Florida clinches College World Series bid; Wake Forest, Virginia, Texas post wins in super regionals

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 11:13:29 GMT

Florida clinches College World Series bid; Wake Forest, Virginia, Texas post wins in super regionals Florida was the first team to clinch a spot in the College World Series, Wake Forest moved within a win of becoming the first No. 1 national seed to make the final eight of the NCAA Tournament since 2018 and Virginia forced a winner-take-all game in its super regional.Texas capitalized on Stanford mistakes in the ninth inning to win the opener of its best-of-three series and stay on track for a third straight CWS. The No. 2 Gators got a career-best performance from Hurston Waldrep and finished a two-game sweep of Southeastern Conference rival South Carolina with a 4-0 win Saturday. They’ll make their 13th appearance in the CWS — which begins Friday in Omaha, Nebraska — and eighth in 16 seasons under Kevin O’Sullivan.Wake Forest opened its best-of-three super regional with a 5-4 win over Alabama and can lock up its first CWS bid with another victory Sunday. There hasn’t been a top national seed in Omaha since Florida in 2018.Virginia set a school super regional reco...

Toye sparks Montreal to 4-0 romp over Minnesota United

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 11:13:29 GMT

Toye sparks Montreal to 4-0 romp over Minnesota United MONTREAL (AP) — Mason Toye scored his first two goals of the season — both unassisted — to spark CF Montreal to a 4-0 victory over Minnesota United on Saturday night.Montreal (7-9-1) became the fifth team in league history to post five straight shutouts at home, getting four saves from Jonathan Sirois to extend the club’s record.Montreal took the lead for good in the 7th minute on Toye’s first netter. Defender Zachary Brault-Guillard put Montreal up 2-0 six minutes later, taking a pass from Gabriele Corbo to score for the first time this season.Toye added his second goal in the 57th minute to make it 3-0 and defender Rudy Camacho capped the scoring in the 76th minute when he took a pass from Bryce Duke and scored for the first time this season.Dayne St. Clair had four saves for Minnesota United (5-7-5), which had won all three previous match-ups with Montreal. Minnesota had won two straight road matches with Montreal and was trying to beat a single opponent three straigh...

Leal’s second-half goal guides Nashville to 1-1 draw with Toronto

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 11:13:29 GMT

Leal’s second-half goal guides Nashville to 1-1 draw with Toronto TORONTO (AP) — Randall Leal scored a second-half goal to help Nashville SC earn a 1-1 draw with Toronto FC on Saturday night.Leal’s first goal of the season came unassisted in the 69th minute to help Nashville (9-3-5) earn a point.Lorenzo Insigne scored in the 38th minute and Toronto took a 1-0 lead into halftime. Insigne’s third goal of the season came with an assist from defender Raoul Petretta.Nashville saw a four-match win streak at home end, but the club remains unbeaten — 6-0-3 — in its last nine home outings.Sean Johnson turned away one shot for Toronto (3-5-10). Joe Willis saved one shot for Nashville.Toronto is 2-0-3 in its last four match-ups with Nashville, including a scoreless draw earlier this season in Nashville. Toronto remains the only opponent Nashville has played at least four times without posting a victory.Toronto improves to 3-0-6 at home this season. Canadian teams are 11-3-9 at home against opponents from American cities this season.Nashville will...

Hendricks no-hit bid ends on Haniger’s 2-out double in 8th, Giants beat Cubs 4-0

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 11:13:29 GMT

Hendricks no-hit bid ends on Haniger’s 2-out double in 8th, Giants beat Cubs 4-0 SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Kyle Hendricks didn’t allow a hit until Mitch Haniger doubled with two outs in the eighth inning, pitching the Chicago Cubs over the San Francisco Giants 4-0 Saturday.Hendricks (1-2) faced one batter over the minimum, walking Michael Conforto with one out in the second, and had retired 19 batters in a row before Haniger hit a fastball 378 feet off the left-field wall on the eighth pitch of the at-bat. That ended the longest no-hit bid in the major leagues this season.Blake Sabol flied out on Hendricks’ next pitch.Julian Merryweather retired three straight batters in the ninth, completing the one-hitter and giving the Cubs consecutive wins for the first time since May 29 and 30.Christopher Morel homered and drove in three runs and Matt Mervis also homered.Hendricks started the season on the injured list with a strained right shoulder. He made his season debut May 25 and was making his fourth start. He threw 61 of 94 pitches for strikes, none over 89.4 mph,T...

Vegas Golden Knights hold off Florida Panthers 3-2, move win from Stanley Cup title

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 11:13:29 GMT

Vegas Golden Knights hold off Florida Panthers 3-2, move win from Stanley Cup title SUNRISE, Fla. (AP) — The Vegas Golden Knights are on the verge of winning their first Stanley Cup title after holding on to beat the Florida Panthers 3-2 in Game 4 of the final Saturday night.Vegas leads the series 3-1 and can win the NHL championship on home ice Tuesday night. Getting to the verge that wasn’t easy.Chandler Stephenson scored twice for the Golden Knights, and William Karlsson broke through to end his series-long goal drought to build a 3-0 lead. The Panthers scored twice — Brandon Montour on a pinball goal late in the second period, and Aleksander Barkov’s first of the series early in the third — to claw back into it.But their rally fell short despite a brief, late power play and a flurry that led to a fracas at the final horn.“Obviously, that was a battle till the last second,” Vegas forward Nicolas Roy. “They pushed back there. We knew they would. They’ve been doing it all series. But it’s nice to get that one, for sure.”Now Florida, the eighth seed in ...

