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  • 49ers third-stringer, Los Gatos native an unlikely hero in win over Seahawks: ‘A dream come true’

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    San Francisco 49ers third-string tight end Jake Tonges didn’t have a catch and was targeted only once through the first 20 games – and three years — of his NFL career.

    Nevertheless, when starter George Kittle went down with a hamstring injury in the first half of Sunday’s game against the Seattle Seahawks, Tonges was ready.

    Tonges, who grew up a short drive from Levi’s Stadium as a Los Gatos native, caught three passes, including one for a touchdown with 1:34 remaining in the fourth quarter, to help the 49ers rally for a 17-13 season-opening win over the Seahawks at Lumen Field.

    “I’m pretty excited,” Tonges told the 49ers Radio Network after the game. “Really a dream come true right there.”

    With the 49ers facing a third-and-3 from the Seattle 4-yard line, quarterback Brock Purdy dropped back to pass and had enough time to look to his left — twice — before scrambling to his right.

    Purdy then slung the ball toward the corner of the end zone, where the 6-foot-4 Tonges reached over Seahawks cornerback Riq Woolen, who got a hand on the ball, and caught it for the first touchdown of his NFL career.

    What was nearly Purdy’s third interception of the day turned into an unforgettable moment for the former two-sport star at Los Gatos High.

    “I had a corner curl and slipped coming out of my break, and then the scramble drill was on,” Tonges said. “We just always try and stay in bounds and stay alive, and Brock gave me a chance there, and I did the best I could with it.”

    Looking on from the sideline in a red 49ers hoodie, Kittle flashed a massive smile as thousands of the team’s fans inside the often-deafening stadium began to celebrate.

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San Francisco 49ers tight end Jake Tonges (88) celebrates with tight end Luke Farrell, center, after a touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks, Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

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Tonges told reporters later that he asked Purdy, “if he was throwing it out of bounds and he said, ‘No, I was just trying to give you a chance.’ We didn’t want to kick a field goal. Didn’t want to go to overtime. We wanted to score and win it right there.”

Kittle caught a five-yard touchdown pass from Purdy midway through the first quarter to give the 49ers a 7-0 lead, and had four catches for 25 yards before leaving the field with his injury. Niners coach Kyle Shanahan didn’t have an update on Kittle’s health after the game.

As a career backup, Tonges knows he has to stay ready for such moments, and he finished the game with three catches for 15 yards.

“I was thinking just about how many games I prepped for, and didn’t really get the opportunity,” Tonges said. “I kind of know this is my role if George goes down. So, I’m always paying extra attention to third-down stuff, to a lot of the pass stuff. Just staying locked in and being consistent, because you really never know when your opportunity might come.”

Tonges, 26, graduated from Los Gatos High School in 2017 and caught four touchdowns in four years at Cal from 2018 to 2021. He went undrafted but played four games with the Chicago Bears in 2022, playing 34 snaps on offense while not being targeted with a pass.

San Francisco 49ers tight end Jake Tonges speaks during a press conference after an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks, Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025, in Seattle. (AP Photo/John Froschauer)
San Francisco 49ers tight end Jake Tonges speaks during a press conference after an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks, Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025, in Seattle. (AP Photo/John Froschauer) 

Tonges was waived by the Bears in Aug. 2023 but was signed by the 49ers to their practice squad a few weeks later. Last season, Tonges played in all 16 games for the 49ers but was primarily used on special teams.

The 49ers re-signed him in April — and are glad they did.

“It just comes down to opportunities, and in games, do you get the right look to get the ball and everything,” Purdy said. “So he’s been a consistent guy all throughout last year and camp. George goes down today, and then, boom, (Tonges is) ready for his opportunity. We all love Jake. He’s a smart kid, and we all love him, and he’s a brother to us.”

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Curtis Pashelka

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  • SF Giants’ winning streak snapped as Walker allows three runs in ninth to Cardinals

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    ST. LOUIS — The Giants lost to the St. Louis Cardinals 3-2 on Saturday night at Busch Stadium as closer Ryan Walker allowed three runs in the bottom of the ninth without recording a single out, ending San Francisco’s winning streak at five games.

    Nolan Gorman and Mason Wynn led off the bottom of the ninth with back-to-back singles, then Walker loaded the bases by plunking Jimmy Crooks. The Cardinals brought the game within one run on an RBI single by Thomas Saggese, then Jordan Walker delivered a walk-off, two-run double.

    The Giants’ streak of consecutive games with at least one home run ends at 18, one shy of tying the 1947 New York Giants.

    With a strikeout of Nolan Gorman in the sixth, Justin Verlander recorded the 3,535th strikeout of his career to pass Giants Hall of Famer Gaylord Perry for eighth on the all-time strikeouts list. The next pitcher for Verlander to pass is Don Sutton, who totaled 3,574 strikeouts over 23 seasons. Verlander pitched six shutout innings with five strikeouts to no walks.

    Verlander, who has a 3.52 ERA over 10 starts in the second half, benefitted from several excellent defensive plays. In the second, right fielder Drew Gilbert bumped into the wall in foul territory when tracking down Thomas Saggese’s fly ball, causing the ball to bounce out of his glove. Gilbert stuck with the play and corralled the ball to record the out.

    Along with Gilbert’s circus catch, second baseman Casey Schmitt made a leaping catch in the fourth to rob Iván Herrera of a hit in the fourth. Catcher Patrick Bailey helped stymie a rally in fifth by throwing out Victor Scott II trying to steal third.

    The Giants, as they’ve been wont to do over the last two weeks, struck first, plating a pair of runs in the top of the fourth on a sacrifice fly by Casey Schmitt and an RBI single by Drew Gilbert.

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    Justice delos Santos

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  • Defense leads Pioneer to win over Leland in Battle of Den rivalry game

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    SAN JOSE — An old-time defensive dogfight broke out Friday night in front of a near-capacity crowd at Pioneer High School as the Mustangs made a first-quarter touchdown and a couple of field goals stand up in a 13-0 win over archrival Leland in the latest installment of the Battle of the Den.

    The win evened the series between the two Almaden Valley schools, according to MaxPreps, at 10-10.

    “Playing this game with Leland it doesn’t matter what the records are,” Pioneer coach Eric Perry said. “The kids all know each other and they play so hard against each other. It’s nice to be on the winning side of it.”

    Pioneer's Braeden Ries (19) passes the ball against Leland during the second half at Pioneer High School in San Jose, Calif., on Friday, Sept. 5, 2025. Pioneer won 13-0. (Thien-An Truong for Bay Area News Group) 

    On Pioneer’s first possession of the game Braeden Ries connected with Connor Christensen on a 13-yard touchdown pass. That was it as far as crossing the goal line was concerned in this contest.

    Nathan Bearrows kicked a 37-yard field goal in the final minute of the first quarter to make it 10-0, and the score stayed that way until 1:41 was left in the game when Bearrows added a 34-yard field goal.

    In between was a lot of good defensive play by both teams, most notably by Pioneer.

    Pioneer's Bryce Coats (56), middle, looks on during the first half against Leland at Pioneer High School in San Jose, Calif., on Friday, Sept. 5, 2025. (Thien-An Truong for Bay Area News Group)
    Pioneer's Bryce Coats (56), middle, looks on during the first half against Leland at Pioneer High School in San Jose, Calif., on Friday, Sept. 5, 2025. (Thien-An Truong for Bay Area News Group) 

    Junior defensive end Matthew Wheeler broke loose for three sacks. Doing it against Leland made it more special.

    “It’s such an intense battle,” Wheeler said. “It’s a big rival game, everyone’s here. The crowd is going crazy. It feels really nice to get those sacks and hear the stands calling my name.”

    Leland, which won the Central Coast Section Division V championship a year ago, was hit hard by graduation and is trying to make a transition with new personnel and a new head coach, Anthony Herrera, who replaces Kelly King Jr., now at Piedmont Hills.

    Leland's Philip Arsintescu (15) tosses the ball to Leland's David Ahlgren (3) against Pioneer during the second half at Pioneer High School in San Jose, Calif., on Friday, Sept. 5, 2025. Pioneer won 13-0. (Thien-An Truong for Bay Area News Group)
    Leland's Philip Arsintescu (15) tosses the ball to Leland's David Ahlgren (3) against Pioneer during the second half at Pioneer High School in San Jose, Calif., on Friday, Sept. 5, 2025. Pioneer won 13-0. (Thien-An Truong for Bay Area News Group) 

    “Offense failed tonight, I failed tonight at not putting these guys in better position to win and execute offensively,” Herrera said. “We go back to the drawing board tomorrow with our lift and film session and start preparing for Lincoln.”

    Pioneer running back Colton Bermillo was the top offensive player on the evening as he rushed for 106 yards on 16 carries. Ries completed 7 of 16 passes for 44 yards.

    “Defense did a great job,” Herrera said. “We lost the penalty battle and the turnover battle which is why we lost the game. We’re a young team, we’re going to learn from this.”

    Leland quarterback Philip Arsintescu was 11 of 17 for 96 yards. Sam McFarland carried 18 times for 50 yards. The Pioneer defense came up with two fumble recoveries and an interception by Christensen.

    Bearrow, in addition to his two field goals, was a big factor in Pioneer winning the field position game in the second half with punts of 52, 50 and 44 yards, the latter one a coffin corner beauty going out of bounds at the 2.

    Middle linebacker JJ Garcia had tackles for loss on two successive plays on one Leland possession.

    “Putting all hats on the ball,” Garcia said in an explanation as to why the defense was so successful on this particular occasion. “Going all out in practice during the week and executing on Friday.”

