INDIANA HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL SEMI-STATE
SATURDAY JUNE 14
4A
VALPARAISO VS. FT. WAYNE SNIDER
WESTFIELD VS GOSHEN
EVANSVILLE NORTH VS. NORTH CENTRAL
FRANKLIN VS. CENTER GROVE
3A
NORTHWOOD VS. NORWELL
DELTA VS. ANDREAN
GUERIN CATHOLIC VS. NEW PALESTINE
GREENSBURG VS. JASPER
2A
WAPAHANI VS. OAK HILL
BOONE GROVE VS. WESTVIEW
PROVIDENCE VS. UNIVERSITY
EVANSVILLE MATER DEI VS. SHENANDOAH
1A
KOUTS VS. UNION CITY
CLINTON PRAIRIE VS. FW CANTERBURY
KNIGHTSTOWN VS. INDY LUTHERAN
SHAKAMAK VS. NORTHEAST DUBOIS
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INDIANA HIGH SCHOOL SOFTBALL STATE FINALS
FRIDAY, JUNE 13
CLASS 1A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP
5:30 PM ET / 4:30 CT | NORTH NEWTON (23-3-1) VS. CLAY CITY (21-6)
CLASS 4A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP
8 PM ET / 7 PM CT | CROWN POINT (30-4) VS. CENTER GROVE (26-3)
SATURDAY, JUNE 14
CLASS 2A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP
4:30 PM ET / 3:30 CT | ANDREAN (21-7) VS. TECUMSEH (30-2)
CLASS 3A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP
7 PM ET / 6 PM CT | HANOVER CENTRAL (18-12) VS. INDIANAPOLIS CATHEDRAL (28-2)
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INDIANA BOYS HIGH SCHOOL GOLF SECTIONALS
1. Valparaiso (11) | Forest Park Golf Course | Fri, 9 am CT | Results
Boone Grove, Chesterton, East Chicago Central, Hammond Bishop Noll, Hammond Morton, Hobart, Portage, Valparaiso, Wheeler, River Forest, Whiting
2. Lake Central (13) | Palmira Golf & Country Club | Mon, 8 am CT | Results
Andrean, Calumet, Crown Point, DeMotte Christian, Griffith, Hanover Central, Highland, Illiana Christian, Kankakee Valley, Lake Central, Lowell, Merrillville, Munster
3. LaPorte (12) | Beechwood Golf Course | Thurs, 8:30 am ET | Results
Glenn, Knox, LaPorte, Marquette Catholic, Michigan City, Morgan Township, New Prairie, North Judson-San Pierre, Oregon-Davis, South Central (Union Mills), Tri-Township, Westville
4. South Bend Riley (11) | Erskine Golf Course | Mon, 9 am ET | Results
Elkhart, Jimtown, LaVille, Mishawaka, Mishawaka Marian, Penn, South Bend Adams, South Bend Riley, South Bend Saint Joseph, South Bend Washington, Trinity School at Greenlawn
5. Logansport (11) | Dykeman Park Golf Course | Fri, 9:30 am ET | Results
Caston, Frontier, Logansport, North Newton, Pioneer, Rochester Community, Rensselaer Central, South Newton, Tri-County, Twin Lakes, Winamac Community
6. Northridge (12) | Meadow Valley Golf Club | Fri, 8 am ET | Results
Bremen, Bethany Christian, Concord, Elkhart Christian Academy, Fairfield, Goshen, Lakeland, Northridge, NorthWood, Prairie Heights, West Noble, Westview
7. East Noble (12) | Noble Hawk Golf Links – Kendallville | Fri, 8:30 am ET | Results
Angola, Carroll (Fort Wayne), Central Noble, Churubusco, Columbia City, DeKalb, East Noble, Eastside, Fort Wayne Northrop, Fremont, Garrett, Leo
8. Warsaw Community (12) | Eagle Glen Golf Club | Mon, 8 am ET | Results
Culver Academies, Culver Community, Huntington North, Manchester, Northfield, Plymouth, Tippecanoe Valley, Triton, Warsaw Community, Wawasee, Whitko
9. Fort Wayne Canterbury (13) | Chestnut Hills Golf Club | Fri, 8:30 am ET | Results
Fort Wayne Bishop Dwenger, Fort Wayne Bishop Luers, Fort Wayne Blackhawk Christian, Fort Wayne Canterbury, Fort Wayne Concordia Lutheran, Fort Wayne North Side, Fort Wayne Snider, Fort Wayne South Side, Fort Wayne Wayne, Heritage, Homestead, New Haven, Woodlan
10. Peru (12) | Rock Hollow Golf Club | Mon, 8 am ET | Results
Eastern (Greentown), Kokomo, Lewis Cass, Maconaquah, North Miami, Northwestern, Peru, Southwood, Taylor, Tri-Central, Wabash, Western
11. Lafayette Jefferson (12) | Battle Ground Golf Club | Mon, 8 am ET | Results
Benton Central, Carroll (Flora), Clinton Central, Clinton Prairie, Delphi Community, Faith Christian, Harrison (West Lafayette), Lafayette Central Catholic, Lafayette Jefferson, McCutcheon, Rossville, West Lafayette
12. Westfield (10) | Ulen Golf and Country Club | Mon, 9 am ET | Results
Bethesda Christian, Carmel, Frankfort, Guerin Catholic, Lebanon, Sheridan, University, Western Boone, Westfield, Zionsville
13. Attica (12) | Harrison Hills Golf and Country Club | Results
Attica, Covington, Crawfordsville, Fountain Central, North Montgomery, North Putnam, Parke Heritage, Riverton Parke, Seeger, South Vermillion, Southmont, Tri-West Hendricks
14. Brebeuf Jesuit (8) | Golf Club of Indiana | Mon, 9 am ET | Results
Ben Davis, Brebeuf Jesuit Preparatory, Covenant Christian (Indpls), Decatur Central, Indianapolis Cardinal Ritter, Pike, Purdue Polytechnic – Downtown, Speedway
15. Martinsville (11) | Foxcliff Golf Course | PPD to Tues, 9:30 am ET | Results
Avon, Brownsburg, Cascade, Cloverdale, Danville Community, Martinsville, Monrovia, Mooresville, Plainfield, South Putnam, Greencastle
16. Norwell (12) | Timber Ridge Golf Club | Fri, 9 am ET | Results
Adams Central, Bellmont, Blackford, Bluffton, Eastbrook, Madison-Grant, Marion, Mississinewa, Norwell, Oak Hill, South Adams, Southern Wells
17. Indianapolis Cathedral (10) | Maple Creek Golf Club | Fri, 8:30 am ET | Results
Heritage Christian, Indianapolis Bishop Chatard, Indianapolis Cathedral, Indianapolis Scecina Memorial, International School of Indiana, Lawrence Central, Lawrence North, North Central (Indianapolis), Park Tudor, Warren Central
18. Noblesville (12) | Harbour Trees Golf Club | Mon, 9 am ET | Results
Alexandria Monroe, Anderson, Daleville, Elwood Community, Fishers, Frankton, Hamilton Heights, Hamilton Southeastern, Lapel, Noblesville, Pendleton Heights, Tipton
19. Monroe Central (10) | Hickory Hills Golf Course | Mon, 9 am ET | Results
Cowan, Delta, Jay County, Monroe Central, Muncie Central, Randolph Southern, Wapahani, Wes-Del, Winchester Community, Yorktown
20. Greenfield-Central (11) | Hawk’s Tail of Greenfield | PPD to Tues, 9 am ET | Results
Blue River Valley, Eastern Hancock, Greenfield-Central, Knightstown, Morristown, Mt. Vernon (Fortville), New Castle, New Palestine, Shenandoah, Triton Central, Tri
21. Terre Haute North Vigo (12) | Hulman Links | PPD to Tues, 9 am ET | Results
Bloomfield, Clay City, Eastern Greene, Linton-Stockton, North Central (Farmersburg), Northview, Shakamak, Sullivan, Terre Haute North Vigo, Terre Haute South Vigo, West Vigo, White River Valley
22. Vincennes Lincoln (13) | Cypress Hills Golf Club of Vincennes | Fri, 9 am ET | Results
Barr-Reeve, Gibson Southern, North Daviess, North Knox, Pike Central, Princeton Community, South Knox, Tecumseh, Vincennes Lincoln, Vincennes Rivet, Washington, Washington Catholic, Wood Memorial
23. Evansville Mater Dei (13) | Helfrich Hills Golf Course | PPD to Mon, 9:40 am CT | Results
Boonville, Castle, Evansville Bosse, Evansville Central, Evansville Christian, Evansville F.J. Reitz, Evansville Harrison, Evansville Mater Dei, Evansville North, Evansville Reitz Memorial, Mt. Vernon, North Posey, Signature School
24. Jasper (14) | Sultan’s Run Golf Club | Thurs, 10 am ET | Results
Crawford County, Forest Park, Heritage Hills, Northeast Dubois, Jasper, Loogootee, Orleans, Paoli, Perry Central, Shoals, South Spencer, Southridge, Springs Valley, Tell City
25. Bloomington North (13) | Cascades Golf Course | Mon, 8 am ET | Results
Bedford North Lawrence, Bloomington North, Bloomington South, Brown County, Brownstown Central, Edgewood, Lighthouse Christian Academy, Mitchell, Salem, Seymour, Trinity Lutheran, West Washington, Owen Valley
26. Franklin Community (13) | The Legends Golf Club | PPD to Mon, 1:30 pm ET | Results
Center Grove, Edinburgh, Franklin Central, Franklin Community, Greenwood Christian Academy, Greenwood Community, Indian Creek, Indianapolis Lutheran, Perry Meridian, Roncalli, Southport, Whiteland Community, Beech Grove
27. Richmond (10) | The Elks Country Club | Thurs, 9 am ET | Results
Cambridge City Lincoln, Centerville, Connersville, Franklin County, Hagerstown, Northeastern, Richmond, Rushville Consolidated, Union County, Oldenburg Academy
28. Greensburg (12) | Greensburg Country Club | Fri, 8:30 am ET | Results
Batesville, Columbus East, Columbus North, East Central, Greensburg, Hauser, Jac-Cen-Del, Milan, North Decatur, Shelbyville, South Ripley, Southwestern (Shelbyville)
29. Madison Consolidated (13) | Sunrise Golf Course | Mon, 1 pm ET | Results
Austin, Charlestown, Henryville, Jennings County, Madison Consolidated, New Washington, Rising Sun, Scottsburg, Shawe Memorial, Southwestern (Hanover), Switzerland County, Lawrenceburg, South Dearborn
30. Providence (14) | Covered Bridge Golf Club | Thurs, 8 am ET | Results
Borden, Christian Academy of Indiana, Clarksville, Corydon Central, Eastern (Pekin), Floyd Central, Jeffersonville, Lanesville, New Albany, North Harrison, Providence, Silver Creek, South Central (Elizabeth), Crothersville
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NBA FINALS
THE 2025 NBA FINALS PRESENTED BY YOUTUBE TV WILL BEGIN WITH GAME 1 ON JUNE 5 WITH ABC AS THE EXCLUSIVE BROADCASTER.
• GAME 1: PACERS 111 THUNDER 110 (INDIANA LEADS SERIES 1-0)
• GAME 2: THUNDER 123 PACERS 107 (SERIES TIED AT 1-1)
• GAME 3: THUNDER AT PACERS (WED. JUNE 11, 8:30 ET, ABC)
• GAME 4: THUNDER AT PACERS (FRI. JUNE 13, 8:30 ET, ABC)
• GAME 5: PACERS AT THUNDER, (MON. JUNE 16, 8:30 ET, ABC)*
• GAME 6: THUNDER AT PACERS (THU. JUNE 19, 8:30 ET, ABC)*
• GAME 7: PACERS AT THUNDER, SUN, JUNE 22, 8 ET ON ABC)*
* IF NECESSARY
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WNBA SCORES
GOLDEN STATE 89 LOS ANGELES 81 OT
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NHL PLAYOFFS/SCHEDULE
STANLEY CUP FINALS
FLORIDA PANTHERS (3A) VS. EDMONTON OILERS (3P)
GAME 1: OILERS 4 PANTHERS 3 OT (OILERS LEAD SERIES 1-0)
GAME 2: PANTHERS 5 EDMONTON 4 2OT (SERIES TIED 1-1)
GAME 3: PANTHERS 6 EDMONTON 1 (PANTHERS LEAD SERIES 2-1)
GAME 4: OILERS AT PANTHERS, THURSDAY, JUNE 12, 8 P.M. ET; TNT, TRUTV, MAX, SN, CBC, TVAS
GAME 5: PANTHERS AT OILERS, SATURDAY, JUNE 14, 8 P.M. ET; SN, CBC, TVAS, TNT, TRUTV, MAX *
GAME 6: OILERS AT PANTHERS, TUESDAY, JUNE 17, 8 P.M. ET; TNT, TRUTV, MAX, SN, CBC, TVAS *
GAME 7: PANTHERS AT OILERS, FRIDAY, JUNE 20, 8 P.M. ET; SN, CBC, TVAS, TNT, TRUTV, MAX *
* IF NECESSARY
COMPLETE PANTHERS-OILERS SERIES COVERAGE
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MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL SCORES
PITTSBURGH 10 MIAMI 3
CINCINNATI 7 CLEVELAND 4
PHILADELPHIA 4 CHICAGO CUBS 3 (11)
TAMPA BAY 10 BOSTON 8 (11)
ATLANTA 7 MILWAUKEE 1
TORONTO 5 ST. LOUIS 4 (10)
LA ANGELS 7 LAS VEGAS 4
LA DODGERS 8 SAN DIEGO 7 (10)
ARIZONA 8 SEATTLE 4 (11)
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MINOR LEAGUE BASEBALL SCORES
NO GAMES SCHEDULED
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COLLEGE BASEBALL SUPER REGIONALS
MURRAY STATE 5 DUKE 4
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MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER SCORES
NO GAMES SCHEDULED
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UNITED FOOTBALL LEAGUE SCORES
NO GAMES SCHEDULED
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TOP NATIONAL NEWS HEADLINES/RELEASES
NBA NEWS
CAVALIERS’ DARIUS GARLAND HAS SURGERY ON THE INJURED LEFT BIG TOE THAT HAMPERED HIM DURING PLAYOFFS
INDEPENDENCE, Ohio (AP) — Cavaliers guard Darius Garland had surgery Monday on the injured left big toe that hampered him during Cleveland’s exit from the playoffs.
The Cavaliers said the procedure was performed by Dr. Nicholas Strasser at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, Tennessee, in consultation with team physician Dr. James Rosneck and Dr. Bob Anderson.
The All-Star guard missed the final two games of the regular season and four games during the playoffs with the injury, which was described as a sprain.
“Definitely wasn’t myself. It was pretty uncomfortable but trying to do everything to win the game. It was frustrating because I wasn’t 100 percent,” Garland said after the Cavaliers lost to the Indiana Pacers in five games in the Eastern Conference semifinals.
Garland is expected to send 4 to 5 months going through a progression of treatment and rehabilitation before resuming basketball activities by the start of training camp.
Garland averaged 20.6 points and 6.7 assists during the regular season to help the Cavs finish atop the Eastern Conference.
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NHL NEWS
PANTHERS CRUISE TO GAME 3 WIN OVER OILERS
Carter Verhaeghe, Sam Reinhart and Evan Rodrigues each had a goal and an assist for the Florida Panthers in a 6-1 win against the visiting Edmonton Oilers in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final on Monday night in Sunrise, Fla.
The Panthers hold a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven series heading to Game 4 on Thursday night in Sunrise.
Brad Marchand, Aaron Ekblad and Sam Bennett also scored, Eetu Luostarinen had two assists and Sergei Bobrovsky made 32 saves for the Panthers, who are trying to become the third team to repeat as Stanley Cup champion in the past 10 years.
Corey Perry scored for the Oilers, who are hoping to become the first franchise from Canada to win the Cup since the Montreal Canadiens in 1993.
Stuart Skinner surrendered five goals on 23 shots before he was replaced early in the third period by Calvin Pickard, who finished with seven saves.
Marchand scored his fourth goal of the series 56 seconds into the game.
The puck caromed to Marchand in the slot and he brought it back to the inside edge of the right circle before scoring with a snap shot. Skinner was off balance in front of the crease when the puck hit the net to give Florida a 1-0 lead.
The teams combined for seven power plays in the opening period and the Panthers scored on the last when the Oilers left room for Verhaeghe to skate into the right circle and score with a wrist shot for a 2-0 lead at 17:45.
Edmonton was on the eighth power play to start the second period when Perry scored a rebound to cut the lead to 2-1 at 1:40.
Florida answered 1:20 later when Reinhart shot the puck between the legs of Oilers defenseman John Klingberg from the left faceoff circle and past Skinner to re-establish the two-goal lead at 3-1.
Bennett and Luostarinen then sprung loose on a 2-on-0 break and Bennett finished it off for his fourth goal of the series and 14th of the postseason to make it 4-1 at 7:26.
