’t a whole lot of fun.
Before 2022, the FSU won just 20 games over a stretch of four straight losing seasons at a place that hadn’t known a campaign under .500 since 1975.
So you’ll have to forgive Seminole fans if they’re a wee bit giddy that the days of pain and suffering appear to be over.
Florida State is loaded with talent helped even more by the transfer portal, and now it has the momentum and upside to take what it did in 2022 up another few notches and …
Let’s slow the Seminole roll just a wee bit before booking tickets to Houston for the College Football Playoff National Championship.
The 24-23 win over LSU early in the season was amazing – a win is a win and they all count the same – but Brian Kelly’s team almost pulled it off after looking like it could’ve used the tune-up game Florida State enjoyed the week before. The two play in this year’s opener.
Beating Miami, Florida, and Oklahoma sounds amazing – all three teams finished with losing seasons. This year’s schedule is way nastier for a team with CFP dreams, the national preseason expectations are through the roof, and …
Whatever. If Florida State is good – like, Florida State good – none of that matters.
The program appears to be back to being in the national discussion for really, really big things again. It’s been too long.
Now there’s the Mike Norvell rushing offense. At Memphis his attacks created wide open lanes for his speedy backs to fly through and gouge defenses for yards in chunks. It was good at FSU in 2000 and 2021, but last year it was far more consistent with over 200 yards in each of the last seven regular season games as it finished No. 1 in the ACC and 13th in the nation averaging 214 yards per game.
Treshaun Ward took off for Kansas State, but Trey Benson leads a terrific group of backs in a rotation – be stunned if the Seminoles don’t blow past five yards per carry again – working behind an interesting front five. The downfall of Florida State at the end of the Jimbo Fisher era and through the Willie Taggart regime was the offensive line – it’s more than fixed now.
The line was going to be good in its former form – Robert Scott is an NFL offensive tackle and Maurice Smith should be among the ACC’s best centers – but the transfer portal loaded up with ready-made blockers including OT Jeremiah Byers from UTEP and OG Casey Roddick from Colorado. Throw in the return of OT Bless Harris from an injury that cost him most of last year, and this should be one of the team’s deepest strengths.
Jordan Travis fits everything the Florida State offense needs. The veteran quarterback is going into his sixth season, he limits the mistakes, is deadly accurate on third downs, can drive the deep balls down the field, and he can take off when needed, running for over 400 yards and seven scores.
6-7, 240-pound WR Johnny Wilson is a problem – he averaged close to 21 yards per catch – and replacements are on the way for several lost parts. South Carolina TE Jaheim Bell will play in the NFL soon, Keon Coleman – 58 catches with seven TDs last year – signed on from Michigan State, and there are plenty of young options ready to shine with the opportunity.
Coming up with more takeaways would be nice, and the run D went bye-bye against Florida and Oklahoma late in the year, but it was one of the best seasons of Florida State defense in a while – more on that in the Key To The Season. It might not be quite as strong as the offensive side, but it’ll still be terrific mainly because …
Jared Verse is back. The former Albany transfer showed why so many considered him one of the most important national pickups of last season with a team-high nine sacks and 17 tackles for loss as a disruptive force for a D that needed it.
He’s still around, and so is NFL prospect Fabien Lovett at one tackle. Helping an already good situation is Braden Fiske, an ultra-active veteran tackle from Western Michigan who’ll camp out behind the line.
The linebackers are more than fine. They’re not as strong as the line, and they’re certainly not as good as the defensive backs, but the 1-2 punch Tatum Bethune and Kalen DeLoach will make a ton of plays.
The defensive backs will shine. CB Omarion Cooper left for Colorado and Coach Prime, but Renardo Green and Jarrian Jones are terrific, and coming in from Virginia is Fentrell Cypress II, a baller’s baller who broke up 14 passes last season and made 39 stops in an abbreviated season. The corners are good, S Akeem Dent is great, and they’ll all benefit from the big-time pass rush that should be even more dangerous.
Be careful of the accurate passers. Here’s the thing about Mike Norvell’s Memphis teams. Yes, the offenses rocked, and the defenses … the offenses rocked. However, the defenses improved. 106th in 2016, 117th in 2017, 89th in in 2018, and 61st in 2019.
So it became part of the cake Florida State bought when it hired Norvell – the D might not exactly be anything special. 107th in 2020, 65th in 2021, and …
15th last year. It worked, and shock of shocks, Florida State was terrific again.
However, there was a problem against quarterbacks who could complete passes to receivers. Clemson and Wake Forest beat FSU completing 65% or more of their throws, and LSU almost won when Jayden Daniels connected at a 71% clip.
In 2021, FSU was 0-4 when allowing teams to get to the 65% mark, making the program 1-12 under Norvell against offenses that got there.
Florida State Seminoles Top Transfer, Biggest Loss
TE Jaheim Bell in from South Carolina, RB Treshaun Ward gone to Kansas State. Florida State has running backs, but the speedy Ward will still be missed coming off two terrific seasons in the rotation averaging 6.5 yards per carry with well over 1,100 yards and 11 scores.
The 6-3, 233-pound Bell worked as a power runner at times for South Carolina – 73 carries last year with three scores – and he caught 55 passes for 628 yards and seven touchdowns over the last two seasons. He was more of a midrange target last season, but he can stretch the field.
Florida State Seminoles Key Player
Braden Fiske DT Sr. Defensive tackles who can move change everything. The 6-5, 306-pound Western Michigan transfer isn’t huge, but in four years he generated 148 tackles with 13.5 sacks and 27 tackles for loss, and he’s coming off his best season yet. If he can take the pressure off of Fabien Lovett inside, look out.
MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER
DECLAN RICE COMES IN AS 2ND-HALF SUB IN ARSENAL’S 5-0 VICTORY OVER THE MLS ALL-STARS
WASHINGTON (AP) If this was the reception for Declan Rice in the U.S. capital, imagine this season in London.
Arsenal’s new midfield star came on as a second-half substitute and helped finish off a 5-0 victory over the MLS All-Stars on Wednesday night. Gabriel Jesus, Leandro Trossard, Jorginho, Gabriel Martinelli and Kai Havertz all scored – but those weren’t the only highlights for the many red-clad Arsenal supporters in the crowd at Audi Field.
Rice moved from West Ham to the Gunners for a British-record transfer fee last weekend, reported to be 105 million pounds ($138 million). The crowd roared when he came in just over an hour into the match, and cheered again when he possessed the ball.
U.S. national team forward Folarin Balogun, whose days at Arsenal could be numbered, also came on for the London club at the same time as Rice.
By then, the Gunners had a 3-0 lead.
“I think we were suffocated with the weather … and we could not really control the game,” Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta said. “But it’s true that we were exceptional in both boxes today. Every time we got in the final third in good position, we put the ball in the back of the net.”
The MLS has defeated the likes of Chelsea and Bayern Munich in the past in this format, which generally results in competitive games with more defending than some other All-Star events. The MLS team – which did not include recent Miami addition Lionel Messi – received four yellow cards before halftime.
“I thought the referee made the game a little bit about himself once again,” said former Manchester United star and current D.C. United coach Wayne Rooney, who led the MLS team. “I think that’s something that needs improving in the MLS. I’ve said it all season, so it’s a good opportunity for me to bring it up again.”
Jesus opened the scoring with a beautiful chip in the fifth minute. His shot from outside the penalty area sailed past goalkeeper Roman Burki of St. Louis and bounced in off the left post.
Trossard doubled the lead in the 23rd with another goal from outside the penalty area, a bit more toward the middle – and struck harder – than Jesus’ shot.
Trossard was shaken up early in the second half and was replaced by a substitute.
In the first minute after halftime, St. Louis defender Tim Parker was called for a handball in the penalty area, and Jorginho made it 3-0. Martinelli and Havertz scored late to make it a five-goal margin.