    Pioneer celebrates after defeating Leland at Pioneer High School in San Jose, Calif., on Friday, Sept. 5, 2025. Pioneer won 13-0. (Thien-An Truong for Bay Area News Group)
    Pioneer celebrates after defeating Leland at Pioneer High School in San Jose, Calif., on Friday, Sept. 5, 2025. Pioneer won 13-0. (Thien-An Truong for Bay Area News Group) 
    Pioneer head coach Eric Perry reacts after defeating Leland at Pioneer High School in San Jose, Calif., on Friday, Sept. 5, 2025. Pioneer won 13-0. (Thien-An Truong for Bay Area News Group)
    Pioneer head coach Eric Perry reacts after defeating Leland at Pioneer High School in San Jose, Calif., on Friday, Sept. 5, 2025. Pioneer won 13-0. (Thien-An Truong for Bay Area News Group) 
    Pioneer head coach Eric Perry celebrates with his team after defeating Leland at Pioneer High School in San Jose, Calif., on Friday, Sept. 5, 2025. Pioneer won 13-0. (Thien-An Truong for Bay Area News Group)
    Pioneer head coach Eric Perry celebrates with his team after defeating Leland at Pioneer High School in San Jose, Calif., on Friday, Sept. 5, 2025. Pioneer won 13-0. (Thien-An Truong for Bay Area News Group) 
    Pioneer's Jonathan Silveira (13) is tackled by Leland's Dylan Repetto (11) during the second half at Pioneer High School in San Jose, Calif., on Friday, Sept. 5, 2025. Pioneer won 13-0. (Thien-An Truong for Bay Area News Group)
    Pioneer's Jonathan Silveira (13) is tackled by Leland's Dylan Repetto (11) during the second half at Pioneer High School in San Jose, Calif., on Friday, Sept. 5, 2025. Pioneer won 13-0. (Thien-An Truong for Bay Area News Group) 
    Pioneer's Braeden Ries (19) hands the ball to Pioneer's Adam Larson (24) against Leland during the second half at Pioneer High School in San Jose, Calif., on Friday, Sept. 5, 2025. Pioneer won 13-0. (Thien-An Truong for Bay Area News Group)
    Pioneer's Braeden Ries (19) hands the ball to Pioneer's Adam Larson (24) against Leland during the second half at Pioneer High School in San Jose, Calif., on Friday, Sept. 5, 2025. Pioneer won 13-0. (Thien-An Truong for Bay Area News Group) 
    Leland's Cole Canter (5) runs the ball against Pioneer's Juan Jose Garcia (2) during the first half at Pioneer High School in San Jose, Calif., on Friday, Sept. 5, 2025. (Thien-An Truong for Bay Area News Group)
    Leland's Cole Canter (5) runs the ball against Pioneer's Juan Jose Garcia (2) during the first half at Pioneer High School in San Jose, Calif., on Friday, Sept. 5, 2025. (Thien-An Truong for Bay Area News Group) 
    Leland's Philip Arsintescu (15) looks to pass the ball against Pioneer during the second half at Pioneer High School in San Jose, Calif., on Friday, Sept. 5, 2025. Pioneer won 13-0. (Thien-An Truong for Bay Area News Group)
    Leland's Philip Arsintescu (15) looks to pass the ball against Pioneer during the second half at Pioneer High School in San Jose, Calif., on Friday, Sept. 5, 2025. Pioneer won 13-0. (Thien-An Truong for Bay Area News Group) 

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    Glenn Reeves

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  • Why Laver Cup conflict looms over potential Valkyries postseason home game

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    SAN FRANCISCO — If the Valkyries reach the postseason in their inaugural year, one of the biggest questions will be where they will actually play. 

    A scheduling conflict with the Laver Cup — an international tennis tournament that includes stars Carlos Alcaraz and Taylor Fritz as well as legend Andre Agassi as a coach — presents Chase Center’s biggest hurdle in trying to accommodate a Valkyries playoff game. 

    In all likelihood, the Valkyries will not get a Top 4 seed in order to host two games in the first round, meaning their possible lone postseason game will take place either on Sept. 16 or 17. 

    The Laver Cup runs from Sept. 19-21, but setting up the state-of-the-art tennis court and allowing players time to practice before the tournament starts is the biggest challenge. The event was booked before the Valkyries became a franchise. 

    Golden State officials said an update on a decision on where the team will play will be coming in the next few days. 

    “We are finalizing details regarding our potential playoff venue and will share a comprehensive update with fans and season ticket holders in the coming days,” the Valkyries said in a statement sent to this news organization on Thursday. “We appreciate everyone’s patience as we work through the logistics of the possibility of a historic inaugural playoff run and pre-existing scheduling conflict at Chase Center.”

    A Golden State Valkyries fan wears a winged helmet while sitting courtside in the fourth quarter of their WNBA game at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, Aug. 30, 2025. The Golden State Valkyries defeated the Washington Mystics 99-62. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group) 

    The Valkyries’ issues with scheduling their playoff game hasn’t gone unnoticed by the rest of the league. 

    “You want to think that you’re past it,” Stewart told SFGATE on Monday. “We want to think that we’re, like, better than this. Listen, sometimes it’s out of the control of everyone involved. But it’s just … You don’t see it happening with the NBA.”

    The Valkyries will have other venues to consider should Chase Center not be available. 

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    Nathan Canilao

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  • Valkyries keep defending champion Liberty in check, extend win streak to four

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    SAN FRANCISCO — The Valkyries looked as connected as they have all year on Tuesday night. 

    Playing the star-studded New York Liberty, Golden State made all the right plays, hit all the necessary shots and kept the visiting team’s high-powered offense in check.  

    The result: The expansion team played perhaps its best game of the season, defeating the defending champion Liberty 66-58 in front of its 20th consecutive sellout crowd of the season. 

    “I think when we’re communicating and we’re executing the game plan, I think, like I said, we’re pretty dangerous,” Valkyries coach Natalie Nakase said. “Credit to our players for believing, trusting and executing.”

    Temi Fágbénlé led the Valkyries with 16 points and five rebounds. Janelle Salaun had 10 points. Kate Martin came off the bench and scored 11 points.

    Monique Billings made her return to the lineup after missing the last 14 games with a right ankle sprain. She played 20 minutes, scored five points and grabbed three rebounds.

    Guard Natasha Cloud was a bright spot for the Liberty, leading New York with 19 points. Walnut Creek native Sabrina Ionescu missed Friday’s game with a toe injury. 

    The Valkyries held the Liberty to 31.6% shooting and didn’t allow the Liberty to get to the line consistently in the first half, holding the visiting team to two free throw attempts. Breanna Stewart saw only four of her 15 shots go through the basket, but got most of her points at the free throw line. 

    “We stayed very connected throughout the whole game, through the ups and downs, through the runs. That’s the main thing,” Fágbénlé said. “Communicating throughout the whole game really helped us, and sticking with the schemes.”

    With the win, the Valkyries now have a one-game lead over the Indiana Fever for the sixth seed. A Los Angeles Sparks loss against the Atlanta Dream on Wednesday and a Valkyries win over the Dallas Wings on Thursday would clinch a playoff spot for Golden State. The Valkyries are also a game and a half behind the Liberty for the fifth seed.

    Golden State fell behind by four points after the first quarter, but an offensive explosion in the second period gave the Valkyries a comfortable halftime lead. 

    Martin scored all 11 of her points in the second quarter, hitting 3-of-6 of her 3-point attempts to lead the Valkyries in the first half. 

    The Valkyries held the Liberty to 32.3% shooting through the first two quarters and led 40-26 going into the intermission. 

    New York’s eight second-quarter points is tied for the fewest points a Valkyries’ opponent has scored all season. 

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    Golden State Valkyries’ Janelle Salaün (13) celebrates her 3-point basket against the New York Liberty in the third quarter at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)

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    Golden State ballooned its lead to 24 early in the third period, but the Liberty finished the quarter strong by forcing seven Valkyries turnovers. The home team went into the final 10 minutes of play with a 12-point lead. 

    But much like they have done during this home stand, the Valkyries didn’t let up in the fourth quarter.

    Golden State’s inside-out attack paced its offense against a more athletic Liberty defense. On the other end, the Valkyries got timely stops and didn’t allow New York’s trio of post players consisting of Stewart, Emma Meesseman and last year’s Finals MVP Jonquel Jones to get going.

    During this home stand, the Valkyries have beaten teams by average of 19 points.

    The Valkyries will play their final two home games on Thursday and Saturday, starting with a matchup with the Dallas Wings followed by the regular season finale against the Minnesota Lynx two days later. 

    Originally Published:

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    Nathan Canilao

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  • High school football rankings Week 1, 2025: Bay Area News Group Top 25

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    After Week 1, the top three teams in the Bay Area News Group rankings solidified their spots. 

    De La Salle came away with a gritty win over Florida powerhouse Lakeland, Archbishop Riordan cruised past Oakland heavyweight McClymonds and Pittsburg lit up the scoreboard and then held off Granite Bay, a respected program from the Sac-Joaquin Section. 

    San Ramon Valley found its way into the Top 5 after beating El Cerrito in a close game. 

    Though Serra lost to Folsom in a 56-42 thriller, the San Mateo school proved HSRatings’ computer dead wrong. The computer had Serra losing 40-0. For that, the Padres moved up two spots, to No. 5. 

    Liberty defeated last year’s Division 3-AA state champion Frontier-Bakersfield and rose to the 10th spot in the rankings. 

    Sacred Heart Cathedral moved into the rankings following an impressive win over Sacred Heart Prep. The West Catholic Athletic League has six teams in the Top 25, the most of any league in the Bay Area News Group’s coverage area. 