Florida added another power-play goal at 3:27 of the third period to stretch the lead to 5-1. Ekblad took a feed from Reinhart and scored with a one-timer from the inside edge of the right circle, ending the night for Skinner.
Rodrigues scored with a one-timer during a 5-on-3 power play with 3:50 left to make it 6-1.
The teams combined for 140 penalty minutes.
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COLLEGE BASEBALL
MURRAY STATE EDGES DUKE, REACHES FIRST MWCS
Jonathan Hogart homered twice, helping lead Murray State to a 5-4 win over Duke on Monday in the decisive third game of the Durham (N.C.) super regional, sending the Racers to the first Men’s College World Series in school history.
Murray State (44-15) became the eighth and final team to clinch a spot in the MCWS, which starts Friday in Omaha, Neb. The Racers will open Saturday against UCLA.
Luke Mistone had two hits for Murray State, including a solo homer in the eighth inning that gave the Racers a 4-3 lead. Dan Tauken added an RBI in that frame, which proved key when Duke’s Macon Winslow socked a solo homer in the bottom of the eighth.
Graham Kelham (4-1) tossed 2 2/3 innings of one-run relief for the win.
Duke reliever Reid Easterly (9-3) yielded two runs — on homers by Hogart and Mistone — in three innings.
In addition to Winslow, Jake Hyde and Jake Berger also went deep for the Blue Devils (41-21).
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MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL NEWS
SNAKE EYES: D-BACKS’ $425 MILLION INVESTMENT IN STARTING PITCHING HASN’T GONE AS PLANNED
PHOENIX (AP) — The normally budget-conscious Arizona Diamondbacks have been willing to spend big money over the past several years, taking chances on the notoriously volatile market of free agent starting pitching.
So far, it’s a bet that has come up snake eyes.
Over the past 5 1/2 years, Diamondbacks owner Ken Kendrick has committed roughly $425 million to four pitchers — Corbin Burnes, Jordan Montgomery, Eduardo Rodríguez and Madison Bumgarner.
The combined return on that investment: A 30-48 record, 5.25 ERA, minus-0.4 WAR and two Tommy John surgeries.
Yikes.
The latest bad news came on June 1 when Burnes — who signed a $210 million, six-year deal in January — abruptly left a game against the Nationals with right elbow pain.
Now he’s set to undergo Tommy John surgery and might not return to the mound until 2027.
It’s a brutal blow for the D-backs, who have a 31-34 record heading into Monday night’s game against the Mariners.
The 30-year-old Burnes seemed like the safest bet on the market last winter when the D-backs made the signing.
The four-time All-Star and 2021 National League Cy Young Award winner had been remarkably consistent and healthy over the previous four seasons, making at least 28 starts every year.
“I might as well do another job if we’re going to be scared of bringing in a guy of this caliber on your team,” Arizona’s general manager Mike Hazen said at Burnes’ introductory news conference.
Added Kendrick: “We’re stretching the budget. It won’t be the last time.”
And for two months, he was everything Hazen, Kendrick and the D-backs hoped for with a 3-2 record and 2.66 ERA.
Now he’s out for the foreseeable future.
It’s the latest in a bad run of luck for Arizona’s front office. It’s also a brutal reminder of the substantial risk in handing out big money to pitchers in an era when injuries are happening at an alarming rate.
The D-backs aren’t the only team facing the same problem, even in their own division. The Los Angeles Dodgers currently have 14 pitchers on the injured list — including starters Blake Snell, Tyler Glasnow, Roki Sasaki and Tony Gonsolin.
Snell has made just two starts this season because of injuries after signing a $182 millon, five-year deal in the offseason.
The difference is the Dodgers seem to have nearly unlimited money to keep adding talent.
The D-backs do not.
The string of disappointing signings started in December 2019, when the D-backs added Bumgarner with a $85 million, five-year deal. The lefty had declined from his peak in the early-to-mid 2010s, when he led the San Francisco Giants to three World Series titles, but there was reason to believe he would be a solid middle-of-the-rotation option.
Instead, he regressed even more in the desert, going 15-32 with a 5.23 ERA over a little more than three seasons. The D-backs released him in 2023 after he had a 10.26 ERA through four starts, eating more than $30 million in the process.
The D-backs made a surprise run to the World Series that year and invested in a pair of pitchers — Montgomery and Rodriguez — during the ensuing offseason. Montgomery signed a $25 million, one-year deal with a vesting option for 2025. Rodriguez was added on an $80 million, four-year deal.
Much like the Bumgarner signing, both seemed like good deals at the time.
Montgomery had just helped the Rangers beat the Diamondbacks in the World Series and was a solid lefty with a sub-4.00 ERA in each of the previous three seasons.
Rodriguez was coming off one of the best seasons of his career after going 13-9 with a 3.30 ERA for the Detroit Tigers.
Things haven’t worked out for either pitcher.
Montgomery was awful in 2024 with a 6.23 ERA and eventually demoted to the bullpen. But because he made 21 starts, his vesting option for $22.5 million kicked in for 2025.
His bid for a bounce-back season ended before it even started. The lefty got hurt during spring training in March and needed Tommy John surgery for the second time in his career, ending his time in the desert.
Rodriguez hurt his shoulder during spring training in 2024 and didn’t make his D-backs debut until August, contributing a 5.04 ERA as the team faded down the stretch and missed the playoffs. He’s battled injuries and ineffectiveness again this year with a 6.70 ERA through 10 starts.
There’s still time for the Rodriguez and Burnes deals to take a turn for the better. Even if Burnes doesn’t return until 2027, he’d have four more years remaining on his deal.
D-backs manager Torey Lovullo chose to remain optimistic following Burnes’ injury.
“We’re all with Corbin right now,” Lovullo said. “This is a tough day to get this news. But we’ll find a way to rally around him, play hard for him all year long. … It’s a long road, and it takes time for him to heal and recover. And he will. He’ll be great for the Arizona Diamondbacks, I’m convinced of it.”
MLB ROUNDUP: CHRIS SALE WHIFFS 11 BREWERS; BRAVES END SKID
Chris Sale allowed one run over seven-plus dominant innings and the visiting Atlanta Braves hit three homers to snap a seven-game losing streak with a 7-1 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers on Monday.
Matt Olson and Eli White each hit a two-run homer and Ronald Acuna Jr. belted a solo homer for the Braves, who had lost 14 of their previous 17 games.
Sale (4-4) allowed five hits, struck out a season-high 11 and walked two. Atlanta’s Ozzie Albies singled in the sixth and eighth innings, giving him 1,000 career hits and extending his career-high on-base streak to 24 games.
Milwaukee has lost three of its last four games, scoring just one run total in the three defeats. Aaron Civale (1-2) yielded two runs on five hits in 4 2/3 innings.
Diamondbacks 8, Mariners 4 (11 innings)
Josh Naylor hit a walk-off grand slam with one out in the 11th inning as Arizona recovered from a blown lead in the ninth for a victory over Seattle in Phoenix.
Naylor’s third hit of the game, the blast off Carlos Vargas (1-5), allowed the D-backs to break a three-game losing streak. Jalen Beeks (2-0) earned the win.
The Mariners erased a four-run deficit in the ninth on RBI singles from Donovan Solano and Cole Young and a two-run homer from Dominic Canzone, recalled from Triple-A Tacoma earlier in the day,
Phillies 4, Cubs 3 (11 innings)
Brandon Marsh’s RBI single capped a two-run, 11th-inning rally as host Philadelphia rallied to top Chicago.
Otto Kemp recorded the first three hits of his major league career for the Phillies, who had lost their previous five games. Nick Castellanos also had three hits as Philadelphia handed Chicago its fourth loss in six games.
After the Cubs’ Pete Crow-Armstrong doubled home a run off Carlos Hernandez (1-0) in the top of the 11th, J.T. Realmuto began the bottom of the frame with a game-tying single off Daniel Palencia (0-2). Three batters later, Marsh followed with a walk-off hit off the base of the left-center-field wall.
Pirates 10, Marlins 3
Adam Frazier and Andrew McCutchen each had three hits and an RBI, and Bryan Reynolds had two hits including a bases-clearing triple to help host Pittsburgh top Miami.
The Pirates extended their season-high winning streak to four in a row, and their run total matched their season high. Every starter in Pittsburgh’s lineup had at least one hit. Pirates reliever Caleb Ferguson (2-0) threw two perfect innings.
The Marlins got a homer from Otto Lopez but lost for the seventh time in games. Eury Perez (0-1), in his first start since undergoing Tommy John surgery in April 2024, allowed two runs in 4 1/3 innings.
Reds 7, Guardians 4
Jake Fraley socked a solo homer in a three-hit game while Wade Miley earned his first victory in nearly two years as visiting Cincinnati beat Cleveland to claim the season series between the in-state rivals.
Miley (1-0) worked five innings, allowing three runs on five hits in his second appearance since joining the team on Wednesday following his recovery from Tommy John surgery performed in May 2024. Emilio Pagan tossed a scoreless ninth inning for his 16th save.
Bo Naylor homered and singled for the Guardians, who took their fourth loss in five games. Luis L. Ortiz (3-7) surrendered four runs on nine hits in 4 2/3 innings.
Blue Jays 5, Cardinals 4 (10 innings)
Alejandro Kirk went 4-for-5 with a homer, and his RBI double lifted visiting Toronto past St. Louis.
Jonatan Clase hit a game-tying homer in the ninth inning for the Blue Jays, who won for the 10th time in 12 games. Yariel Rodriguez (1-0) earned the victory despite blowing an eighth-inning lead, and Jeff Hoffman pitched a 1-2-3 bottom of the 10th for his 16th save.
Ivan Herrera hit a go-ahead, three-run homer for the Cardinals in the eighth inning. However, Ryan Helsley served up Clase’s tying homer in the ninth before Phil Maton (0-2) permitted Kirk’s decisive hit in the 10th.
Rays 10, Red Sox 8 (11 innings)
Jake Mangum went 4-for-6 with two RBIs for Tampa Bay to upend host Boston in the opener of a three-game series.
After Junior Caminero drew a bases-loaded, full-count walk off Red Sox reliever Zack Kelly (1-3), Mangum beat out an RBI infield single that delivered an insurance run and helped Massachusetts native Ian Seymour (1-0) earn a win in his major league debut.
Yandy Diaz and Jonathan Aranda had two hits apiece for the Rays. Red Sox shortstop went 0-for-4 with an RBI groundout in his big-league debut. Ceddanne Rafaela, Romy Gonzalez and Trevor Story all had three hits for Boston.
Angels 7, Athletics 4
Yusei Kikuchi allowed one hit over 7 1/3 shutout innings and Jo Adell homered and had three RBIs as Los Angeles remained perfect against the Athletics with a win in Anaheim, Calif.
Mike Trout had two RBIs and Zach Neto and Nolan Schanuel each drove in one to help the Angels win for the fifth time in the past seven games. Los Angeles is 5-0 against the Athletics this season.
JJ Bleday and rookie Max Muncy hit two-run homers for the Athletics, who lost for the 22nd time in the past 26 games. Athletics rookie center fielder Denzel Clarke made another spectacular grab, this time taking a homer away from Schanuel.
Dodgers 8, Padres 7 (10 innings)
Andy Pages’ RBI double snapped a 10th-inning tie and lifted visiting Los Angeles to a win over San Diego.
Pages laced a 1-1 pitch from Wandy Peralta (3-1) to the left field wall, scoring Max Muncy, the automatic runner to start the inning. Tommy Edman added a run-scoring single off second base to provide a cushion.
Freddie Freeman finished with three of the Dodgers’ 12 hits, while Pages and Edman each added two. Manny Machado was the only San Diego batter with two hits, while teammate Tyler Wade hit a three-run triple. Jackson Merrill’s 10th-inning RBI double wasn’t enough.
NFL NEWS
49ERS EMBRACE URGENCY AFTER DISAPPOINTING 2024 SEASON
SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — The vibes were off from the start of last season for the San Francisco 49ers.
Contract disputes provided a cloud over the team throughout the spring and summer, the Super Bowl hangover and a third straight short offseason sapped some energy and a lack of roster turnover led to some staleness around the Niners.
Those factors and a bevy of injuries turned a Super Bowl contender into a 6-11 also-ran, leading coach Kyle Shanahan to deliver a blunt message at the end of the season about what needed to change in 2025.
“I felt guys weren’t ready to come back,” Shanahan said about the 2024 season. “I understood that. But I told them how I won’t really understand it this year. Not that that was right or wrong, but I couldn’t comprehend it. We’re off five weeks earlier. We all know how disappointed we are and a lot of us have played a lot of football here. But we’re going to have a team that doesn’t know what we’ve done in the past or how you guys have earned a lot of stuff, we need to show them.”
As the 49ers begin their final week of the offseason program on Monday, the change has been palpable.
The team was able to resolve its major contract questions early in the offseason by reaching extensions with quarterback Brock Purdy, linebacker Fred Warner and tight end George Kittle without any drama or acrimony.
The attendance for the voluntary offseason program was high with most of the key players on hand to help teach the rookies and other newcomers the standard for how the 49ers operate. Star left tackle Trent Williams was one of the few notable players not on hand for the first week of on-field practices but was back in town last week.
Shanahan stressed the importance of showing up in April and the players listened, leading to the successful spring. Shanahan said he didn’t have to make any requests after the season-ending meeting and the players said there was no need for a group discussion about making sure everyone was bought in for this season.
“I didn’t think we had to do all that,” Warner said. “Kyle made a point of that at the end of last season when he said how important it was to be back for this phase because of how last season went, and we knew what we were getting ourselves into with a whole new group, a lot of young players. We all made the decision on our own to be back here.”
The urgency that may have been lacking at times in 2024 is back this offseason as the Niners want to avoid any sort of repeat of last year’s disappointment.
San Francisco had lost in the NFC title games following the 2021 and 2022 seasons and then fell just short in the Super Bowl in the 2023 season, losing the title game in overtime to the Kansas City Chiefs.
Those deep runs led to reduced time off with some players choosing rest over rushing back to be on hand for the entire offseason program.
That was not the case this spring as the team plans to incorporate several new starters on both sides of the ball following a roster purge in March.
“When your season ends and you’re not making the playoffs, your desire to be back in the building and to get that taste out of your mouth, I think is expedited,” Kittle said. “Guys want to be back for it. When you’re playing in the middle of February, you kind of need an extra month. That’s why a lot of guys don’t show up to phase two or stuff like that. But there is an importance of phase one, the team building stuff. Kyle wanted us to be back. I think guys were going to be here regardless just because they were ready to go back and play football.”
BENGALS TO RELEASE LINEBACKER GERMAINE PRATT, SAVING $5.6M ON SALARY CAP, AP SOURCES SAY
The Cincinnati Bengals are releasing linebacker Germaine Pratt, two people with knowledge of the situation told The Associated Press.
The people spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the move has not been announced.
NFL Network first reported Pratt’s release. The move comes on the eve of the Bengals mandatory minicamp, which starts Tuesday.
The move gives the Bengals $5.6 million in salary cap savings.
Pratt, who was going into the final season of a three-year contract, was one of the longest-tenured Bengals but requested a trade during the offseason. He was a third-round pick in 2019 and started 88 games over six seasons.
He was ninth in the NFL last season with 143 tackles, including two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and two interceptions.
Cincinnati has had plenty of questions about the defense during the offseason. It hired Al Golden as coordinator while defensive end Trey Hendrickson, who led the league in sacks last season, has been involved in his own contract dispute.
PRO BOWL PUNTER LOGAN COOKE SIGNS A 4-YEAR CONTRACT EXTENSION WITH THE JAGUARS
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Pro Bowl punter Logan Cooke has signed a four-year contract extension with the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Cooke, a second-team All-Pro selection in 2024, was entering the final year of his second deal with the team. It had been unclear how Jacksonville’s new regime would handle Cooke’s contract situation.
Jacksonville, which drafted Cooke in the seventh round in 2018, announced the extension Monday.
Cooke established career highs with a gross putting average of 49.4 yards and a net punting average of 44.8 yards last season.
He has a net punting average of 43.5 yards, the highest career mark in the NFL since the statistic began being tracked in 1976. His career gross punting average of 47.4 yards is the highest in franchise history and the sixth best in the NFL since 1939.
Cooke also has placed 41.8% of his punts inside the 20-yard line, the highest mark by any punter in team history.
PACKERS PLAN TO RELEASE VETERAN CORNERBACK JAIRE ALEXANDER, AP SOURCE SAYS
The Green Bay Packers are planning to release veteran cornerback Jaire Alexander, a person familiar with the situation told The Associated Press on Monday.
The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the Packers haven’t announced the move yet. NFL Network first reported it.
The release would end a seven-year run with the Packers in which Alexander earned two Pro Bowl selections and intercepted 12 passes, though injuries limited his playing time in recent seasons. This move, which is expected to clear about $17 million in cap space, comes as the Packers prepare to open their mandatory minicamp this week.
Alexander’s future with the Packers had been the subject of much speculation throughout the offseason because of his hefty contract and recent injury history. Alexander had two years remaining on the four-year, $84 million contract extension he signed in May 2022.