“Arsenal showed the quality which they have,” Rooney said. “I thought the All-Star lads, a little bit nervous and hesitant, especially first half when we got into some good areas.”
Havertz is another newcomer to Arsenal, having been signed away from Chelsea.
“He gives you something very different, with quality, with his size as well, when you have to beat the press for example, and use him as an attacking man” Arteta said. “I’m sure throughout the season and throughout games as well, we are going to have the option to use him in different positions.”
U.S. defender Auston Trusty was in the game at the end for Arsenal along with Balogun.
“I think they deserved to enjoy that moment and get that recognition and play in front of their crowds,” Arteta said.
Preparing for its Premier League opener against Nottingham Forest on Aug. 12, Arsenal plays friendlies against Manchester United on Saturday at East Rutherford, New Jersey, and vs. Barcelona on July 26 at Inglewood, California.
TOP INDIANA NEWS/RELEASES FROM ORGANIZATIONS
INDIANA HIGH SCHOOL QUARTERBACKS (DUAL THREAT) TO WATCH
Indiana High School football is coming quickly and again this season there are several excellent quarterbacks to watch especially the dual threat QB’s. So what is a dual threat QB? The ones that can hurt you both with their arm and legs!! And yes, many of these QB’s are better passers, but beware of their legs. Here are the ones to keep an eye on this season:
DANNY O’NEIL, CATHEDRAL. O’Neil leads the senior class after averaging 245.6 yards of total offense last season. O’Neil does it mostly through the air with 2,654 yards but did rush for nearly 300 yards in his junior season.
JACE STUCKEY, TRITON CENTRAL. Stuckey is a lot like O’Neil. The senior to be passed for nearly 3,000 yards and ran for 232 yards as a junior. Look for both numbers to increase this season.
CLAY MCCLELLAND, CHARLESTOWN. McClelland is a true dual threat QB. The senior averaged 259.5 yards of total offense with 1,769 passing yards and 1,085 on the ground last season.
MARSHALL KMIECIK, NEW PRAIRIE. Marshall can hurt you both with his arm and legs. Kmiecik passed for 1,356 yards and rushed for 1,383 his junior year. Those numbers will be fun to watch this season.
OWEN WANNER, SOUTH ADAMS. Wanner is a better passer but will run the football. Wanner threw for 2,330 yards and ran for nearly 400 as a junior.
DJ GORDON, PARK TUDOR. Speed is the name of the game for Gordon. Gordon passed for over 2,000 yards and ran for over 500 for the Panthers last season.
ELI EDWARDS, EASTERN. Another talented QB with the arm and legs to prove it. Edwards returns after throwing for 2,072 yards and rushing for over 400 as a junior.
TOM GOTKOWSKI, BEN DAVIS. Gotkowski will carry more of the load for the Giants this season after throwing for more than 2,000 yards last year. He didn’t run as much, but that won’t stop him from taking off under pressure.
MASON REYNOLDS, AVON. The senior to be is a true passer with over 2,000 yards through the air last season. Fall asleep and he will get you on the ground.
XANDER HUNT, VINCENNES LINCOLN. This multi-purpose QB can kill defenses after throwing for nearly 1,500 yards and rushing for almost 1,000 yards as a junior.
BRET PERRY, SEYMOUR. The Owls are excited to see what Perry will do as a senior after passing for nearly 2,000 yards and rushing for nearly 300 last season.
MONTEZ JONES, LAWRENCE NORTH. Jones can do it all with 1,583 passing yards and 611 yards on the ground as a junior. The Wildcats will get more from Jones this season.
JEROME WHITE, NORTH VERMILLION. White will kill you first with his legs (1,187 rushing) then his arm (1,010 passing).
JUSTIN CLARK, VALPO. Clark nearly hit the 1,000 mark in both passing and rushing as a junior. Clark passed for 1,034 yards and ran for 995.
MEMPHIS LOUDEN, BEDFORD NORTH LAWRENCE. This multi-talented signal caller is the key to the Stars offense. Louden passed for over 1,400 yards and ran for over 600 as a junior.
KOBE MEYER, HERITAGE. Meyer is another in the long line of talented QB’s that can do a little of everything. Meyer threw for over 1,000 yards and ran for over 800 last season.
BRYSON LUTER, LAWRENCE CENTRAL. Luter’s numbers will improve as a senior. Last season Luter passed for over 1,400 yards and ran for nearly 500 last season.
OTHERS TO WATCH:
HUDSON ALLEN, SOUTHRIDGE
DONOVAN WILLIAMS, NEW HAVEN
TANNER BOYS, GIBSON SOUTHERN
OWEN ACTON, FOUNTAIN CENTRAL
JAKE TINKLE, CENTERVILLE
COLE BURTON, EAST CENTRAL
ELIJAH WAGNER, EVANSVILLE BOSSE
CARTER WATSON, SPEEDWAY
CONNOR MARLATT, WEST CENTRAL
KAYNE ERVIN, HAGERSTOWN
NOLAN QUADERER, MISSISSINEWA
JIMMY SULLIVAN, FW CARROLL
MARK ROWLAND, BOONE GROVE
NOAH ERLICH, HOBART
REID DUNCAN, FRONTIER
WYATT MULLIN, SOUTH PUTNAM
AUSTIN WHITE, SB RILEY
QUINN GILLMAN, FRANKLIN COUNTY
BO POLSTON, DECATUR CENTRAL
WHO ARE INDIANA’S TOP DEFENSE PLAYERS?
We talk so much about offense in high school football, but it’s defense that wins championships (as they tell us). Here are some of the top players to watch as the season draws near.
SAM FEENEY, BISHOP CHATARD. Feeney helped the Trojans to the state title last season by finishing with 83 total tackles, five sacks, and nine tackles for loss. Colleges are noticing as well with several D1 schools wanting his services.
JONNY HALL, LUTHERAN. 111 tackles tells us a lot. Hall has been a leader for the Saints over the last two years. Hall may reach 300 total tackles for his career.
JAKE HINTON, GREENFIELD-CENTRAL. Hinton has excellent size (6-4 200) and he is a headhunter.
Hinton registered 115 tackles for the Cougars last season.
CARTER MCKINSTRY, LAWRENCE NORTH. McKinstry is an All-State performer for the Wildcats after leading LN with 101 tackles and five sacks. 10 of his tackles were for loss.
WILL HARRIS, PARK TUDOR. Tackles are the name of his game. Harris had an incredible 152 tackles last season. Harris is 5-11 and weighs 220 pounds. He is a force for the Panthers.
LENNOX CRUZ WILLIAMS, WESTFIELD. Cruz Williams had an excellent sophomore season with 90 tackles and 4.5 sacks. College coaches are taking notice.
JACKSON WEINGART, CATHEDRAL. Weingart made the most of his junior season with 11.5 TFL and 6.5 sacks.
ARTEMAS BRYANT, CARMEL. Bryant has excellent size (6-2 230) and is very quick and athletic. He had 45 solo tackles last season and nine tackles for loss.
LUKE PENOLA, ZIONSVILLE. Penola had 57 tackles with 7 for loss last season.
DJ MORTON, LAWRENCE CENTRAL. Morton turned heads with a strong season as a junior. The senior DB had 61 tackles last season. He has many college coaches wanting his services.
JORDAN PALMER, WHITELAND. Palmer isn’t big (5-10 185) but he can play linebacker. The sophomore- to-be had 85 tackles last season, not bad for a freshman.
LEO MORROW, FISHERS. The speedy Morrow had 59 tackles and three INT’s last season.
LANDON DRENNAN, PLAINFIELD. Drennan is a monster for the Quakers, leading the defense with 91 tackles which included 10.5 for loss. Don’t forget the six sacks.
ELIJAH CHANDLER, CENTER GROVE. Chandler is the type of edge rusher than gives opposing teams fits. Chandler had 67 tackles and nine for loss last season.
