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Twins' minor

WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The risk simply wasn’t worth it for Carlos Correa. Recognizing the soreness developing in the middle of his back after two days of slipping and sliding in a rock-hard batter’s box at Sutter Health Park, the Twins shortstop elected to sit out the final two contests of a four-game series at […]

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2 months ago

June 6, 2025

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WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The risk simply wasn’t worth it for Carlos Correa.

Recognizing the soreness developing in the middle of his back after two days of slipping and sliding in a rock-hard batter’s box at Sutter Health Park, the Twins shortstop elected to sit out the final two contests of a four-game series at the temporary home of the Athletics.

In abandoning Oakland to spend three seasons in the California state capital before they move to a new ballpark on the Las Vegas Strip, the A’s made a controversial decision by voluntarily relocating to a Triple-A stadium they’re sharing with a minor-league affiliate of the San Francisco Giants.

While the refurbished facility’s amenities drew rave reviews from every Twins player interviewed by The Athletic, including Correa, several noted multiple “minor-league” issues with its playing surface.

After playing in West Sacramento and at George M. Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, the temporary home of the Tampa Bay Rays and spring training facility for the New York Yankees, during their recent three-city road trip, the Twins have a fresh perspective on Major League Baseball’s minor-league issues as the weather heats up.

From Tampa’s oppressive heat and humidity to its poor outfield lighting and short foul poles to a batter’s box in Sacramento multiple players described as akin to hitting on cement and a rigid pitcher’s mound that’s drawn the ire of hurlers across the league, the Twins experienced the full range of challenges these parks present in playing seven away games against the Rays and A’s since May 26.

Correa’s experience with the batter’s box represents one of the bigger hardships Twins players faced during their minor-league adventure.

“It’s the worst box I’ve ever stepped in,” Correa said. “I like (the park). The ball travels very well. The facilities are good. They did it right. The plate is the only problem. … I’m not going to sacrifice two months of my season because of a couple of at-bats here.”

How the clubhouses at the temporary stadiums are arranged isn’t an issue. But the playing conditions are a different story.

In Sacramento, the dirt and the disconnected dugouts create difficulties for the home and visiting players. Both teams’ clubhouses are located beyond the left-field fence at the ballpark, which means players and trainers are often commuting across the field between innings.

Athletics pitcher Luis Severino voiced his frustration with his home stadium last month.

During a typical start, Severino reportedly likes to retreat to the clubhouse between innings to watch film and move around, something he can’t do at Sutter Health Park. This season, Severino, who signed a multiyear contract with the A’s in free agency, has a 0.87 road ERA and a 6.99 ERA at home.

Before their four-game series began Monday, Twins manager Rocco Baldelli joked about how awkward it would be to get ejected, as he did in Seattle on Saturday night. Noting fans described the potential scenario as a walk of shame, Baldelli suggested he’d be worried about how his stride would look with such a long walk.

Still, Baldelli determined that if an ejection occurred, he’d make the most of it.

“It’s the march of triumph,” he said.

After games — and during them — players and coaches must walk across the field to get to the visiting clubhouse at Sutter Health Park. (Dan Hayes / The Athletic)

The batter’s box and mound, which the grounds crew pores over daily to handle a combined 156-game schedule for the Athletics and Triple-A River Cats, have also been heavily criticized for their firmness.

When he pitched in Sacramento on May 24, Philadelphia Phillies starter Zack Wheeler struggled to dig a hole on the mound in front of the rubber with his foot because of the hard clay used. Wheeler said he couldn’t “get into the dirt to drive” through his pitches, which left him throwing “all arm.”

Wheeler’s phrasing stuck with Twins pitcher Joe Ryan, who wondered aloud if a firm mound played a role in the significant injury suffered by teammate Pablo López this week in Sacramento. Coming off a daytime start in which he pitched in 100-degree temperatures in Tampa, López suffered a Grade 2 teres major muscle strain Tuesday and is expected to miss eight to 12 weeks.

Ryan is perplexed by how a teammate as fit and process-oriented as López — “he spends hours a day (warming up) to go play catch” — could suffer such an injury.