The 28-year-old Alexander has spent his entire career with the Packers, who selected him out of Louisville with the 18th overall pick in the 2018 draft. Alexander made Pro Bowls in 2020 and 2022, but he has played in only 34 of the Packers’ 68 regular-season games over the last four years.
Alexander missed two early-season games last year with injuries to his quadriceps and groin. He then missed a Nov. 3 loss to Detroit with a knee injury, returned to play 10 snaps in the Packers’ next game against Chicago and then was out for the rest of the season.
His unavailability for much of the last few seasons has the Packers believing they can move forward without the player who had remained their best cornerback when healthy. Green Bay’s cornerback room also has lost 2021 first-round pick Eric Stokes, who had his own injury issues with the Packers before signing with the Las Vegas Raiders in March.
The Packers return Keisean Nixon, a two-time All-Pro kickoff returner who has become more of a factor on defense the last couple of seasons while Alexander has struggled with injuries. Carrington Valentine, a 2023 seventh-round pick, has started 19 games over the last two seasons. The Packers also added former Raiders cornerback Nate Hobbs in free agency and drafted Micah Robinson out of Tulane in the seventh round.
Alexander was so effective early in his career that the Packers signed him to that big contract with a $30 million signing bonus even after a shoulder injury had limited him to four regular-season games in 2021. Alexander had returned for the Packers’ NFC divisional playoff loss to San Francisco during that 2021 season.
But the injuries kept coming.
He started 16 games and had a career-high five interceptions in 2022 but played just seven regular-season games each of the last two years. Alexander has remained very effective in pass coverage when available.
The games he missed were because of injury with one exception. Alexander got suspended for a late-season game in 2023 because of conduct detrimental to the team after he appointed himself captain and participated in the coin toss for a Christmas Eve win at Carolina, his hometown.
PATS COACH: QB DRAKE MAYE’S LEADERSHIP SKILLS ‘A WORK IN PROGRESS’
New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye proved his football skills during a solid 12-start rookie campaign.
Heading into 2025, head coach Mike Vrabel wants to see his young signal-caller improve his leadership skills.
“I think that there is a lot of room to grow,” Vrabel told reporters Monday, noting that Maye is just 22 and early in his pro development.
“I think there’s a lot of natural leadership qualities. I think I have to encourage him, continue to encourage him and to put him in those positions to do that so that the players understand that there’s a different version of all of us,” Vrabel said. “There’s one that’s maybe off the field, there’s one in the meeting room, and then there’s a version on the field, which we all have to understand is somewhat different than what it may be off the field.”
Vrabel, entering his first season as the head coach in New England, said leadership isn’t the exclusive property of a quarterback.
Vrabel should know, having been a leader of the Patriots’ defense as a linebacker during the 2000s before coaching the Tennessee Titans from 2018-23.
“I don’t think it matters if you’re a quarterback, offensive lineman, running back or defensive back. It’s about your ability to reach certain players,” Vrabel said. “Again, we don’t want to have any gaps. Hopefully, you know what to do, you’re prepared, you do things the right way, you’re a good listener.
“I think you can adapt to what happens and adapt to the people you’re talking to maybe based on what they need. Sometimes people need a little different encouraging, and sometimes you need a little bit of a firmer hand and maybe a little bit of a firmer stance. I think that’s all important of understanding and getting to know each person before you can start to lead them.”
Vrabel was asked whether Maye has been able to push his teammates without pushing their buttons or worrying about how his leadership style might affect his popularity.
“I think that’s evolving and that’s a work in progress,” he said. “I think we’re all learning each other a little bit. I think we’re all learning the system and learning the plays, and once we master it, I think that’s going to start to separate itself.”
Maye made the Pro Bowl and went 3-9 as a starter last year after being drafted No. 3 overall. He passed for 2,276 yards with 15 touchdowns and 10 interceptions.
WITH NEW DEAL, AARON RODGERS RANKS 22ND IN NFL QB ANNUAL SALARY
Aaron Rodgers signed with the Steelers for a reported $13.65 million in 2025, with a chance to earn $19.5 million when including incentives.
According to multiple reports, Rodgers’ agreement includes a base salary that would rank 11th in the NFL at the position in 2025, according to salary databases from Spotrac and Over The Cap. The Steelers only guaranteed $10 million of the $13.65 million total, according to multiple reports.
Falcons backup Kirk Cousins has the highest base salary among all quarterbacks in 2025 at $27.5 million.
Twenty-one quarterbacks have an average annual salary over $13.65 million, including Colts backup Daniel Jones ($14 million) and the Jets’ Justin Fields ($20 million). Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott tops the list at $60 million. Joe Burrow (Bengals), Josh Allen (Bills), Jordan Love (Packers) and Trevor Lawrence (Jaguars) each earn an average of $55 million per year — and none have yet to turn 30.
Burrow is second in quarterback base salary in 2025 at $25.25 million.
Fields began the 2024 season as QB1 for the Steelers and was benched in favor of Russell Wilson after six games. Wilson signed a reported one-year, $10.5 million contract with the New York Giants as a free agent and Fields is the new starter for the Jets, the franchise Rodgers called home the past two seasons.
The Jets and Steelers square off Week 1 of the 2025 regular season.
The Steelers announced Friday they had agreed to a one-year deal with the 41-year-old veteran, though no terms were released. The team statement also said the deal was pending a physical.
Rodgers, a four-time NFL Most Valuable Player and winner of Super Bowl XLV, spent his first 18 seasons with the Green Bay Packers before his stint with the Jets.
In that Super Bowl, while playing for Green Bay, he was named game MVP as the Packers defeated the Steelers.
DISGRUNTLED PACKERS C ELGTON JENKINS AT CAMP, NOT PRACTICING
Packers center Elgton Jenkins plans to attend mandatory minicamp in Green Bay, although participation is an entirely different story, according to multiple reports Monday.
Seeking an adjusted contract to reflect the current market for his new position, Jenkins has been distant from the team since the start of the offseason. He’s moving from guard to center and while he said last season he’s amenable to a move, he wants to be paid for his versatility after logging important snaps at tackle and guard in previous seasons.
Jenkins has two years remaining on a four-year, $68 million contract signed in 2022, but none of it is guaranteed.
NFL Network reported Monday it’s unlikely Jenkins will practice without financial guarantees for injury in his contract.
Packers offensive coordinator Andy Stenavich said after the draft Jenkins was on board with the position switch, but ESPN reported Jenkins wants the security of guarantees or a new deal to make the move.
At an average annual salary of $17 million per year, Jenkins’ current deal would make him the second-highest-paid center in the NFL — tied with Cam Jurgens (Eagles) — behind only Chiefs All-Pro Creed Humphrey ($18 million).
Jenkins turns 30 in December and bumps inside to make room for free agent addition Aaron Banks to play left guard. The Packers also selected Anthony Belton (54th overall) and seventh-rounder John Williams in their 2025 draft class.
Jenkins was a second-round pick in 2019 and played center in college. General manager Brian Gutekunst has shown little interest in extending contracts for players with more than one season left on an existing contract.
“We feel he’s got a chance to be an All-Pro center. We’ve talked about it a lot, how versatility plays into our offensive line, and having guys that can move to different spots,” Gutekunst said. “And Elgton’s one of those guys who can play all five spots, so he’s a luxury. I’m excited to see what he can do at center, as well.”
REPORT: TEXANS WORK OUT FORMER RAIDER DAMON ARNETTE JR.
The Houston Texans worked out former first-round pick Damon Arnette Jr., who has not played in the NFL since legal problems derailed his career in 2022.
KPRC2 reported that Arnette worked out for the Texans on Monday ahead of the team’s minicamp.
The Texans are searching for secondary depth. The recent retirement of veteran cornerback Ronald Darby created uncertainty on the depth chart.
Arnette, 28, was selected No. 19 overall by the Las Vegas Raiders in the 2020 draft. He played in 13 games (seven starts) before Arnette was hit with felony gun charges stemming from an incident at a Las Vegas casino in January 2022. Arnette was accused of brandishing a .45-caliber handgun during an argument with casino valets.
Arnette was sentenced to community service and fined $2,000 in August 2023 after agreeing to a plea deal.
The Raiders released Arnette in November 2021 amid two lawsuits and a troubling video posted by the defensive back. The video showed Arnette repeatedly threatening to kill someone while brandishing what appeared to be semi-automatic weapons. The Kansas City Chiefs, who had signed Arnette to a reserve contract, released him after the arrest at the casino.
Arnette most recently played for the Houston Roughnecks of the UFL, racking up 18 tackles and an interception last season.
Injuries limited Arnette to 13 games (seven starts) in his one-plus seasons with the Raiders. He didn’t record any interceptions and had 29 tackles.
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COLLEGE FOOTBALL
ESPN PREDICTS SEC ORDER OF FINISH FOR 2025 COLLEGE FOOTBALL SEASON
The 2025 college football season is only a few months away now. With that, ESPN has predicted the order of finish across the SEC.
ESPN’s FPI metric, which is used to measure team strength and is meant to be the best predictor of a team’s performance throughout the season, was what ESPN leaned on for these predictions. It assigned each SEC team a percent chance to win the conference and then ranked them based on that.
The SEC is a conference that expects to get multiple teams to the College Football Playoff. So, being at the top of the conference and competitive is an indicator that teams could be national championship contenders. So, with that in mind, here’s a look at ESPN’s order of finish prediction for the SEC.
1. Texas Longhorns (34.1%)
The Texas Longhorns made a statement in their first season in the SEC, going to the SEC Championship and their second straight College Football Playoff. There, they’d fall short and lose the SEC Championship to Georgia before getting knocked out of the CFP by Ohio State. Still, expectations are clearly high for the Longhorns going into the 2025 season.
Much of those expectations come from new starting quarterback Arch Manning. After two seasons of primarily being the backup to Quinn Ewers, the former five-star recruit and top-rated prospect is going to get his chance to run the offense. Along with an incredibly talented team around him, it’s not a surprise expectations are high in Austin.
2. Georgia Bulldogs (26.9%)
The Georgia Bulldogs return as the defending SEC Champions from last season. It was their third conference title since head coach Kirby Smart took over and their fourth straight appearance in the SEC Championship Game. From there, they earned a bye to the College Football Playoff before getting bumped out in the Sugar Bowl against Notre Dame.
Next season, expectations are high once again for Georgia. The roster is still incredibly talented from top to bottom, but particularly on the defensive side of the ball. The only major question for Smart and the Bulldogs has become the quarterback position. There, it’s an open battle for the starting job to replace Carson Beck, who transferred out of the school.
3. Alabama Crimson Tide (17.2%)
The Alabama Crimson Tide are heading into their second season under head coach Kalen DeBoer. He’d go 9-4 in his first season there with some massive highs, like beating eventual SEC Champion Georgia, and some lows, like tough losses to Vanderbilt and Oklahoma on the road. Those losses were enough to keep the Crimson Tide on the outside looking in at the CFP.
Now, two years removed from the Nick Saban era, the Crimson Tide are going to continue to take on Kalen DeBoer’s image. A major part of that is, again, the change in quarterback. Jalen Milroe is on to the NFL, opening up a quarterback competition that appears to be led by Ty Simpson. Making the right choice there is going to go a massive way in figuring out the 2025 season.
4. Texas A&M Aggies (4.3%)
In 2024, the Texas A&M Aggies exceeded most expectations. It was the first season for head coach Mike Elko in College Station. Under him, the Aggies would go 8-5 but were competitive for the SEC late in the season. However, only winning one out of their five final games ended up costing the Aggies.
The goal in year two for Elko is to avoid a similar late season collapse. Solidifying the quarterback position, which Marcel Reed is expected to lead, is going to be key. He’s hoping to break out after a solid 2024 campaign. That, along with a defense ready to take a step forward, should help get Texas A&M back to the top of the conference standings.
5. Tennessee Volunteers (4.2%)
The Tennessee Volunteers have found consistent success under head coach Josh Heupel that the program had gone a long time without. That saw the Volunteers go to the CFP in 2024, after winning double-digit games for the second time in three seasons. Now, the next goal has to be winning the SEC for the first time since 1998.
Of course, perhaps no SEC team had as dramatic an offseason as Tennessee. Last season’s starting quarterback, Nico Iamaleava, and the school had a standoff over NIL that ended with his transfer to UCLA. That, ironically, led to Tennessee bringing in former UCLA quarterback Joey Aguilar. It’s a difficult spot to be in, especially with plenty of other roster turnover, but the Volunteers still have good odds to win the conference from ESPN.
6. LSU Tigers (3.5%)
When the LSU Tigers hired Brian Kelly, it was to win SEC Championships and go to the College Football Playoff. That hasn’t happened yet in three previous seasons with the program. 2024 saw the Tigers end up going 9-4, the worst season they’ve had by record since Kelly got to Baton Rouge. Still, there is hope that LSU can compete again in 2025.
One of the biggest strengths for LSU in 2025 is that, among the teams toward the top of ESPN’s predicted order of finish, they’re returning a veteran quarterback. Garrett Nussmeier threw for 4,052 yards and 29 touchdowns last season. If he can clean up the 12 interceptions, he’s expected to be a Heisman contender and potentially a top draft pick. With talent all over the roster, the Tigers will go however far he takes them.
7. Ole Miss Rebels (2.8%)
Since getting to Oxford, head coach Lane Kiffin has had Ole Miss consistently competitive. That’s included double-digit win seasons in three of the last four years. Still, they haven’t yet played for the SEC Championship under Kiffin. Ole Miss, as a program, hasn’t even won the conference since 1963. So, it’s been a long time coming to try and win the next one.
Quarterback isn’t often a concern under Kiffin given his offensive pedigree. At the same time, it’s a question for Ole Miss again in 2025 with Jaxson Dart moving on to the NFL. Austin Simmons is going to be the presumed starter next season, and if he takes over in stride, there’s enough talent around him to be competitive. Growing pains, however, could lead to issues in the incredibly talented SEC.
8. Auburn Tigers (1.8%)
The Auburn Tigers have been an interesting team since the end of the Gus Malzahn era. First, the program turned to Bryan Harsin, but after a disastrous and brief tenure, they turned the reigns over to Hugh Freeze for a rebuild. Through two seasons, it’s been a slow rebuild, going 11-14 and having trouble getting the offense going.
Recruiting has been good under Freeze, both in the portal and high school ranks. So, going into year three, there is an expectation that the Tigers are able to take another step forward. A major part of that is going to, of course, fall on the shoulders of quarterback Jackson Arnold. Once a highly-touted recruit, he transferred from Oklahoma following a difficult season in 2024, looking to rejuvenate his career.
9. South Carolina Gamecocks (1.8%)
The South Carolina Gamecocks found themselves on the edge of the College Football Playoff last season. That was on the back of an excellent defensive line and a breakout season for quarterback LaNorris Sellers. With that, expectations are high from fans to be competitive in the SEC next season and maybe even make it to their first Playoff.
Expectations are high now, though, and they won’t be catching anyone by surprise. So, the Gamecocks not only need to live up to those, they’re going to need to do it while getting everyone’s best shot. Much of that is going to come down to if the incoming transfers complement the roster well enough to meet those expectations.
10. Oklahoma Sooners (1.2%)
It was a difficult first season in the SEC for Oklahoma. Despite some positives, particularly late in the season, it was a frustrating year. The offense, in particular, struggled, benching Jackson Arnold and trying to go a new direction on that side of the ball. Things never fully clicked, though, and a program that expects to be Playoff caliber will be looking for better in 2025.
Head coach Brent Venables completely redid the offensive side of the ball. New offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle is bringing his own quarterback, John Mateer. How those two handle the transition will be massive. It’s also important that, as head coach Brent Venables goes back to calling plays defensively, they’re able to balance that focus throughout games.
11. Florida Gators (1.0%)
Going into the 2024 season, Florida head coach Billy Napier was firmly on the hot seat. Then, throughout the season, the Gators showed plenty of improvement, especially when quarterback DJ Lagway took over. Things still weren’t perfect by any means, but it was enough to get another season.
There aren’t real expectations for the Gators to compete for an SEC Championship in 2025. There are, however, expectations they take another step forward with DJ Lagway at quarterback for the Gators. Around him, there’s plenty of question marks. Florida is a young team, after all. Still, they’ve recruited well and have plenty of raw talent.
12. Missouri Tigers (0.6%)
The Missouri Tigers have often caught teams by surprise in recent seasons. Head coach Eli Drinkwitz has now won double-digit games two seasons in a row. That’s made them competitive in the SEC, though it’s obvious that ESPN is predicting them to take a bit of a step back in 2025.
The Tigers are going to be leaning on some transfers next season. At quarterback, Beau Pribula comes in from Penn State. Then, running back Ahmad Hardy is coming over from ULM. Both seem to fit the system well but come with question marks. Answer those, and Missouri could be competitive again.
13. Arkansas Razorbacks (0.5%)
The Arkansas Razorbacks are coming off a 7-6 season. The challenge is that the Razorbacks can’t afford to take a step back from that mark in the SEC, which has depth that is incredibly difficult to compete against week in and week out. Otherwise, head coach Sam Pittman could be looking at a potential spot on the hot seat.