MJ CAMPBELL, DECATUR CENTRAL: Campbell is amonsteron defense with 67 tackles and 14 for loss. And don’t forget the 12.5 sacks.
MICHAEL THACKER, NEW PALESTINE. Thacker registered 13 sacks and 34.5 TFL last season. Those are some crazy numbers for a DT.
OTHERS TO WATCH:
AIDEN BEADLES, SOUTH PUTNAM 17.4 TPG, 18 TFL
JAVON FROST, DELPHI 16.4 TPG
PEYTON MEYER, HAGERSTOWN 17 TFL
CARSON FOXEN, AVON 13.1 TPG, 13TFL
CANNON BRUNES, WESTERN BOONE 23TFL, 9 SACKS
CJ HUNT, NORTH WHITE 16.5TFL
ALEX PONCE, CALUMET TECH 14.6 TPG
ZACH BALES, SHERIDAN 11 TPG, 12TFL
MATAIO RUSSELL, LAWRENCE CENTRAL 12.6TPG, 11TFL
AUSTIN HASTINGS, NOBLESVILLE 12.5 TPG
SEAN MCAFEE, CHARLESTOWN 12.5 TPG
NICK JOHNSEN, HIGHLAND 11.2 TPG
NICK TROUT, PENDLETON HEIGHTS 13.0 TPG
KALEB ARCHER, NORTH KNOX 12.0 TPG
LANDON CLEMENTS, MOORESVILLE 10.9 TPG
BRANDON FREEMAN, TH SOUTH 11.6 TPG
JOB HOFFMAN, BELLMONT 11.5 TPG
AVERY MILLS, OAK HILL 12.7 TPG
NOAH JOURDAN, EASTERN 12.2 TPG
NYLAND BROWN, BEN DAVIS 10.9 TPG, 3 SACKS
NICK YATSKO, TH SOUTH 10.9 TPG
WYATT WOODALL, SOUTHMONT 12TFL
ZEKE TRUEBLOOD, BLOOMINGTON NORTH 10.5 TPG, 10TFL
CIAN MOORE, COVINGTON 11.3 TPG
NATE WELLS, CLINTON CENTRAL 10.8 TPG
GAGE BENNETT, FWBC 29.5 TFL, 17 SACKS
NOAH KNIGGA, KNIGHTSTOWN 17TFL
MARQUIS ALLEN, MUNCIE CENTRAL 10.3 TPG, 10TFL
KALEB UTLEY, EVANSVILLE REITZ 15 SACKS
LEVI OXLEY, EVANSVILLE REITZ 15 SACKS
BRADY WOLF, FISHERS 14 SACKS
ASHTON JOSEPH PESETSKI, FW CARROLL 11 SACKS
ELI EDWARDS, EASTERN 10.5 SACKS
DEMETRIUS DAVIS, INDY SHORTRIDGE 13 SACKS
TOBY BISHOP, SOUTH DECATUR 11.5 SACKS
SETH PIRTLE, SULLIVAN 9 INT
CHRISTIAN FUENTES, CALUMET CHRISTIAN 8 INT
DYLAN BOWMAN, EASTERN HANCOCK 7 INT
TYLER VERSCHURE, VALPO 7 INT
MYKELL ANDREWS, COLUMBUS CRUSADERS 6 INT
TYRONN LARKIN, GLENN 6 INT
INDIANAPOLIS INDIANS
SHACKELFORD HOMERS IN INDIANS WEDNESDAY LOSS
DES MOINES, Iowa – The Indianapolis Indians offense mustered just three hits as the Iowa Cubs slammed their way to a 7-1 victory on Wednesday afternoon at Principal Park.
Three home runs for the I-Cubs (54-36, 11-6) offense plated its first six runs in the afternoon affair. David Bote began the derby in the second inning against Cam Alldred (L, 5-3), who was charged with five runs through 4.1 innings. In the next frame, Yonathan Perlaza launched his second homer in as many days to extend Iowa’s lead, 2-0.
A one-out single and two walks loaded the bases for Nelson Velasquez in the fifth inning, who put the game out of reach with a grand slam off the left-field videoboard against Travis MacGregor.
After I-Cubs starter Ben Brown (W, 5-6) exited the game following 5.0 one-hit innings and nine strikeouts, the Indians (42-49, 9-8) countered with two walks and a one-out single by Rodolfo Castro to load the bases in the sixth inning. A strikeout and 4-3 groundout at the heart of Indianapolis’ order ended the threat without a run scoring.
The Indians then plated their lone run in the top of the eighth on Aaron Shackelford’s 12th home run of the season.
Miguel Andújar went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts to end his 15-game hitting streak dating back to June 29. During the 15-gamer, nine games of which were multi-hit performances, he hit .409 (27-for-66) with 20 RBI.
The Indians and I-Cubs continue their six-game set on Thursday night in a 7:38 PM ET start. RHP Kyle Nicolas (0-2, 11.05) will take the mound against RHP Caleb Kilian (6-1, 4.27).
INDIANA FEVER
GAME RECAP: FEVER END LOSING STREAK WITH WIN AT WASHINGTON
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Indiana Fever (6-15) ended an eight-game losing skid with an 82-76 win on Wednesday afternoon against the Mystics in front of the largest crowd for a WNBA game this season.
Indiana’s leading scorer Kelsey Mitchell notched 18 points in the win on a 7-of-13 shooting clip to go along with a team-high five assists and four steals. With her 18 points, Mitchell earned her 136th career double-figures scoring game, which surpassed Katie Douglas’ 135 games to take sole possession of second place for most double-figure games in Fever history.
Mitchell’s stat line also marks the first time a Fever player has recorded at least 15 points, five assists and four steals since Briann January in 2014, per Across the Timeline.
Fever forward Emma Cannon came off the bench to contribute 13 points and five rebounds. In addition, Victoria Vivians and Aliyah Boston each pitched in 11 points, Erica Wheeler added 10 points, and Amanda Zahui B tied a season-high seven points.
Six Fever players pulled down at least three rebounds, highlighted by Boston’s eight rebounds, and five players dished out at least three assists. In addition, Vivians, Mitchell, Wheeler, Zahui B and Cannon combined for a perfect 13-of-13 from the charity stripe.
Washington took the lead early as it opened the game with a 12-4 scoring run, but Indiana was quick to respond with a 7-0 scoring run of its own. The Fever had six players contribute to the eventual 19-8 scoring run in the first quarter, highlighted by Mitchell’s nine points on 4-of-5 shooting from the floor. Boston also added six points on a perfect 3-of-3 shooting clip. The first frame ended with the Fever leading, 26-21.
Indiana held Washington to 33.3 percent (6-of-18) from the floor in the second frame, but were outscored, 15-13, heading into halftime. Vivians led the way for the Fever as she contributed six points on a perfect 2-of-2 shooting clip from beyond the three-point arc. After a quarter of six lead changes, Indiana came out of the first half ahead, 39-36.
The Fever gave away their lead halfway through the third quarter, but after roughly four minutes, Indiana was able to reduce the deficit and reclaim the lead after closing the third frame on a 9-0 scoring run. The run started at the 2:11 mark in the third quarter and would be stretched to 15-0 through the 7:23 mark in the fourth quarter and would eventually extend to 25-9 roughly four minutes later. Guided by Cannon’s eight points and Wheeler’s six points, the Fever extended the lead to as many as 11 points in the final frame and successfully closed out the game for the first win on the road against Washington since 2016.
For Washington, the Mystics were led by Natasha Cloud’s 19 points and Tianna Hawkins’ 13 points. Queen Egbo tied a season-high 10 points on 5-of-5 shooting from the floor to go along with five rebounds and three blocks. Brittney Sykes contributed nine points and a game-high seven assists. Washington shot a season-low 71.4 percent (10-of-14) from the free-throw line on Wednesday.
UP NEXT
The Fever stay on the road and will take on the New York Liberty on Sunday at 3 p.m. ET. Sunday’s game will be broadcast on the official Indiana Fever Facebook page and on NBA TV.