“The first thing I thought of was Wheeler saying, ‘I was all arm when I was here,’” Ryan said. “Does that play into that? Someone was mentioning it. We’re in the big leagues, and we have these amenities for a reason. It’s to get prepared and go inside if you need to for a second. Whatever your routine is, you can’t do that here. You can’t do that in Tampa. As (Lopez’s) teammate, it makes it sting a little bit more. I don’t think Pablo is the kind of guy that’s going to say (the mound was the issue), but I’ll say it.”

During his May 28 start in Tampa, López called a timeout in the first inning for groundskeepers to fix the mound. Ryan also took issue with the mound in Tampa and said it was much different than the one he warmed up on in the bullpen before his start.

“Tampa was a fricking sh– box and they have a massive mound in the bullpen before,” Ryan said. “It’s a huge contrast.”

In Tampa, umpires walk from a portable trailer located outside the ballpark to get into Steinbrenner Field. (Dan Hayes / The Athletic)

According to players, the issues in Tampa, which is scheduled to be used by the Rays for only the 2025 season after Hurricane Milton destroyed the roof of Tropicana Field last September and caused massive flood damage, include poor outfield lighting, a short porch in right field and short foul poles. The miniature poles likely cost Aaron Judge a home run in an April 20 game, as the ball appeared to be incorrectly ruled foul. Poor lighting seemed to hamper Twins outfielder Trevor Larnach’s ability to track fly balls in a May 26 loss to the Rays.

“I could see better at Tampa at the beginning of the game, and then at night it was really difficult for me,” Larnach said. “(In a regular park), the lights are bright and you see the ball a tad bit better, whether it be in the outfield, at the plate or whatever.”

Lighting doesn’t seem to be an issue at Sutter Health Park, which has a berm beyond the fence in right field with trees that offer fans a unique way to catch a major-league game. But the lack of a third deck in both stadiums allows wind to impact the ball in different ways.

The ball carries extremely well in Sacramento, which Baseball Savant ranks as tops in the majors, tied with the Baltimore Orioles’ Camden Yards, in Park Factor, meaning it is the most hitter-friendly park in baseball.

Athletics outfielder Lawrence Butler hit a three-run homer Monday, a 100.9-mph, 28-degree fly ball, which Ryan and Byron Buxton swore would have been an out at the Twins’ home ballpark, Target Field. However, Buxton also benefited at the plate as the wind turned what likely would have been an out into a two-run double.

Byron Buxton leaps for a ball hit by Lawrence Butler that went over the center-field wall for a home run. (Thearon W. Henderson / Getty Images)

By comparison, Steinbrenner Field is playing as a neutral venue, according to Baseball Savant’s Park Factor.

“Big-league stadiums, you don’t have the ball dancing like these balls are moving here,” Buxton said of Sacramento. “My double, fly out, wind takes it, almost takes it out, and it’s like, ‘What?’ … (Butler’s) ball, I’m (normally) catching at the warning track.”

Players described the wind in Tampa as swirling and unpredictable. Twins outfielder Willi Castro raced toward the left-field foul line during a May 27 game, only for the wind to spin the ball back into play, well out of his grasp, for a double.

Even the view of left field from the visiting dugout in Tampa is deceiving. From his perch atop the dugout, Baldelli couldn’t see any plays that occurred in left field. The park’s configuration is such that the visiting dugout juts out into the field of play with the left-field foul pole situated about 15 feet behind where Baldelli stands.

“Every ball that’s hit down the left-field line, we think it’s foul by like 100 feet,” Baldelli said. “It looks like it’s foul off the bat, like the hitter’s not even hitting it, and it’s getting blown up, and they’re fair.”

Twins manager Rocco Baldelli’s view from the top step of the visiting dugout at Steinbrenner Field. (Dan Hayes / The Athletic)

Both parks are expected to heat up like a microwave as summer arrives. The heat issues in Tampa are concerning enough that MLB scheduled the Rays away for a 10-game road trip in July and a 12-game road trip to the West Coast in August.