The major concern for Arkansas is the offensive line. That unit hasn’t given the solid skill players time or the ability to properly run the offense. Without fixing that, it’s going to be a long and difficult season. However, if they do fix that, then the Razorbacks have the ability to surprise some folks.
14. Kentucky Wildcats (0.1%)
Kentucky head coach Mark Stoops is now the longest-tenured coach in the SEC. That comes as he failed to lead the Wildcats to a bowl game in 2024 for the first time since 2015. That came amid some offensive issues that they’ll need to address to bounce back in 2025.
Kentucky once again hit the portal for its next quarterback, bringing in Zach Calzada. He has experience and SEC experience but wasn’t great in his time at this level. The Wildcats will need him to be a success, but they’ll also need help in several other key spots. Part of that is getting more physical. Otherwise, it seems like a tough spot to be in.
15. Vanderbilt Commodores (0.0%)
Vanderbilt is very rarely predicted to win the SEC. Still, coming off a 7-6 season and their first bowl game since 2018, the vibes are good in Nashville. That was a magical season at times under quarterback Diego Pavia, particularly in their upset over Alabama.
Pavia has received a waiver to return in 2025 and hopes to continue some of that magic next year. He’s a special player to rally around, but will definitely need some help. In particular, some help along the line of scrimmage would go a long way to getting the Commodores back to a bowl game.
16. Mississippi State Bulldogs (0.0%)
The Mississippi State Bulldogs round out ESPN’s predictions for the SEC, coming in at 16th. That came after they went 2-10 in their first season under head coach Jeff Lebby. It’s a complete rebuild in Starkville, and clearly, ESPN thinks it’s going to take a little while to get more competitive. Still, last place is a difficult place to land.
The hope is Blake Shapen can be healthy and help lead the offense, which he flashed the ability to do in 2024 before his injury. Still, they got hit hard by the portal this offseason, and are thin at wide receiver and across the defense. It’s going to be hard to make up for all that they’re missing along the roster in the conference they play in.
NASCAR NEWS
NASCAR GOES SOUTH OF THE BORDER TO GROW FAN BASE WITH ITS 1ST CUP SERIES RACE IN MEXICO CITY
NASCAR’s first international Cup Series race of the modern era is all about the eyeballs, specifically new fans in the Mexico City market.
NASCAR will be on the track Friday for the first of three days of racing at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodríguez, one of the most popular stops on the Formula 1 calendar and Ben Kennedy’s newest project.
The great-grandson of NASCAR founder Bill France Sr., Kennedy has taken the family business beyond its comfortable confines before.
Kennedy in 2022 moved the preseason exhibition Clash from its longtime home at Daytona International Speedway in Florida to a temporary track built inside Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Kennedy this year moved the Clash to The Madhouse — the historic Bowman Gray Stadium, which had last hosted a Cup race in 1971, in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
NASCAR under Kennedy also returned to North Wilkesboro Speedway in North Carolina for the first time since 1977 when the All-Star race was moved there three years ago. He allowed dirt at Bristol Motor Speedway, a hybrid road course and oval at Charlotte Motor Speedway, alongside his biggest undertaking: NASCAR’s first street race, held in downtown Chicago.
He also had his eyes set on expanding internationally, which will come Sunday with the first points-paying international race in the Cup Series since 1958. It is only third time in 77 years that NASCAR’s top series will run an event that counts in the championship outside the United States. The last two times were in Canada; the Cup Series also has held exhibitions in Japan and Australia.
“Our biggest opportunity to grow as a sport is international,” Kennedy said when he announced Mexico City was replacing one of the two races on the schedule allocated to Richmond International Raceway.
“The U.S. is always going to be our mainstay and our next opportunity was to expand internationally,” he said. “We said we’ve wanted to do this for a long time, but also needed to make sure it was the right time, the right partners and the right location. Mexico City checked every box. To be in one of the biggest cities globally — over 20 million people that live in the city — is a massive opportunity for us to bring the sport.”
The weekend includes the second-tier Xfinity Series and the NASCAR Mexico Series. It’s a strong return to a market that devours the entire F1 weekend ticket package within an hour of them becoming available.
Mexicans have proven to be rabid motorsports fans but haven’t gotten a chance to see NASCAR’s big names since 2008, the final year of a four-year run of Xfinity races. Kyle Busch, Denny Hamlin and Martin Truex Jr. were winners during the four-year stretch.
Daniel Suarez, the former Xfinity champion and native of Monterrey, is NASCAR’s face of the event. He raced the circuit 13 times with a different layout in the NASCAR Mexico Series, and three of Suarez’s starts were wins.
“I’m super excited for the event. I’m super excited to live the moment because the first time is going to only happen once,” Suarez said. “I’m really trying to be as present as possible, enjoy the moment and try to execute the best possible weekend that we can. We know that we are capable of winning the race, but that’s not the goal. The goal is the execution of the entire weekend, and hopefully the win is the result of the execution part.”
The planning that has gone into Mexico City, one of 38 events on the Cup schedule, began about a year ago. NASCAR has worked on myriad details, beginning with how to get nearly 200 trucks hauling race cars and equipment from Michigan International Speedway into Mexico City.
NASCAR official Tom Bryant has spearheaded the organizational logistics and made multiple trips to the border crossing in Laredo, Texas, to meet with customs officials from both nations.
The drive from Michigan to Mexico City is about 40 hours, not including the tedious customs crossing, where all the equipment and tools on every NASCAR hauler must be documented on an exhaustive manifest. Cup Series teams cars were scheduled for a Monday night arrival at Laredo, with crossing scheduled for Tuesday and arrival at the track on Thursday.
“It’s been a ton of coordination moving lots of people and lots of stuff safely and efficiently across a great distance and an international border,” Bryant said on the “Hauler Talk” NASCAR podcast.
“There is a lot to it, but the key to it is you just have to define the problem. We’ve got to get these people and these things from this point to that point within a certain time period,” he said. “How do we do it in a way that’s going to best position us to be ready to go to work as soon as we hit the ground down there? Because this is a pretty tight window.”
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GOLF NEWS
JUSTIN THOMAS: OAKMONT CAN MAKE PLAYERS ‘LOOK STUPID PRETTY FAST’
Justin Thomas doesn’t have a specific method for attacking Oakmont Country Club, widely considered to be one of the most difficult golf courses in the world, other than to maintain his patience.
Thomas tied for 32nd the last time the U.S. Open was played at Oakmont in 2016. That year he carded three rounds of 3-over 73. The fourth was a 69 in the second round, which he called one of the best rounds of his life despite spraying his tee shots all over the course.
“I think I hit four fairways, but I remember I hit seven greens and I shot 69. I chipped in three times. I was beyond exhausted when I got done,” Thomas said Monday ahead of this week’s U.S. Open. “I actually played with Brooks (Koepka) the first two days. I remember he was so pissed off. He just couldn’t get over it.”
Thomas is anticipating long practice rounds this week, as players grind away trying to figure out every nuance of Oakmont’s legendary greens. While he called them “some of the worst practice rounds of the year,” Thomas also hopes that the lore of Oakmont gets in his competitors’ heads.
“Being perfectly honest and very selfish, I hope it psychs a lot of players out,” he said. “It’s a part of the preparation, like trying to go hit wedges or trying to get the speed of the greens or anything. It’s getting a game plan for how you’re going to approach the course mentally and strategically.
“I understand this place is hard. I don’t need to read articles, or I don’t need to hear horror stories. I’ve played it. I know it’s difficult. I also have faith that if I go play well and I’m driving the ball well and I’m hitting my irons like I know I can, I’m going to have a lot of birdie opportunities.”
Thomas, 32, hasn’t enjoyed a ton of success at the U.S. Open, where his best finish was a tie for eighth at Winged Foot in 2020. He comes in ranked fifth in the world thanks to a win at a signature event at the RBC Heritage — his first since 2022 — and a pair of runner-up finishes this season.
One of those came at the Truist Championship last month, but Thomas then missed the cut at the PGA Championship and is coming off a T31 at the Memorial.
He arrived in Pennsylvania this week “shocked” to find how soft Oakmont’s fairways still are due to the heavy rains the area has received. Thomas anticipates those receptive fairways and greens that still have some bounce in them will be much firmer come Thursday. And that’s when the patience will need to come to the forefront.
“If you just get lazy, like on any drive, any wedge shot, any chip, any putt, you can kind of look stupid pretty fast, especially at a place like this,” he said. “I just feel like it’s a great week to be in a great place mentally and very, very patient and kind of picking our spots out there.”
Oakmont has undergone some changes since 2016, when Dustin Johnson shot 4-under par to win. Thomas admits he doesn’t remember enough to compare the conditions to that year, but he would be more than happy to replicate that Friday round four times — even if it means going to battle against Oakmont’s brutally long rough again.
“I would prefer to not do that,” he joked. “But if that means I shoot 69 every day, I’ll take four fairways and seven greens right now.”
DUSTIN JOHNSON CHASING RETRO PERFORMANCE AT OAKMONT
Nine Junes ago, Dustin Johnson captured his first major when he solved Oakmont Golf Club better than anyone else to claim the 2016 U.S. Open.
As the Open returns to Oakmont for the first time since Johnson’s triumph, the 40-year-old squints at the rugged layout in western Pennsylvania and sees a monster. He played the front nine Monday in preparation for Thursday’s opening round.
“The course is just as hard as I remember, if not harder,” said Johnson, who finished at 4-under-par 276 in 2016 to defeat Jim Furyk, Ireland’s Shane Lowry and Scott Piercy by three shots.
When asked where Oakmont ranks on his list of hardest courses, the two-time major champion didn’t hesitate.
“Probably this one,” he said. “I’ve played some hard courses, but it all depends on the conditions. This one’s hard no matter what — soft, firm, windy, no wind.”
Oakmont played at 7,219 yards in 2016, but the course has been lengthened to 7,372 yards for this season’s third major.
“It seems like it’s tougher this time around, but that’s just maybe with the little bit of added length,” Johnson said. “But yeah, somehow I figured out a way to get it under par. It was mostly the driving. Obviously even driving it in the fairway here, it’s still really difficult. But I hit a lot of good drives and a lot of good iron shots.”
As one of the first prominent players to jump to LIV Golf in June 2022, Johnson generally faces PGA Tour players only in majors. He has missed the cut in five of his last seven majors, which includes this year’s Masters and PGA Championship — though he might put asterisks next to those two.
“Last two holes (at the Masters), bogey, double (bogey), to miss (the cut) by a shot, I think,” Johnson said.
At last month’s PGA Championship at Quail Hollow, Johnson fired rounds of 78 and 76 to miss the cut by 11 shots.
“I know my score didn’t reflect it at the PGA, but I actually played way better than the score,” Johnson said. “I just struggled a little bit on the greens. Well, maybe that’s an understatement. I struggled really bad on the greens.”
But his putter likely won’t determine how well Johnson fares this week at Oakmont. Instead, it’ll be his driver.
“I have confidence in this golf course because I know I played well,” Johnson said. “But obviously this week puts a lot of pressure on the driver. I feel like I’m driving the ball really good right now.”
Johnson is coming off a T10 finish at LIV Golf Virginia, his third top-10 showing of the season. He has three wins on that tour, most recently at Las Vegas in February 2024.
TOP INDIANA NEWS HEADLINES/RELEASES
INDIANA PACERS
PACERS, BACK HOME IN INDIANA, HAVE SOME THINGS TO FIGURE OUT BEFORE GAME 3 VS. THUNDER IN NBA FINALS
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — The Indiana Pacers simply couldn’t wait to get home early Monday.
There’s a slew of possible reasons for that. Maybe they just wanted to get out of Oklahoma City with their split of the first two games in the NBA Finals. Maybe they couldn’t wait to see what finals fever will look like in Indianapolis after a 25-year wait to get back to the title round. Or maybe they just wanted to get back to work.
It’s probably a little of everything — especially the last part.
Yes, the Pacers are tied with the Thunder 1-1 after two games of the NBA Finals. For the lower-seeded team, that’s huge; the Pacers took home-court advantage away by winning Game 1. But they know that if they don’t take care of their own business at home, starting with Game 3 on Wednesday night, it’ll be advantage Thunder again, just like that.
“We’re going to have to be a lot better on Wednesday,” Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said.
That might sound like coaching hyperbole, but really, it isn’t. The Pacers have yet to have anyone score 20 points in a game in these finals. They’ve led for a total — a total! — of 1 minute, 54 seconds in this series, or just under 2% of the time. (That’s a major improvement over the 0.0001% that they led Game 1 for, in a winning effort, somehow.) And in Game 2, the Thunder held the Pacers without a point in the paint for the entirety of the first quarter.
Points in the paint isn’t a stat that tends to jump off the page. It’s possible that a lot of people didn’t even notice. But consider this: Before Sunday night, more than nine years had passed since the Pacers didn’t manage a single paint point in the first quarter of a game.
“We have to do a better job of getting to the paint,” Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton said. “It’s a lot easier said than done. … Our offense is built from the inside-out, and we have to do a better job getting downhill. They collapse and make plays from there. I thought we could improve a lot there. But yeah, man, they are flying around. They have got great point-of-attack defenders and great rim protectors.”
For a team that has now won 81 of its 100 games this season (not counting the NBA Cup final loss, since that doesn’t figure into any records), the Thunder somehow tend to get overlooked on the defensive end. Oklahoma City handcuffed the Pacers in the first two games, daring Indiana to take 3-pointers and barely giving up anything easy around the rim.
It starts with bothering Haliburton, which the Thunder have managed to do for the majority of the first two games.
“Most of the guys I guard have the ball most of the time,” said Thunder forward Luguentz Dort, who has drawn the assignment on Haliburton for much of the first two games. “My main thing is to stay in front of him and make everything tough. He’s a great player. He is going to make some tough shots and great reads, so I just have to stay in front of him.”
No team gave up fewer paint points in the regular season than the Thunder. It truly is a clash of styles; the Pacers are averaging 46 paint points in their 13 wins in these playoffs as opposed to averaging 36 paint points in their five losses.
“I think we have been one of the better teams scoring in the paint all year and we have to establish that early,” Pacers forward Myles Turner said. “I think we only had four or six points in the paint in the first half (of Game 2) and that’s not Pacers basketball. When you live and die by that three or mid-range shots, it doesn’t always fare well for you.”
Maybe at home, things will be easier. The Pacers got a split in Oklahoma City; things could be much worse. And now, the Pacers have two days to try to find a way to respond to what the Thunder defense is taking away.
“We’ll watch the film, see where we can get better,” Haliburton said. “We know that the paint is our emphasis and the paint is our friend. The more that we’re able to attack the paint, usually better things happen for us.”
PACERS PINE FOR HOSTILE HOME CROWD, FINALS SHIFT TO INDY
For the first time since 2000, the NBA Finals are headed to Indianapolis.
The Pacers are even with the Oklahoma City Thunder at 1-all in the best-of-seven Finals as the series rolls into Indiana for Game 3 on Wednesday night.
“We got one. Get to go home and play in front of our fans at Gainbridge,” Pacers guard Aaron Nesmith said. “They’ve been waiting for this for 25 years, so it’s exciting to go back and see what the atmosphere will be like.”
The Pacers swiped the opening game of the series and went into the second with a 7-0 record in Games 1 and 2 this postseason before the 123-107 loss that evened the Finals.
While Oklahoma City squandered a 15-point lead in the fourth quarter in Game 1, the Thunder defense was relentless in Game 2. Indiana has only 38 points in the paint in two games, an area Pascal Siakam believes the Pacers must address to reclaim the series lead.
“They swarm a lot. They do a good job of that. I mean, yeah, they use their hands a lot,” Siakam said. “I mean, we are not going to get into fouls or no fouls but whatever. I think they are just being aggressive, and we’ve got to be stronger with the ball. We can’t let that speed us up. We’ve still got to play under control … that’s what we’ve got to find a way to do.”
NBA MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is averaging 36 points in the Finals and had 34 points and eight assists for the Thunder in Game 2. Gilgeous-Alexander has 72 points in his first two Finals games, one better than the previous best ever two-game debut by Allen Iverson (71).
“I’m being myself. I don’t think I tried to reinvent the wheel or step up to the plate with a different mindset. Just try to attack the game the right way. I think I’ve done a pretty good job of that so far,” he said. “Now, I would trade the points for two Ws, for sure. But this is where our feet are. This is where we are. You can’t go back in the past, you can only make the future better. That’s what I’m focused on.”
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INDIANA FEVER
CAITLIN CLARK WILL MISS 5TH GAME WITH QUAD STRAIN BUT COULD SOON START ‘RAMPING BACK UP’
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Caitlin Clark will sit out a fifth consecutive game with a quadriceps strain when Indiana visits Atlanta on Tuesday, shifting the focus to whether the Fever star will return against the WNBA champion New York Liberty.
Indiana coach Stephanie White stopped short Monday of saying Clark had been cleared for basketball activities, saying the club was ready for the reigning Rookie of the Year to start “ramping back up.”