    Now, on to the rankings: 

    Bay Area News Group Top 25

    (Mercury News & East Bay Times)

    No. 1 DE LA SALLE (1-0)

    Previous ranking: 1

    Last week: Beat Lakeland-Florida 10-6

    Up next: Saturday at Serra, 2 p.m.

    No. 2 ARCHBISHOP RIORDAN (1-0)

    Previous ranking: 2

    Last week: Beat McClymonds 41-18

    Up next: Friday at Monte Vista, 7 p.m.

    No. 3 PITTSBURG (1-0)

    Previous ranking: 3

    Last week: Beat Granite Bay 42-36

    Up next: Saturday at Bishop Manogue-Reno, 4 p.m.

    No. 4 SAN RAMON VALLEY (1-0)

    Previous ranking: 6

    Last week: Beat El Cerrito 20-14

    Up next: Friday at Soquel, 7 p.m.

    No. 5 SERRA (0-1)

    Previous ranking: 7

    Last week: Lost to Folsom 56-42

    Up next: Saturday vs. De La Salle, 2 p.m.

    No. 6 ST. FRANCIS (0-1)

    Previous ranking: 4

    Last week: Lost to Cathedral Catholic 35-7

    Up next: Friday at McClymonds, 7 p.m.

    No. 7 VALLEY CHRISTIAN (1-0)

    Previous ranking: 8

    Last week: Beat Wilcox 41-10

    Up next: Friday at Salinas, 7 p.m.

    No. 8 LOS GATOS (0-1)

    Previous ranking: 5

    Last week: Lost to Soquel 42-40

    Up next: Friday at Liberty, 7 p.m.

    No. 9 WILCOX (0-1)

    Previous ranking: 9

    Last week: Lost to Valley Christian 41-10

    Up next: Friday at Archbishop Mitty, 7 p.m.

    No. 10 LIBERTY (1-0)

    Previous ranking: 13

    Last week: Beat Frontier-Bakersfield 14-0

    Up next: Friday vs. Los Gatos, 7 p.m.

    No. 11 CLAYTON VALLEY CHARTER (0-1)

    Previous ranking: 11

    Last week: Lost to Spanish Springs-Nevada 42-13

    Up next: Friday vs. College Park, 7 p.m.

    No. 12 MCCLYMONDS (0-1)

    Previous ranking: 10

    Last week: Lost to Riordan 41-18

    Up next: Friday vs. St. Francis, 7 p.m.

    No. 13 AMADOR VALLEY (0-1)

    Previous ranking: 12

    Last week: Lost to Vanden 21-14

    Up next: Friday at Monterey Trail, 7:15 p.m.

    No. 14 ACALANES (1-0)

    Previous ranking: 16

    Last week: Beat Archbishop Mitty 33-12

    Up next: Friday vs. Menlo-Atherton 7 p.m.

    No. 15 CAMPOLINDO (1-0)

    Previous ranking: 17

    Last week: Beat Granada 42-7

    Up next: Friday at Northgate, 7 p.m.

    No. 16 ST. IGNATIUS (0-1)

    Previous ranking: 14

    Last week: Lost to San Marin 27-24

    Up next: Saturday at Tamalpais, 2 p.m.

    No. 17 MENLO-ATHERTON (0-1)

    Previous ranking: 15

    Last week: Lost to Destiny Christian Academy 41-7

    Up next: Friday at Acalanes, 7 p.m.

    No. 18 MENLO SCHOOL (1-0)

    Previous ranking: 18

    Last week: Beat Hozho Academy-New Mexico 60-0 

    Up next: Saturday vs. San Mateo, 2 p.m.

    No. 19 SALESIAN (1-0)

    Previous ranking: 19

    Last week: Beat Piedmont 41-17

    Up next: Saturday vs. Moreau Catholic, 1 p.m.

    No. 20 EL CERRITO (0-1)

    Previous ranking: 20

    Last week: Lost to San Ramon Valley 20-14

    Up next: Friday vs. Lowell, 7:30 p.m.

    No. 21 CALIFORNIA (1-0)

    Previous ranking: 24

    Last week: Beat Patterson 14-11

    Up next: Friday at James Logan, 7 p.m.

    No. 22 BISHOP O’DOWD (1-0)

    Previous ranking: 23

    Last week: Beat Armijo 37-19

    Up next: Friday vs. Mater Dei Catholic, 7 p.m.

    No. 23 SANTA TERESA (1-0)

    Previous ranking: 22

    Last week: Beat Fremont-Sunnyvale 42-0

    Up next: Friday vs. Milpitas, 7:15 p.m.

    No. 24 SACRED HEART CATHEDRAL (1-0)

    Previous ranking: Not ranked

    Last week: Beat Sacred Heart Prep 35-10

    Up next: Friday at Berkeley, 7 p.m.

    No. 25 SACRED HEART PREP (0-1)

    Previous ranking: 21

    Last week: Lost to Sacred Heart Cathedral 35-10

    Up next: Friday at El Capitan, 7 p.m.

    Editor’s note: Teams eligible for the Bay Area News Group rankings come from leagues based predominantly in Alameda, Contra Costa, San Mateo and Santa Clara counties. The news organization’s high school staff chooses the teams.

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    Nathan Canilao

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  • Antioch’s Najee Harris cleared for full-contact practice with Chargers, remains mum on accident details

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    EL SEGUNDO — Running back Najee Harris has been cleared to participate in full-contact practice, leaving the running back a possibility to play in the Los Angeles Chargers’ season opener Friday against the Kansas City Chiefs in Brazil.

    Harris injured his eye in a July 4 fireworks mishap in his hometown of Antioch, putting him on the non-football injury/illness list ahead of training camp. As a result, he couldn’t be on the field with the team, and instead, he worked on the sideline with a personal trainer.

    Harris, who starred at Antioch High School and Alabama before he was drafted in the first round by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2021, has never missed a game in his NFL career. He said Monday after practice that his vision wasn’t affected by the mishap and called the injury “superficial.”

    Asked if he would play Friday, Harris said, “I’m ramping up to it. This is my fifth day of practice. Just trying to get into that football shape. I’m feeling good, and we’ll just see where it leads.”

    Coach Jim Harbaugh said Harris has “looked really good in practice. We’ll just take it one day at a time. Has a really good awareness of what we’re doing.”

    Harris declined to provide details Monday about the mishap in Antioch during a Fourth of July celebration, saying, “I don’t want to go into that.”

    The mishap happened about 12:20 a.m. July 5, in the 2200 block of Spanos Street, and injured more than one person. In a statement at the time, Antioch police said some of the injured were treated at the scene and hospitalized. Others drove themselves to a hospital, police said.

    In July, Harris’ agent, Doug Hendrickson of Wasserman Sports, issued a statement saying, “Najee Harris was present at a 4th of July event where a fireworks mishap resulted in injuries to several attendees. Najee sustained a superficial eye injury during the incident, but is fully expected to be ready for the upcoming NFL season.”

    Harris called it “a humbling experience.”

    “I’m still going through it in a way,” he said. “That whole situation can show you how things can change in the snap of a finger. It’s a blessing every day that we wake up. I’m just happy everybody’s safe and we’re alive.”

    “Just recovering, getting in shape – just staying in shape, I mean,” Harris added. “Just trying to stay on top of the playbooks.”

    Harris didn’t wear a visor while playing for the Steelers. He’s kept his eyes protected during workouts, leading to speculation that he’s hiding something. He wore sunglasses while speaking outside on Monday.

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    Beth Harris

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  • Monday Morning Lights: Why Serra, Folsom schedule heavyweights in September

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    Welcome back to Monday Morning Lights, our weekly feature that sheds more light on the high school football weekend and peeks ahead to the new week. If you haven’t already, please subscribe. Your contributions keep us going.

    No matter what happens, Serra and Folsom know that most seasons, they will be in position to compete for section championships at the end of the year.

    Which is why both teams go out of their way to schedule exceptionally tough nonleague opponents in September.

    This year, Sacramento area power Folsom visited another top team from its area (Grant), bussed to San Mateo to play Serra on Saturday and will fly to Southern California this week to face Mission Viejo.

    Serra opened with Folsom and will also take on De La Salle in San Mateo this Saturday. The Padres will finish their nonleague schedule with a trip to face Southern Section powerhouse St. John Bosco.

    After beating Serra 56-42, Folsom coach Paul Doherty admitted that earning Northern California’s berth in the CIF Open Division state championship game is the Bulldogs’ goal this season.

    Testing themselves – and winning – against the best teams in the state is an important part of making that a reality.

    “Every time you go through it, you’re like, ‘This is a bad idea,’” Doherty said. “Tough schedule, that’s the only way to do it. We’ve won four section (championships) in a row. We were in four NorCals in a row. We’ve won two of them, and we lost two by a total of four points. If we’re going to get better, we have to schedule and we have to plan. That’s the DNA or the blueprint of what we’re trying to do.”

    Doherty noted that the programs in SoCal especially are “better than ours,” and playing them gives Folsom something to aspire to moving forward.

    Serra, meanwhile, is trying to recapture the form that powered the Padres to a 25-0 record against NorCal foes in 2022 and 2023. That stretch came during a run in which the San Mateo school represented Northern California in the Open state title game three consecutive seasons.

    Serra’s strong showing against Folsom on Saturday could be the first sign that the Padres are on their way back to being a top NorCal contender.