Kyle Hendricks gets within 4 outs of a no-hitter, another vintage performance for the Chicago Cubs veteran

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 11:13:29 GMT

Kyle Hendricks gets within 4 outs of a no-hitter, another vintage performance for the Chicago Cubs veteran Kyle Hendricks’ place in Cubs history already was solidified from his role in bringing a World Series title to Chicago in 2016.His journey to get back on the mound this season made Saturday’s performance particularly special.Four starts into his comeback from a serious right shoulder injury that sidelined him 10 months, Hendricks took a no-hitter into the eighth inning against the San Francisco Giants, coming four outs away in a 4-0 win Saturday at Oracle Park. It’s the deepest a no-hitter has been taken by a major-league pitcher this year.Hendricks knew early on he had a no-hitter going.“I realized that I walked a guy already so I didn’t want to pitch around guys to get it necessarily,” Hendricks said. “I just want to stay on the attack, keep making my pitches and whatever happens happens.Hendricks called his own game using Pitch Com to help him get in a rhythm with catcher Miguel Amaya. He credited the rookie for his between-innings insigh...

Saturday’s high school roundup/scores: Westford rallies past L-S, remains undefeated

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 11:13:29 GMT

Saturday’s high school roundup/scores: Westford rallies past L-S, remains undefeated BASEBALLWestford Academy showed true grit in rallying to keep its undefeated season and championship hopes alive for another day.The Ghosts staged a three-run rally to tie the score in the last of the seventh, then Justin Davighi’s bases loaded single in the eighth gave No. 3 Westford Academy (21-0) a dramatic 4-3 win over Dual County League rival Lincoln-Sudbury in a Div. 1 second-round contest.Down to their last three outs, the Ghosts relied on RBI singles by Kush Gami and Ben Mulgrew to deadlock the score, setting the stage for the extra-inning heroics.In a Div. 1 quarterfinal contest, Shawn Cali’s fourth-inning sacrifice fly plated AJ Lewis with what proved to be the winning run as No. 2 Taunton (19-4) edged seventh-seeded BC High, 3-2. … Alfred Mucciarone threw a four-hitter while striking out 11 and allowing one earned run as No. 1 Franklin (22-3) edged No. 9 Bridgewater-Raynham 2-1.In the Div. 2 quarterfinals, Evan Yakavonis threw a shutout while giving up just seven hits and...

Golden Knights fend off Panthers 3-2, move 1 win from Stanley Cup title

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 11:13:29 GMT

Golden Knights fend off Panthers 3-2, move 1 win from Stanley Cup title SUNRISE, Fla. (AP) — The Vegas Golden Knights are on the verge of winning their first Stanley Cup title after holding on to beat the Florida Panthers 3-2 in Game 4 of the final Saturday night.Vegas leads the series 3-1 and can win the NHL championship on home ice Tuesday night. Getting to the verge that wasn’t easy.Chandler Stephenson scored twice for the Golden Knights, and William Karlsson broke through to end his series-long goal drought to build a 3-0 lead. The Panthers scored twice — Brandon Montour on a pinball goal late in the second period, and Aleksander Barkov’s first of the series early in the third — to claw back into it.But their rally fell short despite a brief, late power play and a flurry that led to a fracas at the final horn.“Obviously, that was a battle until the last second,” said Vegas forward Nicolas Roy. “They pushed back there. We knew they would. They’ve been doing it all series. But it’s nice to get that one, for sure.”Now Florida, the eighth se...

Cook County ME ID's teen couple killed in car crash

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 11:13:29 GMT

Cook County ME ID's teen couple killed in car crash HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. — Hoffman Estates police believe alcohol may be involved in a crash Saturday morning that left two teens dead.The three-car crash was reported just before 9 a.m. near Higgins Road and Barrington Road. Huntley police: Man fired shots at officers, one officer fired round The driver of one of the cars involved, an 18-year-old woman, and their passenger, an 18-year-old man, were killed, according to a news release from the Hoffman Estates Police Department.According to the Cook County Medical Examiner's Office, the 18-year-old woman has been identified as Amelia Mazeikis, and the 18-year-old man has been identified as D'Shaun "DJ" Tudela.According to family, the two were in a 3-year relationship and had just graduated from Schaumburg High School in May."He was such an amazing, amazing person," said Khailani Davila-Tudela, DJ's cousin. "He loved to bake. He loved to play with his brothers. He has a dog and he loved her to pieces. But most importantly, he loved Ame...

Advocate Children's Hospital hosts prom for teens with illnesses

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 11:13:29 GMT

Advocate Children's Hospital hosts prom for teens with illnesses OAK BROOK, Ill. — Teens rocked their best dresses and suits as they danced, bowled and played games Saturday night while attending Advocate Children’s Hospital’s teen patient prom at Pinstripes in Oak Brook.“Prom can be a milestone for teenagers each spring, but too often patients battling complex medical conditions miss out. We are thrilled to host a prom where our patients can relax and have fun with friends in a safe setting,” said Kevynne Dudek, child life specialist, who helped organize the special event. “Being able to share this experience with them and see firsthand how much fun they are having is very special.”Patients and their guests at the Dunkin’ and Dancin’ ‘till the Sun Goes Down Prom. (Credit: Johnna Kelly)Patients and their guests at the Dunkin’ and Dancin’ ‘till the Sun Goes Down Prom. (Credit: Johnna Kelly)Patients and their guests at the Dunkin’ and Dancin’ ‘till the Sun Goes Down Prom. (Credit: Johnna Kelly)Patients and their guests at the Dunkin’ and Dancin’ ‘t...