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Tag: Softball

  • Softball Preview: Burroughs, Burbank, Providence, Expect Successful Seasons

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    Burroughs hopes to win another Pacific League title. (Photo courtesy Doug Nicol)

    By Rick Assad

    It’s that time of year again when the sun is bright and there is not much wind and balls are being struck and pitchers are trying to get batters out.

    Softball is about to commence for three local teams and each has an air of confidence in their ability.

    Burroughs High, Burbank and Providence are stacked with talent and are hopeful of playing well during the nonleague and league schedule.

    The Bears went 21-7 in all games and 8-1 in the Pacific League for first place and lost to Tesoro 10-2 in the CIF Southern Section Division II opening-round game.

    Doug Nicol has coached Burroughs softball for years and feels that the campaign is going to be something special.

    “I am very excited for this season. We have a team that has worked really hard in our offseason strength and conditioning program,” he said. “Our players really improved physically, and the results have shown with a very successful fall season. We also have so many quality kids who have embraced our culture and are high character young ladies.”

    Nicol went on: “We have pushed them really hard this offseason, and they never backed down from the challenge. I think the sky’s the limit with this team. We are very deep at every position,” he stated. “We have a great mix of older experienced players, along with some exciting younger players. We are going to be a fun team to watch.”

    Burbank is ready for the softball season. (Photo courtesy Javier Rojas)

    The goal is to place first in the league, and the Bears are deep and talented.

    “As always, our goal is to win the Pacific League. I think we have a team that has the potential to do that. The Pacific League will be challenging,” Nicol said. “I expect Arcadia, Crescenta Valley and Burbank to all be in the mix because they all have talented teams.”

    Nicol added: “We know that being Pacific League champions will put a target on our back, but we like that and the challenge that presents,” he said. “The girls are all super excited to lock in and get the season started and to make a run towards a championship.”

    Because of graduation, the Bears will be without power-hitter Chloe Centeno and versatile Alyssa Morales, who played the outfield and shortstop.

    Burroughs is still loaded and has six seniors and include outfielder Karlee Earl, second base/shortstop Karisma Mendez, outfielder Hailey Perez, outfielder Eva Acevedo, third baseman Neyla Cervantes and pitcher/outfielder Hailey Franco.

    The six juniors are shortstop Sophie Rangsiyawong, pitcher/first baseman Valentina Reyes, catcher Sabrina Coto, first baseman/outfielder Chloe Zavala, catcher Ali Cortez and first baseman/third baseman Sady Gonzalez.

    The five sophomores are outfielder Amy Reed, first baseman/pitcher Elliott Rendon, outfielder Haven Vickers, second baseman Claire Simon and outfielder/pitcher Kalani Miramontes.

    The two first-year players include second baseman/shortstop Lily Orozco and third baseman Sydney Shugar.

    A season ago, Burbank carved out a 9-15-1 record and 5-4 mark for fourth in league behind the pitching of Maddison Kellogg, who is playing for California Baptist University.

    Javier Rojas is the Burbank head coach and realizes his team will be without the star hurler and several key contributors.

    “We are a new team after losing eight seniors, but we have a good core of juniors that will lead us and a young core with three freshmen and one sophomore who will be our future and who bring a lot of excitement,” he said.

    Rojas still believes in the players he has despite just one senior on the team.

    Providence won three consecutive Prep League championships but are in a new league. (Photo courtesy Manny Travieso)

    “I think with that mixture we will compete with other teams, and the goal is always to make the playoffs,” he said. “Kassandra Kimmer-Davila, Chloe Updike and Kayla McPherson are the girls to look out for,” he said.

    Rojas continued: “Last year Kimmer-Davila did a great job catching Maddie and was second-team, all-league and Updike was honorable mention and led in stolen bases,” he offered. “It’s great to have a center fielder like her. McPherson will lead us in pitching but I’m excited for the whole team.”

    Burbank has a dozen players on the squad and there is one senior, first baseman/second baseman/pitcher McPherson.

    There are seven juniors on the team and includes outfielder Updike, second baseman/outfielder Alyssa Perez, catcher/outfielder Kimmer-Davila, outfielder Melanie Cendejas, third baseman/outfielder Isabel Villagran, first baseman/third baseman/outfielder Holly Cashman and outfielder Priscilla Sanchez.

    The sophomore is first baseman/third baseman/pitcher Sienna Hale.

    The freshmen are first baseman/outfielder Heather Nielsen, shortstop/third baseman/pitcher Addison Lombardo and second baseman/shortstop/center fielder Cassie Sanchez.

    Providence claimed three consecutive Prep League titles but the Pioneers, who went 12-5 and 9-3 in league for first place, will now be competing in the Liberty League.

    Gone to graduation are some key players most notably Delailah Lopez, who plays for New York University, Gloria Galindo and Mia Allinson, who are also playing at the college level.

    The Pioneers lost to Bishop Montgomery 5-0 in a Division V first-round game.

    Manny Travieso is Providence’s head coach and hopes to still make the playoffs.

    “After an impressive three-year streak of winning the Prep League, Providence is transitioning into the Liberty League. However, it’s important to note that the league does not currently have a softball league, which means that this season we will be competing independently. Despite this change, our determination to qualify for the CIF remains unwavering,” he said. “We understand that the pathway to CIF may be different and more difficult this year, but we are committed to working diligently towards that goal.”

    Travieso, who is also an assistant coach at Vermont State University, believes it will take time, but the Pioneers will be good.

    “This season will serve as our retooling year after losing three players to the college softball world last year. We will continue to compete with the same tenacity as in previous years,” he stated. “Looking ahead, we are optimistic about the next four years for Providence softball as we expect to emerge even stronger.”

    Travieso also addressed the first-year players.

    “We are particularly excited to watch our freshmen develop, shining a spotlight on Kayla Salazar and Brooklyn Freed as they embark on their high school journey knowing they will be wearing a college uniform in just three and a half years,” he said.

    There are two seniors and they are Gigi Aleman and Ariana Benito and two juniors that include Siany Cruz and Siena Hartman.

    “Our junior players continue to grow and improve, and we expect our senior captains, Ariana and Gigi, to have the best years of their softball high school life this season,” Travieso said. “Their leadership and contributions are irreplaceable, and we will miss their guidance next season.”

    There are three sophomores and includes Sofia Carrillo, Madelynn Watts and Stellina Truglio.

    “Our sophomore class has no pressure to prove themselves, but we know our workhorse, Madeline Watts, will aim to surpass her already impressive performance, having been recognized as a member of the All-CIF team last year,” Travieso said.

    The freshmen include Brooklyn Freed, Kayla Salazar, Talia Simpson, Melissa Buckwoski and Rebecca Connery.

    Travieso thinks highly of the whole team.

    “Every member of our team possesses the heart and grit needed to make this unconventional year one to remember,” he said. “We are ready to embrace the challenges ahead and look forward to a memorable season as we keep our tradition in sending our softball players to play college softball at top universities.”

    Chamber

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    Rick Assad

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  • Minnesota Police: Youth Softball Treasurer Stole $110K at Casinos

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    Posted on: January 2, 2026, 04:26h. 

    Last updated on: January 2, 2026, 04:27h.

    • A former treasurer of a youth softball league allegedly stole money by using casino ATMs
    • A lawsuit claims the treasurer withdrew $110K in cash at tribal casinos

    Police in Minnesota say a former treasurer of a youth softball organization stole more than $110,000 over a nearly five-year span.

    Minnesota casinos theft crime softball
    A file photograph shows girls shaking hands following a youth softball game. Police in Minnesota say a former treasurer of a youth softball association stole over $110K, making cash withdrawals at two tribal casinos. (Image: Shutterstock)

    A lawsuit filed by the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office alleges that Kristin Allyenne Williams, 52, of Maple Grove, made unauthorized cash withdrawals from banking accounts belonging to the Plymouth Wayzata Youth Softball Association (PWYSA) over four and a half years. The crime ended in February 2025, when a probe into the tax-exempt group’s finances led to her dismissal.

    Association President Tim Lyons tipped off police last year that his treasurer had allegedly been making ATM withdrawals at tribal casinos and covered her illegal tracks by classifying the cash transactions as “clinic expenses” and “equipment” related to the youth softball organization’s operations.

    The volunteer and parent-run organization “promotes the game of fastpitch softball as a means to teach girls the value of teamwork and sportsmanship, to enhance self-esteem, and to develop softball skills, all in a positive environment.” The PWYSA runs travel leagues for 14U, 16U, and 18U levels.  

    Casino Charges 

    Hennepin County prosecutors allege that Williams made numerous unapproved ATM withdrawals at the Mystic Lake Casino and Little Six Casino, both in Prior Lake. The casinos are owned and operated by the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community.

    Williams was reportedly the lone staffer in the organization who had access to the online banking account held with U.S. Bank. PWYSA officials told law enforcement that there was no reason for Williams to be withdrawing cash.

    The legal complaint does not detail whether Williams gambled with the ill-gotten money. Casino ATMs typically carry hefty service fees, making them unattractive other than for a gambler in need of quick cash.

    The probe into the youth softball group’s finances was initiated after the IRS sent a letter saying its tax-exempt status had been rescinded after failing to file annual tax returns for three consecutive years.

    Williams has been charged with felony theft by swindle and is due in court on Jan. 21. A person found guilty of such theft faces up to 20 years in prison and fines of up to $15,000.

    Williams’ rap sheet is otherwise unremarkable, with a misdemeanor conviction in 2013 for failing to display license plates being her lone court record.