    “There’s a Nelson Mandela quote that says, ‘I either win or I learn,’” Walsh said. “I want to know what we got and what we don’t have. I’m not trying to stack up wins around here. What we’re trying to do is be WCAL champions and CCS champions. And my philosophy has always been to schedule the best, be a part of the best. Challenge yourself against the best coaches and players, and then you know exactly where you are.”

    — Christian Babcock

    RIORDAN: FAMILY BUSINESS

    Early in the first quarter, Riordan quarterback Mike Mitchell Jr. scanned the field for openings in McClymonds’ defense. After going through his reads, Mitchell locked in on a target he is very familiar with. 

    Younger brother Maxwell, a sophomore receiver, found the soft spot in the defense on a crossing route, pulled in the pass, and ran in for a 27-yard touchdown. 

    It was a play that the two had informally rehearsed in the backyard for years, and drilled on the practice field all summer. 

    “It was unreal,” Max Mitchell told the Bay Area News Group. “We did that every day in the summer, so the work definitely paid off.”

    – Joseph Dycus

    ACALANES: NEW POSITION … SORT OF 

    After Grant Ricker grabbed three interceptions in Acalanes’ emotional 33-12 victory, he noted that it was his first start ever at defensive back. He had started at receiver last season for Acalanes’ North Coast Section Division III championship team. 

    “I have to thank my coaches for teaching me on the fly,” Ricker said. 

    According to teammate Deonte Littlejohn, that isn’t quite true. 

    “Actually, Ricker played DB freshman year … and he wasn’t the best,” Littlejohn said. “He had a complete turnaround, and now he’s a dog out there. Playing receiver just helps him track that ball down.”

    – Joseph Dycus

    DE LA SALLE: JEFFERSON CAN SCOOT

    Jaden Jefferson is a fast runner.

    De La Salle’s two-way speedster reset the state record in the 100-meter dash last spring, clocking a time of 10.01 seconds at the CIF state meet in Clovis.

    But his time caused some controversy.

    It was widely speculated by those including Arcadia Invitational meet director Rich Gonzalez that the record-breaking time resulted in part because, he suspected, the starter fired the gun too far from the electronic timing sensor, causing a clock delay.

    But CIF stood by its time, and so is Jefferson.

    “CIF, they confirmed it, they said they had two clocks running,” Jefferson said. “So I’m not really arguing with the people who don’t believe it. I know what I ran, and I came back a second day to run another time. They said they had two clocks running, and they approved it. So I’m not sure what the other people are talking about.”

    De La Salle football coach Justin Alumbaugh isn’t too concerned, either. He knows what Jefferson’s wheels do for his team.

    “I think he could have broken 10,” Alumbaugh said. “He slowed up at the end. What I know is he was moving. And football-wise, he passes the eye test for speed. You’ll see him out there. He can scoot. No matter what the exact time is, that dude can run. You get under a 10.3, you’re scooting pretty well.”

    — Christian Babcock

    NORCAL COMMIT FROM FLORIDA ENJOYS TIME IN GOLDEN STATE

    Lakeland-Florida running back and Sacramento State commit Ja’darious Dobie got a little taste of the Cali life when the Dreadnaughts played De La Salle on Friday.

    Though Lakeland didn’t get the results it wanted, Dobie said he enjoyed his time in NorCal.

    “It was beautiful weather out here and it’s just beautiful scenery,” Dobie said. “I wish we could have come out here and dominated better, but at least we lost in Cali. So it feels good to be home.”

    Dobie picked Sacramento State over FBS schools Wake Forest, UNLV, Pittsburgh and Georgia Tech. New Sacramento State coach Brennan Marion is a former Bay Area resident, coaching at St. Patrick-St. Vincent in Vallejo, and playing at Foothill and De Anza colleges in the South Bay.

    – Nathan Canilao

    MENLO SCHOOL: OPENER SHARED CULTURAL EXPERIENCE

    It’s not every year you see a California high school team play a season opener against a squad from New Mexico.

    Menlo School welcomed Hózhó Academy, a charter school from Gallup, N.M., on Saturday in Atherton. The unusual matchup brought together two small schools with a number of differences but similar values.

    Hózhó Academy is located on the edge of the Navajo Nation in New Mexico, a Native American reservation home to the Diné people. Most of the Hózhó Academy players had not traveled off the reservation before coming to the Bay Area this weekend.

    “Coach (Todd) Smith and I really clicked when we talked about our coaching philosophies and the bigger picture of helping shape good, young men,” Hózhó Academy coach Cyle Balok said in a release. “We thought this game could be a special opportunity for both of our teams to meet and use the game as a bridge between two vastly different parts of the country.”

    Hózhó Academy traveled to Atherton by bus and made the trip thanks to fundraising from local businesses near Gallup. The two teams shared a pregame dinner Friday, and Menlo hopes the connections they make through the game last beyond Week 1.

    “We come from very different parts of the country,” said Smith, Menlo’s head coach. “But we started this friendship and knew this could be much more than a regular game.”

    — Christian Babcock

    PEEK AHEAD TO WEEK 2

    Friday

    Campolindo (1-0) at Northgate (1-0), 7 p.m.: Campo was in midseason form last week at Granada. 

    Los Gatos (0-1) at Liberty (1-0), 7 p.m.: Los Gatos will try to tighten its defense before the long trip to Brentwood. 

    Menlo-Atherton (0-1) at Acalanes (1-0), 7 p.m.: Acalanes aiming to beat CCS school for second week in a row.

    St. Francis (0-1) at McClymonds (0-1), 7 p.m.:  Tough trip for St. Francis as Lancers try to bounce back from loss to Cathedral Catholic.

    San Jose (1-0) vs. Lincoln-San Jose (1-0) at San Jose City College, 7 p.m.: Will Lincoln’s dominance continue in Big Bone game? 

    Windsor (1-0) at Hayward (1-0), 7 p.m.: Both teams had impressive season-opening wins.

    Saturday

    De La Salle (1-0) at Serra (0-1), 2 p.m.: DLS remembers its last visit to Serra, a 28-0 loss two seasons ago.

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    Christian Babcock, Nathan Canilao, Joseph Dycus

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  • Clock issues can’t stop Valkyries in win over Caitlin Clark-less Fever

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    SAN FRANCISCO — Chase Center turned into a glorified night club on Sunday night. 

    After electrical issues caused multiple shot clocks to malfunction, and choppy officiating gave way to numerous review stoppages, the fan cam inside the arena was put to work. 

    The basketball game almost seemed like background noise as fans were asked to dance to a mix of Bay Area classics and new age pop music with each game stoppage. Both the Valkyries and the visiting Indiana Fever were both visibly frustrated by the start-stop nature of Sunday’s game that took two hours and 38 minutes to complete.

    But what mattered most is that the Valkyries gave the sold out crowd of 18,064 something to dance for after the game ended.

    Golden State Valkyries’ Iliana Rupert (12) scores a 3-point basket against Indiana Fever’s Aerial Powers (23) in the fourth quarter at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Sunday, Aug. 31, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group) 

    The Valkyries won their third straight game, beating the injury-plagued Indiana Fever 75-63 behind a hot shooting start. The 158-minute game was the longest contest that ended in regulation since the Chicago Sky played the Dallas Wings in a two-hour, 41-minute game on Aug. 6, 2023, per Elias Sports Bureau. Sunday’s game had five clock stoppages in the first half. 

    The Valkyries attributed the clock malfunctions to a power outage that occurred at Chase Center on Sunday morning. 

    Iliana Rupert posted a career-high 21 points and hit 5-of-8 shots from the 3-point line. Rookie Janelle Salaün had 10 points, four rebounds and two assists. Veronica Burton finished with eight points, 13 assists and seven rebounds.

    “I think it was the first time in all of our lives that we had so much stuff (go on), but it’s not stuff that you can control,” Rupert said after the game. “We really just tried to stay together.  The fans obviously helped a lot because you can lose energy really quickly, and they were pushing us.”

    A broken shot clock above a basket during the Golden State Valkyries game against the Indiana Fever in the second quarter at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Sunday, Aug. 31, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
    A broken shot clock above a basket during the Golden State Valkyries game against the Indiana Fever in the second quarter at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Sunday, Aug. 31, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group) 

    The Fever were without superstar Caitlin Clark, who missed her 18th straight game with a left groin injury. Former Valkyries guard Aerial Powers scored 17 points off the bench and Kelsey Mitchell had 14 points in the loss. 

    The Valkyries held the Fever’s other star, Aliyah Boston, to just four points.

    “We really tried to be physical with her and try to make the night hard,” Rupert said. “I think we did that really well. So yeah, I’m happy of the work because it was really a team effort to stop her.”

    After two different clock stoppages forced a 25-minute delay in the first quarter, the Valkyries went on a run. Golden State hit seven of its eight 3-pointers and took a 25-14 lead after the first 10 minutes. 

    More stoppages allowed Indiana to get back within striking distance, but Golden State kept the high-paced offense at bay. 

    The Valkyries led by as much as 20 in the first half behind a 75% shooting quarter from beyond the arc. Rupert and Salaün accounted for 21 of the Valkyries’ 44 first-half points, and the home team led 44-32 after two quarters. 

    With all the stoppages, the first half lasted a whopping 92 minutes but Valkyries coach Natalie Nakase said the breaks in action helped the Valkyries regroup. 

    Golden State Valkyries head coach Natalie Nakase (35) talks to Golden State Valkyries' Temi Fagbenle (14) during their game against the Indiana Fever in the second quarter at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Sunday, Aug. 31, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
    Golden State Valkyries head coach Natalie Nakase (35) talks to Golden State Valkyries’ Temi Fagbenle (14) during their game against the Indiana Fever in the second quarter at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Sunday, Aug. 31, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group) 

    “We did get to talk about defensively, continuing to focus on our game plan and our execution in terms of the defense and what was hurting us,” Nakase said. “We just tried to make it an advantage as best we can.”