Despite pitching at night in Tampa on May 27, Twins starter Chris Paddack went through four baseball caps and jerseys as well as multiple undershirts. For the teams’ May 28 day game, the temperature was sweltering as Twins players scrambled for minimal shade in the visiting dugout.

“I was sweating a ton right after (batting practice),” Twins infielder Royce Lewis said. “Sweating through batting gloves and stuff. The heat for some guys definitely played a part. To stand out in the sun for hours is depleting.”

Still, it’s not all bad.

Although the layout of the visitors’ locker room, weight room and cafeteria at Steinbrenner Field is unlike almost any other ballpark in the majors, having two batting cages for visiting teams — instead of one, as is usually the case — was lauded by nearly every Twins hitter.

“We’re finding our bearings,” Baldelli said. “We’re finding meeting rooms and weight rooms. It’s not set up where it’s all in one space, like guys are typically used to, but it’s nothing that we can’t get familiar with and figure out.”

Similarly, players raved about the behind-the-scenes setup at Sutter Health Park.

Multimillion-dollar offseason upgrades at the stadium included a renovated visiting clubhouse, a revamped scoreboard and a new playing surface. Though MLB originally wanted the Athletics and River Cats to play on synthetic turf, a decision was made to use real grass. Buxton described the outfield grass as playing faster than the grass at most parks, while Baldelli described the turf as squishy.

Stadium officials plan to re-sod the playing surface in mid-July to help combat dead spots during a stretch where temperatures are expected to soar above 100 degrees.

“It’s the worst box I’ve ever stepped in,” Carlos Correa said of Sutter Health Park. (Lachlan Cunningham / Getty Images)

As much as each stadium has its drawbacks, nothing compares to Sacramento’s hard dirt, several Twins hitters said. Throughout their four-game series, Twins hitters could be seen slipping in the batter’s box when swinging at pitches.

Correa slipped during his first at-bat Monday (a double) and tried to improve his footing by changing into catcher Ryan Jeffers’ metal spikes. After dealing with plantar fasciitis in each foot over the past two seasons, Correa ditched metal spikes in favor of moldings, comfortable shoes that don’t grip the ground as well. But he quickly rid himself of Jeffers’ spikes because they began to hurt his feet.

Over the next two days, Correa’s back began to hurt. He experienced back issues earlier in his career and could tell the new soreness was in a different location. He believed it was related to slipping in the batter’s box and overcompensating with his back.

To test and confirm his hypothesis, Correa hit on flat ground in the indoor batting cages and felt fine each time. At that point, Correa determined he would sit out the final two games of the series rather than risk a severe back injury.

“The plate here is killing me right now,” Correa said. “It’s very slippery. … For us that play with moldings, it’s a tough time getting grip on the plate, but it’s better than your feet hurting.”

(Top photo of Twins reliever Jonah Bride pitching at Sutter Health Park: Scott Marshall / Associated Press)

Sports

MXCTF | Meet the New Gaels

Story Links MORAGA, Calif. — In year three of the Coach Harlan Lopez era for Saint Mary’s Men’s Cross Country and Track put up historic numbers. The Gaels won their first cross country meet under Coach Lopez’s guidance, the 2024 Pacific Invitational, took home their first top-five conference finish under his tutelage, […]

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11 minutes ago

August 11, 2025

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MORAGA, Calif. — In year three of the Coach Harlan Lopez era for Saint Mary’s Men’s Cross Country and Track put up historic numbers. The Gaels won their first cross country meet under Coach Lopez’s guidance, the 2024 Pacific Invitational, took home their first top-five conference finish under his tutelage, and saw five program records fall on the track. Coach Lopez is primed for another solid season with 19 returning student-athletes, but has also brought in a stellar recruiting class of 18 new Gaels.

“Our 2025 recruiting class is not only the biggest class we have ever had but the fastest.” noted Coach Lopez, “The 18 new athletes coming in are divided evenly between 9 freshmen and 9 transfers which sets up the program for immediate success as well as building for the future. The hope is our transfers can contribute to team success right away as well as help guide these freshmen to be team leaders in a few years. With this 2025 class we have high hopes for team success moving forward and bringing Saint Mary’s cross country to a new level.”