    Youth Sports Targeted

    Last May, the treasurer of a Little League Baseball chapter in Connecticut died suddenly at the age of 57. Months later, it was determined that Kenneth Grohs Jr., who had served as the treasurer of the Union City Little League for over 20 years, had been stealing from the organization to fund his online gambling addiction.

    An investigation made public in September 2025 concluded that Grohs had swindled over $165,000 from the Little League chapter to fund his FanDuel account. Legal online sports betting and casino gambling began in Connecticut in October 2021. FanDuel and DraftKings maintain the online gaming monopoly with their respective tribal partners, Mohegan Sun and Foxwoods.

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    Devin O’Connor

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  • Rick’s Sports Corner: Karisma Mendez, Two-Sport Stand Out

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    By Rick Assad

    MBB 2024

    Karisma Mendez doesn’t stand out in one sport but the senior at Burroughs High has drawn attention in two sports.

    A gifted and polished infielder for the softball team, she has also distinguished herself on the first-ever flag football team as a quarterback for the Bears.

    Mendez’s play was noticed and was selected to play for Mexico in the recently played Friendship Bowl.

    “Becoming a part of the Friendship Bowl team for Mexico came from when one of their managers got in contact with one of the softball parents who told my mom that they were looking for a flag football player to play alongside with the team and had a Mexican family background,” she said. “The experience I had with the girls was amazing and such a once in a lifetime experience.”

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    Mendez, who plays second base and shortstop, added: “The players and coaches were very welcoming, and it was such a great atmosphere as it felt like family when playing with them,” she noted.

    Mendez, who also played wide receiver and linebacker, stood out on the gridiron because she’s quick with the pass after tossing 25 touchdowns but also ready to run when it’s necessary after averaging 30.5 yards a game and scoring five touchdowns during the season.

    “I loved every single moment playing flag football my senior year. Our team had such great chemistry with each other and we all had so much fun as we were learning the game throughout the season together,” she said. “I believe the best highlights of this season was when we figured out what we were capable of doing and accomplished it towards the end of the season.”

    Mendez, who helped the Bears to an 11-13 record, continued: “Being able to throw around 35 to 40 yards and the girls being able to receive them,” she said. “That’s when our connections hit the most.”

    Karisma Mendez plays softball and flag football for Burroughs and was also a member of Team Mexico in the recent Friendship Bowl flag football game. (Photo courtesy Karisma Mendez)

    Keith Knoop is the Burroughs athletic director and its flag football coach and previously its football coach.

    “Karisma is such a fantastic person. She took to girls’ flag football like a bird to flight,” he explained. “Girls’ flag football truly lit a fire in her to love this new phenomenon known as flag football. She was determined to be good and competitive and learn the game. Honestly, she made me excited to coach again.”

    Playing softball and later flag football was something Mendez, who will attend college but probably won’t play softball, had in her sights and relished.

    “I wanted to play softball in high school because of my life revolving around this sport and all my free time indulging and preparing for games and practices. My siblings played for Burroughs. My sister played softball, and my brother played baseball. I was influenced by myself to become better at them, because of my competitiveness” she said. “As for flag football, I wanted to try something new. I knew my siblings played one season when they were in middle school, so I wanted to test it out and see if I was also able to play. Turns out I was right! But in all seriousness, I wanted to play flag football as it’s a growing sport at the moment especially now that women are getting more recognition playing sports.”

    Mendez went on: “Seeing football players wear shirts that encourage those to watch girls’ flag football and seeing the Olympics adding flag football is amazing and now seeing that softball is finally getting a league that is sponsored by MLB,” she said. “It’s great seeing more and more recognition of women’s sports overall.”

    Playing two sports takes time, skill and effort and it also requires being patient and analytical.

    “To prepare for both softball and flag football I will usually visually manifest what my performance would be to the very breath. I would visualize my swing from gripping the bat to the weather on my skin to the sound of the dugout, and the feeling when hitting,” Mendez acknowledged. “Same goes for flag football, visualizing my grip when throwing, the feeling of the turf, the windows that are possible with the plays, and making that throw to the wide receivers’ hands. Every sport comes down to being a mental game.”

    Mendez is about to play her final season on the softball field and she expects it to be rewarding.

    “Playing softball has been such an experience with me as I grew up. My entire life revolves around this sport. Starting when I was four years old playing travel ball to now finishing my career during the spring of my senior year,” she said. “I have loved this sport and there were times I had dreaded this sport but yet there has never been a dull moment while playing this sport.”

    Mendez continued: “Softball is such a mental game that takes a toll on you, but in the end it is a game you play along with some of your best friends,” she stated. “The connection the softball team has to Burroughs is such a great culture. We all have each other’s backs, and we have such great chemistry on the field.”

    Karisma Mendez (No. 34) and her Team Mexico flag football teammates. (Photo courtesy Karisma Mendez)

    Doug Nicol is a longtime coach at Burroughs and has seen first-hand Mendez help the Bears to two Pacific League championships.

    “I am looking forward to Karisma having a sensational senior year. She is going to be counted on to be a leader on this team,” he said. “She has won two league titles in her three years here at Burroughs, and I know how much a third would mean to her.”

    Nicol knows that Mendez is determined to cap her softball career in style.

    “She has been putting in the work, both on the field and in the weight room and I am excited to watch her crush it this year,” he said.

    Toiling at two sports requires laser-focused dedication and that’s not counting time in the classroom.

    “I believe sports helped me become a leader, a problem solver, and become a critical thinker. When playing softball, you need to know the play before the ball gets hit, knowing how many outs, what’s the situation, and know who you should throw to if you get the ball,” Mendez said. “It’s such a critical game that helps thinking on the spot and helps communicating with others.”

    Mendez added: “Even if you don’t have the title of being a captain, there’s times where you might need to lead,” she stated. “Meaning helping another player, being there for them, and being vocal during games. With flag football, it helped me learn new skills, being able to adapt to a whole different game by using the same mechanics and alternate them for the better.”

    Mendez is keenly aware what her strengths are and they are numerous.

    “The best attributes I have both on the field and in the classroom are being a critical thinker and problem solver. There have been so many times in the classroom where I had been confused on the topic but there wouldn’t be a time I would give up,” she said. “That plays along with being on the field. I would never give up if I am in a slump as I would try and find different ways and methods to get myself out of it.”

    Mendez wasn’t finished with her thought: “The best thing to do when struggling is to never give up and to keep on trying and you will find a pathway, even if it becomes bumpy,” she said.

    Mendez addressed specifically how she gets out of a down period.

    “When I was in a slump, I would ask for guidance from either coaches or from the girls. I wouldn’t give up on myself since I knew I had the potential. It was just a matter of fixing my attitude, my rhythm and trying something different,” she said. “Asking for guidance lets you get a perspective others are seeing that could help you solve the puzzle.”

    Mendez was asked which softball game or games were the most memorable to date.

    “One game that had stood out to me was playing against Crescenta Valley last year, 2025 Senior night,” she said. “I believe that had been one of the best games I had played and a game the entire team did very well. We all played our very best. We were all on our toes wanting that win for Senior Night and in the end we got that win. Another game that had stood out was a pre-season game from this fall as I hit my first home run out of the park against Notre Dame. It felt amazing finally getting that home run I’ve  been waiting for my entire high school career.”

    In a few months, Mendez will begin her final season as a softball player at the high school level and it will be bittersweet.

    “I believe what I will miss the most about high school and playing two different sports is the coaching staff and the girls. Playing with Coach Doug and with Coach Knoop has been such an honor as they both have been coaching for a long time at Burroughs,” she offered. “As for the girls, I have such great love for them all as they had become such amazing friends to play along with and the girls on flag football team created a great experience all together by figuring out how to play a sport, we all barely knew how to play.”

    Nicol appreciates everything Mendez has brought to the softball program.

    “Karisma is such a joy to coach. With Karisma, you never have to worry if she is going to come to practice ready to go,” he said. “She is dedicated to our program and comes to practice each day with intensity and ready to work hard.”

    Nicol continued: “She understands that each day is a competition and realizes that she is a leader in our program who the younger girls look for guidance and to continue the culture that has been built by those before her,” he said. “She wasn’t given anything in her career here at Burroughs. She has had to earn everything, and that was only done because of her work ethic and because she is a person of high character who takes pride in giving 100 percent every single day. She is just an outstanding person who I enjoy coaching very much.”

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    Rick Assad

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  • Rick’s Sports Corner: Maddison Kellogg, Talented, Faith-Driven

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    By Rick Assad

    From the moment that Maddison Kellogg stepped into the pitcher’s circle for the Burbank High softball team, she made her presence known.

    While she was confident in her ability to get batters out, she was also young and inexperienced playing at the high school level.

    “As a freshman, I was still learning, still figuring out who I was on and off the field,” said the freshman at California Baptist University who will play softball and major in Business Marketing. “By my senior year, I had grown stronger, more confident, and more grounded in my faith. Softball taught me discipline, resilience, and how to lead with compassion. I know I left high school not just a better athlete, but a better person.”

    Across Kellogg’s four-year varsity career that included 434 and one-third innings pitched, a 1.77 earned-run average with 590 strikeouts, 165 walks and 29 victories with 31 losses, believes she has something guiding her and that’s her faith.

    “Before stepping into the circle, I always prayed to God. My mindset was to stay grateful, stay confident, and trust the work I had put in during practices and training,” she said. “I didn’t try to over complicate things. I just focused on being present in the moment.”