    Indiana made headway in the third quarter, cutting the Valkyries’ lead to seven going into the final 10 minutes. 

    Powers cut the Golden State advantage to just five with a layup at the 7:37 mark of the fourth quarter, giving the Fever a much-needed momentum swing.

    But just as Indiana was on the verge of cutting the lead to a single possession, Powers fouled Clark’s former Iowa teammate Kate Martin on a 3-pointer right in front of Indiana’s bench and the second-year guard swished the shot to erupt the Chase Center crowd.

    Golden State Valkyries' Kate Martin (20) heads to the basket against Indiana Fever's Lexie Hull (10) in the second quarter at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Sunday, Aug. 31, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
    Golden State Valkyries’ Kate Martin (20) heads to the basket against Indiana Fever’s Lexie Hull (10) in the second quarter at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Sunday, Aug. 31, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group) 

    Martin finished with 10 points.

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    Nathan Canilao

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  • Who could SF Giants call up when rosters expand in September?

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    SAN FRANCISCO —It wasn’t too long ago that manager Bob Melvin, having been swept by the Padres at home in mid-August, mentioned the idea of giving his regulars some days off and getting looks at younger players. With the Giants in the midst of a six-game winning streak, those plans are likely on hold.

    On Sept. 1, the Giants’ brass will have to decide which two players they select from Triple-A Sacramento to join the big-league roster as rosters expand from 26 to 28. With San Francisco still mathematically alive, president of baseball operations Buster Posey and company may find themselves leaning towards players more equipped to win now.

    Here’s a look at the most compelling candidates to be called up when the rosters expand:

    (All stats are entering Friday)

    Marco Luciano

    The Giants have had plenty of opportunities to call up Marco Luciano over the last couple months, especially after having the 23-year-old transition from infield to outfield in the offseason. With less than 30 games remaining, Luciano is still waiting for his first opportunity to play in the majors this season.

    Luciano hasn’t exactly dominated with Sacramento, but he’s hit well enough at times to warrant a look with San Francisco.

    Overall, Luciano has an .801 OPS with 22 homers and has been nine percent better than league average, by weighted runs created plus (wRC+). Since July, specifically, Luciano is hitting .250/.409/.569 with 10 homers and, by wRC+, has been 49 percent better than league average.

    Luciano would’ve likely had a more compelling case to be called up if Luis Matos was struggling, but Matos is 13-for-30 (.433) with three homers and seven RBIs since being recalled from Sacramento.

    Jesus Rodriguez

    The Giants received four prospects from the New York Yankees in exchange for Camilo Doval, the most intriguing of the bunch being catcher Jesus Rodriguez.

    Rodriguez didn’t have many opportunities to catch during his time in the Yankees’ system due to the franchise’s plethora of catching prospects, but he hit well enough that he played around the diamond so the Yankees could get his bat in the lineup. A lifetime .306 hitter in the minors, Rodriguez has also spent time at first base, second base, third base and left field.

    Rodriguez is hitting .317/.417/.415 with one homer and eight RBIs over his last 10 games, but it wouldn’t be surprising if the Giants keep Rodriguez in Triple-A so he can continue getting reps at catcher.

    Hayden Birdsong

    For months, Hayden Birdsong appeared to have made significant strides with his control. He didn’t walk a single batter during spring training, then continued to minimize walks for roughly the first three months of the season. Then, seemingly out of nowhere, Birdsong lost his command and ended up back in Triple-A.

    Birdsong’s issues with command have persisted with Sacramento. He appeared to make strides by only walking four batters over 12 1/3 innings during his first three starts with the River Cats. By contrast, during his last three starts Birdsong has walked 12 batters over 12 innings.

    JT Brubaker

    The Giants signed JT Brubaker to a minor-league deal in mid-August after he was released by the Yankees, and it’s not an outlandish proposition that Brubaker makes a start or two for San Francisco in September.

    Brubaker, 31, has pitched in four major-league seasons, missing all of ’23 due to Tommy John surgery and spending all of ’24 in the Yankees’ minor-league system. He’s made a pair of starts for Sacramento after being used solely as a reliever for the Yankees, allowing two runs over nine innings in those two outings.

    Blade Tidwell

    Tidwell was part of the return from the New York Mets in exchange for Tyler Rogers, the others being right-handed José Buttó and outfielder Drew Gilbert. If not for an injury, Tidwell likely would’ve already made his Giants debut.

    The 24-year-old right-hander posted a 1.69 ERA in his first three starts with Sacramento, striking out 23 batters over 16 innings, but experienced shoulder discomfort during a bullpen session following his start on Aug. 15.

    President of baseball operations Buster Posey said on KNBR that Tidwell is “moving in the right direction” and working on a throwing progression.

    “He’s obviously a guy we’re excited about, but we want to make sure that he’s, from a health standpoint, in a good place and doesn’t rush back,” Posey said. “It’s a big arm and somebody that we’re excited to continue to watch as he progresses. All signs seem positive there.”

    Tidwell features a deep arsenal of pitching, the core four being his four-seam fastball, sinker, sweeper and slider. Along with those offerings, Tidwell has also flashed a changeup and cutter.

    Bryce Eldridge

    There’s been no shortage of fans clamoring for top prospect Bryce Eldridge to make his major-league debut. Those voices continue to grow louder every time Eldridge homers.

    The only voice that matters, though, is Posey’s and he has repeatedly thrown cold water on the possibility of Eldridge making his debut this season.

    “I’d say most likely not,” Posey said on KNBR’s The Murph and Marcus Show. “I feel like I’ve said it 100 times, but Bryce is still 20. He’s still getting his reps as a first baseman. He’s getting his reps as a hitter. Like everybody else, (you) watch the amount of power that Bryce has. It’s hard not to get excited about.

    “Talking to Bryce a little bit back in spring training and then listening to how our minor-league staff talks about him, we know that he wants to be a complete player and he’s working on that.”

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    Justice delos Santos

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  • Duece Jones-Drew carries shorthanded De La Salle past Florida powerhouse Lakeland

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    Jones-Drew plays every snap, scores go-ahead touchdown in gritty season-opening win for top-ranked De La Salle.

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    Nathan Canilao

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  • SF Giants’ Rodríguez recommended to undergo Tommy John surgery

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    SAN FRANCISCO — Randy Rodríguez will have a choice to make in the coming days, but all signs point to one option.

    Rodríguez has been recommended to undergo Tommy John surgery on his right elbow by multiple doctors — Giants’ head team orthopedist Dr. Ken Akizuki and Dr. Keith Meister — the Giants announced on Friday.

    The 25-year-old All-Star, who has a 1.78 ERA with 67 strikeouts over 50 2/3 innings, will decide his course of action over the weekend. If Rodríguez opts for surgery, the procedure won’t just end the remainder of this season, but will likely sideline him for all of next season.

    “From spring training last year to where he is right now, it’s pretty extreme,” said manager Bob Melvin. “Credit to him. Hard work, perseverance, good stuff, finding mechanics that work for him. For a while there, probably the most important role we had as a guy that came in and had to get the big outs. Disappointing, obviously — for him, for us. There’s a timetable in that if he does do it. I’m sure he’ll be healthy and ready to go after that.”

    The Giants have exercised caution with Rodríguez, who missed about six weeks last season due to right elbow inflammation. Rodríguez has only pitched on back-to-back days six times this season, the last instance being on July 26 and July 27 against the New York Mets. Despite those best efforts, Rodríguez still appears to be headed under the knife.

    With Rodríguez likely missing all of next season — the timetable to return is roughly 12 to 18 months — the Giants’ brass will be tasked with bolstering their bullpen in the offseason.

    San Francisco’s bullpen enters Friday with the second-best ERA in the majors (3.22), but that unit looks significantly different now compared to the beginning of the season.

    Along with Rodríguez, left-hander Erik Miller is currently recovering from a left elbow sprain and could be done for the season following a setback in his recover. At the trade deadline, the Giants traded Tyler Rogers to the New York Mets and Camilo Doval to the New York Yankees. Still, the Giants have a foundation in the bullpen upon which they can build.

    Ryan Walker lost the closer role to Doval in late May following extended struggles but has been effective since the demotion. With the help of a mechanical tweak, Walker is posting a 1.77 ERA with 23 strikeouts over 20 1/3 innings since July. Now, Walker will return to the closer role for the foreseeable future.

    “It sucks,” Walker said of Rodríguez’s injury on Wednesday. “You never want to see guys go down like that. … He’s good mentally, doing whatever he needs to do to get that resolved. What’s great about our ‘pen is that we’ve got everybody’s backs. We’ll fill the void right now and we’ll get the job done.”

    Right-hander José Buttó will likely have more opportunities in higher leverage roles as well. Buttó, acquired from the Mets as part of the Rogers trade, owns a 2.38 ERA and 2.24 FIP over 11 1/3 innings since joining the Giants. Notably, Buttó has gone from having a 12.2 percent career walk rate with the Mets to 7.1 percent with the Giants.

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  • Bellarmine football: Are admission standards too stringent to compete at top level?

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    Second in a two-part series. Part I is here.

    SAN JOSE — A number of observers concerned about Bellarmine’s demise in football have made a similar contention: the school’s admissions standards are preventing the program from fully accessing the diverse group of athletes available around the Bay Area.