Let’s meet these new runners for the Gaels Men’s Cross Country and Track programs:

Kyle Byrne | 6-2 | Grad Student | Cal State East Bay | Oakland, Calif.

PRs: 50.44 (400m), 1:53.87 (800m), 4:11.13 (1500m), 27:28.3 (XC 8K), 35:41.1 (XC 10K)

Accomplishments: 2023 NorCal JuCo 800m Champion, 2019 Oakland Section Cross Country 4th Place Finisher

Projected Major: Counseling

Why He Chose Saint Mary’s: “The amazing academics and beautiful campus.”

Luke Davis | 5-7 | Freshman | Douglas HS | South Lake Tahoe, Calif.

PRs: 55.09 (400m), 2:00.04 (800m), 4:07.74 (1500m), 4:24.29 (Mile), 9:05.43 (3000m), 9:36.02 (Two Mile), 16:09.4 (XC 5K)

Accomplishments: 2024 USATF All-American (3000m), 2024 Nevada State Cross Country Championship 6th Place Finisher, 2025 Nevada State Track and Field Two Mile 4th Place Finisher

Projected Major: Sports Psychology

Why He Chose Saint Mary’s: “I loved the location, and I really liked Coach Harlan’s training style!”

Quinn Davis | 6-0 | Freshman | Del Norte HS | San Diego, Calif.

PRs: 2:13.89 (800m), 4:38.74 (Mile), 10:01.47 (Two Mile), 16:22.5 (XC 5K)

Accomplishments: Helped Del Norte HS to the 2024 San Diego Section Cross Country Title

Projected Major: Business Administration

Why He Chose Saint Mary’s: “I enjoy the team culture.”

Divan Du Plooy | 6-0 | Junior | South Plains College | Jeffreys Bay, South Africa

PRs: 3:45.94 (1500m), 4:08.43 (Mile), 8:02.49 (3000m), 14:23.45 (5000m), 9:10.65 (3000m Steeple), 23:15.2 (XC 8K)

Accomplishments: Namibian National Record Holder in the indoor mile, 3000m and 3000m Steeple Chase

Projected Major: Kinesiology

Why He Chose Saint Mary’s: “They just have the best environment and faculty, and the coach is really really intelligent in what he says and the way he approaches training.”

Jon Fielding Stogner | 5-10 | Grad Student | Lee University | Birmingham, Ala.

PRs: 2:00.15 (800m), 3:55.89 (1500m), 4:23.22 (Mile), 8:22.67 (3000m), 14:15.10 (5000m), 31:12.54 (10,000m), 24:27.9 (XC 8K)

Accomplishments: 2024 Gulf South Indoor Championship 5000m 3rd Place Finisher, 2024 Gulf South Outdoor Championship 4th Place Finisher

Projected Major: Business Administration

Why He Chose Saint Mary’s: “The tight knit culture, supportive coaching staff and upwards trajectory of the program.”

Joel Fischer | 5-9 | Junior | Mount San Antonio College | Hesperia, Calif.

PRs: 2:05.32 (800m), 4:12.85 (1500m), 8:53.76 (3000m), 15:24.67 (5000m), 31:34.59 (10,000m), 25:12.8 (XC 8K)

Accomplishments: 2025 South Coast Conference 10,000m Champion

Projected Major: Kinesiology

Why He Chose Saint Mary’s: “To complete at a higher level while obtaining my degree in Kinesiology.”

Adam Kehe | 6-0 | Freshman | Cleveland HS | Portland, Ore.

PRs: 1:55.69 (800m), 4:12.94 (1500m), 17:18.3 (XC 5K)

Accomplishments: 2025 Portland Interscholastic League 800m 3rd Place Finisher

Projected Major: Economics

Why He Chose Saint Mary’s: “Great Location, Good Environment, Smaller School with D1 Status.”

Jack McGuire | 5-10 | Freshman | Junipero Serra HS | Burlingame, Calif.

PRs: 2:05.23 (800m), 4:27.46 (Mile), 9:38.47 (Two Mile), 15:53.2 (XC 5K)

Accomplishments: 2024 CIF State Cross Country Meet Qualifier

Projected Major: Business Administration

Why He Chose Saint Mary’s: “For the team culture!”