    Kellogg, who went 3-4 with a 2.75 ERA and 108 strikeouts and 27 walks over 79 innings her senior season, added: “Instead of feeling nervous, I focused on being thankful for the opportunity to play the game I love,” she stated. “That mindset helped me stay calm, confident, and ready to compete.”

    Maddison Kellogg was a Burbank standout pitcher and attends California Baptist University where she will play softball and major in Business Marketing. (Photo courtesy Maddison Kellogg)

    Of course, there were tense moments during that four-year span but Kellogg, who went 8-5 with a 0.30 ERA and 166 strikeouts with 27 walks over 92 and two-third frames as a junior where she was named Pacific League Co-Pitcher of the Year and first team all-league, didn’t change her game plan.

    “When the game got close and the pressure was on, I went back to my breathing and my faith,” she noted. “I would remind myself to breathe, stay in the moment, and trust that I wasn’t out there alone. I had my teammates behind me, and God guiding me. Focusing on one pitch at a time, instead of the score or the situation, always helped me reset and keep my composure.”

    As Burbank’s best pitcher, Kellogg, who was also named honorable mention as the Southern California All-State softball team as a junior, knew that she had to deliver and, in many instances, did just that.

    “Being the ace definitely came with responsibility, and yes, sometimes that meant extra pressure. But I learned to turn that pressure into motivation. I didn’t see it as just being on my shoulders,” she acknowledged. “I saw it as a way to lead, to inspire my teammates.”

    Kellogg went on: “I knew my team counted on me, and I didn’t want to let them down. At the same time, I remembered that the outcome wasn’t just on me. It was a team effort, and we were all in it together,” she added. “My goal was always to give my best effort and trust that no matter the outcome, I was growing as both an athlete and a person.”

    Why did Kellogg flourish in the circle from the outset and is one of the best pitchers in Burbank’s history?

    “I think I did well because I trusted the process and worked hard every single day. I put in the extra hours, but I also leaned on my faith to guide me,” she said. “I knew that God had given me these gifts, and it was my responsibility to honor Him with how I used them. Hard work, discipline, and keeping my heart in the right place made all the difference.”

    As the best pitcher on the team, this meant Kellogg played in many important games. Which stood out for her?

    “Some of my favorite games were the ones that pushed us the hardest, especially close, competitive matchups where we had to dig deep,” she said. “Those games reminded me why I love this sport: the energy, the bond with my teammates, and the chance to rise to the occasion together. Win or lose, those moments brought out the best in us and created memories I’ll never forget.”

    Kellogg, who carved out a 11-10 record as a sophomore and fanned a career 175 with 65 walks and had a 1.86 ERA over a season best 147 innings, knows that not many people play a sport and stand out.

    Maddison Kellogg takes some time off from playing softball and is getting ready to hit the books. (Photo courtesy Maddison Kellogg)

    “I am thankful and pleased with my high school career. It wasn’t always easy, but every challenge and every victory shaped me into the athlete and person I am today,” she said. “I’m proud of the effort I gave, the growth I experienced, and most of all, the relationships I built with my teammates and coaches. I’m grateful for every moment.”

    Reflecting on what she accomplished during her time as a Bulldogs, Kellogg, who went 7-12 with 141 strikeouts and 46 walks with a 2.18 ERA over 115 and two-third innings as a freshman, looked back.

    “It was even more than I imagined. I expected competition and hard work, but I didn’t realize how much love, support, and community I would gain through this program,” she stated. “Playing for BHS gave me lifelong friendships, incredible mentors, and opportunities to grow that I will carry with me forever.”

    Kellogg also realizes she has a great deal of support behind her career.

    “So many people helped me along the way,” she noted. “My amazing mom [Priscilla], dad [Dannylee], and coaches, who pushed me to reach my potential; my teammates, who supported me through every inning; and of course, my family, my friend’s, teachers, and even yard duty/school security staff who never stopped believing in me and showed up to every game.”

    Kellogg went on: “Coach Daisy Beltran was a huge influence and support system for me while she was the assistant coach at Burbank. Coach Javier Rojas, who I only had in my senior year, really went up and beyond to recognize all my efforts and accomplishments all four years,” she said. “But most of all, I know it was God’s hand guiding me through it all. I couldn’t have done any of this without faith and the people he placed in my life.”

    Kellogg enjoyed her tenure as Bulldog and will never forget the time she spent in the softball program.

    “What I’ll miss most is the coaches and teammates. The practices, bus rides, and little moments that brought us close together. I’ll also miss representing my school and community, knowing that something is bigger than myself,” she said. “High school softball wasn’t just about games; it was about the people and the memories we made.”

    Rojas reflected on his one year as Kellogg’s coach.

    “Maddie meant everything to Burbank softball. Everybody knew who she was, even me coming into my first season,” he said. “Everybody told me to wait until you see Maddie pitch. She was elite but most importantly, she was an elite person and that came from her parents.”

    Rojas knows that he was fortunate to get a player of Kellogg’s skill.

    “What made her stand out was her confidence and calmness in the circle,” he offered. “She was able to shake things off and move on to the next batter if someone got a hit off her.”

    Chamber

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    Rick Assad

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  • With Gausman and Yamamoto, the splitter is back in the spotlight for World Series Game 6

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    TORONTO — Mr. Splitty has returned.

    Showcased by World Series Game 6 starters Kevin Gausman and Yoshinobu Yamamoto, split-finger fastballs have been used for 6.8% of postseason pitches this year, more than double last year’s 2.4% and up from 1.5% when pitch tracking started in 2008.

    “There’s so many good pitches in today’s game — there’s so many good sweepers and sliders and cutters,” Gausman said. “I think the split is almost kind of a just a little bit different of an animal. You can recognize the spin and you can still have a pretty ugly swing on it if the metrics are right.”

    Toronto used splitters a big league-high 9.3% of the time during the regular season, according to MLB Statcast. That was the highest percentage of any team since pitch tracking started in 2008, topping 7.8% by Minnesota in 2023 and Baltimore this year.

    Gausman has thrown his splitter 41.4% of the time in the postseason, followed on the Blue Jays by fellow starter Trey Yesavage (27.7%), closer Jeff Hoffman (25.9%) and relievers Seranthony Domínguez (16.7%) and Yariel Rodríguez (8.6%).

    Roki Sasaki, shifted from rotation to relief, tops the Dodgers at 45.9%, followed by Yamamoto at 24.7% and Shohei Ohtani at 7.4%.

    “Roger Craig is smiling somewhere,” New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone said, referring to the late pitching coach and manager, among the splitter’s most prominent proponents. “With all these cameras and technology and stuff, you’re really able to outfit guys with what they should be doing based on how their body moves.”

    Bruce Sutter, Jack Morris and John Smoltz utilized the splitter during careers that earned induction into the Hall of Fame.

    Splitters are throw with index and middle fingers spread wide, intended to have substantial downward break.

    Sutter credited his reaching the Hall to learning the splitter from Fred Martin, a big leaguer from 1946-50 who became a Chicago Cubs minor league instructor.

    “He told me to spread my fingers apart and throw it just like a fastball,” Sutter said during his Hall induction speech in 2006. “There were players throwing forkballs at the time and a few guys were using it for a changeup, but nobody was throwing what he called the split finger. It was a pitch that didn’t change how the game was played but developed a new way to get hitters out.”

    Craig taught the splitter to Morris as pitching coach of the Detroit Tigers and to Mike Scott when he was with the Houston Astros. Roger Clemens learned how to throw it from Scott at a charity golf event in 1986 and started calling the pitch “Mr. Splitty.”

    Usage dropped after the pitch gained a reputation for causing elbow injuries. Just 1.4% of regular-season pitches were splitters when tracking started. The percentage climbed to 2.2% in 2023, 3.1% in 2024 and 3.3% this year.

    “Going back a few years, I think certain people thought they couldn’t throw it, they couldn’t actually get their fingers wide enough,” Blue Jays manager John Schneider said. “Pitch design has changed, and I think guys have figured out different ways to grip it, like, Gaus’s is different than Trey’s, Trey’s is different than Seranthony’s, Yariel’s is different than — they all hold it a little bit differently. So I think pitchers have just gotten to the point where they understand that pitch works against certain swing types that are pretty prevalent in the league and they figured out ways to kind of manipulate to get the same action.”

    Gausman’s 37.6% splitter usage during the season was third behind Detroit’s Rafael Montero (46.9%) and Philadelphia’s Jhoan Duran (39.7%) among those who threw at least 1,000 pitches.

    Among starting pitchers who threw at least 100 splitters, Yamamoto held batters to a .136 average, third behind Seattle’s Logan Gilbert (.119) and Atlanta’s Spencer Schwellenbach (.132).

    Batters had a .181 average against Gausman’s splitter, down from .230 vs. his fastball and .342 against his slider.

    “One of the few pitches I thoroughly believe a hitter can know it’s coming and still get out,” Gausman said. “I’ve always felt like the changeup is the best pitch in the game because it looks like a fastball, and anything that looks like a fastball and isn’t is really good.”

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  • Don’t check in late for Cubs-Brewers NLDS decider. This series is all about the first inning

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    MILWAUKEE — MILWAUKEE (AP) — Working as a starting pitcher in the NL Division Series between the Chicago Cubs and Milwaukee Brewers has been one tough job.