BUTLER WOMEN’S SOCCER
SIX CURRENT AND FORMER BULLDOGS PART OF INDY ELEVEN’S HISTORIC SEASON
INDIANAPOLIS – As the Indy Eleven women’s side prepares for this weekend’s National Final match in the USL W League, six current and former players with Butler’s women’s soccer program are contributing to the success. Alumnae Annika (Schmidt) Creel and Katie Soderstrom have played key starting roles, with Soderstrom scoring seven goals this season. Four current players, Abby Isger, Amelie Dary, Alli Leonard, and Becky Dean, are also on the organization’s roster.
The Girls in Blue earned their first-ever trip to the National Final with a 3-2 semifinal win over San Francisco Glens SC on July 14. Soderstrom contributed to the team’ second goal of the match when she intercepted a ball in San Francisco’s half and fed Sam Dewey, who then assisted Maddy Williams for the finish.
Indy Eleven, with an overall record of 8-1-1, will host NC Courage U23 in the National Final as part of an Indy Eleven doubleheader on Saturday, July 22. The women will play at 2 p.m. with the men to follow at 7 p.m. against Tampa Bay. One ticket will get fans into both match-ups at Carroll Stadium.
NOTRE DAME SWIMMING
THREE IRISH SET FOR 2023 WORLD AQUATICS CHAMPIONSHIPS
FUKUOKA, Japan — In a non-Olympic year, it’s swimming’s biggest stage. Three Notre Dame swimmers have the opportunity to make it theirs.
Tyler Christianson (Panama), Abdelrahman Elaraby (Egypt) and Chris Guiliano (United States) will each represent their countries next week at the 2023 World Aquatics Championships at Marine Messe Fukuoka. Nearly 2,400 athletes from 195 countries will participate in the meet, which also includes diving, high diving, open water swimming, synchronized swimming and water polo.
Guiliano will kick off the festivities for Notre Dame swimmers by participating in the 400 free relay on July 23rd (July 22nd in the US). He will swim his sole individual event — 100 free — on the 26th (25th). It will be a prelims, semifinals and finals event, should Guiliano qualify. The final is July 27th (26th). Depending on how he swims in the early events, Guiliano may be on other relays for Team USA.
Christianson will swim two events for Panama, the 200 IM and 200 breast. The former event will take place on July 26th (25th) and the latter will be July 27th (26th). Christianson qualified for the 2020 Panamanian Olympic Team in both events, so he is very familiar with the international stage.
Elaraby — who transferred to Notre Dame from Louisville for his final year of college swimming — has the 50 fly to swim in Japan. That event is July 23rd (22nd). More information on the meet — including a full schedule — can be found here.
Additionally, Peterson Family Head Coach Chris Lindauer is serving as a coach for Team Egypt, while assistant Trevor Carroll will be a coach for Team Panama.
The United States is the all-time medal leader at the meet by a wide margin, checking in with 677 as of Day 6 of this year’s meet. China is second with 368. Michael Phelps is the all-time individual medal leader with 33, including 26 gold.
SOUTHERN INDIANA VOLLEYBALL
EAGLES SET FOR NON-CONFERENCE PLAY
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Volleyball has announced its non-conference schedule for the 2023 campaign. The 11-game stint includes the USI Invitational, a four-team round-robin style tournament on September 8 & 9 at Screaming Eagles Arena.
The Screaming Eagles kick off the season in Bloomington, Indiana for the Indiana Invitational. USI battles the University of New Hampshire and Radford University on August 25 before facing the host, Indiana University, on August 26.
USI heads to Louisville, Kentucky for the Bellarmine Invitational where the Eagles will duel against Murray State University and Bellarmine University on September 1 before challenging University of New Orleans on September 2. This will be the first matchup between the Eagles and Knights since October 2019 when both schools were NCAA Division II and Great Lakes Valley Conference members.
The USI Invitational will highlight the non-conference schedule where the Eagles will welcome the University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff, Bradley University, and Jacksonville State University for the two-day event. USI faces the Golden Lions and Gamecocks on September 8 before ending the round-robin against the Braves on September 9. USI’s matches on September 8 will be streamed live on ESPN+.
In non-tournament fashion, the Eagles travel to Meeks Family Fieldhouse on the east side of Evansville to face cross-town foe, University of Evansville, on August 29. USI will close out the non-conference slate in Indianapolis against the Jaguars of IUPUI on September 13.
After non-conference play, the Eagles face Ohio Valley Conference competition for the second time in program history with nine home and nine away matches. USI hopes to compete in the OVC Championship after missing out on the post-season tournament last season, going 1-28 overall and 1-17 in conference play in 2022. The OVC Championship will take place for three days at the discretion of the host. That event could be played Sunday thru Tuesday or Monday thru Wednesday, or split over the Thanksgiving break (Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, or Wednesday, Friday, Saturday) if necessary.
USI will welcome head coach Jeffrey Aucoin as the 13th head coach in USI Volleyball program history. Aucoin takes over the reins of the Eagles after spending 10 years at Harvard University’s women’s volleyball program as an assistant coach. USI also welcomes five newcomers to the roster and will return 11 players from last season, including five starters.
For more information, go to our website at USIScreamingEagles.com or find us on social media at USIAthletics.
VALPO WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL ADDS JILL HARRIS TO 2023-24 ROSTER
Valpo women’s basketball head coach Mary Evans announced today the addition of Jill Harris to the program’s 2023-24 roster as a graduate transfer. A talented ballhandler and playmaker, Harris most recently suited up for Johnson C. Smith University and was an SoCon All-Freshman Team selection in 2019-20 while playing at Mercer.
“We are really excited to have Jill joining our family!” Evans said. “She is an extremely experienced and intelligent point guard, as well as a very competitive person. She has had the opportunity to win a championship and play in the NCAA Tournament. As good of a player as Jill is, she is an even better person and I am excited to have her join our Valpo community.”
Harris started in 15 of her 17 appearances for Johnson C. Smith last season, averaging 31.2 minutes/game. She posted 8.7 points and 2.3 assists per game for the Golden Bulls, scoring in double figures on eight occasions.
“Incredible things can be done simply if we are committed to making them happen,” Harris said. “I am excited to be a part of a family atmosphere here at Valpo and I’m looking forward to winning a Missouri Valley Conference championship.”
Harris spent the 2021-22 season playing for Alabama A&M, starting in all 28 of her appearances and averaging 35.1 minutes/game as she helped the Bulldogs finish in second place in the SWAC — the program’s highest conference finish since 2004-05 — with 13 conference wins, the most since the program joined the SWAC. She averaged 5.4 points per game, scoring in double figures five times, and ranked second on the team with 55 assists.
Harris played her first two collegiate seasons at Mercer, highlighted by a SoCon All-Freshman Team selection in 2019-20 as a rookie. She started in 28 of her 31 appearances, playing 32 minutes per game while averaging 3.3 points, 3.1 rebounds and 4.0 assists per game. Her 124 total assists not only led the Bears, but made her the first Mercer freshman since 2010-11 to crack 100+ assists. Harris boasted a 2.18 assist/turnover ratio, good for second in the SoCon. Nationally, Harris ranked third among freshmen in assist/turnover ratio and 10th in assists.
Harris appeared in all 26 games for Mercer in 2020-21, starting seven times and averaging 27.4 minutes/game. She again showed her playmaking ability, ranking second on the team with 88 assists (3.4/game) and posting an assist/turnover ratio of 2.26. Harris helped the Bears claim the SoCon Tournament championship and advance to the NCAA Tournament, where she dished out four assists while not committing a turnover in 19 minutes of action against top-seeded South Carolina. Harris was named an Academic All-SoCon honoree and earned a spot on the SoCon Academic Honor Roll.