The Fever initially said Clark would miss at least two weeks, and it has been 16 days since Clark was injured in a 90-88 loss to the Liberty. She finished the game, saying later adrenaline likely allowed her to play with the strain.
Clark told reporters last week she was targeting a Tuesday return, but said she wouldn’t rush it. White reiterated the patience part Monday. The rematch with the Liberty isn’t until Saturday at home, which should give Clark some decent practice time.
“We’re going to be smart, and we’re going to be cautious and we’re going to play the long game and work her back in very intentionally,” White said.
Clark is averaging 19 points, 9.3 assists and six rebounds in four games this season. This is the first time in her college or pro career that she’s missed games. She averaged 19.2 points and a WNBA-leading 8.4 assists as a rookie.
The Fever are also without guard Sophie Cunningham, who has been limited to four games by ankle injury. White ruled out Cunningham against the Dream.
INDIANAPOLIS COLTS
COLTS TRANSITION OWNERSHIP TO JIM IRSAY’S THREE DAUGHTERS
The Indianapolis Colts announced details of the ownership transition Monday from the late Jim Irsay to his three daughters.
In addition to their new roles as co-owners, eldest daughter Carlie Irsay-Gordon is now the CEO, Casey Foyt the executive vice president, and Kalen Jackson the chief brand officer and president of the team’s foundation.
All three women have served as vice chairs/owners since 2012. The team said the longstanding transition plans were established by Jim Irsay, who passed away on May 21 at the age of 65.
The Colts are one of only a few NFL franchises under sole family ownership. Robert Irsay originally acquired the Baltimore Colts in 1972 and moved the team to Indianapolis in 1984. Jim Irsay became sole owner when his father died in 1997.
Irsay-Gordon, 44, started out as an intern for the Colts and is a member of multiple league committees. She has attended owners meetings and tended to official league business at her father’s side — and independently on behalf of ownership — since 2004.
Irsay-Gordon has been heavily involved in the business side of the team since 2012 and in the past several years continued to take on more responsibility in other areas of the organization.
She filled in when Jim Irsay was suspended for six games by the NFL in 2014. The suspension came after he entered a guilty plea to DUI charges.
INDIANA SOFTBALL
TAYLOR MINNICK FINISHES AT NO. 16 IN SOFTBALL AMERICA’S POSTSEASON TOP 100 LIST
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. –––– Indiana senior Taylor Minnick was selected as part of Softball America’s postseason Top 100 players list.
Minnick was ranked No. 16 in the publication’s final player rankings for the 2025 season.
She was recognized for the honor after a historic senior season. She hit .484 at the plate with 76 hits, 26 doubles, three triples, 18 home runs and 71 RBI. She also charted a 1.019 slugging percentage and a .592 on-base percentage.
Minnick helped the program to its third-straight NCAA Tournament appearance for the first time in program history.
She broke a slew of program records in her senior campaign.
Season batting average: .484
Career batting average: .390
Season doubles: 26
Career doubles: 61
Career home runs: 45
Season slugging percentage: 1.019
Season RBI: 71
Career RBI: 204
Her outstanding play in her senior season earned her consensus First Team All-American honors from the NFCA, Softball America and D1Softball.
She was also named First Team All-Region by the NFCA and First Team All-Big Ten.
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INDIANA BASEBALL
HANLEY NAMED NCBWA FIRST TEAM FRESHMAN ALL-AMERICAN
LYNCHBURG, Va. (NCBWA) – After one of the best rookie campaigns in program history, the honors keep rolling in for one of the best players on the Indiana baseball team. First baseman Jake Hanley was named a First Team Freshman All-American by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) on Monday (June 9) afternoon. He was one of 34 standout players honored by the organization.
Hanley continues the prestige of freshmen to play early and often for head coach Jeff Mercer’s teams in Bloomington. Since 2019, he’s the 10th player to earn Freshman All-American honors from at least one national outlet. Over the past four seasons, IU has had eight different players earn an award.
The 6-foot-6 first baseman from Mason, Ohio led Big Ten freshmen in most offensive categories. He contributed 73 hits, 48 runs scored and 52 RBIs. His 14-home run campaign ensured that the Hoosiers have had at least one freshman hit 10+ home runs in the last four years. He also played a dynamic first base and didn’t commit a single error while starting all 56 games for the Hoosiers.
Hanley – the 2025 Big Ten Freshman of the Year – was one of three IU freshmen to earn Big Ten All-Freshman team honors. Shortstop Cooper Malamazian and third baseman Will Moore joined him on the rookie team. Outfielder Hogan Denny helped give IU four different freshmen with at least 40 hits on the year.
2025 NCBWA Freshman All-America Team
First Team
C Jacob Lee, VCU
1B Jake Hanley, Indiana
2B Chris Rembert, Auburn
SS Tyler Bell, Kentucky
3B Rylan Lujo, Dayton
OF Sawyer Strosnider, TCU
OF Derek Curiel, LSU
OF Braden Burress, East Carolina
DH Cole Johnson, Austin Peay
UT Alex Hernandez, Georgia Tech
SP Jack Ohman, Yale
SP Tate Carey, Michigan
SP Cam Bagwell, UNCW
SP Aidan King, Florida
RP Dylan Volantis, Texas
RP Casan Evans, LSU
RP Brady St. Pierre, Southeastern Louisiana
Second Team
C Nate Savoie, Loyola Marymount
1B Tague Davis, Louisville
2B Dalton Wentz, Wake Forest
SS Nate Castellon, Cal Poly
3B Sean Yamaguchi, Nevada
OF AJ Evasco, Kansas State
OF Tatum Marsh, Stanford
OF Landon Hairston, Arizona State
DH Shaun McMillan, St. John’s
UT Noah Franco, TCU
SP Mason Blasche, Samford
SP Dax Whitney, Oregon State
SP Wilson Magers, Creighton
SP Austin Nye, Vanderbilt
RP Anderson Nance, NC State
RP Nathan Aceves, UC Santa Barbara
RP Walker McDuffie, North Carolina
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PURDUE MEN’S GOLF
AMORNCHAICHAN GARNERS HONORABLE MENTION ALL-AMERICA STATUS
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Purdue freshman Supapon Amornchaichan capped off a terrific season when the Golf Coaches Association of America (GCAA) named him an honorable mention All-American selection on Monday afternoon.
It marks the third straight year, and fourth time in the last five years, that a Purdue golfer has been named at least an honorable mention selection, joining Cole Bradley (HM – 2021) and Herman Sekne (2023 – 3rd team; 2024 – HM) as recent Boilermakers to earn the distinction.
Prior to this current stretch, Purdue hadn’t had an All-American distinction since the 2004 campaign (Shiv Kapur).
Amornchaichan is one of just three freshmen to earn All-America distinction, among the 67 players listed on the first, second, third and honorable mention teams. He is joined by Texas freshman Daniel Bennett (1st team) and Oklahoma freshman Clark Van Gaalen (HM).
Amornchaichan ended the season on a high note to earn the honors. He finished ninth at the NCAA Championships at 3-under par 285 (73-69-72-71) making him the highest-finishing freshman in the tournament. His ninth-place showing was the highest for a Boilermaker since 1960 when John Konsek lost in the match play quarterfinals (top 8).
He preceded the NCAA Championships with a solid effort at the Auburn Regionals, placing T-15th at 1-over par 217 (72-73-72).
Amornchaichan ended the year with a 73.03 stroke average, the lowest average by a Purdue freshman in school history.
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NOTRE DAME SWIMMING
JANTON WINS USA SWIMMING NATIONAL TITLE, QUALIFIES FOR WORLD AQUATICS CHAMPIONSHIPS
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — Tommy Janton is a USA Swimming national champion.
Last week, eight Irish swimmers made the trek to Indianapolis to compete at the 2025 USA Swimming National Championships. Janton made waves by winning the 100 back out of Lane 1 with a school record time of 53.00. In doing so, Janton earned a spot on the United States National Team and will travel to Singapore in July for the 2025 World Aquatics Championships.
Janton also competed in the 50 (25.36) and 200 back (1:58.46), finishing 12th and 10th, respectively.
Teammate Marcus Reyes-Gentry won the B final in the 50 back with a time of 24.99. That mark is under the World Aquatics A standard, qualifying him to compete for Mexico in Singapore.
In addition to Janton’s accomplishment, three other program records fell in Indy. Rising sophomore Carli Cronk broke both the 200 fly (2:11.07) and 400 IM (4:51.70) records, and Cronk earned a seventh-place finish in the 200 fly. The previous 400 IM record was set by Olympian Emma Reaney in 2012 and was the oldest record on the books for the program.
Finally, Patrick Branon lowered his 200 fly program record with a new best time of 1:58.74.
NOTRE DAME WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
HIDALGO EARNS USA BASKETBALL WOMEN’S AMERICUP TEAM TRIALS SPOT
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — Hannah Hidalgo will have the opportunity to play for a spot on Team USA this summer, as the Notre Dame junior is one of 21 athletes named to participate in the 2025 USA Basketball Women’s AmeriCup Team trials, which begin June 17 at the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Training Center in Colorado Springs.
Prior to enrolling at Notre Dame, Hidalgo won gold medals as part of the U17 and U19 Women’s World Cup teams in 2022 and 2023, respectively. Additionally, she was named the 2023 USA Basketball Female Athlete of the Year.
Last season, Hidalgo was one of the nation’s top guards, earning a spot on the AP All-America First Team for the second straight season. In doing so, she became just the fourth player in history to make the First Team in each of their first two years of collegiate basketball.
As a sophomore, Hidalgo set the Notre Dame single-season record with 23.8 points per game, topping the mark she set as a freshman (22.6). All in all, Hidalgo currently holds 23 Irish records, including single-season steals (160), steals per game (4.6). She ranks 18th in program history with 1551 career points and reached the 1000-point mark in a program-record 44 games.
Should Hidalgo make the team, she will travel to Santiago, Chile from June 28-July 6 for the 2025 FIBA Women’s AmeriCup. The United States will open play in Group B with host nation Chile before facing Colombia, Puerto Rico and Mexico. The winner of the 2025 FIBA Women’s AmeriCup will earn a spot in the 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup in Berlin next summer.
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BALL STATE ATHLETICS
BALL STATE ATHLETICS ANNOUNCES 2025 HALL OF FAME CLASS
MUNCIE, Ind. – Ball State Athletics is excited to announce the newest members to its Athletics Hall of Fame. The 2025 induction class includes a highly decorated men’s volleyball team, a seven-time Mid-American Conference (MAC) champion in track & field, two standout golfers, a four-time first team All-MAC men’s tennis player and a long-time National Football League (NFL) veteran.
The six-member class features the 1995 Ball State men’s volleyball team, Tameka Borders (Track & Field), Jenna Hague (Women’s Golf), Tyler Merkel (Men’s Golf), Ray Leonard (Men’s Tennis) and Willie Snead (Football). Each of the honorees will be inducted during an Oct. 3 induction ceremony at the Ball State Alumni Center.
1995 BALL STATE MEN’S VOLLEYBALL TEAM
The 1995 Ball State men’s volleyball team remains one of the most successful in program history, finishing the season with a 25-9 overall record and ranked fifth in the final USA Today/AVCA Coaches Poll. The Cardinals also claimed both the 1995 Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association (MIVA) regular season and tournament titles, including a 10-2 record in MIVA play.
Over the course of the season, the Cardinals beat all four teams which finished the season ahead of them in the final national rankings: No. 1 UCLA, No. 2 Hawai’i, No. 3 Penn State and No. 4 UC Santa Barbara. One of only two teams in program history to own a win over UCLA, with the 2008 squad being the other, the Cardinals lost to the Bruins in the first round of the NCAA Tournament before topping Hawai’i in the third-place match.
Members of the squad earned multiple individual recognitions starting with Todd Reimer who was named the MIVA Player of the Year. Eduardo Ferraz was tabbed the MIVA Tournament Most Valuable Player (MVP), while three players earned All-MIVA first-team honors. Reimer and Ferraz were both named AVCA second team All-Americans, and then-head coach Don Shondell earned MIVA Coach of the Year accolades.
Tameka Borders, Track & Field
A seven-time Mid-American Conference champion, Borders earned the league’s Most Valuable Player honor at the 1996 MAC Indoor Championships. Borders was part of Ball State’s 1996 indoor and outdoor MAC championship teams.
In 1996, Borders was an NCAA participant in the 200m dash, placing 15th out of 22 competitors. That same year she competed in the NCAA provisional qualifier meet in the 55m dash, 200m dash, triple jump and long jump.
After almost 30 years, Borders remains ranked in the Ball State record books in five categories; third in the 60-meter dash (indoor), third in the 100-meter dash (outdoor), fourth in the 200-meter dash (outdoor) and fifth in the triple jump (indoor and outdoor).
JENNA HAGUE, WOMEN’S GOLF
Hague becomes only the second women’s golfer to be inducted into the Ball State Athletics Hall of Fame. Hague made an immediate impact on the team earning both Mid-American Conference Championship medalist honors and second-team All-MAC accolades as a true freshman.
Hague was a 10-time MAC Golfer of Week recipient who became only the second player in program history to be selected for an NCAA regional and the second to be named to the All-MAC first team twice, joining fellow Hall of Fame inductee Brittany Kelly (2007-11) in both categories.
Hague earned six career titles over her four-year tenure at Ball State. She set Ball State records for single-season scoring average (74.34), 18-hole score (66) and 54-hole score (214), all during her junior season. She graduated with the second-best career stroke average in school history (77.22).
TYLER MERKEL, MEN’S GOLF
Merkel graduated with the second-best career stroke average in Ball State history (73.99). He competed in the NCAA Championship twice, earning a regional invitation as an individual in 2012 and helping Ball State to the Nationals in 2013.
A two-time PING All-Midwest Region recipient, Merkel earned All-MAC first team honors twice, All-MAC second team and MAC Co-Freshman of the Year along with being voted to the All-MAC Tournament squad.
The seven-time MAC Golfer of the Week earned the MAC Medal of Excellence in 2014. He also garnered three tournament titles during his four-year career.
Not only was Merkel successful on the course, but off the course registering MAC Scholar Athlete of the Week and being tabbed a Cleveland Golf/Srixon All-America Scholar in both 2013 and 2014.
RAY LEONARD, MEN’S TENNIS
This No. 1 singles player helped the Cardinals win back-to-back Mid-American Conference titles in 2013 and 2014.
In 2014, Leonard helped Ball State earn its seventh MAC tourney title after posting a straight set victory on the top court against Buffalo’s Damien David. Leonard’s win helped the Cardinals claim the championship and its eighth birth to the NCAA Tournament.
Leonard, a four-time first team All-MAC selection, also won the prestigious Jack Vredevelt Sportsmanship Award from the league office. He was named MAC Tennis Player of the Week five times during his career.
WILLIE SNEAD FOOTBALL
Snead, a talented wide receiver for the Cardinals, came to Ball State after graduating high school a semester early. He was a two-time All-MAC first team honoree for the Cardinals and a semifinalist for the 2013 Fred Biletnikoff Award.
Snead still ranks first all-time at Ball State in receiving yards in a season (1,516), receptions (106) and touchdowns (15). He also ranks first in career games of 100 or more yards receiving with 13 and is one of only two players in Ball State history to have two 1,000-yard receiving seasons in a career. Snead is also third in the program’s record book for career receiving yards (2,991) and second in touchdowns (26). Snead was a member of back-to-back bowl teams when the Cardinals played at the Beef ‘O’ Brady’s Bowl (2012) and GoDaddy Bowl (2013).
After playing three years with the Cardinals, Snead would forgo his senior season to enter the NFL draft where he spent seven years playing for the Cleveland Browns, Carolina Panthers, New Orleans Saints, Baltimore Ravens, Las Vegas Raiders, San Francisco 49ers and the Miami Dolphins. In 2024, Snead appeared on the Super Bowl roster for the San Francisco 49ers. He has recently retired from the NFL.
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SOUTHERN INDIANA WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
SCREAMING EAGLES ADD TRANSFER GUARD WEST AHEAD OF 2025-26
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Women’s Basketball has signed senior guard Sarang West, who transfers to USI ahead of 2025-26 from the University of North Alabama.
The 5’8″ guard made six starts in 26 games played last season for North Alabama, averaging 2.7 points per game. West shot just over 30 percent overall from the floor and nearly 30 percent from long range. West totaled 21 rebounds, 18 assists, and four steals in 2024-25. The guard had a pair of career-high games with 11 points last season.
“We are extremely excited to have Sarang join our team and USI family,” USI Women’s Basketball Head Coach Rick Stein said. “Sarang brings high-level college basketball experience and will impact our team immediately. Sarang is a true point guard, with great court vision, who can make her teammates better in transition and in the half court.”
Before North Alabama, West spent her sophomore season at Allen Community College. West averaged 12.8 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per contest at Allen CC, earning 2023-24 Newcomer of the Year in the Kansas Jayhawks Community College Conference and KJCCC First-Team honors. West played her freshman season at Binghamton University in 2022-23.