    Twenty-one of the 35 runs in the series have been scored in the first inning. The series concludes on Saturday night with a winner-take-all Game 5 to determine which of these NL Central rivals will face the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NL Championship Series.

    “I think it’s way more common than you think, for pitchers to be vulnerable in the first inning,” Brewers manager Pat Murphy said Friday. “Everybody’s geeked up. The atmosphere is way different. And I think that’s something that is noted.”

    So perhaps it’s no surprise that neither Murphy nor Cubs manager Craig Counsell announced their Game 5 starting pitchers a day in advance.

    The Cubs have the option of turning to Game 2 loser Shota Imanaga on four days’ rest, but he posted a 6.51 ERA in September and has allowed six runs over 6 2/3 innings in two appearances this postseason.

    “With the exception of (Game 4 starter) Matt Boyd, everyone’s going to be available,” Counsell said. “And so it’s a cliché here, but we have 11 pitchers to figure out how to get 27 outs. That’s how we’re treating it.”

    Milwaukee could use a similar approach to its Game 2 strategy, when seven different pitchers contributed to a 7-3 victory. Murphy noted that Aaron Ashby would be available after throwing 32 pitches in the Brewers’ Game 4 loss on Thursday.

    Murphy listed Ashby, Abner Uribe, Jared Koenig, Trevor Megill, Chad Patrick and Jacob Misiorowski as guys who are “going to probably pitch.”

    “A lot of those guys are rookies, a lot of those guys are not very experienced, but that’s how we’ve won all these games and come together,” Murphy said. “Now we’re playing in a way bigger environment, and it’s a bigger task. But I’m confident that we’ll have enough pitching.”

    The Cubs are trying to become the 11th team to win a best-of-five series after losing the first two games. The last team to do it was the New York Yankees against Cleveland in the 2017 AL Division Series.

    Saturday’s winning team would open the NLCS on Monday. The Brewers would host the Dodgers for the start of the series, while the Cubs would travel to Los Angeles.

    Chicago has reached this point by winning each of its last three elimination games, though all of them were at home. The Cubs beat the San Diego Padres 3-1 in the decisive third game of their Wild Card Series, and they brought this series back to Milwaukee by winning 4-3 in Game 3 and 6-0 in Game 4.

    “I feel like it’s an even slate,” Cubs second baseman Nico Hoerner said after the Game 4 victory. “Game 5. Both teams have had great moments in this series. I love where our group’s at.”

    Milwaukee is trying to change its recent history of postseason frustration.

    The Brewers are in the playoffs for the seventh time in the last eight seasons, but their last postseason series win was in the 2018 NLDS. They lost Game 7 at home to the Dodgers in the NLCS that year and are 4-13 in their last 17 playoff games.

    Murphy remains confident in the Brewers’ chances as they look to bounce back from two straight losses in Chicago.

    “We’re five wins away from the World Series,” Murphy said. “I’ve learned a lot about this team, and one thing it is, it’s resilient, and they bounce back.”

    Milwaukee suffered one of its most heartbreaking playoff exits last year, when the Brewers led the New York Mets 2-0 heading into the ninth inning of Game 3 in the NL Wild Card Series before Pete Alonso hit a three-run homer off Devin Williams as part of a four-run rally.

    Losing this series would be just about as painful for Brewers fans because it’s against one of their biggest rivals and Counsell, the longtime Milwaukee manager who grew up in the area but left his hometown team to join the Cubs.

    Counsell has downplayed the personal aspect of this matchup throughout the series.

    “I’m just thinking about how do we advance,” Counsell said. “It’s almost like the opponent doesn’t matter right now. How do we advance? Because who you play and all those stories around that, that doesn’t matter. How do we advance? That’s really been my focus.”

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  • Scherzer, Bichette and Bassitt are left off Blue Jays’ Division Series roster against Yankees

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    Three-time Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer was left off the Toronto Blue Jays’ roster for their AL Division Series against the New York Yankees along with injured shortstop Bo Bichette and right-hander Chris Bassitt.

    Scherzer was 1-3 with a 9.00 ERA in his last six starts, including a Sept. 7 loss to the Yankees as New York took advantage of the 41-year-old right-hander tipping pitches with his changeup.

    An eight-time All-Star, Scherzer was 5-5 with a 5.19 ERA in 17 starts after agreeing to a $15.5 million, one-year contract. He didn’t pitch between March 29 and June 25 because of right thumb inflammation.

    He has a 221-117 record with a 3.22 ERA, winning World Series titles with Washington in 2019 and Texas in 2023. Scherzer is 7-8 with a 3.78 ERA in 30 postseason games.

    Bichette, second in the major leagues to the Yankees’ Aaron Judge with a .311 batting average, hasn’t played since Sept. 6, when he sprained his left knee in a collision with Yankees catcher Austin Wells. Bassitt, who was 11-9 and led the Blue Jays in wins, hasn’t pitched since Sept. 18 because of lower back inflammation.

    Toronto included 13 pitchers, but only Kevin Gausman, Shane Bieber and Trey Yesavage, a 22-year-old right-hander who debuted Sept. 15, finished the season in the rotation. Toronto chose four left-handers against lefty-heavy New York: Justin Bruihl, Mason Fluharty, Eric Lauer and Brendon Little.

    New York added right-hander Luis Gil, who was set to start Saturday’s opener and dropped right-handed relief Mark Leiter Jr., who was active for the Wild Card Series against Boston but didn’t pitch.

    The defending World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers added three-time Cy Young winner Clayton Kershaw and left-hander Anthony Banda to the roster for their NL Division Series against Philadelphia while dropping right-hander Edgardo Henriquez.

    Kershaw, a 37-year-old, is slated to pitch in relief. The 11-time All-Star says he will retire after the postseason.

    Infielder Otto Kemp and outfielder Weston Wilson were on the Phillies’ roster and right-handers Jordan Romano and Lou Trivino were left off.

    Right-hander Ben Brown was added to the Chicago Cubs’ roster against the Milwaukee Brewers and left-hander reliever Taylor Rogers was dropped. Rogers pitched a hitless inning in the Wild Card Series against San Diego.

    Milwaukee included hard-throwing rookie right-hander Jacob Misiorowski and left-hander Robert Gasser while leaving off first baseman Rhys Hoskins.

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  • Walkertown Girls Softball Association raises money to support growth

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    WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — The Walkertown Girls Softball Association has been empowering young athletes in the Triad for more than 50 years.

    What You Need To Know

    • The Walkertown Girls Softball Association is serving up food this week at the Carolina Classic Fair in Winston-Salem to raise money for the league

    • The nonprofit has more than a dozen teams each season, with nearly 200 girls from across the region playing each year. But president Leslie White says renting fields for practices and games gets expensive

    • The association has been running a booth at the Carolina Classic Fair for more than 25 years. The fundraiser is their largest of the year and helps keep registration fees low for families

    • The Walkertown Girls Softball Association will be at the Carolina Classic Fair Friday, Oct. 3 through Sunday, Oct. 12.


    This week, the group is serving up food at the Carolina Classic Fair in Winston-Salem to raise money for the league and its future.

    The nonprofit has more than a dozen teams each season, with nearly 200 girls from across the region playing each year. But president Leslie White says renting fields for practices and games gets expensive.

    “We hope to one day be able to field maybe three fields, find enough land to build three fields and also build our own training facility,” White said.

    The association has been running a booth at the Carolina Classic Fair for more than 25 years. The fundraiser is their largest of the year and helps keep registration fees low for families.

    “Some of the money that we raise helps offset that so that we don’t have to raise our prices on our parents,” White said.

    Beyond serving food — like Brunswick stew, burgers and lemonade — the booth features jerseys, team photos and a vision board showing plans for the group’s future facility.

    “They need to be a part of something good,” White said. “Our mission is to empower girls to feel confident about themselves.”

    The Walkertown Girls Softball Association will be at the Carolina Classic Fair on Friday, Oct. 3, through Sunday, Oct. 12.

     

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  • Dodgers lead with 26 pitch clock violations. Baz tops pitchers with 6, Butler heads batters with 3

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    NEW YORK — The Los Angeles Dodgers topped the major leagues with 26 pitch clock violations this season, while Tampa Bay’s Shane Baz led pitchers and the Athletics’ Lawrence Butler was first among batters as the overall big league total dropped substantially once again.

    Los Angeles committed one more violation than the Mets, according to Major League Baseball’s figures. Colorado had 23, and Houston, the Los Angeles Angels and Washington had 22 each.

    Cincinnati and Kansas City tied for the fewest infractions with three apiece.

    There were 465 violations in the third year of the pitch clock, down from 602 last year and 1,048 in 2023. Batters committed 369 violations, along with 91 by batters and five by catchers.

    Baz was followed by Enyel De Los Santos, Camilo Doval, José Fermin, Kodai Senga, Framber Valdez and Will Warren with five each.

    Chris Bassitt, Sean Burke, Jose A. Ferrer, Tyler Glasnow, Yoendrys Gómez, Sonny Gray, Eric Lauer and Carlos Vargas had four apiece.

    Among batters, Warming Bernabel, Yandy Díaz, Nick Gonzales, Jung Hoo Lee, Yoán Moncada, J.T, Realmuto, Javier Sanoja, Carlos Santana, Dominic Smith and Ramón Urías had two each.

    There were 35 pitcher disengagement violations, a decrease of one, and five batter timeout violations, the same as in 2024.

    There was just one defensive shift violation, a drop from two last year and 26 when rule started in 2023 that required two infielders to be on the infield dirt, on each side of second base.