    “Admissions is always a subject that people are going to talk about,” said athletic director Kevin Saldivar, who is a member of Bellarmine’s admissions committee. “People have a perception that if you don’t have a certain GPA or certain belief, then you can’t come to Bellarmine. And that, for us, is just not accurate.

    “We’re diverse in our student body in all ways, academically, socioeconomically, ethnically. We want everyone to apply to Bellarmine.”

    Saldivar, who played football for the Bells before graduating in 2004, said Bellarmine is taking steps to attract students needed to excel at football and other sports.

    He noted that the school’s administrators and coaches met this summer.

    “What we had to do was really stop and evaluate where we were, where we are, and where we want to be,” Saldivar said. “It was a good exercise for the administration, for us, for the coaches, for the board, to really understand where we want Bellarmine football to be and where our expectations of Bellarmine football need to be.”

    What might that be?

    “One of the best programs in the Bay Area is what we should be,” Diaz-Infante said.

    Bellarmine head coach Dave Diaz-Infante watches over his team at a practice this month at the San Jose school. (Aric Crabb/Bay Area News Group) 

    Saldivar and Diaz-Infante acknowledged that Bellarmine may have overlooked the needs of its football program in recent years. And as Diaz-Infante noted, the Bells still have a ways to go to catch programs like Serra, St. Francis and Archbishop Riordan.

    But Saldivar is steadfast that Bellarmine is aiming toward that goal.

    “We filled our coaching staff on all three levels this year, 20 coaches, nine on the varsity level,” Saldivar said. “We were able to add two on-campus coaches, so a total of four for the varsity level, with plans and the idea to strategically add more on-campus coaches. The experience in high school and high school athletics, especially football, is one that doesn’t just happen from 3 to 5 (p.m.) after school when you have your coaches on campus.”

    The program’s former head coach, Jalal Beauchman, now in his first season as the team’s offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, is perhaps the clearest example of what Bellarmine is preaching. In his new role, he will lead outreach to middle school students, looking to identify future Bells and encourage them to apply.

    Bellarmine College Preparatory offensive coordinator Jalal Beauchman works with football players during practice on Thursday, Aug. 7, 2025, in San Jose, Calif. (Aric Crabb/Bay Area News Group)
    Bellarmine offensive coordinator Jalal Beauchman works with players during a practice this month on the school’s campus. (Aric Crabb/Bay Area News Group) 

    Beauchman’s objective goes beyond the athletic department as he helps lead the Bellarmine United in Learning and Diversity (BUILD) program. But a lot of people around Bellarmine wouldn’t mind if some of the future applicants also happen to be standout athletes.

    “We’ve got to go to places that we may not have been to recently and find guys and let them know that there’s a place for them over here at Bellarmine,” Diaz-Infante said. “And that’s been good. It’s reflected in our freshman class this year, and we’re gonna keep getting better. We’re gonna get more guys.”

    Happening now

    Bellarmine College Preparatory football players take part in practice on Thursday, Aug. 7, 2025, in San Jose, Calif. (Aric Crabb/Bay Area News Group)
    Bellarmine football players work on handoff drills during a practice this month. (Aric Crabb/Bay Area News Group) 

    As bricks are being laid for the program’s future, Bellarmine still has to play a football season this fall. This year’s edition of the Bells will begin play against Sobrato on Aug. 29.

    The season opener is notable for multiple reasons. For one, it will be Bellarmine’s first on-campus night game, an unprecedented feat for a school that has 175 years of history attached to its name.

    The school plans to add temporary lights and bleachers and will hold a fanfest in its quad that will start a couple of hours before kickoff.

    “We have a really big opportunity and a really great opportunity to really communicate and give the kids who are looking to come to high school that kind of information and opportunity,” Saldivar said. “It’s exciting.”

    Bellarmine’s non-league schedule opened eyes because it features two opponents – Sobrato and Los Altos – that are below the “A-league” threshold as designated by the Central Coast Section. Historically, this is nearly as unprecedented as the Bells playing a home night game on campus.

    Los Altos coach Mark Adams said his team was looking for a closer non-league matchup after facing Calaveras last season, a trip he described as “halfway up to Tahoe.” Hoping for a closer game, he reached out to Bellarmine, and the Bells said yes.

    “It’s a great student-athlete experience at Bellarmine,” Adams said. “I have a lot of respect for them, and I want my kids to understand what we’re trying to build and what we’re trying to get to. It was all me reaching out to them and wanting to play a great traditional school and show our kids what good looks like.”

    Sobrato coach Joel Rueda said he saw playing the Bells as an opportunity to prove to kids in Morgan Hill that they don’t need to leave town to play football at a high level.

    “There’s a whole lot of our young people in our community that choose to go to Bellarmine, whether it’s for athletics or for a faith-based education or whatnot,” Rueda said. “This is our chance to show the community, ‘Hey, you don’t need to travel to a private school or to a whole ‘nother town to have an awesome education. You don’t have to travel far at all to get top-tier coaching and play for a good football program.’”

    Diaz-Infante said playing Sobrato and Los Altos, as well as traditionally strong Jesuit, a school based in Carmichael near Sacramento, would help the Bells heading into West Catholic Athletic League play.

    “Sobrato, they’re an up and coming program,” Diaz-Infante said. “Los Altos is rebuilding. It’s important that our schedule is appropriate for us to build some momentum, because we play in the toughest league in the Bay Area.”

    Next steps

    Bellarmine College Preparatory football players take part in practice on Thursday, Aug. 7, 2025, in San Jose, Calif. (Aric Crabb/Bay Area News Group)
    Bellarmine football players go through a practice that began at 6 a.m. this month in preparation for a season that kicks off Friday. (Aric Crabb/Bay Area News Group) 

    It’s clear that Bellarmine football isn’t what it once was. The question now is what it will become.

    For junior running back/linebacker Justin Donahue, a Bellarmine legacy, playing for the Bells is about more than just a simple high school experience.

    “Bellarmine is my life, really,” Donahue said. “I’ve made a ton of friends here. It’s a brotherhood. It’s a family. It’s guys who want you to get better, both academically and athletically. All this comes together to make you a man who’s for and with others, which is what we learn here as a Jesuit school.”

    In many ways, Donahue is the quintessential Bellarmine football player. His father, uncle, older brother and two of his cousins attended the school, and his little brother will likely do so as well.

    Donahue has a simple objective for what he wants to accomplish with his teammates this fall.

    “Success wouldn’t be about the record, but rather us being able to surprise people,” Donahue said. “Because even though I’m sure everyone’s heard about Bellarmine not being good – 0-10 this, 0-10 that – we need to surprise these people and show them that we’re a lot better than we were last year, and we’re actually a team that will put up a fight against all these guys.”

    When Diaz-Infante was a player at Bellarmine, the Bells won their first CCS championship in the National division, then the top classification in the section, in 1981. They had rebounded from a 17-7 loss to Saratoga in the first National title game in 1980.

    Those days are long gone.

    “Bellarmine needs to wash away what we’ve been these past few years,” Donahue said. “Everyone knows that Bellarmine was a powerhouse. And I think we can get a lot more people coming to Bellarmine who are more athletic to improve all of our sports and make us better overall.”

    It’s possible that no one wants this more than Diaz-Infante. When discussing the Bells’ 0-10 record, he was visibly disgusted.

    “It got everyone’s attention,” he said. “Because, look, you can’t do things the same way as when we went 0-10. I have to wear that more than anybody. And do you think I like it? No, absolutely not. I can’t stand it. Makes me want to puke.”

    But when discussing Bellarmine’s future, he wasn’t just hopeful. He was emotional.

    As he thought of his experience playing for the Bells, Diaz-Infante briefly found himself unable to communicate. The impact was profound enough to render him speechless, and he shed a few tears.

    When he did regain his voice, he was resolute.

    “Our job is to smooth off the rough edges,” he said. “Our job is to create opportunities for more kids from different backgrounds. I was one of those kids. I know what the school did for me. Sometimes, I think I care too much. There’s a lot of kids that can benefit from being here. And we’re committed to getting there.”

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    Christian Babcock

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  • Verlander notches second win of season as SF Giants beat Cubs

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    SAN FRANCISCO — Justin Verlander needed about four months to record his first win as a Giant. He only needed a fraction of the time to earn his second.

    Verlander totaled the 264th win of his career as the Giants beat the Chicago Cubs 5-2 on Tuesday night at Oracle Park, allowing two runs over six innings with five strikeouts. It didn’t just mark Verlander’s second win of the year but his first-ever win at Oracle Park — a win he wishes he recorded 13 years ago when the Giants and Tigers met in the World Series.

    “No offense, but I wish I had one in 2012,” Verlander laughed.

    With his strikeout of former teammate Kyle Tucker in the top of the first inning, Verlander passed Walter Johnson for ninth on the all-time strikeout list. Verlander is now 15 strikeouts away from passing Gaylord Perry (3,534) for eighth on the all-time list.

    “I try to do a better job at being a little more present,” Verlander said. “The last few years especially, coming back from Tommy John (surgery), it’s been an emphasis of mine to pay attention a little bit more to things and be present, not only on the field but off the field with my family.

    “You can get so stuck in the mindset of grinding. This year’s been so tough for that. It’s been really hard for me to not crawl into my little shell. My family helps me a lot off the field, and here, we have a great group of guys. They’ve helped a lot. Just relishing the positive.”

    Verlander generated five whiffs with his slider, which had a noticeably lower velocity compared to his season average. Against the Cubs, Verlander’s slider clocked in at 85.6 mph. On the year, by contrast, his average slider has been 87.6 mph.