Emmanuel Moes | 5-9 | Sophomore | University of Oregon | Kingston, Wash.

PRs: 4:22.87 (1500m), 16:52.99 (5000m), 17:07.7 (XC 5K)

Accomplishments: 2023 Olympic League Cross Country Championship 8th place finish

Projected Major: Kinesiology

Why He Chose Saint Mary’s: “To grow as a runner and as a student, and it felt like a good fit overall.”

Jacob Schuetze | 5-11 | Freshman | San Luis Obispo HS | San Luis Obispo, Calif.

PRs: 54.29 (400m), 2:04.96 (800m), 4:29.03 (Mile), 9:44.33 (Two Mile), 16:17.6 (XC 5K)

Accomplishments: 2023 Cross Country Second Team All-Central Coast Athletic Association, Member of the San Luis Obispo HS Program Record 4x800m and Distance Medley Teams

Projected Major: Environmental Science

Why He Chose Saint Mary’s: “I really liked the team environment and the campus and thought it was the overall best fit for me.”

Anthony Sharp | 6-1 | Freshman | Damonte Ranch HS | Reno, Nev.

PRs: 56.71 (400m), 1:57.82 (800m), 4:13.79 (1500m), 4:24.34 (Mile), 10:29.31 (Two Mile), 16:05.0 (XC 5K)

Accomplishments: 4* Nevada State Qualifier for Cross Country, 1* Nevada State Qualifier for Track

Projected Major: Biochemistry/Biology

Why He Chose Saint Mary’s: “Location was close to home, they are a D1 program, I appreciated the opportunity to be a part of the High Potential Program, and the school’s great academics.”

Nick Shoemaker | 6-5 | Freshman | Prospect Ridge Academy | Thornton, Colo.

PRs: 2:01.05 (800m), 4:29.03 (Mile), 10:11.27 (Two Mile), 16:38.3 (XC 5K)

Accomplishments: All-Metro League and All-State Runner

Projected Major: Business Administration

Why He Chose Saint Marys: “I loved the campus and the atmosphere.”

Alan Solari | 5-11 | Junior | Diablo Valley College | Concord, Calif.

PRs: 25.39 (200m), 51.39 (400m), 1:53.14 (800m), 3:56.70 (1500m), 4:26.28 (Mile), 9:58.99 (Two Mile), 15:31.4 (XC 5K)

Accomplishments: 2024 Big 8 Cross Country Champion, 2023 and 2024 First Team All-NorCal Cross Country, 2024 NorCal 1500m Champion

Projected Major: Finance

Why He Chose Saint Mary’s: “For its welcoming atmosphere, strong academics, and excellent cross country program.”

Oisin Spillane | 6-5 | Grad Student | Tulsa | Tralee, Kerry, Ireland

PRs: 4:16.11 (Mile), 8:17.02 (3000m), 14:40.29 (5000m), 9:04.60 (3000m Steeple Chase), 25:28.3 (XC 8K), 31:32.0 (XC 10K)

Accomplishments: 2022 IUAA 3000m Steeple Chase Champion, 2022 and 2023 Irish U23 3000m Steeple Chase Champion, 2023 Irish U-23 National Cross Country Champion, 2024 Irish Universities 3000m Steeple Chase Champion

Projected Major: Business Analytics

Why He Chose Saint Mary’s: “The location, beautiful weather and post grad opportunities. I am also excited to be part of an emerging team!”

Zack Springer | 5-11 | Freshman | Las Lomas HS | Walnut Creek, Calif.

PRs: 23.94 (200m), 52.26 (400m), 1:57.86 (800m), 4:38.0 (Mile), 5-8 (High Jump), 16:25.1 (XC Three Mile)

Accomplishments: Member of the Las Lomas HS 4x800m program record setting team

Projected Major: Business Administration

Why He Chose Saint Mary’s: “I appreciated that the campus was close to home.”

Aiden Tarantino | 5-10 | Redshirt Sophomore | Azusa Pacific | Carmel, Calif.