From New York, New York, competed at the prep level for Bronx High School of Science and Choate Rosemary Hall, scoring over 1,000 points in her prep career.
SOUTHERN INDIANA MEN’S BASKETBALL
USI SIGNS AJIBOYE FOR 2025-26
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Men’s Basketball announced the signing of forward Ola Ajiboye for the 2025-26 season.
At 6-foot-8, Ola provides the kind of hard-playing approach that we expects to see at USI,” said USI Head Coach Stan Gouard. “He brings a high-level work ethic and competitive edge from his time at Tennessee Tech (University), Valparaiso (University), and Central Michigan (University).
“Ola is versatile, tough, and fits perfectly with our culture and style of play,” continued Gouard. “We believe his length, athleticism, and toughness will make an immediate impact and help elevate our program. Ola’s motor is always running and will bring a great physical presence to our roster.”
Ajiboye is transferring to USI after spending last year with Tennessee Tech. He appeared in 32 games for the Golden Eagles in 2024-25, averaging 4.3 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 1.3 assists per game.
The 6-foot-8 forward posted a season-high 13 points versus Southeast Missouri State University and grabbed a season-best nine rebounds three times in 2024-25.
Prior to playing for TTU, Ajiboye spent a year at Valparaiso and Central Michigan. He competed in 31 of Valpo’s 32 contests during 2023-24, averaging 3.7 points, 3.4 rebounds, 0.6 blocks, and 0.5 steals per game.
As a freshman in 2022-23, Ajiboye played in 30 of CMU’s 31 games, making 14 starts, while averaging 3.0 points, 3.4 rebounds, 0.8 blocks, and 0.7 steals per game.
The Chicago, Illinois, native lettered for and attended Steuben High School (Chicago, Illinois), Evanston High School (Evanston, Illinois), and then Bosco Institute (Crown Point, Indiana) during his prep career.
The USI Screaming Eagles are a member of the Ohio Valley Conference and will be NCAA Tournament eligible in 2025-26 following the completion of the accelerated transition from Division II. USI has reached the OVC Championship in two of the first three seasons of Division I action.
SMALL COLLEGE WEB SITES
UINDY ATHLETICS: https://athletics.uindy.edu/
MARIAN ATHLETICS: https://muknights.com/
INDIANA WESLEYAN ATHLETICS: https://iwuwildcats.com/
EARLHAM ATHLETICS: https://goearlham.com/
WABASH ATHLETICS: https://sports.wabash.edu/
FRANKLIN ATHLETICS: https://franklingrizzlies.com/
ROSE-HULMAN ATHLETICS: https://athletics.rose-hulman.edu/
ANDERSON ATHLETICS: https://athletics.anderson.edu/landing/index
TRINE ATHLETICS: https://trinethunder.com/landing/index
BETHEL ATHLETICS: https://bupilots.com/
DEPAUW ATHLETICS: https://depauwtigers.com/
HANOVER ATHLETICS: https://athletics.hanover.edu/
MANCHESTER ATHLETICS: https://muspartans.com/
HUNTINGTON ATHLETICS: https://www.huathletics.com/
OAKLAND CITY ATHLETICS: https://gomightyoaks.com/index.aspx
ST. FRANCIS ATHLETICS: https://www.saintfranciscougars.com/landing/index
IU KOKOMO ATHLETICS: https://iukcougars.com/
IU EAST ATHLETICS: https://www.iueredwolves.com/
IU SOUTH BEND ATHLETICS: https://iusbtitans.com/
PURDUE NORTHWEST ATHLETICS: https://pnwathletics.com/
INDIANA TECH ATHLETICS: https://indianatechwarriors.com/index.aspx
GRACE COLLEGE ATHLETICS: https://gclancers.com/
ST. MARY OF THE WOODS ATHLETICS: https://smwcathletics.com/
GOSHEN COLLEGE ATHLETICS: https://goleafs.net/
HOLY CROSS ATHLETICS: https://www.hcsaints.com/index.php
TAYLOR ATHLETICS: https://www.taylortrojans.com/
VINCENNES ATHLETICS: https://govutrailblazers.com/landing/index
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“SPORTS EXTRA”
TODAY IN BASEBALL HISTORY
June 10
1921 — Babe Ruth of the New York Yankees became baseball’s career home run leader by hitting his 120th off Cleveland’s Jim Bagby in the third inning. The Indians took the game 8-6.
1944 — Joe Nuxhall, at 15 years, 10 months and 11 days, became the youngest player in major league history when he pitched for the Cincinnati Reds in an 18-0 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals.
1959 — Rocky Colavito of Cleveland hit four consecutive home runs at Baltimore’s Memorial Stadium, a tough home run park. Billy Martin and Minnie Minoso also homered in the Indians’ 11-8 victory.
1966 — Cleveland’s Sonny Siebert threw the only no-hitter of the year as the Indians beat the Washington Senators 2-0.
1972 — Hank Aaron’s grand slam pushed the Atlanta Braves to a 15-3 rout over the Philadelphia Phillies. It was Aaron’s 649th home run, moving him ahead of Willie Mays into second place on the career home run list. It was also his 14th grand slam, tying Gil Hodges’ NL record.
1997 — Kevin Brown threw a no-hitter and kept himself from a perfect game by hitting a batter in the eighth inning, leading the Florida Marlins over the San Francisco Giants 9-0.
2005 — Baltimore’s 4-3 win over Cincinnati marked the first time that three 500-homer players appeared in the same game — the Orioles’ Sammy Sosa (580) and Rafael Palmeiro (559), and the Reds’ Ken Griffey, who hit a solo shot in the eighth inning for No. 511.
2006 — Reggie Sanders became the fifth player in major league history with 300 homers and 300 stolen bases when he hit a two-run shot in Kansas City’s 9-5 loss to Tampa Bay. Sanders homered off Chad Harville in the ninth to reach the milestone joining Barry Bonds, Willie Mays, Andre Dawson and Bobby Bonds.
2011 — Tony La Russa managed his 5,000th game when the St. Louis Cardinals lost to the Milwaukee Brewers 8-0. La Russa complied a 2,676-2,324 record with the White Sox, Athletics and Cardinals. Only Connie Mack managed more games with 7,755 over 53 years.
2012 — Frankie Vanderka threw a three-hitter, Travis Jankowski had four hits and Stony Brook completed an improbable run to the College World Series with a 7-2 victory over LSU in the deciding game of the Baton Rouge super regional. Stony Brook became only the second team to open the tournament as a No. 4 seed in the regional round and advance to the World Series. The first was Fresno State during its stunning 2008 run to a national title.
2019 — The Diamondbacks and Phillies play “Home Run Derby” at Citizens Bank Park, in a 13 – 8 win by the D-Backs. Arizona opens the game with three straight homers off Jerad Eickhoff, by Jarrod Dyson, Ketel Marte and David Peralta, on their way to hitting 8 long balls. The Phillies reply with 5 of their own, including two by Scott Kingery, but it’s not enough on a night when balls are flying out of the park right and left. Eduardo Escobar homers from different sides of the plate in consecutive innings for Arizona, and Ildemaro Vargas also homers twice. The combined 13 homers set a new major league record. The D-Backs had been the last team to open a game with three dingers, back on July 21, 2017.
2020 — Because of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, the 2020 Amateur draft is held virtually and limited to five rounds.
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June 11
1904 — Bob Wicker of the Chicago Cubs pitched 9 1-3 hitless innings before Sam Mertes of the New York Giants singled. Wicker won a 1-0, 12-inning one-hitter.
1938 — Johnny Vander Meer hurled the first of two consecutive no-hitters, and the Cincinnati Reds beat the Boston Braves 3-0.
1967 — The Chicago Cubs hit seven homers and the New York Mets four in the second game of a doubleheader, tying the major league record set by the New York Yankees (6) and Detroit Tigers (5) in 1950. Adolfo Phillips hit four home runs in the doubleheader for Chicago.
1981 — Following Seattle’s 8-2 win over Baltimore, major league players went on strike.
1985 — Von Hayes became the first player in major league history to hit two home runs in the first inning. Hayes connected twice in a nine-run first, powering the Philadelphia Phillies to a 26-7 victory over the New York Mets.
1988 — Rick Rhoden of the New York Yankees became the first pitcher since the inception of the designated hitter (1973) to start a game as the DH. He was seventh in the lineup and grounded to third out in the third inning and drove in a run with a sacrifice fly. Jose Cruz pinch-hit for him in the fifth of the 8-6 win over Baltimore.
1990 — Nolan Ryan pitched the sixth no-hitter of his career to extend his major league record, and the Texas Rangers beat the Oakland Athletics 5-0. Ryan, 43, was the first to pitch no-hitters for three teams and the oldest to throw one.
1995 — Lee Smith set a major league record with a save in his 16th consecutive appearance, pitching a scoreless ninth inning to preserve the California Angels’ 5-4 victory over Baltimore. Smith broke the mark of 15 straight set by Doug Jones in 1988.
2002 — Jared Sandberg became the 16th AL player to homer twice in an inning, and the third this season, when Tampa Bay beat Los Angeles 11-2.
2003 — Houston’s Roy Oswalt, Pete Munro, Kirk Saarloos, Brad Lidge, Octavio Dotel and Billy Wagner combined for the first no-hitter against the New York Yankees in 45 years, winning 8-0. The sextet set a record for the highest number of pitchers to throw a no-hitter in major league history — four accomplished the feat twice.
2010 — Andy Pettitte records his 200th win in pinstripes in the Yankees’ 4-3 win over Houston at Yankee Stadium. Whitey Ford (236) and Red Ruffing (231) are the only other members of this exclusive New York club.
2012 — The Cubs sign Cuban defector Jorge Soler to a nine-year contract worth $30 million. The 20-year-old outfielder was the subject of a bidding war among several teams.
2013 — The Dodgers and Diamondbacks engage in a beanball war. The hostilities start when D-Backs pitcher Ian Kennedy hits super rookie Yasiel Puig in the head with a fastball in the 6th inning. The ball hits his nose, and he stays on the ground for a few minutes but stays in the game; Andre Ethier follows with a game-tying two-run homer. In the top of the 7th, Dodgers P Zack Greinke hits the first batter, Miguel Montero, in the back, prompting both benches to empty, although only stares are exchanged. Then, in the bottom of the inning, Kennedy throws a pitch near Greinke’s head, and pandemonium breaks out, with both benches and bullpens emptying again, and players and even coaches going at each other. When order is restored, Puig and coach Mark McGwire are ejected for the Dodgers, and manager Kirk Gibson and coach Turner Ward for the D-Backs. Incidentally, Los Angeles wins the game, 5 – 3. Major League Baseball will hand out eight suspensions and twelve fines as a result of the events, with Kennedy getting a ten-game suspension and Eric Hinske of the D-Backs getting five; both managers are suspended for one game, and two for the two coaches.
2017 — Max Scherzer of the Nationals records the 2,000th strikeout of his career, beating out Clayton Kershaw, who reached the milestone less than a week ago, as the third fastest pitcher to the mark.
2017 — Rookie sensation Aaron Judge hit two more home runs, including a drive that cleared the distant bleachers at Yankee Stadium and sent New York romping past Baltimore 14-3. The 6-foot-7 Judge led the majors with 21 homers and topped the AL with 47 RBIs and a .344 average.
2022 — Jared Walsh hits for the cycle and Mike Trout blasts a pair of homers as the Angels defeat the first-place Mets, 11 – 6. Walsh is the 9th player in team history to achieve the feat, almost exactly three years after teammate Shohei Ohtani was the last to do so, while Trout appears to be out of the deep slump that contributed to recent 14-game losing streak, costing manager Joe Maddon his job.
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June 12
1922 — Hub Pruett struck out Babe Ruth three consecutive times, and the St. Louis Browns beat the New York Yankees 7-1.
1928 — Lou Gehrig of the New York Yankees had two triples and two homers in a 15-7 victory over the Chicago White Sox.
1939 — The Baseball Hall of Fame was dedicated at Cooperstown, N.Y.
1954 — Milwaukee’s Jim Wilson pitched the year’s only no-hitter, blanking the Philadelphia Phillies 2-0.
1957 — Stan Musial of the St. Louis Cardinals broke the National League record for endurance when he played in his 823rd consecutive game. The previous mark was established in 1937 by Pirates first baseman Gus Suhr.
1959 — The San Francisco Giant’s Mike McCormick tossed a 3-0, five-inning no-hitter against the Philadelphia Phillies. Richie Ashburn singled in the top of the sixth for the Phillies, but the hit didn’t count because the game was stopped by rain.
1962 — In Milwaukee’s 15-2 rout of Los Angeles at County Stadium, the Aaron brothers both homer in the same game with Tommie connecting in the bottom of the eighth after his older brother Hank had hit one out in the second.
1970 — Dock Ellis of the Pittsburgh Pirates hurled a 2-0 no-hitter in the first game of a doubleheader against the San Diego Padres. Ellis walked eight and hit a batter, and Willie Stargell hit two homers.
1981 — Thirteen games were canceled due to the players’ strike.
1997 — After 126 years, baseball broke its tradition and played interleague games. The San Francisco beat the Texas Rangers 4-3.
1999 — Cal Ripken went 6-for-6, homering twice and driving in six runs as the Baltimore Orioles scored the most runs in franchise history with a 22-1 rout of the Atlanta Braves.
2006 — Jason Grimsley was suspended 50 games by Major League Baseball, less than a week after federal agents raided his home during an investigation into performance-enhancing drugs.
2007 — Justin Verlander pitched a no-hitter to lead the Detroit Tigers over the Milwaukee Brewers 4-0. Verlander struck out a career-high 12, walked four and benefited from several stellar defensive plays.
2009 — Chicago right fielder Milton Bradley had a bad day at Wrigley Field. Bradley lost Jason Kubel’s pop-up in the sun for a single, couldn’t catch Michael Cuddyer’s RBI bloop double, made a baserunning blunder and, most egregiously, flipped the ball into the stands after catching Mauer’s one-out sac fly.
2009 — New York Mets second baseman Luis Castillo dropped Alex Rodriguez’s lazy popup with two outs in the ninth inning as two runs scored, helping the Yankees escape with a wild 9-8 victory over the Mets.
2010 — Daniel Nava hit the first pitch he saw as a big leaguer for a grand slam — only the second player to do it — leading the Boston Red Sox to a 10-2 rout of the Philadelphia Phillies. Nava connected on a fastball from Joe Blanton in the second inning. Kevin Kouzmanoff hit a slam on the first pitch he saw Sept. 2, 2006, for Cleveland against Texas.
2011 — Realignment is on the table again as Major League Baseball and the Major League Baseball Players Association are in discussions to renew the collective bargaining agreement, which expires on December 11th. One of the options being discussed would see one team moving from the National League to the American League to create two 15-team leagues, with the Houston Astros the likeliest candidate for a move.
2012 — Alex Rodriguez ties Lou Gehrig’s record by hitting his 23rd career grand slam.
2016 — Sam Cohen put UC Santa Barbara into its first College World Series with a pinch-hit grand slam in the bottom of the ninth inning for a 4-3 victory over second-seeded Louisville 4-3 in the Super Regionals.
2017 — Royce Lewis, a high school shortstop from California, is selected first overall by the Minnesota Twins in the 2017 amateur draft.
2018 — Tigers 1B Miguel Cabrera suffers a season-ending injury when he tears a biceps tendon while swinging at pitch in the 3rd inning of a game against the Twins. He had already missed all but one game of May with a hamstring injury.
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TODAY IN SPORTS HISTORY
June 10
1890 — The Preakness Stakes is run outside Baltimore, at Morris Park in New York. The race is then suspended for three years, and resumes at the Brooklyn Jockey Club’s Gravesend Course from 1894-1908.
1932 — Gene Sarazen leads wire-to-wire to win the British Open by five strokes ahead of Macdonald Smith at Prince’s Golf Club in Sandwich, England. Sarazen finishes with a tournament record of 283.
1933 — Johnny Goodman wins the U.S. Open golf title, making him the last amateur to win this event.
1934 — Italy beats Czechoslovakia 2-1 in extra time to win the second FIFA World Cup at the Stadio Flaminio in Rome. Italy trailing 1-0, ties the game at the 80th minute. Angelo Schiavio scores the winning goal in extra time.
1944 — A rare triple dead heat occurs in the Carter Handicap at Aqueduct with Bossuet, Brownie and Wait a Bit crossing the finish line together.
1950 — Sixteen months after near-fatal car accident, Ben Hogan wins the U.S. Open. Hogan beats Lloyd Mangrum and George Fazio in an 18-hole playoff at the Merion Golf Club in Ardmore, Pa.
1968 — UEFA European Championship Final, Stadio Olimpico, Rome, Italy: Italy beats Yugoslavia, 2-0 in a replay (first game, 1-1).
1973 — Mary Mills shoots a 63 in the final round of the LPGA Championship to beat Betty Burfeindt by one stroke.
1977 — Al Geiberger sets a PGA Championship 18-hole record when he shoots a 59 in the Danny Thomas Classic.