    This year’s violation occurred on Sept. 18 when Seattle played at Kansas City. In the eighth inning, Mariners manager Dan Wilson asked for a video review that determined Royals second baseman Michael Massey hadn’t been fully on the infield dirt when Dominic Canzone grounded out in the eighth inning.

    Canzone was awarded first on the violation and J.P. Crawford followed with a two-out RBI double in Seattle’s 2-0 win.

    MLB shortened the pitch clock with runners on base by two seconds to 18 ahead of the 2024 season while keeping it at 15 seconds without runners on base.

    MLB’s average time of a nine-inning game fell from 3 hours, 4 minute in 2022 to 2:40 the following year when the clock was instituted and decreased to 2:36 in 2024, its lowest since 1984’s 2:35. It rose to 2:38 this year.

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  • Kiké Hernandez hits go-ahead double in 9th to lift Dodgers past Mariners, 5-3

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    SEATTLE — Kiké Hernandez hit a two-run, go-ahead double in the ninth inning and the Los Angeles Dodgers struck out 15 Seattle hitters in a 5-3 victory over the Mariners on Saturday night.

    Mariners closer Andrés Muñoz walked Michael Conforto and Alex Call to lead off the ninth. Both runners advanced on Miguel Rojas’ groundout to first scored when Hernandez drove Muñoz’s breaking ball down the line in left.

    Edgardo Henriquez pitched the ninth for his first save of the season. The Dodgers struck out the final nine Mariners hitters in order.

    Muñoz (3-3) took the loss, and Alex Vesia (4-2) got the win after a scoreless eighth for Los Angeles. The Dodgers have won five straight.

    Dodgers catcher Dalton Rushing broke a scoreless tie with a two-run homer in the fifth inning off Seattle starter Logan Gilbert, but Jorge Polanco put the Mariners ahead with a three-run homer the very next inning off Andrew Heaney.

    The Dodgers tied it again in the seventh when Michael Conforto scored from third on reliever Logan Evans’ wild pitch.

    Conforto led off the inning with a single, advanced to third on a basehit from Hernandez, and then scored when the ball flew past Mariners catcher Harry Ford to the backstop.

    Hernandez’ double put the Dodgers in front for good and put a jolt into the sizable contingent of Dodgers fans in attendance.

    The Dodgers extended their winning streak over the Mariners to 11 games. The Mariners last beat the Dodgers on April 19, 2021, at T-Mobile Park.

    Dodgers LHP Clayton Kershaw (10-2, 3.52) will make the final regular season start of his Hall of Fame caliber career on Sunday against Mariners RHP Bryce Miller (4-5, 5.53).

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  • Ohtani tops MLB jersey sales for 3rd straight season. Skenes and Raleigh break into top 20

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    NEW YORK — Shohei Ohtani topped Major League Baseball’s jersey sales for the third straight year heading into the end of the regular season as Paul Skenes and Cal Raleigh entered the top 20.

    MLB’s top seven remained unchanged from its listing at the All-Star break. Ohtani, the Los Angeles Dodgers’ two-way star, was followed by New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge, Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman and shortstop Mookie Betts, New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor and outfielder Juan Soto, and San Francisco third baseman Rafael Devers.

    Ohtani is just the fourth player to lead in three consecutive years after Derek Jeter (2010-12), Judge (2017-19) and Betts (2020-22). MLB started keeping track of sales in 2010.

    Skenes, set to win the NL ERA title in his second season with Pittsburgh, was 18th. Raleigh, a Seattle catcher who entered Friday leading the major leagues with 60 home runs, was 20th. Both failed to make the top 20 list at the All-Star break.

    Also finishing among the top 20 for the first time were Boston outfielder Jarren Duran at 13th and Chicago Cubs outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong at 16th.

    Philadelphia first baseman Bryce Harper moved up two slots to eighth, dropping Houston second baseman Jose Altuve and San Diego outfielder Fernando Tatis Jr. each down one.

    Atlanta outfielder Ronald Acuña Jr. was 11th, followed by Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw, who plans to retire after the postseason and finished among the top 20 for the 12th time.

    Cincinnati shortstop Elly De La Cruz was 14th, Toronto first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. 15th, New York Mets first baseman Pete Alonso 17th and San Diego third baseman Manny Machado 19th.

    MLB’s list tracked sales on Fanatics’ sites, including MLBShop.com, since opening day.

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  • Robot umpires approved for MLB in 2026 as part of challenge system

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    NEW YORK — Robot umpires are getting called up to the big leagues next season.

    Major League Baseball’s 11-man competition committee on Tuesday approved use of the Automated Ball/Strike System in the major leagues in 2026.

    Human plate umpires will still call balls and strikes, but teams can challenge two calls per game and get additional appeals in extra innings. Challenges must be made by a pitcher, catcher or batter — signaled by tapping their helmet or cap — and a team retains its challenge if successful. Reviews will be shown as digital graphics on outfield videoboards.

    Adding the robot umps is likely to cut down on ejections. MLB said 61.5% of ejections among players, managers and coaches last year were related to balls and strikes, as were 60.3% this season through Sunday. The figures include ejections for derogatory comments, throwing equipment while protesting calls and inappropriate conduct.

    Big league umpires call roughly 94% of pitches correctly, according to UmpScorecards.

    ABS, which utilizes Hawk-Eye cameras, has been tested in the minor leagues since 2019. The independent Atlantic League trialed the system at its 2019 All-Star Game and MLB installed the technology for that’s year Arizona Fall League of top prospects. The ABS was tried at eight of nine ballparks of the Low-A Southeast League in 2021, then moved up to Triple-A in 2022.

    At Triple-A at the start of the 2023 season, half the games used the robots for ball/strike calls and half had a human making decisions subject to appeals by teams to the ABS.

    MLB switched Triple-A to an all-challenge system on June 26, 2024, then used the challenge system this year at 13 spring training ballparks hosting 19 teams for a total of 288 exhibition games. Teams won 52.2% of their ball/strike challenges (617 of 1,182) challenges.

    At Triple-A this season, the average challenges per game increased to 4.2 from 3.9 through Sunday and the success rate dropped to 49.5% from 50.6%. Defenses were successful in 53.7% of challenges this year and offenses in 45%.

    In the first test at the big League All-Star Game, four of five challenges of plate umpire Dan Iassogna’s calls were successful in July.

    Teams in Triple-A do not get additional challenges in extra innings. The proposal approved Tuesday included a provision granting teams one additional challenge each inning if they don’t have challenges remaining.

    MLB has experimented with different shapes and interpretations of the strike zone with ABS, including versions that were three-dimensional. Currently, it calls strikes solely based on where the ball crosses the midpoint of the plate, 8.5 inches from the front and the back. The top of the strike zone is 53.5% of batter height and the bottom 27%.

    This will be MLB’s first major rule change since sweeping adjustments in 2024. Those included a pitch clock, restrictions on defensive shifts, pitcher disengagements such as pickoff attempts and larger bases.

    The challenge system introduces ABS without eliminating pitch framing, a subtle art where catchers use their body and glove to try making borderline pitches look like strikes. Framing has become a critical skill for big league catchers, and there was concern that full-blown ABS would make some strong defensive catchers obsolete. Not that everyone loves it.

    “The idea that people get paid for cheating, for stealing strikes, for moving a pitch that’s not a strike into the zone to fool the official and make it a strike is beyond my comprehension,” former manager Bobby Valentine said.

    Texas manager Bruce Bochy, a big league catcher from 1978-87, maintained old-school umpires such as Bruce Froemming and Billy Williams never would have accepted pitch framing. He said they would have told him: “’If you do that again, you’ll never get a strike.’ I’m cutting out some words.”

    Management officials on the competition committee include Seattle chairman John Stanton, St. Louis CEO Bill DeWitt Jr., San Francisco chairman Greg Johnson, Colorado CEO Dick Monfort, Toronto CEO Mark Shapiro and Boston chairman Tom Werner.

    Players include Arizona’s Corbin Burnes and Zac Gallen, Detroit’s Casey Mize, Seattle’s Cal Raleigh and the New York Yankees’ Austin Slater, with the Chicago Cubs’ Ian Happ at Detroit’s Casey Mize as alternates. The union representatives make their decisions based on input from players on the 30 teams.

    Bill Miller is the umpire representative.

    ___

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  • Rick’s Sports Corner: Louie Binda, Several Rewarding Careers

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    By Rick Assad

    Louie Binda has led an entirely interesting life and is now fully retired and rooting for the Angels, his favorite Major League Baseball team, while enjoying the fruits of his labor.

    Binda has worked for the Internal Revenue Service beginning in December 1969 and has coached for multiple decades, working with the girls’ soccer and softball teams at Burroughs High.

    If that wasn’t enough, Binda, a longtime Burbank resident was also a longtime teacher and was a successful Parks and Recreation men’s fastpitch softball coach and also coached softball, baseball, AYSO soccer and club soccer.

    “I became a coach in September of 1969 [Parks and Rec]. My late wife and I had just been asked to become high school youth counselors for our church youth group. The coach of our men’s church basketball team had been drafted (Vietnam) and we had no coach,” he explained. “In addition, the youth group had six boys, along with some older adults, who also wanted to play. We had too many players, so we made two teams. Most of the guys on the men’s team were better than I was so I played with the youth (B) team and coached both teams.”