PRs: 58.15 (400m), 2:03.40 (800m), 4:08.58 (1500m), 4:22.39 (Mile), 9:43.34 (Two Mile), 25:12.0 (XC 8K)

Accomplishments: 2* First Team All-Central Coast Section Cross Country

Projected Major: Finance

Why He Chose Saint Mary’s: “Because of my existing relationship with Coach Harlan, as I believe he will help prepare me to be the best runner I can be.”

Foster Wilfong | 5-8 | Grad Student | Furman University | San Antonio, Tex.

PRs: 1:57.30 (800m), 3:52.62 (1500m), 4:12.20 (Mile), 8:06.90 (3000m), 9:04.08 (Two Mile), 14:32.03 (5000m), 32:13.96 (10,000m), 9:18.10 (3000m Steeple Chase), 24:19.1 (XC 8K), 31:54.4 (XC 10K)

Accomplishments: 2022 SoCon 3000m Steeple Chase 5th Place Finish, 2023 SoCon 1500m 4th Place Finish, 2025 SoCon Indoor 3000m 5th Place Finish

Projected Major: Business Administration

Why He Chose Saint Mary’s: “I wanted to compete and live in the Bay Area.”

Jackson Woolf | 5-11 | Freshman | Lincoln HS | Portland, Ore.

PRs: 2:05.52 (PR), 4:10.94 (1500m), 4:38.27 (Mile), 8:52.78 (3000m), 9:33.28 (Two Mile), 16:32.21 (5000m), 15:31.2 (XC 5K)

Accomplishments: Helped his team to a District Cross Country Title and a Fourth Place Finish at the State Championship, 3rd Team All-District

Projected Major: Undeclared

Why He Chose Saint Mary’s: “The campus atmosphere and the feeling of community on the team.”

#GaelsRise

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Sports

High Energy Highlights First Week of Fall Camp for Vandal Volleyball

Story Links MOSCOW, Idaho – As the calendar turned over into August, Idaho Volleyball officially reported for the start of fall camp. Just three weeks of practice, lifts, and a scrimmage separate the Vandals between report date and the season opener at the Vandal Volleyball Invitational in Memorial Gym. Heading into her […]

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12 minutes ago

August 11, 2025

Your Sports Nation

MOSCOW, Idaho – As the calendar turned over into August, Idaho Volleyball officially reported for the start of fall camp.

Just three weeks of practice, lifts, and a scrimmage separate the Vandals between report date and the season opener at the Vandal Volleyball Invitational in Memorial Gym. Heading into her second year leading the program, head coach Romana Redondo Kriskova put together a recruiting class featuring talent from many levels of college volleyball, on top of some highly touted incoming freshmen.

A critical aspect of the roster is the five experienced returners in Madu Fontes, Chiara Gennari, Natalia Wielgus, Zuzanna Whitman, and Ada Isik. Each of these earned valuable time on the court last season and provide familiarity with the regime and culture building within the program.

Koen Makaula (Nevada), Cayton White (Gardner-Webb), Kailee Wakatake (UC San Diego), Kyriah Trefren (Academy of Art) Sara Hiebert (Molloy), and Sarah Sullivan (Butler CC) make up the transfer class for the Vandals, each having logged time on the court at their previous institutions and provide a lot of options for the coaching staff.

Last but certainly not least, Chloe Sanders, Aleina Manaois, Gabi Smith, Csenge Krakoczki and Kiana Greer highlight the incoming freshman class from all corners. From as close to Moscow as Washington and Montana to as far as Hungary, students around the world are buying in to what is brewing at Idaho.

With a week and change of practices under their built, Redondo Kriskova is enthused by what she has seen from her group. The practices are spirited and the work is being put in, as the Vandals are chomping at the bit to get to the season.

“Fall camp is going great,” said the head coach. “Even though we have eleven newcomers, the gym is loud and nobody could tell that these players have known each other only a couple weeks. I’m very pleased with the energy, coachability, and work ethic that these players have and bring in every day. Can’t wait for the season to start and see what this team can accomplish.”