Harris played her senior year of prep basketball at Crestview [Fla.] H.S., where she was named the Fort Walton Beach Daily News co-Player of the Year after averaging 12.4 points, 2.6 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 3.2 steals per game. Prior to that, Harris played her junior season at Emerald Ridge [Wash.] H.S., where she averaged 16.9 points, 5.3 rebounds, 7.8 assists and 2.6 steals.
Harris graduated from Johnson C. Smith with a bachelor’s degree in criminology, and will work towards an MBA at Valpo.
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 |
| BALTIMORE | 58 | 37 | .611 | – | 30 – 20 | 28 – 17 | 16 – 11 | 18 – 7 | 10 – 7 | 8 – 2 | W 1 |
| TAMPA BAY | 60 | 39 | .606 | – | 35 – 15 | 25 – 24 | 17 – 10 | 16 – 4 | 9 – 10 | 3 – 7 | L 4 |
| TORONTO | 53 | 43 | .552 | 5.5 | 26 – 20 | 27 – 23 | 7 – 20 | 16 – 6 | 11 – 8 | 7 – 3 | L 2 |
| BOSTON | 51 | 46 | .526 | 8 | 26 – 22 | 25 – 24 | 16 – 11 | 11 – 8 | 11 – 8 | 7 – 3 | L 2 |
| NY YANKEES | 50 | 47 | .515 | 9 | 28 – 23 | 22 – 24 | 13 – 17 | 8 – 8 | 14 – 11 | 2 – 8 | L 4 |
| CENTRAL | |||||||||||
| TEAM | W | L | PCT | GB | HOME | ROAD | EAST | CENTRAL | WEST | LAST 10 | STREAK |
| MINNESOTA | 50 | 47 | .515 | – | 26 – 22 | 24 – 25 | 12 – 17 | 18 – 12 | 10 – 5 | 6 – 4 | W 2 |
| CLEVELAND | 47 | 49 | .490 | 2.5 | 24 – 22 | 23 – 27 | 7 – 8 | 13 – 13 | 13 – 9 | 5 – 5 | L 1 |
| DETROIT | 43 | 52 | .453 | 6 | 20 – 25 | 23 – 27 | 3 – 16 | 17 – 12 | 9 – 10 | 6 – 4 | W 1 |
| CHI WHITE SOX | 40 | 57 | .412 | 10 | 21 – 25 | 19 – 32 | 6 – 16 | 15 – 11 | 9 – 14 | 3 – 7 | L 2 |
| KANSAS CITY | 28 | 69 | .289 | 22 | 15 – 35 | 13 – 34 | 5 – 12 | 9 – 24 | 4 – 11 | 3 – 7 | L 1 |
| WEST | |||||||||||
| TEAM | W | L | PCT | GB | HOME | ROAD | EAST | CENTRAL | WEST | LAST 10 | STREAK |
| TEXAS | 58 | 39 | .598 | – | 33 – 18 | 25 – 21 | 14 – 11 | 14 – 5 | 16 – 11 | 7 – 3 | W 6 |
| HOUSTON | 53 | 43 | .552 | 4.5 | 25 – 22 | 28 – 21 | 5 – 5 | 8 – 11 | 19 – 11 | 5 – 5 | W 1 |
| LA ANGELS | 49 | 48 | .505 | 9 | 27 – 22 | 22 – 26 | 11 – 9 | 11 – 8 | 16 – 14 | 4 – 6 | W 3 |
| SEATTLE | 47 | 48 | .495 | 10 | 26 – 24 | 21 – 24 | 7 – 11 | 9 – 10 | 15 – 11 | 5 – 5 | L 2 |
| OAKLAND | 27 | 71 | .276 | 31.5 | 14 – 36 | 13 – 35 | 7 – 19 | 7 – 11 | 4 – 23 | 2 – 8 | W 2 |
| NATIONAL LEAGUE | |||||||||||
| EAST | |||||||||||
| TEAM | W | L | PCT | GB | HOME | ROAD | EAST | CENTRAL | WEST | LAST 10 | STREAK |
| ATLANTA | 61 | 33 | .649 | – | 31 – 19 | 30 – 14 | 22 – 6 | 8 – 1 | 10 – 9 | 4 – 6 | L 4 |
| PHILADELPHIA | 52 | 43 | .547 | 9.5 | 26 – 18 | 26 – 25 | 9 – 15 | 10 – 5 | 14 – 13 | 6 – 4 | L 1 |
| MIAMI | 53 | 45 | .541 | 10 | 30 – 18 | 23 – 27 | 13 – 16 | 11 – 9 | 9 – 10 | 2 – 8 | L 6 |
| NY METS | 45 | 50 | .474 | 16.5 | 23 – 21 | 22 – 29 | 13 – 13 | 5 – 14 | 15 – 13 | 6 – 4 | W 3 |
| WASHINGTON | 38 | 58 | .396 | 24 | 15 – 32 | 23 – 26 | 9 – 16 | 7 – 13 | 9 – 13 | 4 – 6 | L 2 |
| CENTRAL | |||||||||||
| TEAM | W | L | PCT | GB | HOME | ROAD | EAST | CENTRAL | WEST | LAST 10 | STREAK |
| MILWAUKEE | 53 | 43 | .552 | – | 26 – 21 | 27 – 22 | 7 – 2 | 20 – 9 | 8 – 15 | 7 – 3 | W 1 |
| CINCINNATI | 51 | 46 | .526 | 2.5 | 24 – 26 | 27 – 20 | 12 – 11 | 12 – 17 | 10 – 8 | 3 – 7 | W 1 |
| CHI CUBS | 45 | 50 | .474 | 7.5 | 24 – 25 | 21 – 25 | 8 – 14 | 12 – 11 | 9 – 8 | 5 – 5 | W 2 |
| ST. LOUIS | 43 | 53 | .448 | 10 | 22 – 26 | 21 – 27 | 10 – 9 | 11 – 14 | 7 – 13 | 8 – 2 | W 5 |
| PITTSBURGH | 42 | 54 | .438 | 11 | 23 – 26 | 19 – 28 | 5 – 5 | 11 – 15 | 14 – 14 | 2 – 8 | W 1 |
| WEST | |||||||||||
| TEAM | W | L | PCT | GB | HOME | ROAD | EAST | CENTRAL | WEST | LAST 10 | STREAK |
| LA DODGERS | 55 | 40 | .579 | – | 29 – 16 | 26 – 24 | 11 – 7 | 15 – 12 | 14 – 11 | 8 – 2 | L 1 |
| ARIZONA | 54 | 42 | .563 | 1.5 | 26 – 24 | 28 – 18 | 13 – 14 | 10 – 5 | 17 – 11 | 4 – 6 | W 2 |
| SAN FRANCISCO | 54 | 42 | .563 | 1.5 | 26 – 22 | 28 – 20 | 10 – 9 | 18 – 8 | 15 – 10 | 8 – 2 | L 1 |
| SAN DIEGO | 46 | 50 | .479 | 9.5 | 25 – 23 | 21 – 27 | 13 – 13 | 7 – 13 | 12 – 13 | 6 – 4 | W 2 |
| COLORADO | 37 | 59 | .385 | 18.5 | 23 – 26 | 14 – 33 | 11 – 14 | 8 – 10 | 6 – 19 | 4 – 6 | L 1 |
TODAY IN BASEBALL HISTORY
1906 At St. Louis, 27-year-old Brooklyn right-hander Mal Eason no-hits the second-division Cardinals at Robison Field, 2-0. The ‘Kid’ was the losing pitcher when Phillies southpaw Johnny Lush pitched a no-hitter against the Superbas in May.
1926 A’s outfielder Al Simmons establishes an American League record by playing 394 consecutive games to start a career. Hideki Matsui, who will begin in 518 straight games after signing as a Japanese free agent with the Yankees, will surpass the Hall of Famer’s mark in 2005.