    Binda, who graduated from Valley State College, now Cal State University Northridge with a degree in Business Administration and an option in accounting, added: “It was hard to coach guys on the men’s (A) team that I had known and played with for years, but the guys were pretty good about it,” he said. “I must have done something right because both teams won their division. Prior to this I had never even considered becoming a coach.”

    Binda, who began teaching in the Burbank Adult School in 1972 and ended that portion of his career in 1990, referenced a turning point in his coaching career.

    Louie Binda threw out the ceremonial first pitch of the Burbank versus Burroughs softball game at Olive Park to commemorate his retirement. (Photo by Xavier Dubon)

    “In 2008, I was ordered to take over the girls’ soccer team just past the middle of the season. I did not want the job because I felt the coach (who I knew) should not have been fired. At that time I was coaching the boys’ freshman team, and I did not want to give that up,” he recalled. “I later found out that the team was in sixth place (out of eight teams), had lost their first game in the second round, and had their two best players out for the rest of the league season. The team had not been to the playoffs in 15 years and had never won a playoff game.”

    Binda, who began his tenure as a substitute teacher in 2006 after retiring from the IRS, added: “I got the team to finish in fourth place, qualifying for the playoffs, and we won our first playoff game before we were eliminated. In 2011, I coached the girls’ junior varsity softball team to a 20-0 record. When I was given the team, the varsity coach told me that we would be lucky to win one game that year,” he noted. “We beat three teams that year giving them their only loss. Burbank High had only two losses, both to us, and we beat both of their varsity pitchers. Quite an accomplishment for a team that wasn’t supposed to win a game.”

    Being on the field and seeing players improve has been rewarding for Binda, who assisted Mike Kodama as the Burroughs boys’ varsity soccer coach beginning in 1995 and later helped out the freshmen and junior varsity squads and was head coach Brady Riggs’ assistant for the girls’ varsity until 2024.

    “I enjoy working with the players, the administrative staff at Burroughs, and 99 percent of the parents are terrific to work with,” he said. “I especially enjoy watching the players work hard to get better, work as a team and then see the results on the field. I love watching the players improve and seeing their confidence soar as they see their hard work pay off.”

    Coaches and players need to be resilient and willing to listen to each other, according to Binda.

    “Players learn that when you fail you have to get right back up and work harder,” he said. “That by working together as a team, you can accomplish so much more than you ever could as an individual. This applies to the field, the classroom, and especially in life.”

    Binda, who was the first-ever Burroughs girls’ soccer coach in 1989, wanted to win just as much as the next guy, but he also wanted players to enjoy what they were doing.

    “My philosophy for both are the same – make the students/players winners in life. So many of the lessons we teach and learn on the athletic field apply to what we do in the classroom and in life,” he said. “Work hard to get better. If you make a mistake, learn from it and correct it. When you get knocked down, and you will, get up and work harder.”  

    Athletes are the same regardless of the year or time, noted Binda.

    “The athletes are similar, but the students who are not out for sports are quite different. For instance, before the Internet, all the kids could play baseball, football, and basketball in elementary school. Now, physical education teachers are teaching students how to play these sports in high school,” he said. “In 1961 when I tried out for the “B” football team we had 120 kids try out, and the school had a student body of approximately 1,200 students. Now with a student body of more than double the 2,400 students (2,600-2,800), the varsity football team gets less than half of 120 students trying out, and there is no “B” football. In the end, kids are kids, and I really enjoyed working with them in both the classroom and on the field.”

    Binda’s coaching philosophy is sound and proven.

    “I feel that patience and good communication skills are critical. Listen to what your players tell you. Communication is a two-way street. Game knowledge is important but not as important as patience and communication skills,” he explained. “You need the respect of your players to be successful, and respect is earned. Every coach has their own way of doing things, so I feel that there is no one way to do things. Be honest with your players. Don’t try to be something you are not.”

    UCLA’s John Wooden built a dynasty on the Westwood campus as his basketball teams won 10 NCAA championships in 12 seasons beginning in 1964 and running through 1975 and the Indiana native was quick to note that coaching and teaching are one and the same.

    “I totally agree with John Wooden. When I was recruited to become a manager with the Treasury Department the primary reason was because I was already a successful instructor with the Treasury and I was teaching in the Burbank Adult School,” Binda said. “We are telling students/players what we want done and how to do it. You cannot do this without good teaching skills.”

    Being successful on the field and on the court isn’t just about skill, although it’s important. It’s really a combination of things.

    “Working with players who have talent, but refuse to put in 100 percent effort to improve and instead rely on their athletic ability, eventually they will reach a level where everyone is just as good or better than that player, but because they do not have a work rate, they will not be as successful as they hoped or fail,” Binda said. “This is especially true in life.”

    Binda continued his thought: “As a teacher/coach, you have to realize that you are doing the best that you can, and that no matter how good you are or how hard you try, you cannot reach everyone,” he pointed out. “Dealing with some parents can be very frustrating. But as an IRS/adult school teacher/instructor, a soccer referee (for 20 years) and an IRS agent, there is very little that you can say to me that I have not heard before.”

    Binda’s advice for teachers and coaches is simple.

    “Be honest with your players and be patient,” he said. “Be yourself.”

    That’s good insight and advice.

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  • Oregon man pleads guilty following fatal crash with college softball team bus

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    An Oregon man has pleaded guilty to two counts of second-degree manslaughter following a fatal crash with a bus carrying a community college softball team that left a player and the team’s head coach dead, according to court documents filed Wednesday.

    The petition to enter a guilty plea, filed in Coos County Circuit Court, shows Dowdy also pleaded guilty to three counts of third-degree assault, five counts of fourth-degree assault, one count of driving under the influence and one count of driving with a suspended license.

    The attorney listed for Dowdy in court records, Jennifer Leigh Leseberg, did not immediately respond to requests seeking comment.

    Dowdy was driving his pickup truck on April 18 when he crossed a center line and crashed into a bus carrying 10 members of the Umpqua Community College softball team, state police said.

    Jami Strinz, 46, described on the school’s website as the head softball coach, was driving the Chevrolet Express bus. Police said she was later declared dead at a hospital.

    Kiley Jones, 19, was pronounced dead at the scene. The freshman from Nampa, Idaho, played first base, according to the athletics department’s website.

    The team was traveling from a game in Coos Bay, according to a statement from the school.

    The other eight occupants of the bus received moderate to serious injuries, according to police.

    Dowdy also was injured and was admitted to a hospital, state police said. It wasn’t immediately clear what type of injuries he had. The Coos County Jail roster shows he was booked on April 21.

    Dowdy’s sentencing is scheduled for Sept. 11.

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  • Collinsville and Ira players get top honors on Texas 2A and 1A all-state baseball teams

    Collinsville and Ira players get top honors on Texas 2A and 1A all-state baseball teams

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    BRYAN, Texas (AP) — The Blue Bell/Texas Sports Writers Association Class 2A and 1A all-state baseball teams, distributed by The Associated Press:

    CLASS 2A FIRST TEAM

    Pitchers: Rylan Newman, Collinsville, sr.; Titan Targac, Flatonia, jr.; Thomas Perez, Valley Mills, sr.; Westyn Balch, Hawley, sr.

    Catcher: Christian Lazarine, Valley Mills, jr.

    First baseman: Kennett McLane, Valley Mills, sr.

    Second baseman: Cason Johnson, Valley Mills, sr.

    Shortstop: Logan Jenkins, Collinsville, sr.

    Third baseman: Logan Addison, New Home, sr.

    Outfielders: Carson Wallace, Harleton, jr.; Cash Morgan, Collinsville, jr.; (tie) Cain Hayden, Ganado, jr.; Cayton Noyola, Wink, soph.

    Designated hitter: Brady Davis, Beckville, sr.

    Player of the year: Jenkins, Collinsville

    Coach of the year: Derrick Jenkins, Collinsville

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    CLASS 2A SECOND TEAM

    Pitchers: Gunner Ferguson, Thorndale, jr.; Kannon Ritchie, Kerens, jr.; Dallas McFadden, Garrison, jr.; Damian Castorena, Mumford, sr.

    Catcher: (tie) Cayson Stainton, Alvord, sr.; Tyler Bigham, New Deal, sr.

    First baseman: Jared Galloway, New Deal, sr.

    Second baseman: (tie) Jaxon Jenkins, Collinsville, fr.; Kaden Kovar, Thorndale, sr.

    Shortstop: (tie) Ryder Starkey, New Home, soph.; Cash Bolgiano, Crawford, sr.

    Third baseman: Kade Franklin, Ropes, soph.

    Outfielders: McCray Jacobs, Johnson City, sr.; Reed Patterson, Collinsville, sr.; (tie) Gage Shirts, Harleton, jr.; Hagen Berlan, Mumford, soph.

    Designated hitter: Brazos Beck, New Home, sr.

    ___

    CLASS 2A THIRD TEAM

    Pitchers: Jaxson Eschberger, Thorndale, fr.; Krayton Ritchie, Kerens, jr.; Conner Schreiber, Windthorst, soph.; Blake Boyd, Centerville, soph.

    Catcher: (tie) Beck Zimmerman, Flatonia, jr.; Blaze Hronek, Coleman, sr.

    First baseman: Owen Garcia, Kenedy, sr.

    Second baseman: Dyson Farris, Tom Bean, soph.

    Shortstop: Jake Pineda, Centerville, jr.

    Third baseman: (tie) Carson Bizzell, Frankston, soph.; Joseph Flores, Mumford, sr.

    Outfielders: Bode Franklin, Ropes, jr.; Halston French, Centerville, sr.; Ryan Harper, Frankston, sr.