The full Vandal Volleyball schedule has been released, with the annual intrasquad Black and Gold Scrimmage taking place on Aug. 23, followed by a free kids clinic open to K-4th grade to follow. Fans who wish to register their children for the clinic must return a signed waiver form to assistant coach Ben Kasun at bkasun@uidaho.edu. Waiver forms are available for download HERE.

FOLLOW THE VANDALS

To stay up to date with Vandal Volleyball, follow the team on Instagram (VandalVolleyball), X(IdahoVolleyball) and visit govandals.com

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Aruya and Guy Help USA Volleyball U21 Team Win Gold Medal at Pan American Championships

Story Links SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – UC Santa Barbara Men’s Volleyball student-athletes Josh Aruya and Riggs Guy helped USA Volleyball U21 Men’s Team win the gold medal this past weekend at the Pan American Championships. The Americans defeated the hosting nation Canada, 3-1 (26-24, 25-21, 22-25, 25-18) in the championship match […]

Published

16 minutes ago

August 11, 2025

Your Sports Nation

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – UC Santa Barbara Men’s Volleyball student-athletes Josh Aruya and Riggs Guy helped USA Volleyball U21 Men’s Team win the gold medal this past weekend at the Pan American Championships.

The Americans defeated the hosting nation Canada, 3-1 (26-24, 25-21, 22-25, 25-18) in the championship match to finish the tournament a perfect 6-0.

Guy, a rising sophomore outside hitter, was voted the best spiker while totaling 11 points on nine kills and two blocks in the championship match. The Newport Beach native was instrumental in USA’s success. In the first set, Guy swung momentum back to the Red, White and Blue with a kill to put them up 19-18, and ultimately went on to win the set 26-24.

Guy continues his impressive start to his collegiate career, following the 2025 season he was named to The Big West All-Freshman Team. Guy led the Gauchos this past season with 217 kills and 245 points while ranking second with 3.06 kills per set and 3.45 points per set.

Josh Aruya was also instrumental in the team’s success. The middle blocker helped the U.S. move into sole possession of first place with a 3-1 win over Canada to keep them undefeated during the August 7 matchup. In the final match of the preliminary round Aruya added five blocks throughout the match to help the Red, White and Blue to the Gold Medal Match.

Aruya, a rising junior, finished second on the team in total blocks for the Gauchos during the 2025 season while tying for first on the team in block solos with teammate Riggs Guy. He tied his career high in kills against Hawai’i on April 18 and points against Cal Lutheran on March 25.

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WOU track & field adds Flynt as throws coach

Story Links MONMOUTH, Ore. — The Western Oregon track and field program has added Darren Flynt as its new throws coach. Flynt is a former collegiate and professional thrower with decades of experience as an athlete and coach. He competed for Bakersfield College, Nebraska, and Azusa Pacific University, where he was an […]

Published

31 minutes ago

August 11, 2025

Your Sports Nation

MONMOUTH, Ore. — The Western Oregon track and field program has added Darren Flynt as its new throws coach.

Flynt is a former collegiate and professional thrower with decades of experience as an athlete and coach. He competed for Bakersfield College, Nebraska, and Azusa Pacific University, where he was an NAIA national champion in the weight throw. He also competed professionally in the Scottish Highland Games.

Darren has developed athletes now competing at Nebraska, Iowa, NC State, Michigan, Kansas, Sam Houston and more. He was grandfathered in as a USATF coach after leading his daughter at the U20 World Championships in Cali, Colombia, and regularly collaborates with top collegiate and pro coaches. In addition to coaching, he brings leadership experience from a long career as a corporate executive.

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Sports

Tickets On Sale Now for Return of SEC Volleyball Tournament – Ole Miss Athletics

OXFORD, Miss. – The Southeastern Conference has officially released all-session tickets for the 2025 SEC Volleyball Tournament, which will be held November 21-25 at Enmarket Arena Savannah, Ga. All-session tickets, which provide admission to all matches of the tournament, are available at the club level for $125, reserved at $85 and general admission at […]

Published

33 minutes ago

August 11, 2025

Your Sports Nation

OXFORD, Miss. – The Southeastern Conference has officially released all-session tickets for the 2025 SEC Volleyball Tournament, which will be held November 21-25 at Enmarket Arena Savannah, Ga.