1944 The American and National League Joint Rules Committee outlaw the spitball, the shineball, and the emeryball. Seventeen pitchers are allowed to keep throwing the banned pitches until they retire, including Burleigh Grimes, who will be the last player to throw a doctored pitch legally.
1949 Larry Doby is thrown out trying to steal home with no outs with the bases loaded in the bottom of the eighth inning in a 7-3 loss to the Yankees at Cleveland Stadium. Tribe manager Lou Boudreau will fine his center fielder for the failed attempt to steal home and for taking several other unnecessary chances recently.
1951 In a game against the Reds with All-Star hurler Ewell Blackwell on the mound, the Giants, for the first time, employ their infamous scheme for stealing catchers’ signs using a telescope positioned in the center-field clubhouse. The ‘Jints’ beat Cincinnati, 11-6, and New York will win 22 of the remaining 27 games at the Polo Grounds, overtaking the Dodgers to win the National League pennant.
1958 Tiger right-hander Jim Bunning no-hits the Red Sox, 3-0, and will become the first modern-day pitcher to toss a hitless game in both leagues when he throws a perfect game against the Mets in 1964. Bob Murphy will be behind the microphone doing the play-by-play for the future Hall of Famer and U.S. Senator’s gems.
1965 Yankees’ pitcher Mel Stottlemyre hits an inside-the-park grand slam against the Red Sox. The fifth-inning shot to deep center field proves to be the difference in the 23-year-old right-hander’s 6-3 complete-game victory at Yankee Stadium.
1969 At Connie Mack Stadium, the Astros and Phillies move silently to their respective baselines to look skyward when the PA announcer informs the crowd the Eagle had landed on the moon. After a recording of Kate Smith’s rendition of “God Bless America” is played, along with a prayer for the safety of the astronauts over the loudspeaker, the game resumes.
1970 Twenty-six-year-old right-hander Bill Singer pitches the first Dodger no-hitter since Sandy Koufax’s departure when he keeps the Philadelphia batters hitless in a 5-0 victory at Chavez Ravine. The ‘Singer Throwing Machine,’ who spent 52 days on the disabled list earlier in the season recuperating from hepatitis, posts a 5-0 record along with a 1.84 ERA in July and will be named NL Player of the Month.
1973 Wilbur Wood, the last pitcher to start both games of a twin bill, takes the loss in each contest when New York sweeps the White Sox at Yankee Stadium, 12-2 and 7-0. The knuckleballer gets the nod to start the nightcap after not making it out of the first inning in the opener.
1974 The Indians, trailing the A’s, 9-8, get runners to second and third with nobody out. Rollie Fingers retires George Hendrick and Charlie Spikes, but with first base still open, Oakland manager Alvin Dark elects to pitch to John Ellis, who promptly lines a single to center to win the game.
1976 Hank Aaron hit his last big league homer off Angels’ hurler Dick Drago en route to a 6-2 Brewers win. The round-tripper is Hammerin’ Hank’s 755th and establishes the all-time major league record for career home runs.
1976 Mark Fidrych throws his twelfth complete game in his 13th start of the season, a streak that includes three 11-inning contests. The 21-year-old Tiger rookie right-hander from Massachusetts gives up ten hits, defeating Minnesota at Metropolitan Stadium, 8-3.
1984 Toronto establishes a team record for runs scored in an inning when eleven players cross the plate at the Kingdome in the ninth. The Blue Jays’ barrage in the final frame leads to an eventual 12-7 victory over Seattle.
1987 Don Mattingly ties a major league mark when he makes 22 putouts in the Yankees’ 7-1 victory in the Metrodome. ‘Donnie Baseball’ matches the one-game record established in 1906 by Hal Chase, another Bronx Bomber first sacker.
1993 The game against the Cardinals is delayed for an hour after a fire breaks out near the Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium’s skybox/press box area. Recently acquired Fred McGriff pinch-hits a homer, enabling the Braves to rally from a 5-0 deficit to win 7-5, and appears to ignite the beginning of the team’s historic comeback from a 9.5 games deficit to win the National League West Division.
2004 At Wrigley Field, Albert Pujols goes 5-for-5, including three home runs and five RBIs, as the Cardinals beat their Central Division rivals Cubs, 11-8. The Redbird first baseman’s first career three-homer game helps St. Louis to erase a six-run deficit.
2006 In a 26-inning New York-Penn League game which takes 6 hours, 40 minutes to complete at KeySpan Park in Coney Island, the Oneonta Tigers outlast the hometown Brooklyn Cyclones, 6-1. Mark Wright, a reserve outfielder, is the losing pitcher in the third-longest game by innings in professional baseball history.
2006 Trying to keep their 14 consecutive postseason appearances streak intact, the Braves trade Class A catcher Max Ramirez to the Indians for Bob Wickman. Atlanta, winning 12 of 16 to get back into the wild-card race, is hoping the veteran 37-year-old closer can help solve the team’s late-inning woes, which include the bullpen blowing half of this season’s 40 save opportunities.
2008 The Dodgers, with a five-run ninth-inning rally at Chase Field, beat the Diamondbacks, 6-5, and move into a flat-footed tie (48-50) with Arizona for first place in the National League West. Andre Ethier has the key hit in the comeback victory, a go-ahead triple off the center-field wall, as D-Back closer Brandon Lyon, pitching in his third consecutive game, couldn’t hold a three-run lead.
2008 Francisco Rodriguez, surpassing John Smoltz’s effort for the 2003 Braves by ten games, becomes the quickest reliever ever to reach 40 saves. The Angels’ closer strikes out the side in the ninth of a 5-3 come-from-behind victory over the Red Sox, completing a sweep of the reigning World Series champions.
2009 With an 8-5 win over Milwaukee at PNC Park, the Pirates snap their 17-game losing streak against the Brewers, the longest skid against a single opponent in 39 years. During the 1969-70 seasons, the Royals dropped 23 decisions to the Orioles to establish the major league mark.
2009 After trailing 12-2, Oakland comes back to beat the Twins, 14-13, making it the first time the A’s have come back from a ten-run deficit since being down by twelve runs in 1925, when the team, then known as the Philadelphia Athletics, beat the Indians, 17-15. The 3 hours, 32 minutes slugfest ends with Michael Cuddyer being called out at home plate on a very controversial call after trying to score on a wild pitch.
2011 Hideki Matsui, leading off the sixth inning in Oakland’s 7-5 victory in Detroit, hits his 500th career home run. The Japanese native went yard 332 times for the Yomiuri Giants before collecting another 168 round-trippers since 2003, playing with the Yankees, Angels, and A’s.
2012 After trailing the Nationals by nine runs after five innings of play, the Braves take the lead, 10-9, when the team plates two runs in the top of the ninth. Washington will knot the score in the bottom of the frame on Danny Espinosa’s home run, but Atlanta completes its amazing comeback with an unanswered run in the eleventh inning.
2013 At Miller Park in a game against Miami, the Brewers wear throwback jerseys to honor the Milwaukee Bears, a Negro League team that played in Brew Town during the 1923 season. Brewers manager Ron Roenicke has a wardrobe malfunction when the letter u on his uniform is misplaced, spelling out Milwaukee.
2013 Although the Mariners manage just one hit and strike out 15 times, the team beats the Astros at Minute Maid Park, 4-2. Seattle scores two runs in the top of the sixth thanks to two bases on balls, two passed balls, and a sacrifice fly, and then tallies another pair in the next frame when Michael Saunders’ double plates Justin Smoak and Mike Zunino, who both reached base via a walk.
2015 🇨🇳 Xu Guiyan, nicknamed ‘Itchy’ at the MLB China Development Center in Wuxi, signs with Orioles, becoming the first Chinese player by birth and ancestry to ink a contract to play in the United States. The 19-year-old outfielder/first baseman Jiangsu will be evaluated by the Orioles scouts in the spring before being assigned to a minor league affiliate.