    “I changed the grip a little bit. I’ve been all over the place with my slider,” Verlander said. “I’ve tried to throw it harder, tried to throw it softer. I think right now, I feel like I’ve found a good, healthy place for it. I’ve liked the results with it. I’m getting a lot more chase, and it seems to be looking more like my fastball coming out of my hand.”

    The Giants not only scored enough runs to get Verlander a win, but they did so against their kryptonite: a left-handed pitcher.

    Entering play, San Francisco ranked last in the majors in batting average (.209), on-base percentage (.275) and slugging percentage (.340) against lefties. Chapman and Wilmer Flores both homered off the Cubs’ left-hander Matthew Boyd while Heliot Ramos and Rafael Devers chipped in an RBI apiece.

    “We’ve been a little bit better,” Melvin said. “Early in the season it was really bad. We don’t think about it as much now. … Tonight, drew three walks, some homers. Flo’s homer helped quite a bit early on, too, and just kind of relieves that ‘here we go again’ type feeling that maybe we had against lefties earlier.”

    It was difficult to ignore that “here we go again” type feeling when Verlander walked off the mound with the Giants leading 3-2 going into the bottom of the sixth.

    On six occasions this season, Verlander ended up with a no decision despite being in line for a win. Most recently, Verlander pitched seven shutout innings against the Tampa Bay Rays but didn’t have a win to show for the effort. On this night, the bullpen and the offense both ensured Verlander left Oracle Park with a win in hand.

    Following Verlander’s departure, Chapman hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the sixth that extended San Francisco’s lead to 5-2 and gave the Randy Rodríguez-less bullpen some much-needed breathing room. From there, Joey Lucchesi, José Buttó and Ryan Walker finished the job.

    Lucchesi retired all four batters that he faced, striking out a pair in the process. Buttó handled his only two batters as well, setting up Walker to close the door in the ninth.

    Walker allowed a one-out single to Dansby Swanson in the top of the ninth, but that would be the extent of Chicago’s offense for the rest of the night as the crossfiring right-hander finished the game without much drama.

    “It’s not like it doesn’t cross your mind sometimes, but this game kind of had a good feel to it,” Melvin said. “Once we scored in the sixth, we felt like we were in a pretty good spot with who was available and just kind of how we were playing the game.”

    Added Chapman: “Unfortunately, we haven’t gotten him more wins, but I think he’s pitched well enough to deserve some more. He’s been pitching well. I feel like he’s strung together some really quality starts, so I was glad we were able to get him the win today.”

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    Justice delos Santos

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  • Kaila Charles finds redemption with Valkyries in career night vs. Wings

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    Twice this year, the Dallas Wings told Kaila Charles she wasn’t good enough to keep a roster spot. 

    Her WNBA journey looked about finished for the 2025 season until the Valkyries gave her an opportunity just after the All-Star break after a plethora of injuries left the expansion team shorthanded. Now, the Valkyries can’t imagine a rotation without her. 

    Following three hardship contracts, the Valkyries guaranteed the 27-year-old shooting guard’s contract for the rest of the season. 

    On Sunday, she had her best game of the season as she locked up former teammate and rookie of the year candidate Paige Bueckers while tying a career-high 16 points in a 90-81 win over the Wings. 

    “I think it was a full circle moment,” Charles said after Sunday’s win. “I started the season here, and to be cut was sad, but it also gave me the opportunity to get film and get picked up by the (Valkyries). So even though it didn’t work out here like I wanted to, it gave me another opportunity where I fit in a little bit more.

    “So it just shows that everything happens for a reason, and I’m really glad that I was able to win with my team and do well and help them.”

    Dallas Wings guard Paige Bueckers (5) loses control of the ball against Golden State Valkyries guard Kaila Charles during the second half of a WNBA basketball game in Arlington, Texas, Sunday, Aug. 24, 2025. (AP Photo/LM Otero) 

    When the Valkyries first signed Charles on Aug. 1, the former University of Maryland standout was tasked with learning a new system and teammates on a team that’s in the midst of trying to make a playoff push. 

    On the morning she joined the team, Charles boarded a plane to Chicago and had a few hours to learn the Valkyries’ playbook before a 7 p.m. tipoff against the Sky. The Valkyries coaching staff quickly briefed Charles before the game and the shooting guard was immediately in the rotation that night. 

    That night against, Charles played 17 minutes, scored five points, grabbed five rebounds and closed the fourth quarter in her first game with the team. 

    “Sometimes it’s on the fly,” assistant coach Landon Tatum told this news organization in a recent interview about how they fit players like Charles into their rotation the day of a game. “We know this person can do this really well. So, let’s see if this works. I wouldn’t necessarily say we know ahead of time going into games this is going to for sure work, but I think because we do a solid job of knowing what players do well, we can kind of plug and play specific people with certain people.” 

    Since then, Charles has been a rotation regular. She’s played in every game and been a valuable piece off the bench for Nakase as a defensive stopper and consistent catch-and-shoot player. 

    In her first start with the Valkyries on Sunday, Charles was tasked with guarding Bueckers, who came into the game with a streak of 30 consecutive double-digit scoring games. 

    Charles shadowed Bueckers for every minute she was in the game. Her active hands bothered the rookie star and her quick feet kept Bueckers away from the basket. 

    Charles held Bueckers scoreless in the first half and eventually limited her to just nine points on 3-of-12 shooting. 

    “Credit to Kaila for coming and doing what she does,” Valkyries coach Natalie Nakase said. “Locking people up, and also on the offensive end, just being confident in her shot making. She makes quick decisions, taking it hard to the basket. Credit to Kaila because she’s really only had two practices with us.”

    With the injuries the Valkyries have, Charles’ role will only get larger in the coming weeks as the Valkyries try to secure a playoff spot. 

    Golden State is currently in eighth place with a half-game lead over the ninth-place Los Angeles Sparks for the final playoff spot. The Valkyries are also a half game behind the sixth-place Indiana Fever and seventh-place Seattle Storm with matchups against both franchises in the coming weeks. 

    The battle to make the playoffs makes Charles’ presence, and her ability to step in when her team needs her most, all the more valuable.  

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    Nathan Canilao

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  • Heliot Ramos comes up clutch in ninth inning as SF Giants rally against Brewers

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    On the fourth pitch of his at-bat, with the bases loaded, down to the team’s final out and facing one of the most fearsome closers in the game in Trevor Megill, Giants slugger Heliot Ramos did exactly what he needed to do with a 100-mile-per-hour fastball on Sunday.

    The 25-year-old laced a single to center, driving in his 54th and 55th runs of the season and giving San Francisco a lead it would not relinquish in a 4-3 come-from-behind victory in Milwaukee to clinch the three-game weekend series.

    San Francisco improved to 63-68, while Milwaukee fell to 81-50. The Giants are 6.5 games behind the Mets for the National League’s third and final wild-card spot.

    Ramos’ big at-bat capped off an inning that saw Matt Chapman lead off with a double to center off Megill. Then Wilmer Flores struck out after a nine-pitch at-bat and was followed by the red-hot Luis Matos, who singled to put runners on the corners with one out.

    Rafael Devers, pinch-hitting for catcher Andrew Knizner, was then blown away on a 101 mph four-seam fastball.

    But the Giants were not dead yet. Jung Hoo Lee drew a five-pitch walk to set the stage for Ramos. The 2024 All-Star outfielder came up big, and Ryan Walker closed out the game.

    “We continue to try and make the adjustment to try and win every game, and today was the greatest example for me,” shortstop and former Brewer Willy Adames told NBC Sports Bay Area’s postgame crew. “We came back against one of the best closers in the game right now and we got the win and the series victory. We’re going back home with a happy flight and hopefully we can continue the momentum now at home.”

    The Giants also had a chance to take the lead in the eighth when they had runners on first and second with one out. Dominic Smith struck out and Casey Schmitt — coming off a four-RBI game — popped up to first as San Francisco came up empty.

    Robbie Ray made his 27th start of the season for San Francisco in a topsy-turvy game, while Milwaukee right-hander Chad Patrick made his 21st start this year. 

    Matos provided Ray with a 2-0 lead in the second inning when he smoked Patrick’s 88 mph cutter some 391 feet over the wall for his seventh home run of the season. The shot produced by an uppercut swing was another great at-bat in a series full of them for Matos. The 23-year-old right-handed slugger went 2 for 4 with two RBIs, marking his fourth consecutive game with two hits.

    “We’ve seen him do this before, and it was time to let him get up here and let him do his thing,” Giants manager Bob Melvin told reporters. “So far, so good.”

    After Matos figured out Patrick in the second, Milwaukee’s Brandon Lockridge turned a Ray slider into an RBI in the bottom of the inning when he poked the ball through the left side of the infield to cut the Giants’ lead to 2-1. 

    In the third inning, Christian Yelich drove a ground ball into right field to tie the game at 2-2. In the fifth, Caleb Durbin belted his eighth home run of the season to give Milwaukee a one-run lead. 

    Ray lasted five innings while walking four, allowing six hits and three earned runs on 80 pitches — only 47 of his pitches were strikes. The veteran also failed to strike out a single batter, the first time that has happened this season. 

    The Brewers paid tribute to the late and legendary broadcaster Bob Uecker, who died in January, by wearing jerseys adorned with the name “Ueck” on the back in lieu of their own last names. Adames, the former Brewer, wore special cleats to honor the man.

    “It was very special, and very emotional,” Adames said. “I’m so happy we were here for this weekend.” 

    The Giants’ series win was their first since Aug. 4-6, when they took two of three from the Pirates in Pittsburgh.

    San Francisco will enjoy a day off before starting a six-game homestand against the Cubs at Oracle Park on Tuesday (6:45 p.m., NBC Sports Bay Area). Justin Verlander (1-10) is expected to start for the Giants, while Chicago has not named a starter. 