    Designated hitter: Henri Vincik, Flatonia, jr.

    ___

    CLASS 1A FIRST TEAM

    Pitchers: Jeren Pena, Ira, jr.; Jeremiah Murphy, Electra, sr.; Aedyn Claxton, Ira, soph.

    Reliever: Raidon Hernandez, Ira, jr.

    Catcher: Keagan Supak, Fayetteville, sr.

    First baseman: Chance Konvicka, Fayetteville, jr.

    Second baseman: Raidon Hernandez, Ira, jr.

    Shortstop: Dylan Doss, Crosbyton, sr.

    Third baseman: Will Thomason, Chester, jr.

    Outfielders: CJ Collier, Ira, soph.; Waylon Sturrock, Chester, jr.; (tie) Jonathan Kirk, Electra, sr.; Kade Hendry, D’Hanis, jr.

    Designated hitter: Cade Morgan, Brookeland, jr.

    Player of the year: Pena, Ira

    Coach of the year: Toby Goodwin, Ira

    ___

    CLASS 1A SECOND TEAM

    Pitchers: Jack Schley, Fayetteville, soph.; Collin Morgan, Neches, sr.; (tie) Connor Sullins, Abbott, jr.; Lane Lyon, Morton, jr.

    Reliever: Riley Sustala, Abbott, jr.

    Catcher: Cade Lyon, Morton, jr.

    First baseman: (tie) Hagan Gordon, Borden County, sr.; Cutter Lowe, Chester, jr.

    Second baseman: (tie) Ben Beaudin, Meridian, jr.; Paxton Pustejovsky, Abbott, jr.

    Shortstop: (tie) Collin McKiddy, Electra, sr.; Easton Jaeger, Fayetteville, jr.; Dillon Morphus, Kress, sr.

    Third baseman: Will Young, Nazareth, sr.

    Outfielders: Turner Johnson, Chester, fr.; Garrison Proctor, Borden County, sr.; Arturo Garcia, Neches, jr.

    Designated hitter: Matty Jones, Meridian, jr.

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  • Bohm and Ramirez pace 1st round of HR Derby, Alonso’s bid for 3rd title ends without advancing

    Bohm and Ramirez pace 1st round of HR Derby, Alonso’s bid for 3rd title ends without advancing

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    ARLINGTON, Texas — Switch-hitting Cleveland third baseman José Ramírez and Philadelphia third baseman Alec Bohm both hit 21 homers in the first round of the Home Run Derby on Monday night, advancing to the semifinals with Kansas City’s Bobby Witt Jr. and Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Teoscar Hernández.

    New York Mets first baseman Pete Alonso’s bid to join Ken Griffey Jr. as a three-time derby champion ended when he hit only 12 homers in the first round.

    Instead of a single-elimination bracket like last year, the four hitters with the most homers in the first round advanced to the semifinal round.

    Witt, who went to high school only about 15 minutes from Globe Life Park, hit 20 homers, while Hernández had 19.

    Alonso hit a 428-foot homer to left-centerfield on his first swing, but couldn’t get into a groove. The others knocked out after the first round were hometown favorite Adolis García, the Texas Rangers’ right fielder who was the AL Championship Series MVP last season, Atlanta outfielder Marcell Ozuna and Baltimore shortstop Gunnar Henderson.

    Ozuna did have the longest homer of the first round at 473 feet.

    Bohm, one of a franchise-record eight Phillies named All-Stars, has only 11 homers this season — the fewest among the eight derby competitors. He said he was going to try to hit as many balls as he could to left field and did — pulling all 21 of his homers that way in the first round.

    “Who would have thought,” he said after the first round.

    Ramirez hit left-handed, a change from what he has done when hitting in past home run contests, and what he had planned until a round of batting practice Monday.

    It still felt like 100 degrees (38 Celsius) outside Globe Life Park when the derby began, but the retractable roof was closed on the stadium that opened in 2020. When the Rangers hosted the 1995 All-Star Game across the street in their old stadium without a roof, the derby wasn’t yet a prime-time event and was held in the sweltering mid-afternoon heat.

    Frank Thomas won in 1995 with 15 homers over three rounds in a different format. Albert Belle finished with a total of 16, then a Home Run Derby record, but Thomas beat him 3-2 in the final round.

    With García knocked out, there remain only three players who have won the title in their home ballpark. The last was Bryce Harper when he was still with the Washington Nationals in 2018, after Cincinnati’s Todd Frazier in 2015 and Ryne Sandberg of the Chicago Cubs in 1990.

    ___

    AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

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  • Darrell Christian, former AP managing editor and sports editor, dies at 75

    Darrell Christian, former AP managing editor and sports editor, dies at 75

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    Darrell L. Christian, a former managing editor and sports editor of The Associated Press known for a demanding demeanor and insistence on excellence during more than four decades with the news agency, died Monday. He was 75.

    Christian died of Parkinson’s disease at Elegant Senior Living in Encino, California, according to his wife, Lissa Morrow Christian. He had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease around 2015, his wife said.

    “Darrell was the finest story editor I ever saw, with an unerring instinct for the lead and shape of copy and zero tolerance for anything but the best,” said Mike Silverman, the AP’s managing editor from 2000 to 2007 and senior managing editor through 2009. ”I had the great good fortune to be his deputy for several years when he was managing editor and much of what I later brought to the job I owed to him.”

    A no-nonsense editor known for directness and rigor, Christian modernized AP’s sports coverage during seven years in charge, emphasizing breaking news and in-depth reporting on issues as the sports business, academics and high school safety standards. That coverage earned him a promotion to managing editor under William E. Ahearn, then the executive editor.

    “Sports is just an extension of hard news with a slightly different flavor,” Christian told the National Press Club in 2007.

    Born on Dec. 26, 1948, Christian was a native of Henderson, Kentucky. He began his newspaper career as a sports writer and sports editor at the Henderson Gleaner in 1964, worked two summers in the AP’s bureau at Charleston, West Virginia, and received a bachelor’s degree from the University of Kentucky in 1969. After serving in the Navy from 1969-1972, Christian joined the AP in Indianapolis in 1972. He became news editor in 1975, moved to the Washington bureau in 1980 and became deputy sports editor in New York the following year.

    Christian was promoted to sports editor in 1985, coordinating coverage of the 1988 and 1992 Winter and Summer Olympics and overseeing the addition of featurized approaches to game stories on all major sports events — something he brought to news stories as managing editor.

    “When Jackie Robinson came along, sports began to develop a social consciousness,” Christian said at the National Press Club. “It really exploded in the 1970 and early ’80s with television coverage, which brought sports events into the living room and the proliferation of money in sports, the free agency where you suddenly created a whole generation of instant millionaires. And what happened between the lines was no longer enough. That created a public appetite for everything you could possibly want to know about these athletes.”

    Called “DLC” throughout the AP, Christian was known for his sharp, concise critiques sent to reporters, left in mailboxes in blue envelopes in the pre-digital era. The “blue notes” were feared among the staff.

    Christian said the top story he covered as sports editor was Ben Johnson testing positive for a banned steroid at the 1988 Olympics in Seoul, South Korea, which caused him to work for 48 consecutive hours. Among the major stories he oversaw as managing editor: the O.J. Simpson saga, whose coverage he led with aplomb.

    “It was indeed the circus of the century and it was one wild ride to cover it on a day-in, day-out basis,” Christian said.

    Christian replaced Martin C. Thompson as managing editor in 1992 and chaired the Pulitzer Prize investigative jury in 1995 and 1996.

    “Darrell was an old-school competitive newsman who valued creative stories delivered quickly to readers,” said Kathleen Carroll, the AP’s executive editor from 2002 to 2016. Those values infused every decision he made leading state, national and sports coverage: Make it interesting, write cleanly and get it out the door. His crusty exterior and droll sense of humor barely disguised his deep devotion to fast, accurate, interesting stories and the people who wrote them.”

    After six years as managing editor, Christian was succeeded by Jonathan P. Wolman and became director of MegaSports, the AP’s multimedia sports service for newspaper and broadcast members and commercial online services and websites.

    “Darrell combined old-school editing skill with a hunger to stay on top of the latest and innovation that would help keep AP competitive at the very beginning of the internet news age,” said Michael Giarrusso, AP’s deputy for newsgathering-global beats, who worked under Christian. “He was as comfortable editing the lead on a story as he was meeting with tech startups that wanted access to AP news or photos.”

    Christian became business editor in 2000, and in 2003 was appointed to the newly created position of director of sports data, combining AP Digital’s MegaSports service with the AP’s newspaper sports agate service.

    “Behind the gruff old-school newsman exterior was an editor who proved to be a mentor for the next generation of journalists,” said Brian Orefice, a manager of the data division and now vice president of product at Stats Perform, the renamed digital company. “His professional credentials were unquestioned and his advice invaluable.”

    Christian became editor at large in 2006, then created the AP’s Top Stories Desk in 2008 and managed it until his retirement in 2014, when he moved to California.

    “Darrell never really stopped doing what he loved, which was to edit and illustrate,” AP golf writer Doug Ferguson said. “He put an emphasis on letting details do the work of adjectives. And he had this terrific ability of knowing what the story was and how to get there. He made us better.”

    Christian had been living at home in Encino and still going to a gym and playing golf and softball before he entered Encino Hospital Medical Center on May 24. He was transferred to a rehabilitation facility a few weeks later and moved to the senior living facility on June 25.