2020 Alyssa Nakken becomes the first woman to coach on the field during a major league game, entering during the eighth inning of the Giants’ 6-2 exhibition victory over the A’s to coach first base. The former Sacramento State’s four-time Academic All-American softball player, who joined the team as an intern in the baseball operations department, was hired as an assistant coach as part of San Francisco manager Gabe Kapler’s staff in January.
BASEBALL HALL OF FAME
HARRY WRIGHT
Executive
Hall of Famer Henry Chadwick once wrote: “There is no doubt that Harry Wright is the father of professional base ball playing.”
Wright, who was born in England and raised as a cricket player, warrants credit for founding the first all-professional baseball team and serving as a major pioneer for the exponential growth of baseball during the 19th century.
Born Jan. 10, 1835 in Sheffield, England, Wright and his family immigrated to New York City when he was still an infant. His father, Samuel, became a top cricket professional for the St. George Dragonslayers club in Harlem and taught him the rules of the sport. By age 14, Harry had dropped out of school to join his father on the Dragonslayers.
In 1857, St. George moved across the Hudson River to the Elysian Fields in Hoboken, N.J., for more playing space. While there, Wright saw his first baseball games played by the New York Knickerbockers and quickly became interested in the American sport.
Wright joined the Knickerbockers and became the team’s first openly paid player in the early 1860s. He switched to the New York Gothams during the Civil War and then became one of Cincinnati’s best pitchers by 1866. Also a fine center fielder, Wright is credited with hitting seven home runs in a game in 1867.
By the end of the decade, Wright’s ambitions had blossomed from simply playing baseball to assembling the game’s premier club. With financial backers behind him, Wright scoured the country to sign the best players he could find – none better than his younger brother, George.
Credited as one of the first coaches in American sport to fully adopt the concept of teamwork, Harry Wright drilled his players during the spring of 1869 to prepare for a tour against East Coast teams.
“Contestants for the championship will have to keep one eye trained toward Porkopolis,” the New York Clipper wrote referring to Wright’s Cincinnati team. However, no one in baseball could have fully anticipated the impending success of the Red Stockings. After rattling off 18 straight wins against weaker competition, Cincinnati traveled east and simply rolled through the nation’s best known baseball teams. Wright’s club began by defeating the highly-regarded New York Mutuals 4-2, then routed the previously unbeaten Brooklyn Atlantics 32-10. Led by George Wright at shortstop, the Red Stockings compiled a perfect 57-0 record in 1869.
“The result of the season’s play places the Cincinnati club ahead of all competition,” wrote the Clipper, “and we hail them as the champion club of the United States.”
The unbeatable Red Stockings became icons of American sport, traveling from Boston to San Francisco and drawing an estimated total attendance of 200,000. But in 1870, other teams began to catch up to Wright’s once indomitable club. Cincinnati lost six games, causing fans to abandon the team. Citing financial pressures, the Red Stockings’ board of directors disbanded the team following the 1870 season and returned it to amateur status.
Wright was undeterred by his team’s dissolution and chose to start from scratch. In 1871, he and his brother moved to Boston and created a new Red Stockings team that would compete in the brand new National Association. After a disappointing debut season in which George broke his leg, the new Red Stockings came to dominate the league and claimed four consecutive pennants. In 1875, Harry Wright captained Boston as player-manager to a remarkable 71-8 record.
Wright’s managerial acumen, combined with the Red Stockings’ formidable collection of talent, made the phrase “Break up the Bostons!” a popular rallying cry among National Association opponents. It was Boston’s dominance that partially motivated Hall of Fame executive William Hulbert to create the National League in 1876 and distance his Chicago club from the indomitable Wright brothers.
However, Wright and his Red Stockings would flourish in Hulbert’s new league as well. After a fourth-place finish in 1876, Boston won 69 percent of its games from 1877-78 to claim two National League pennants.
“It is true Mr. Wright is not infallible, and he is apt to err, just as any other person in his particular profession will blunder,” noted one newspaper from the era. “But Mr. Wright will make 49 good (decisions) to every bad one.”
Wright would go on to manage for 15 more seasons with Boston, Providence and Philadelphia. He finished with a then-record 1,225 victories and six total pennants from two different leagues.
“No death among the professional fraternity has occurred which elicited such painful regret,” wrote Chadwick upon Wright’s passing on Oct. 3, 1895. “[Harry Wright was] the most widely known, best respected and most popular of the exponents and representatives of professional baseball, of which he was virtually the founder.”
Wright was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1953.
FOOTBALL HISTORY
USFL Gave Hebert Needed Exposure
The article discussed the mass exodus of USFL players who were terminating their contracts enmass with the cash strapped United States Football League and in particular star Oakland Invaders Quarterback Bobby Hebert was one that was talking quite a bit about it. Other USFL players such as Joe Cribbs of the Birmingham Stallions, Herschel Walker and Doug Flutie and many more were all in negotiations with NFL clubs.
July 20, 1994 – Former NFL RB O.J. Simpson offers a $500,000 reward for information/evidence given for the killer of his wife, Nicole.
July 20, 1997 – The Detroit Lions re-signed Hall of Fame running back Barry Sanders to a 6-year, $33.5 million contract extension. The NFL.com shares that Sanders only played 2 seasons of this contract before at the age of 30 years old, the former Oklahoma State star retired from playing football in 1998. Those two season of the contract that he did play he led NFL with 2,053 rush yards in 1997 which was the fourth highest rushing total for a season in League history and he was chosen with Packers Quarterback Brett Favre to be Co-MVP of the NFL after that same season.
July 20, 1998 – Heisman Trophy winner Charles Woodson from Michigan signed his rookie contract with the Raiders after he was chosen with the fourth overall selection in the1998 NFL Draft according to the NFL.com.
July 20, 2008 – A monster trade went down when the Miami Dolphins traded future Hall of Fame pass rusher Jason Taylor to Washington for two draft picks. The NFL.com website says that 2006 AP Defensive Player of the Year played just one season with D.C. before being waived in 2009. Taylor then rejoined the Dolphins roster for the 2009 & 2011 seasons and squeezed a one season cup of coffee with the New York Jets in 2010 in between.
HALL OF FAME BIRTHDAYS FOR JULY 20
July 20, 1864 – Hartford, Connecticut – William “Pa” Corbin was a center on the 1886 through 1888 Yale University teams and played so well that he earned his spot in the College Football Hall of Fame in 1969. The National Football Foundation’s website says that Corbin’s very appearance demanded respect as he was tall and had prominent facial bone structure, and he received nothing but loyalty and support from his teammates as he led Yale during football’s pioneer era per the National Football Foundation. “The captain should be the real leader,” he said, appraising his position among his peers. “He should be able to say ‘come on’ instead of ‘go on.’ He should be a strategist, always checking the signals and often changing them. Quarterbacks may come and go, but the captain should always be largely responsible for the tactics and the success of the plays.” Corbin was the fireplug and catalyst of the great Yale teams he played on. In the 1888 season, his senior year, Pa was the captain of the squad that went undefeated and outscored their opponents 698 -0! Yale’s record was 31-0-1 in his career.
July 20, 1920 – New York City, New York – Frank Merritt was a tackle from 1942 to 1943 with Army that entered into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1996. According to the National Football Foundation, Frank was selected as an All-America team member in 1942 and 1943. Mr. Merritt served as the Athletic Director for the United States Air Force Academy from 1967 through 1974.
July 20, 1927 – San Francisco, California – Dick Stanfel Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrined guard that played for the Detroit Lions and later the Washington Redskins. He was a two way player for the University of San Francisco. Prior to college Mr. Stanfel served in the US Army. Dick suffered an injury just before the College All-Star game in Chicago and missed the majoirty of the 1951 season. Through pateince and diligent rehab his body recovered and he had a sensational 1952 season. In fact the Lions advanced to the NFL championship game in the first three seasons in which Stanfel played. He was a standout player on the Lion’s NFL Championship teams of 1952 & 1953. According to the ProFootballHOF.com Stanfel made the Pro Bowl in four of the seven seasons he played in the NFL. After his playing days he put in another 35 years of coaching, mostly offensive lines, on teams such as Notre Dame, Cal, the Philadelphia Eagles, San Francisco 49ers, New Orleans Saints. His total football career as a player and coach spanned over 50 years!