1978 — Affirmed, ridden by Steve Cauthen, wins the Belmont Stakes to capture the Triple Crown in one of the greatest battles in racing history. Affirmed edges Alydar for the third time.
1981 — Pete Rose ties Stan Musial’s NL record of 3,630 hits.
1989 — Wayne Gretzky of the Los Angeles Kings is named the NHL’s MVP, winning the Hart Trophy for a record ninth time.
1995 — Trainer D. Wayne Lukas wins a record five straight Triple Crown races as Thunder Gulch takes the Belmont Stakes. Lukas is the first trainer to win the Triple Crown races with two different horses. Lukas’ Timber Country won the Preakness.
1996 — Colorado’s Patrick Roy makes 63 saves before Uwe Krupp scores 4:31 into the third overtime to give the Avalanche a 1-0 victory against the Florida Panthers at Miami Arena and complete a four-game sweep of the Stanley Cup Final.
2000 — Stanley Cup Final, Reunion Arena, Dallas, TX: New Jersey Devils defeat Dallas Stars, 2-1 in double OT for a 4-2 series victory.
2006 — In Atlantic City, N.J., Bernard Hopkins wins a unanimous decision over light heavyweight champion Antonio Tarver, capping an 18-year career with an upset for the ages.
2010 — Southern California is placed on four years probation, receives a two-year bowl ban and a sharp loss of football scholarships. The NCAA cites USC for a lack of institutional control. The NCAA found that Reggie Bush, identified as a “former football student-athlete,” was ineligible beginning at least by December 2004. The NCAA also orders USC to vacate every victory in which Bush participated while ineligible. USC loses 30 scholarships over a three-year period, 10 annually from 2011-13.
2012 — Shanshan Feng wins the LPGA Championship to become the first Chinese player to win an LPGA Tour title and a major event.
2018 — Rafael Nadal won a record-extending 11th championship at Roland Garros by beating Dominic Thiem 6-4, 6-3, 6-2. Nadal became the second player in tennis history to win 11 singles titles at any Grand Slam tournament after Margaret Court, who claimed 11 Australian Open titles.
2018 — Kristen Gillman led a U.S. singles sweep in the biggest blowout in Curtis Cup history. Gillman, a 20-year-old University of Alabama star, beat 16-year-old Annabell Fuller 5 and 4 to cap a perfect weekend at Quaker Ridge in Scarsdale, N.Y. The Americans won 17-3, breaking the record for margin of victory of 11 set in a 14 1/2-3 1/2 victory at Denver Country Club in 1982.
2023 — UEFA Champions League Final, Ataturk Stadium, Istanbul: Manchester City beats Inter Milan, 1-0 to complete historic Champions League, Premier League & FA Cup trifecta.
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June 11
1898 — Willie Simms becomes the only African American jockey to win the Preakness Stakes when he rides Sly Fox to victory and the only one to have won all three Triple Crown races. Simms’ other Triple Crown wins: Kentucky Derby (1896, 1898), Belmont Stakes (1893, 1894).
1919 — Walter Hagen wins the U.S. Open with a one-stroke playoff victory over Michael Brady.
1919 — Sir Barton, ridden by Johnny Loftus, captures the Belmont Stakes to become thoroughbred racing’s first Triple Crown winner.
1921 — Grey Lag, ridden by Earl Sande, wins the first Belmont Stakes run counterclockwise. Previous Belmonts were run clockwise over a fish-hook course that included part of the training track and the main dirt oval.
1938 — Ralph Guldahl wins golf’s U.S. Open for the second straight year by beating Dick Metz.
1949 — Cary Middlecoff wins the U.S. Open by beating Sam Snead and Clayton Heafner.
1955 — Nashua wins the Belmont Stakes with Eddie Arcaro in the saddle. It’s the sixth Belmont victory for Arcaro, tying Jimmy McLaughlin’s record.
1977 — Seattle Slew, ridden by Jean Cruguet, runs wire to wire in the Belmont for a four-length victory over Run Dusty Run and the Triple Crown.
1978 — Nancy Lopez shoots a record 13-under par to win the LPGA Championship by six strokes over Amy Alcott.
1982 — Larry Holmes stops Gerry Cooney in the 13th round for the WBC heavyweight title at Las Vegas.
1984 — The Boston Celtics beat the Los Angeles Lakers 111-102 in Game 7 to win their 15th NBA title.
1990 — Nolan Ryan, 43, pitches the sixth no-hitter of his career as the Texas Rangers beat the Oakland Athletics 5-0. Ryan becomes the first to pitch no-hitters for three teams and the oldest to throw one.
1992 — Tracy Austin, 29, is youngest inductee of International Tennis Hall of Fame.
1994 — For the first time in 11 years, the United States loses in the women’s world basketball championships. Guards Hortencia and Paula combine for 61 points, and Brazil stuns the defending champions 110-107 in the semifinals.
2006 — Se Ri Pak beats Karrie Webb on the first playoff hole to win the LPGA Championship. Pak atones for a three-putt bogey on the 18th hole in regulation that set up the playoff.
2006 — Rafael Nadal wins his second consecutive French Open, beating Roger Federer in four sets. Nadal spoils Federer’s bid for a fourth consecutive Grand Slam championship and extends his record clay-court winning streak to 60 matches.
2011 — Texas A&M sweeps the men’s and women’s titles at the NCAA outdoor championships, becoming the first school to post dual three-peat champions. Villanova’s Sheila Reid becomes the first woman to win the 1,500 and 5,000 meters at the same NCAA meet.
2012 — Rafael Nadal wins his record seventh French Open title, returning to Roland Garros to defeat Novak Djokovic 6-4, 6-3, 2-6, 7-5. It’s Nadal’s 11th Grand Slam title, tying him on the all-time list with Rod Laver and Bjorn Borg, who won six French Open titles.
2012 — The Los Angeles Kings win their first NHL championship, defeating the New Jersey Devils 6-1 in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final.
2017 — Rafael Nadal wins his record 10th French Open title by dominating 2015 champion Stan Wawrinka 6-2, 6-3, 6-1 in the final. No other man or woman has won 10 championships at the same major in the Open era, which began in 1968.
2017 — Stanley Cup Final, Bridgestone Arena, Nashville, TN: Pittsburgh Penguins defeat Nashville Predators, 2-0 for 4-2 series win; Penguins back-to-back champions.
2022 — Charl Schwartzel hangs on to beat fellow South African Hennie Du Plessis by a stroke to win the inaugural LIV Golf Invitational event at the Centurion GC, Hertfordshire; pockets massive US$4.75m for the victory.
2023 — French Open Men’s Tennis: Novak Đoković beats Casper Ruud of Norway 7-6, 6-3, 7-5 for his men’s record 23rd Grand Slam singles title.
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June 12
1920 — Man o’ War wins the Belmont Stakes, which was run at 1 3/8-miles, in 2:14 1/5. He shatters the world record by 3 1/5 seconds and sets the American dirt-course record for that distance.
1930 — Max Schmeling beats Jack Sharkey on a fourth-round foul for the vacant heavyweight title in New York. Schmeling becomes the first German — and European — heavyweight world champion.
1939 — Byron Nelson wins the U.S. Open in a three-way playoff with Craig Wood and Denny Shute.
1948 — Citation, ridden by Eddie Arcaro, wins the Belmont Stakes and the Triple Crown with an eight-length victory over Better Self. It’s Arcaro’s second Triple Crown. He rode Whirlaway in 1941.
1948 — Ben Hogan wins the U.S. Open with a record 276, five fewer than Ralph Guldahl’s 1937 record.
1954 — Milwaukee Braves spot starting pitcher Jim Wilson throws first no-hitter in history of County Stadium when he blanks Philadelphia Phillies, 2-0.
1979 — Bobby Orr becomes the youngest player in NHL history to be selected for the Hockey Hall of Fame. The 31-year-old is inducted months after officially ending his NHL career as the Hall waives its usual three-year waiting period.
1981 — Larry Holmes stops Leon Spinks in the third round for the WBC heavyweight title in Detroit.
1983 — Patty Sheehan wins the LPGA championship by two strokes over Sandra Haynie.
1984 — 38th NBA Championship: Boston Celtics beat LA Lakers, 4 games to 3, to win the championship title.
1990 — Egypt, a 500-1 shot, stuns the Netherlands when Magdi Abdel-Ghani makes a penalty kick with eight minutes remaining to tie the World Cup favorites 1-1.
1991 — The Chicago Bulls win the first NBA championship in the team’s 25-year history with a 108-101 victory in Game 5 over the Los Angeles Lakers. MVP Michael Jordan scores 30 points, Scottie Pippen has 32 and John Paxson 20.
2002 — NBA Finals: Los Angeles Lakers beat New Jersey Nets, 113-107 for a 4-0 sweep and 3rd straight title; MVP: Shaquille O’Neal for 3rd consecutive Finals series.
2005 — Annika Sorenstam closes with a 1-over 73 for a three-shot victory over Michelle Wie in the LPGA Championship. The 15-year-old Wie shoots a 69 to finish second. It’s the highest finish by an amateur in a major since 20-year-old Jenny Chuasiriporn lost a playoff to Se Ri Pak in the 1998 U.S. Women’s Open.
2008 — The Boston Celtics overcome a 24-point deficit and beat the Los Angeles Lakers 97-91 to take a commanding 3-1 lead in the NBA finals. No team has ever overcome more than a 15-point deficit after the first quarter, and the Celtics post the biggest comeback in the finals since 1971.
2009 — Pittsburgh’s Max Talbot scores two second-period goals as the Penguins beat the defending champion Detroit Red Wings 2-1 in Game 7 and win the Stanley Cup at Detroit’s Joe Louis Arena.
2011 — The Dallas Mavericks win their first NBA title by winning Game 6 of the finals in Miami, 105-95. Jason Terry scores 27 points and Dirk Nowitzki adds 21 as the Mavericks win four of the series’ last five games.
2013 — Andrew Shaw scores on a deflection in triple overtime to lift the Chicago Blackhawks to a 4-3 victory over the Boston Bruins in a riveting Game 1 of the Stanley Cup finals. The Blackhawks gets third-period goals from Dave Bolland and Oduya to erase a 3-1 deficit.
2016 — Sidney Crosby sets up Kris Letang’s go-ahead goal midway through the second period and the Pittsburgh Penguins win the fourth Stanley Cup in franchise history by beating the San Jose Sharks 3-1 in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup final.
2017 — Kevin Durant caps his spectacular first season with the Warriors by bringing home an NBA championship. Durant, who joined Golden State last July, scores 39 points in a finals-clinching 129-120 victory over LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers.
2019 — Stanley Cup Final, TD Garden, Boston, MA: St. Louis Blues beat Boston Bruins, 4-1 for a 4-3 series victory; first title in franchise history.
2021 — Danish soccer midfielder Christian Eriksen suffers an on-field cardiac arrest during a Euro 2020 match with Finland in Copenhagen. Eriksen is revived with a defibrillator and the game controversially continues with a 1-0 Finland win.
2023 — NBA Finals: Denver Nuggets beat Miami Heat 94-89 to win the franchise’s first Championship; clinch series 4-1; MVP: Denver C Nikola Jokić.
June 13
1908 — Canadian champion Tommy Burns KOs Bill Squires of Australia in 8th round at Neuilly Bowling Palace, Paris to retain world heavyweight boxing title.
1913 — James Rowe, who had won back-to-back Belmont Stake races in 1872-73 as a jockey, sets the record for the most number of Belmont Stakes wins by a trainer, eight, when he sends Prince Eugene to victory.
1935 — Jim Braddock scores a 15-round unanimous decision over Max Baer in New York to win the world heavyweight title.
1953 — Ben Hogan wins the U.S. Open for the fourth time, with a six-stroke victory over Sam Snead.
1956 — 1st European Cup Final, Paris: Héctor Rial scores twice as Real Madrid beats Stade de Reims, 4-3 to claim inaugural title.
1959 — Billy Casper wins the U.S. Open golf tournament over Bob Rosburg.
1971 — Kathy Whitworth wins the LPGA championship by four strokes over Kathy Ahern.
1982 — Jan Stephenson wins the LPGA championship with a two-stroke triumph over Joanne Carner.
1989 — 43rd NBA Championship: Detroit Pistons sweeps LA Lakers in 4 games.
1991 — The National, the nation’s first all-sports daily newspaper, ceases publication.
1992 — Sergei Bubka of Ukraine breaks his own world outdoor record in the pole vault by soaring 20 feet, one-half inch. The jump is the 30th time that Bubka has set the record indoors or outdoors, surpassing the 29 world records by distance runner Paavo Nurmi of Finland in the 1920s.
1993 — Patty Sheehan wins the LPGA Championship for a third time, with a 2-under 69 for a one-stroke victory over Lauri Merten.
1997 — Chicago wins its fifth NBA championship in the last seven years, as Steve Kerr’s last-second shot gives the Bulls a 90-86 Game 6 victory over the Utah Jazz.
2002 — Stanley Cup Final, Joe Louis Arena, Detroit, MI: Detroit Red Wings beat Carolina Hurricanes, 3-1 for a 4-1 series win; Red Wings’ 10th title; coach Scotty Bowman retires with record 9th title.
2010 — Zenyatta wins her 17th consecutive race, giving her the longest winning streak by a modern-day thoroughbred in unrestricted races. The 6-year-old mare, ridden by Hall of Famer Mike Smith, wins the $200,000 Vanity Handicap by a half-length over St Trinians at Hollywood Park. With the victory, Zenyatta surpasses the 16-race winning streaks of Cigar, 1948 Triple Crown winner Citation, and Mister Frisky.
2011 — Boston scores four times in a 4:14 span of the first period and beats the Vancouver Canucks 5-2 in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final at TD Garden, evening the best-of-7 series. Brad Marchand, Milan Lucic, Andrew Ference and Michael Ryder give Boston a 4-0 lead before the midway point of the first period.
2012 — Matt Cain pitches the 22nd perfect game in major league history and first for San Francisco, striking out a career-high 14 batters and getting help from two running catches by outfielders Melky Cabrera and Gregor Blanco to beat the Houston Astros 10-0.
2014 — The Netherlands thrashes Spain 5-1 in the World Cup’s first shocker, toying with an aging team that dominated global football for the past six years and avenging a loss in the 2010 final.
2014 — The Los Angeles Kings wins the Stanley Cup for the second time in three years with a 3-2 victory over the New York Rangers in Game 5.
2016 — LeBron James has 41 points, 16 rebounds and seven assists, Kyrie Irving also scores 41 points and the Cleveland Cavaliers capitalize on the Warriors playing without suspended star Draymond Green, staving off NBA Finals elimination with a 112-97 victory in Game 5. James and Irving are the first teammates to score 40 points in an NBA Finals game as the Cavaliers pulled within 3-2 and sent their best-of-seven series back to Ohio.
2017 — The Golden State Warriors win their second NBA tile in three years with a win over the Cavaliers 129-120.
2019 — The Toronto Raptors beat defending champion Golden State Warriors, 114-110 to win the franchise’s first Championship.
2021 — French Open Men’s Tennis: Novak Đoković wins his 19th Grand Slam singles title; beats Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece 6-7, 2-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-4.
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June 14
1922 — Gene Sarazen edges Bobby Jones and John Black to win the U.S. Open tournament.
1934 — Max Baer stops Primo Carnera in 11th round in New York to win the world heavyweight title.
1952 — Jim Peters runs world record marathon (2:20:42.2).
1952 — Julius Boros shoots a 281 at Northwood Club in Dallas to win the U.S. Open over Ed Oliver by four strokes.
1958 — Tommy Bolt beats Gary Player by four strokes to win the U.S. Open.
1958 — Britain beats the United States 4-3 at Wimbledon to win the Wrightman Cup, the first win for Britain since 1930.
1981 — Donna Caponi Young wins the LPGA championship by one stroke over Jerilyn Britz and Pat Meyers.
1987 — The Los Angeles Lakers win their 10th NBA championship with a 106-93 victory over the Boston Celtics in Game 6 at the Forum.
1990 — Vinnie Johnson scores 15 points in the fourth quarter, including a 15-footer with seven-tenths of a second left, to give the Detroit Pistons a 92-90 win and the NBA title over Portland in five games.
1991 — Leroy Burrell sets a world record in the U.S. Championships in New York with a 9.90-second clocking in the men’s 100-meter dash. Carl Lewis, who held the record at 9.92 since the 1988 Olympics, finishes second.
1992 — NBA Finals: Chicago Bulls beat Port Trail Blazers, 97-93 in Game 6 for back-to-back titles; MVP: Michael Jordan for second straight year.
1994 — The New York Rangers hold off the Vancouver Canucks 3-2 in Game 7 for their first Stanley Cup in 54 years. MVP Brian Leetch, Adam Graves and Mark Messier score goals and Mike Richter makes 28 saves for New York.
1995 — The Houston Rockets complete the unlikeliest of NBA championship repeats, sweeping the Orlando Magic with a 113-101 victory. MVP Hakeem Olajuwon finishes with 35 points and 15 rebounds.