    Christian’s first marriage ended in divorce. He met Lissa Morrow when he was supervising AP’s coverage at the 1984 Super Bowl in Tampa, Florida, where she was covering for a radio station. In addition to his wife, he is survived by a brother, Scott, and niece Erika Whitman.

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  • Matt Chapman drives in 2 runs and 6 Giants pitchers limit Cubs to four hits in a 5-1 win

    Matt Chapman drives in 2 runs and 6 Giants pitchers limit Cubs to four hits in a 5-1 win

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    SAN FRANCISCO — Matt Chapman’s two-run single highlighted a three-run eighth inning and six San Francisco pitchers combined for a four-hitter as the Giants beat the Chicago Cubs 5-1 on Tuesday night.

    Michael Conforto added an RBI single, and David Villar and Jorge Soler had sacrifice flies to help the Giants win their second straight following a five-game skid.

    “It’s huge,” San Francisco catcher Patrick Bailey said. “I mean we obviously didn’t like how the road trip went but just kind of got to show up the next day and try to win a ballgame, and hopefully we can keep things going.”

    Conforto’s run-scoring single gave San Francisco a lead in the second inning. Villar’s sacrifice fly made it 2-0.

    Michael Busch had an RBI single in the third for the Cubs, who lost for the fourth time in five games.

    “It was a quiet night,” Cubs manager Craig Counsell said. “I think we had three at-bats with runners in scoring position. We didn’t have an extra-base hit. You’re not going to have a big night offensively with numbers like that.”

    San Francisco rookie reliever Randy Rodríguez made his first career start, allowing one run and one hit with five strikeouts and two walks in 2 2/3 innings.

    “He was electric,” Bailey said. “Lights out. His stuff’s been like that all year. I think he really executed well today.”

    Sean Hjelle followed with two scoreless innings. Taylor Rogers, Ryan Walker, Tyler Rogers and Camilo Doval protected the lead over the final 4 1/3 innings.

    Tyler Rogers (1-2) was credited with the win after pitching a scoreless eighth.

    “I just think as a collective unit, it’s been really fun to be a part of this year and be down there,” Hjelle said of the bullpen. “I feel like guys are ready all the time in any situation. Nobody’s really shying away from innings.”

    Cubs starter Kyle Hendricks (1-5) lost for the first time since May 17, despite limiting the Giants to two runs in seven innings. The veteran right-hander permitted five hits and a walk, striking out four. He slipped to 7-3 in 14 career starts against San Francisco.

    Chicago dropped to 3-12 in its last 15 road games.

    TRAINER’S ROOM

    Cubs: LHP Shota Imanaga will get an extra day of rest and make his next start Thursday. Imanaga allowed a season-high 10 runs in three innings last Friday against the Mets.

    Giants: LHP Kyle Harrison threw off a mound for the first time since going on the 15-day injured list with a sprained right ankle June 16. … RHP Alex Cobb, recovering from left hip surgery, threw his second live batting practice in Arizona. … RHP Mason Black was recalled from Triple-A Sacramento. LHP Raymond Burgos was optioned down.

    UP NEXT

    Cubs RHP Hayden Wesneski (2-4, 3.29 ERA) will start a bullpen game Wednesday night, while the Giants will call up 22-year-old RHP Hayden Birdsong from Triple-A Sacramento to make his MLB debut.

    ___

    AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB

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  • OU Sooners win historic NCAA softball title

    OU Sooners win historic NCAA softball title

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    Oklahoma slugged its way to a record fourth straight NCAA softball title, getting a go-ahead, bases-clearing double from Cydney Sanders and beating Texas 8-4 on Thursday night for a two-game sweep of the Women’s College World Series championship.The Sooners won their eighth title overall, all under coach Patty Gasso, and moved into a tie with Arizona for the second-most national championships behind UCLA’s 12.Video above: Oklahoma softball legend Jocelyn Alo takes at-bat with Savannah BananasSecond-seeded Oklahoma (59-7) scored eight runs in each of the two games and pounded 21 hits total against a top-seeded Texas team that came in having thrown three consecutive one-hit shutouts in the World Series.Kasidi Pickering hit a two-run homer in the second inning for the Sooners, and Ella Parker had a two-run single in the sixth that padded Oklahoma’s lead. Gasso used five pitchers, with ace Kelly Maxwell, an Oklahoma State transfer, getting the last four outs for the save a day after her complete-game victory in Game 1.Texas (55-10) still hasn’t won a national title. The Longhorns lost to the Sooners in the 2022 championship series. This year, Texas won the Big 12 regular-season title, but Oklahoma beat the Longhorns in the Big 12 tournament.Both programs are leaving the Big 12 for the Southeastern Conference next season.Video below: OU softball wins national title

    Oklahoma slugged its way to a record fourth straight NCAA softball title, getting a go-ahead, bases-clearing double from Cydney Sanders and beating Texas 8-4 on Thursday night for a two-game sweep of the Women’s College World Series championship.

    The Sooners won their eighth title overall, all under coach Patty Gasso, and moved into a tie with Arizona for the second-most national championships behind UCLA’s 12.

    Video above: Oklahoma softball legend Jocelyn Alo takes at-bat with Savannah Bananas

    Second-seeded Oklahoma (59-7) scored eight runs in each of the two games and pounded 21 hits total against a top-seeded Texas team that came in having thrown three consecutive one-hit shutouts in the World Series.

    Kasidi Pickering hit a two-run homer in the second inning for the Sooners, and Ella Parker had a two-run single in the sixth that padded Oklahoma’s lead. Gasso used five pitchers, with ace Kelly Maxwell, an Oklahoma State transfer, getting the last four outs for the save a day after her complete-game victory in Game 1.

    Texas (55-10) still hasn’t won a national title. The Longhorns lost to the Sooners in the 2022 championship series. This year, Texas won the Big 12 regular-season title, but Oklahoma beat the Longhorns in the Big 12 tournament.

    Both programs are leaving the Big 12 for the Southeastern Conference next season.

    Video below: OU softball wins national title

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  • Gurriel, Newman hit 2-run doubles in Diamondbacks’ 8-5 win over Giants

    Gurriel, Newman hit 2-run doubles in Diamondbacks’ 8-5 win over Giants

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    PHOENIX — Kevin Newman and Lourdes Gurriel Jr. each hit two-run doubles and the Arizona Diamondbacks stretched their winning streak to four games with an 8-5 victory over the slumping San Francisco Giants on Tuesday night.

    “This isn’t anything that is happening by luck — we’ve been working our butt off to make this moment happen,” Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said. “I think the guys are responding to all that extra work and all that extra time that they’re putting in, and we finally get those results. It feels pretty good.”

    Arizona received some shocking news earlier in the day, learning reliever Andrew Saalfrank was among five players sanctioned by Major League Baseball for betting on games. The left-hander, who appeared in two games this season before being optioned to Triple-A Reno, was suspended for a year while San Diego Padres infielder Tucupita Marcano was banned from baseball for life.

    The suspension was a hot topic in the clubhouse, but the Diamondbacks didn’t let it affect them on the field.

    Newman hit a two-run double off Kyle Harrison (4-3) in the third inning and Gurriel hit his in Arizona’s four-run seventh. Gabriel Moreno also finished with two RBIs and Blaze Alexander had three of Arizona’s 13 hits.

    Kevin Ginkel (4-1) allowed two hits in 1 1/3 innings in his first game since taking a comebacker off the left knee against the New York Mets on Saturday. The right-hander gave up Patrick Bailey’s bloop, run-scoring single in the fifth inning, but it was charged to starter Blake Walston.

    Paul Sewald closed it out in the ninth, working around a hit batter for his sixth save.

    “Offensively, we’re just passing the bat to the next guy and getting on base, grind and trying to take the next base,” Alexander said. “And then you’re getting some big hits and big moments throughout.”

    San Francisco missed some early opportunities against Walston, hitting into two inning-ending double plays and failing to score with the bases loaded and one out in the second inning. Pinch hitter Mike Yastrzemski hit a three-run homer in the eighth inning but it was too late for the Giants, who have lost a season-high six straight.

    “Just a terrible game by us, especially the early portion of the game,” Giants manager Bob Melvin said. “When you’re going through losing streaks, at least you fight. For the most part we have, but that was an awful game.”

    Harrison allowed four runs and a career-high 12 hits in five innings during a loss to Philadelphia his last start.

    The left-hander spent the early part of his start against the Diamondbacks watching balls go off his teammate’s gloves.

    Arizona scored its first run in the third inning on a double by Alexander that skipped off shortstop Casey Schmitt’s mitt. The next two came on Newman’s double off third baseman Matt Chapman’s glove and Moreno followed with a sacrifice fly.

    Those were ruled hits, but a fielding error by Schmitt in the next inning set up Alexander’s run-scoring single that put the Diamondbacks up 4-1.

    “We just looked like we were running around in quicksand for a while,” Melvin said.

    Arizona broke the game open in the seventh inning off Luke Jackson with Gurriel’s two-run double sandwiched around run-scoring singles by Moreno and Randal Grichuk.

    TRAINER’S TABLE

    Giants: 2B Thairo Estrada went 0 for 4 and was hit by a pitch after missing three games with a jammed thumb suffered Friday against the Mets.

    UP NEXT

    Giants RHP Jordan Hicks (4-2, 2.70 ERA) will face Diamondbacks LHP Jordan Montgomery (3-3, 5.48) in the middle game of the three-game series.

    ___

    AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

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