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    Joseph Dycus

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  • North Coast Section’s leading rusher from 2024 talks transfer to DAL powerhouse, goals for senior year

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    Clayton Valley Charter transfer running back Jhadis Luckey, a Fresno State commit, discusses his plans for a follow-up to his breakout junior year at California High.

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    Christian Babcock

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  • Casey Schmitt’s big day in Milwaukee helps SF Giants snap four-game losing streak

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    Facing one of the top pitchers in the majors, the Giants proved that sometimes, patience can be the solution to a problem in their 7-1 victory over the Brewers.

    For five scoreless innings on Saturday evening, San Francisco flailed against Freddy Peralta (15-5), the National League’s leader in wins. 

    The 29-year-old was a bit erratic but still effective. He issued four walks but also allowed only two hits and struck out six, keeping pace with Logan Webb in a classic pitcher’s duel.

    But with the Giants’ bats struggling against Peralta, Brewers manager Pat Murphy gave the Giants a major break by yanking his ace after 96 pitches. 

    With Grant Andersen on the mound and facing a 1-0 deficit, the Giants (62-68) took advantage of some hittable pitches – and a handful of errors – to jump all over Milwaukee (81-49). Casey Schmitt, starting at second, drove in four runs. 

    Willy Adames, who received another standing ovation before his first at-bat in his old stomping grounds, got on first to lead off the sixth inning after Andruw Monasterio committed an error. 

    Following Dominic Smith’s single, Schmitt tied the game with a double to left. 

    Then the red-hot Luis Matos got on base thanks to another error by corner infielder Anthony Seigler, allowing Smith and Schmitt to score and give the Giants a 3-1 lead. Matos had two hits and now has six overall in three games since being called up from Sacramento. 

    Schmitt padded the lead with a three-run 382-foot homer to center in the seventh, his ninth long ball of the season, and Patrick Bailey got his second hit of the night to give the Giants a 7-1 lead. 

    One of San Francisco’s top bats participated in the offensive explosion. After being on the injured list for the past 10 days with right-hand inflammation, Matt Chapman was back starting at third base and drew two walks.

    “He’s the leader … having him back there on the field just makes us that much better,” Schmitt said on the NBC broadcast.

    With their aces on the mound, runs were hard to come by for each team early on. Caleb Durbin doubled in Milwaukee teammate Jake Bauers in the second inning to give the Brewers a 1-0 lead. 

    It was not until Peralta was pulled after five innings that the San Francisco offense found its footing against the top team in the National League. 

    That put Webb in line to get the win after he threw six innings and allowed five hits and had six strikeouts. He improved to 12-9 on the season. 

    If the Giants can knock off the Brewers on Sunday, they will win a series for the first time since Aug. 6 against the Pirates. Robbie Ray is expected to pitch for San Francisco. 

    Fitzgerald sent down

    To make room for Chapman, the Giants sent Tyler Fitzgerald back down to Sacramento. He was just 2 of 19 at the plate since being recalled from Triple-A on Aug. 12 while splitting time between his natural second base position and right field. 

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    Joseph Dycus

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  • Bay FC mounts late comeback, falls to Washington Spirit in front of record crowd at Oracle Park

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    SAN FRANCISCO — Bay FC put up a good fight in the second half, but it was unable to catch up to the Washington Spirit in the two teams’ showcase game at Oracle Park in San Francisco.

    In front of an NWSL-record announced crowd of 40,091 fans, Bay FC fell down three goals but rallied to make a game of it late. Kelli Hubly’s second-half goal gave Bay FC hope, but Washington hung on to win 3-2.

    Washington (9-4-4) built its first-half lead with goals by Kate Wiesner and Croix Bethune, plus an own goal by Hubly in stoppage time.

    Racheal Kundananji responded with Bay FC’s first goal even later in stoppage time, a header in the fifth minute of added time that gave Bay FC needed hope heading into the halftime break.

    Bay FC goalkeeper Jordan Silkowitz (29) fights for the ball against the Washington Spirit’s Gift Monday (21) during the first half of an NWSL match at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, Aug. 23, 2025. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group) 

    Then Hubly really gave Bay FC’s record home crowd a reason to believe in the 54th minute, heading home a corner kick from Alyssa Malonson to bring Bay FC within a goal.

    Bay FC (4-8-5) generated a number of late chances and was generally on the front foot for the rest of the game, but the hosts were unable to equalize and reward their home fans with a result.

    Check back for updates to this story.

    Bay FC celebrates their second goal scored by Bay FC's Kelli Hubly (11) against the Washington Spirit during the second half of an NWSL game at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, Aug. 23, 2025. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)
    Bay FC celebrates their second goal scored by Bay FC’s Kelli Hubly (11) against the Washington Spirit during the second half of an NWSL game at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, Aug. 23, 2025. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group) 
    Bay FC fans celebrate a goal by Bay FC's Racheal Kundananji (9) against the Washington Spirit during the first half of an NWSL game at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, Aug. 23, 2025. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)
    Bay FC fans celebrate a goal by Bay FC’s Racheal Kundananji (9) against the Washington Spirit during the first half of an NWSL game at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, Aug. 23, 2025. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group) 
    The Bay FC takes on the Washington Spirit during the first half of an NWSL game at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, Aug. 23, 2025. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)
    The Bay FC takes on the Washington Spirit during the first half of an NWSL game at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, Aug. 23, 2025. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group) 
    Fans celebrate the second goal scored by Bay FC's Kelli Hubly (11) against the Washington Spirit during the second half of an NWSL game at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, Aug. 23, 2025. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)
    Fans celebrate the second goal scored by Bay FC’s Kelli Hubly (11) against the Washington Spirit during the second half of an NWSL game at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, Aug. 23, 2025. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group) 

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    Christian Babcock

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  • Injuries continue to pile up for Valkyries in painful loss to Mercury

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    Healthy players and wins are becoming harder and harder to come by for the Valkyries as the season enters its final phase. 

    Golden State dropped its third consecutive game when the visiting team fell to Phoenix 81-72 on Friday night. 

    Veteran guard Tiffany Hayes, who made her return after resting against Phoenix in the Bay Area on Tuesday, left the game with an injury with 7:17 to go in the third quarter. 

    Hayes collided with Mercury guard Kahleah Copper after she closed out on a pass intended for Copper. Hayes crumped to the ground and later went back to the locker room. 

    Rookie guard Carla Leite also injured her ankle in the same quarter, and although she attempted to play through it, eventually was pulled with 8:20 in the fourth quarter.

    Coach Natalie Nakase said both were in good spirits after the game.

    “She was smiling, and I’ll have to wait to see from our medical staff what the situation is,” Nakase said of Hayes, adding about Leite. “She something was sore with her foot, but she said she’s good.”

    With their veteran leader knocked out, the Valkyries tumbled back to .500 with an 18-18 record and into the last playoff spot as the No. 8 seed after losing the rematch to the Mercury, who beat Golden State in the Bay Area on Tuesday. 

    The Valkyries kept it close for a while, though. Golden State trailed 41-31 at halftime, and a burst in the third cut the deficit to 50-47 with a little over four minutes remaining in the quarter. 

    One of the few bright spots for the Valkyries was rookie wing Janelle Salaun, who was asked to take on more of a scoring role with Cecilia Zandalasini staying at home while nursing a calf injury. 

    Salaun scored 15 on a variety of drives, contested finishes and some soft mid-range jumpers. Coming off a 24-point, 14-assist masterclass on Tuesday, Veronica Burton put up a solid 11 points and eight assists for the Valkyries.

    Phoenix’s Alyssa Thomas stuffed the stat sheet with an 13-point, 12-rebound, 16-assist effort, her sixth triple-double of the season. 

    “We need to be better on defense,” Salaun said. “Sometimes, we make shots, sometimes we do not. But I think we need to be more connected on defense.”

    Golden State will play at Dallas on Sunday. ”

    Makoa Akani gets the last laugh

    After being the topic of much conversation following her soccer-esque foul on Veronica Burton, the rookie out of France showed that she was more than just a defender against Golden State.

    She made 6 of 9 shots and scored 18 points, 11 in the second quarter, spacing the floor for her more-decorated teammates in Thomas and Co. One of her fastbreak layups with two minutes remaining on the third quarter clock pushed the Phoenix lead to 62-49 and forced Nakase to call timeout. 

    As a team, the Mercury peppered the Valkyries from the perimeter and made 14 of 32 from 3-point land, compared to just 8 of 31 for Golden State.

    Long-range ineptitude, fastbreak success

    The Valkyries shot 3 of 15 from the 3-point line in the first half, forcing up shots due to their inability to break down the compact Suns defense. Instead of continuing to throw up bricks from long range, Nakase’s Valkyries appeared to place an emphasis on pushing the pace. 

    Though the team only had 14 fastbreak points according to the official box score, Golden State’s willingness to run and play in semi-transition allowed the visitors to create open looks. Salaun broke free for a couple of fastbreak layups, as did Hayes in the second quarter after a Mercury turnover. 

    Rupert returns

    Both Hayes (rest) and Rupert (concussion) were back in the starting lineup after missing Tuesday’s game at Chase Center.

    Though shutting down Thomas is impossible – after all, Thomas put up a triple double – Rupert still had her moments against the MVP candidate. 

    The center pulled off a nice block on a Thomas fastbreak midway through the second quarter, and a few minutes later, forced a miss with a vertical contest. She ended the game with nine points, five rebounds and two blocks. 

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    Joseph Dycus

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