1998 — Michael Jordan scores 45 points, stealing the ball from Karl Malone and hitting a jumper with 5.2 seconds left to give Chicago an 87-86 win and a 4-2 series victory over Utah for a sixth NBA title.
2005 — Asafa Powell breaks the world record in the 100 meters with a 9.77 clocking at Olympic Stadium in Athens, Greece. Powell shaves one hundredth of a second off Tim Montgomery’s record of 9.78 set in Paris in 2002 — a mark that would later be wiped out because of doping charges.
2005 — Michelle Wie becomes the first female player to qualify for an adult male U.S. Golf Association championship, tying for first place in a 36-hole U.S. Amateur Public Links sectional qualifying tournament at Belle Vernon, Pa.
2007 — The San Antonio Spurs, who bounced over from the ABA in 1976, move in among the NBA’s greatest franchises with an 83-82 victory for a sweep of Cleveland. With their fourth championship since 1999, the Spurs join the Boston Celtics, Los Angeles Lakers and Chicago Bulls as the only teams in NBA history to win four titles.
2009 — The Los Angeles Lakers win their 15th championship, beating the Orlando Magic 99-86 in Game 5 of the NBA finals. Kobe Bryant, the MVP, scores 30 points in winning his fourth title, the first without Shaquille O’Neal. It’s the 10th championship for coach Phil Jackson, moving him past Boston’s Red Auerbach for the most all-time.
2015 — Inbee Park shoots a final round 68 to finish at 19-under par to win the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship for the third consecutive year and retake the No. 1 ranking in women’s golf. Park of South Korea finishes the season’s second major five strokes ahead of 22-year-old compatriot Sei Young Kim.
_____
June 15
1901 — Willie Anderson edges Alex Smith by one stroke in a playoff to take the U.S. Open.
1938 — Johnny Vander Meer of the Cincinnati Reds pitches his second straight no-hit game, defeating the Brooklyn Dodgers 6-0 in the first night game played at Ebbets Field.
1947 — Lew Worsham beats Sam Snead by one stroke on the final hole of a playoff to win the U.S. Open.
1951 — Joe Louis scored his last knock out victory.
1957 — Dick Mayer beats defending champion Cary Middlecoff by seven strokes in a playoff to win the U.S. Open.
1969 — Orville Moody shoots a 281 to beat Deane Beman, Al Geiberger and Bob Rosburg by one stroke and capture the U.S. Open.
1970 — Shirley Englehorn wins the LPGA championship with a four-stroke victory over Kathy Whitworth in the playoff round.
1980 — Jack Nicklaus wins his fourth U.S. Open with a record 272 for 72 holes.
1984 — American boxer Thomas Hearns retains WBC light middleweight title with 2 round KO of Roberto Durán of Panama at Caesar’s Palace, Las Vegas; marks first time in his illustrious career Durán knocked out.
1985 — Pinklon Thomas knocks out Mike Weaver in the eighth round to defend his World Boxing Council heavyweight title at the Riviera Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas.
1986 — Ray Floyd, 43, beats Chip Beck and Lanny Wadkins by two strokes to become the oldest golfer to win the U.S. Open. It is Floyd’s fourth and final major victory.
1987 — Michael Spinks TKOs Gerry Cooney in 5 for The Ring heavyweight boxing title at Convention Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey.
1991 — Carl Lewis, one jump away from losing his 64-meet winning streak in the long jump, comes through with a dramatic victory when he soars 28 feet, 4¼ inches to pass leader Mike Powell by a half-inch in the U.S. Championships in New York.
1996 — Roy Jones Jr. completes a unique doubleheader, successfully defending his IBF super middleweight title after playing in a pro basketball game. Jones stops Eric Lucas in the 11th round after scoring five points in a United States Basketball League game in the afternoon, helping the Jacksonville Barracudas beat Treasure Coast 107-94.
1997 — Ernie Els wins his second U.S. Open championship in four years, finishing one stroke ahead of Colin Montgomerie. Els has the shot of the day on the 480-yard 17th hole when he hits a 5-iron from 212 yards to just 12 feet on the peninsula green.
2001 — Los Angeles beats Philadelphia 108-96 in Game 5 of the NBA Finals to complete the best playoff run in NBA history. The Lakers, who finish the playoffs with a record of 15-1, are the first to go through the playoffs undefeated on the road.
2003 — NBA Finals: San Antonio Spurs beat New Jersey Nets, 88-77 in Game 6 for franchise’s second title; MVP: Tim Duncan.
2003 — Jim Furyk wins his first major championship and put his name in the record books, matching the lowest 72-hole score in the 103 years of the U.S. Open. Furyk closes with a 2-over 72 to win by three shots over Stephen Leaney of Australia.
2004 — Detroit beats the Los Angeles Lakers 100-87 in Game 5 of the NBA Finals for the Pistons’ first championship in 14 years.
2008 — Down to his last stroke at Torrey Pines, Tiger Woods sinks a 12-foot birdie putt to force an 18-hole playoff against Rocco Mediate for the U.S. Open. They finish at 1-under 283, the first time since 2004 that someone breaks par in a U.S. Open.
2011 — The Boston Bruins win the Stanley Cup for the first time since 1972, beating the Vancouver Canucks 4-0 in Game 7 of the finals.
2014 — Martin Kaymer of Germany wins the U.S. Open after four days of dominance at Pinehurst No. 2. Kaymer finishes with an eight-shot victory over Rickie Fowler and Erik Compton and becomes the seventh player in the 114 years of the U.S. Open to go wire-to-wire.
2014 — The San Antonio Spurs win their fifth NBA championship, beating the Miami Heat 104-87 to win the series in five games.
2015 — Chicago’s Duncan Keith scores in the second period and directs a dominant defense that shuts down Tampa Bay’s high-scoring attack, and the Blackhawks beat the Lightning 2-0 in Game 6 for their third NHL title in the past six seasons.
2018— Christiano Renaldo, Portugal, scores a hat-trick in Portugal’s 3-3 tie with Spain in the World Cup. Renaldo becomes the fourth player to score in four different Worlc Cups and the first to score in eight consecutive major tournaments.
2019 — In a blockbuster NBA trade, the New Orleans Pelicans send forward Anthony Davis to the LA Lakers for Brandon Ingram, Lonzo Ball, Josh Hart & 3 future 1st round draft picks.
#################
TV SPORTS
(All times Eastern)
Schedule subject to change and/or blackouts
Tuesday, June 10
MLB BASEBALL
7:30 p.m.
TBS — N.Y. Yankees at Kansas City
10:30 p.m.
MLBN — Regional Coverage: Seattle at Arizona (9:40 p.m.) OR L.A. Dodgers at San Diego (9:40 p.m.
SOCCER (MEN’S)
8 p.m.
TNT — International Friendly: U.S. vs. Switzerland, Nashville, Tenn.
TRUTV — International Friendly: U.S. vs. Switzerland, Nashville, Tenn.
SOFTBALL
8 p.m.
ESPN2 — Athletes Unlimited: TBD
WNBA BASKETBALL
8 p.m.
ESPN — Chicago at New York
_____
Wednesday, June 11
COLLEGE TRACK AND FIELD (MEN’S)
7 p.m.
ESPN — NCAA Tournament: Outdoor Championships – Day 1, Eugene, Ore.
GOLF
6:30 a.m. (Thursday)
USA — PGA Tour: The U.S. Open, First Round, Oakmont Country Club, Oakmont, Pa.
MLB BASEBALL
1 p.m.
MLBN — Regional Coverage: Chicago Cubs at Philadelphia (1:05 p.m.) OR Cincinnati at Cleveland (1:10 p.m.)
4 p.m.
MLBN — Regional Coverage: L.A. Dodgers at San Diego (4:10 p.m.) OR Seattle at Arizona (3:40 p.m.)
7:30 p.m.
MLBN — Regional Coverage: N.Y. Yankees at Kansas City (7:40 p.m.) OR Texas at Minnesota (7:40 p.m.)
NBA BASKETBALL
8:30 p.m.
ABC — NBA Finals: Oklahoma City at Indiana, Game 3
SOCCER (MEN’S)
8 p.m.
ESPN — USL Championship: Rhode Island at Louisville City
WNBA BASKETBALL
10 p.m.
CBSSN — Los Angeles at Las Vegas
_____
Thursday, June 12
COLLEGE TRACK AND FIELD (WOMEN’S)
7 p.m.
ESPN — NCAA Tournament: Outdoor Championships – Day 1, Eugene, Ore.
GOLF
6:30 a.m.
USA — PGA Tour: The U.S. Open, First Round, Oakmont Country Club, Oakmont, Pa.
2:30 p.m.
USA — PGA Tour: The U.S. Open, First Round, Oakmont Country Club, Oakmont, Pa.
3 p.m.
GOLF — LPGA Tour: The Meijer LPGA Classic for Simply Give, First Round, Blythefield Country Club, Belmont, Mich.
MIXED MARTIAL ARTS
11 p.m.
ESPN — 2025 PFL World Tournament: Semifinals, Nashville, Tenn.
MLB BASEBALL
1 p.m.
MLBN — Regional Coverage: Texas at Minnesota (1:10 p.m.) OR Washington at N.Y. Mets (1:10 p.m.)
4 p.m.
MLBN — San Francisco at Colorado (3:10 p.m.)
7:30 p.m.
MLBN — Regional Coverage: N.Y. Yankees at Kansas City (7:40 p.m.) OR St. Louis at Milwaukee (7:40 p.m.)
NHL HOCKEY
6 p.m.
TNT — NHL Awards Show 2025
8 p.m.
TNT — Stanley Cup Final: Edmonton at Florida, Game 4
TRUTV — Stanley Cup Final: Edmonton at Florida, Game 4
SOFTBALL
7 p.m.
ESPN2 — Athletes Unlimited: TBD
_____
Friday, June 13
AUTO RACING
1:25 p.m.
ESPNU — Formula 1: Practice, Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, Montreal
4:55 p.m.
ESPNU — Formula 1: Practice, Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, Montreal
COLLEGE BASEBALL
2 p.m.
ESPN — Men’s College World Series: TBD, Game 1, Omaha, Neb.
7 p.m.
ESPN — Men’s College World Series: TBD, Game 2, Omaha, Neb.
COLLEGE TRACK AND FIELD (MEN’S)
8 p.m.
ESPN2 — NCAA Tournament: Outdoor Championships – Day 2, Eugene, Ore.
GOLF
1 p.m.
NBC — PGA Tour: The U.S. Open, Second Round, Oakmont Country Club, Oakmont, Pa.
3 p.m.
GOLF — LPGA Tour: The Meijer LPGA Classic for Simply Give, Second Round, Blythefield Country Club, Belmont, Mich.
MLB BASEBALL
2 p.m.
MLBN — Pittsburgh at Chicago Cubs (2:20 p.m.)
7 p.m.
MLBN — Regional Coverage: N.Y. Yankees at Boston (7:10 p.m.) OR Cincinnati at Detroit (7:10 p.m.)
7:05 p.m.
APPLE TV+ — L.A. Angels at Baltimore
9:40 p.m.
APPLE TV+ — San Diego at Arizona
10 p.m.
MLBN — Regional Coverage: San Francisco at L.A. Dodgers (10:10 p.m.) OR Cleveland at Seattle (10:10 p.m.)
NBA BASKETBALL
8:30 p.m.
ABC — NBA Finals: Oklahoma City at Indiana, Game 4
SOCCER (MEN’S)
10:30 p.m.
FS1 — MLS: San Jose at Portland
WNBA BASKETBALL
7:30 p.m.
ION — Chicago at Atlanta
10 p.m.
ION — Dallas at Las Vegas
_____
Saturday, June 14
AUTO RACING
11:30 a.m.
FS1 — NTT IndyCar Series: Practice, World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway, Madison, Ill.
12:25 p.m.
ESPN2 — Formula 1: Practice, Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, Montreal
1 p.m.
FS1 — NXT Indy Car Series: Practice, World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway, Madison, Ill.
3 p.m.
FS1 — NTT IndyCar Series: Qualifying, World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway, Madison, Ill.
3:55 p.m.
ESPN2 — Formula 1: Qualifying, Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, Montreal
4:30 p.m.
CW — NASCAR Xfinity Series: The The Chilango 150, Autodromo Heranos Rodriguez, Mexico City
FS2 — NXT Indy Car Series: Qualifying, World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway, Madison, Ill.
5:30 p.m.
FS2 — NTT IndyCar Series: High Line & Final Practice, World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway, Madison, Ill.
7 p.m.
FS1 — ARCA Menards Series: The Berlin ARCA 200 at Berlin Raceway, Berlin Raceway and Entertainment Complex, Marne, Mich.
BIG3 BASKETBALL
4 p.m.
CBS — Week 1: L.A. Riot vs. Miami 305, Detroit Amps vs. Chicago Triplets, Houston Rig Hands vs. DMV Trilogy, Boston Ball Hogs vs. Dallas Power, Chicago
COLLEGE BASEBALL
2 p.m.
ESPN — Men’s College World Series: TBD, Game 3, Omaha, Neb.
7 p.m.
ESPN — Men’s College World Series: TBD, Game 4, Omaha, Neb.
COLLEGE TRACK AND FIELD (WOMEN’S)
9 p.m.
ESPN2 — NCAA Tournament: Outdoor Championships – Day 2, Eugene, Ore.
GOLF
10 a.m.
USA — PGA Tour: The U.S. Open, Third Round, Oakmont Country Club, Oakmont, Pa.
Noon
NBC — PGA Tour: The U.S. Open, Third Round, Oakmont Country Club, Oakmont, Pa.
3 p.m.
GOLF — LPGA Tour: The Meijer LPGA Classic for Simply Give, Third Round, Blythefield Country Club, Belmont, Mich.
LACROSSE (MEN’S)
1 p.m.
ABC — PLL: New York vs. Maryland, Villanova, Pa.
MIXED MARTIAL ARTS
10 p.m.
ESPN — UFC Fight Night Main Card: Kamaru Usman vs. Joaquin Buckley (Welterweights), Atlanta
MLB BASEBALL
4 p.m.
FS1 — St. Louis at Milwaukee
7 p.m.
FOX — Regional Coverage: N.Y. Yankees at Boston OR San Diego at Arizona
NHL HOCKEY
8 p.m.
TNT — Stanley Cup Final: Florida at Edmonton, Game 5 (If Necessary)
TRUTV — Stanley Cup Final: Florida at Edmonton, Game 5 (If Necessary)
SOCCER (MEN’S)
4:30 p.m.
FOX — MLS: L.A. Galaxy at St. Louis
SOCCER (WOMEN’S)
5 p.m.
ION — NWSL: Seattle at Chicago
7:30 p.m.
ION — NWSL: Louisville at Kansas City
10 p.m.
ION — NWSL: North Carolina at Angel City
SOFTBALL
Noon
ESPNU — Athletes Unlimited: TBD
UFL FOOTBALL
8 p.m.
ABC — UFL Championship: TBD, St. Louis
WNBA BASKETBALL
1 p.m.
CBS — Los Angeles at Minnesota
3 p.m.
ABC — New York at Indiana
_____
Sunday, June 15
AUTO RACING
2 p.m.
ABC — Formula 1: The Pirelli Grand Prix du Canada, Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, Montreal
3 p.m.
PRIME VIDEO — NASCAR Cup Series: The Viva Mexico 250, Autodromo Heranos Rodriguez, Mexico City
4:30 p.m.
FS1 — NXT Indy Car Series: The Indy NXT by Firestone, World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway, Madison, Ill.
8 p.m.
FOX — NTT IndyCar Series: The Bommarito Automotive Group 500, World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway, Madison, Ill.
COLLEGE BASEBALL
2 p.m.
ESPN — Men’s College World Series: TBD, Game 5, Omaha, Neb.
7 p.m.
ESPN2 — Men’s College World Series: TBD, Game 6, Omaha, Neb.
GOLF
9 a.m.
USA — PGA Tour: The U.S. Open, Final Round, Oakmont Country Club, Oakmont, Pa.
Noon
NBC — PGA Tour: The U.S. Open, Final Round, Oakmont Country Club, Oakmont, Pa.
1 p.m.
GOLF — LPGA Tour: The Meijer LPGA Classic for Simply Give, Final Round, Blythefield Country Club, Belmont, Mich.
2 p.m.
CBS — LPGA Tour: The Meijer LPGA Classic for Simply Give, Final Round, Blythefield Country Club, Belmont, Mich.
HORSE RACING
12:30 p.m.
FS1 — NYRA: America’s Day at the Races
5:30 p.m.
FS1 — NYRA: America’s Day at the Races
MLB BASEBALL
7 p.m.
ESPN San Francisco at L.A. Dodgers
SOCCER (MEN’S)
6 p.m.
FOX — CONCACAF Gold Cup Group Stage: Trinidad and Tobago vs. United States, Group D, San Jose, Calif.
SOCCER (WOMEN’S)
CBS — NWSL: Washington at Portland
WNBA BASKETBALL
Noon
CBS — Chicago at Connecticut
2 p.m.
CBSSN — Atlanta at Washington