July 20, 1932 – Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania – Dan Rooney was the Pro Football Hall of Fame class of 2000 enshrined former owner of the Pittsburgh Steelers. Mr. Rooney guided the Steelers franchise to 6 Super Bowl Titles, the first two with the assistance of his father Art Rooney Sr. One of his greatest contributions to the NFL was his inception of the Rooney Rule that established a protocol for teams to follow when hiring a head coach to give minorities an opportunity to be interviewed for the positions. Dan was integral in the operation of the franchise, working in many different positions and capacities throughout the years. When Three Rivers Stadium was being planned in the 1960s, Rooney fought for and got a dual-purpose stadium design, rather than a horseshoe shape that would have favored baseball. In 1975 he was selected to the position of franchise President. Mr. Rooney also served as the US Ambassador to Ireland under the Obama administration.
July 20, 1945 – Greenwood, South Carolina – Jake Scott was a safety from Georgia that was enrolled into the College Football Hall of Fame in the entry class of 2011. Besides playing defensive back, Jake was also an excellent punt returner for the Bulldogs from 1967-68, leading the Bulldogs to an SEC championship his final year in Athens. In addition to making numerous All-America teams in 1968, he was named the SEC’s Most Valuable Player by the Nashville Banner per the National Football Foundation. Mr. Scott later played in the NFL as a member of both the Dolphins and the Redskins. In Miami he went to 5 consecutive Pro Bowls as he recorded an amazing 35 interceptions in 5 years with the orange and blue. In Washington he added another 14 picks in 3 seasons.
NUMBERS IN SPORTS
24 – 16- 41 – 14 – 30 – 40 – 44 – 41
July 20, 1906 – Brooklyn Superbas pitcher Mal Eason no-hit the St Louis Cardinals line-up, for a 2-0 victory at Robison Field in St. Louis
July 20, 1911 – Boston Red Sox pitching sensation Smokey Joe Wood tossed a no-hitter of his own against the St Louis Browns line-up, in a 5-0 blanking.
July 20, 1912 – Philadelphia Phillies player Sherry Magee stole home plate twice in a single game. According to an article on SABR.org they say Wood. “was undoubtedly the National League’s most valuable player in 1910, and either he or Johnny Evers deserved the appellation in 1914. That season one Philadelphia writer called Magee “probably the best all-around ball player in the National League,” and a Cincinnati reporter went a step further: “To my mind Sherwood Magee is one of the best all-around players the game has ever seen.””
July 20, 1916 – New York Giants traded future Baseball HOF pitcher Christy Mathewson to the Cincinnati Reds
July 20, 1944 – St Louis Browns Number 24, Nelson Potter became the first pitcher suspended for throwing illegal spitballs. Potter denied the charge against him but to no avail as the suspension held. It is a shame because he was on his way to a 20-win season in that season when he became the first player in big-league history not only to be suspended but also ejected from a game throwing a spitter. Well reknown for the screwball and slider he mastered were reasons with his success with these two legal pitches played a big role in the Boston National League club reaching its first World Series in 34 years in 1948.
July 20, 1956 – New York Yankees pitcher Whitey Ford, Number 16 tied an American League record of 6 straight strike-outs. This amazing record would eventually fall as Hall of Famer Tom Seaver, Number 41 and more recently Phillies pitcher Aaron Nola, Number 27 threw 10 consecutive strikeouts within one game
July 20, 1958 – Detroit Tigers future Baseball Hal of Fame pitcher Jim Bunning wearing Number 14 threw an amazing no-hit masterpiece against the Boston Red Sox to cruise to a 3-0 win.
July 20, 1965 – NY Yankee pitcher Mel Stottlemyre (Number 30) hit an inside-the-park grand slam home run!
July 20, 1970 – LA Dodgers Bill Singer in his Number 40 uniform no-hits the Phillies 5-0, giving up no walks
July 20, 1976 – Hank Aaron, Number 44 hit his 755th career and final home run off California Angels pitcher Number 41, Dick Drago
July 20, 2020 – Cristiano Ronaldo, in uniform jersey Number 7 became the first man to score 50 goals in Series A, La Liga and the Premier League with a double in Juventus’ 2-1 win over Lazio
FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME
DOUG ATKINS
Position: Tackle
Years: 1950-1952
Place of Birth: Humboldt, TN
Date of Birth: May 08, 1930
Place of Death: Knoxville, TN
Date of Death: Dec 30, 2015
Jersey Number: 91
Height: 6-8
Weight: 245
High School: Humboldt, TN (Humboldt HS)
The all-state center on a high school basketball team that won 44 straight games, Doug Atkins came to the University of Tennessee to play basketball. However head football coach Bob Neyland made sure Atkins would use his 6’8″, 245- pound frame on the football field as well. As a sophomore in 1950, Atkins played end on Tennessee’s 11-1 Cotton Bowl champion team. Atkins developed into an All-Southeastern Conference player in his junior season when he was moved to defensive tackle. He led a furious pass rush, and Tennessee topped the nation in pass defense as the Vols raced to 10 consecutive regular season victories and a national championship. In Doug’s 1952 senior season he won All- America recognition as Tennessee led the nation in total defense. Against Vanderbilt he intercepted a pass thrown by future Chicago teammate Billy Wade, and returned it for the game’s first touchdown in a 46-0 rout. Atkins’ playing days covered a memorable period in UT football history. The Vols appeared in three straight bowl games and recorded a 29-4-1 won-lost mark. Atkins went on to play professionally for 17 years with Cleveland, Chicago, and New Orleans. He was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1982 and the College Football Hall of Fame in 1985
TV SPORTS THURSDAY
| GOLF | TIME ET | TV |
| British Open | 4:00am | USA |
| LPGA Tour: Dow Great Lakes Bay Invitational | 12:00pm | GOLF |
| PGA Tour: Barracuda Championship | 5:00pm | GOLF |
| MLB REGULAR SEASON | TIME ET | TV |
| Arizona at Atlanta | 12:20pm | Bally Sports |
| Milwaukee at Philadelphia | 12:35pm | Bally Sports NBCS-PHI |
| San Francisco at Cincinnati | 12:35pm | NBCS-BAY Bally Sports |
| San Diego at Toronto | 1:07pm | MLBN Bally Sports Sportsnet |
| Chi. White Sox at NY Mets | 1:10pm | MLBN NBCS-CHI SNY |
| Detroit at Kansas City | 2:10pm | MLBN Bally Sports |
| Minnesota at Seattle | 3:40pm | MLBN Bally Sports Root Sports |
| Baltimore at Tampa Bay | 6:40pm | MLBN MASN/2 Bally Sports |
| St. Louis at Chi. Cubs | 8:05pm | MLBN Bally Sports MARQ |
| Houston at Oakland | 9:40pm | MLBN ATTSN-SW NBCS-CA |
| SOCCER MATCHES | TIME ET | TV |
| FIFA Women’s World Cup: New Zealand vs Norway | 3:00am | FOX |
| FIFA Women’s World Cup: Australia vs Ireland Republic | 6:00am | FOX |
| Brasileirão: Santos vs Botafogo | 8:30pm | Paramount+ |
| FIFA Women’s World Cup: Nigeria vs Canada | 10:30pm | FOX |
| WNBA | TIME ET | TV |
| Atlanta vs Connecticut | 11:30am | NBATV |
| Los Angeles vs Minnesota | 8:00pm | Prime |
| Las Vegas vs Seattle | 10:00pm | Prime |
| Chicago vs Phoenix | 10:00pm | NBATV |