All-session tickets, which provide admission to all matches of the tournament, are available at the club level for $125, reserved at $85 and general admission at $65. Single-session tickets will be available for purchase at a later date.

The SEC Volleyball Tournament will be competed for the first time since 2005. The event will be also be televised and streamed on the SEC Network and SEC Network Plus.

The regular season is set to open on August 29th, as the Rebels face off against Arkansas State at 2 p.m. CT, as part of the Georgia Tech Classic, in Atlanta. Ga.

Fans can continue to show support for the Rebels by joining the ACE Club. Funds from the ACE Club are a major component in helping the Ole Miss volleyball program compete at the highest level. For more information and to donate, click here.

Get rewarded for attending events by joining Rebel Rewards powered by Coca-Cola, the official fan loyalty program of the Ole Miss Rebels. Download the Ole Miss Sports mobile app, sign up for a Rebel Rewards account, and start earning points immediately that can be redeemed for exclusive prizes and experiences.

Keep up with all the latest news and information on the Rebels by following Ole Miss Volleyball on X at @OleMissVB, on Instagram at @olemissvb and on Facebook at Ole Miss Volleyball. See exclusive photo and video content from behind the scenes and connect in real time with everything Ole Miss.

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A Landmark Year: Gratitude To The Cal Family

CAF8/11/2025 1:46 PM | By: Cal Athletics Unprecedented Support Leads To Largest Single-Year Total Of Donations In Cal Athletics History As Cal Athletics reflects on the 2024-25 year, the department extends its heartfelt thanks to the entire Cal family. This remarkable year was made possible by its unwavering belief in the […]

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August 11, 2025

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CAF8/11/2025 1:46 PM | By: Cal Athletics

Unprecedented Support Leads To Largest Single-Year Total Of Donations In Cal Athletics History

As Cal Athletics reflects on the 2024-25 year, the department extends its heartfelt thanks to the entire Cal family. This remarkable year was made possible by its unwavering belief in the mission and steadfast support of Cal student-athletes.

During the 2024-25 year, a record $82 million was given in support of Cal Athletics – the largest single year total in its history. It marked the fifth consecutive year Cal Athletics received at least $35 million in philanthropic support and included both the first- and third-largest commitments ever made to the department. Additionally, 64.8% of donors who made a gift in 2023-24 also made a gift in 2024-25 – reinforcing what has long been known: the Cal family shows up, year after year.

Support for operational needs also saw a tremendous boost, with more than $17.3 million directly funding the student-athlete experience across all varsity sports and initiatives. These gifts had an immediate and tangible impact, ensuring student-athletes had the tools and resources to perform at their very best.

“The Cal community is one unlike any other. Even with the challenges and changes college athletics has endured, they remain steadfast in their commitment and support of Cal and, most importantly, our student-athletes,” Cal Chief Development Officer Beth Tafolla-Voetsch said. “I hope the entire Cal family can see the role they played in our milestone year. Your belief in our student-athletes fuels what we do, and on behalf of the entire department, I thank you for your support.”

Among many highlights this year, one moment stands alone in Cal Athletics history: an unprecedented $26 million gift from Ned ’66 and Carol ’66 Spieker. This transformative endowment secures the future of men’s swimming and diving and men’s water polo for generations to come. Cal Athletics is profoundly grateful to the Spieker family for their visionary investment in the long-term strength of its programs.

The men’s and women’s golf and rugby programs were also endowed this year, bringing the total number of endowed programs to five. To learn more about these transformational commitments and the aspirational goal of endowing 15 sports programs by 2028, click here.

Additionally, a fifth head coaching position was endowed ahead of the upcoming 150th anniversary of the Cal men’s rowing program. Jeff ’75 and Patty ’75, ’76 Williams made a $1.5 million gift to endow the Williams Family Men’s Rowing Head Coach, which was part of the matching endowment challenge led by longtime UC Berkeley and Cal men’s rowing supporters, the Rogers family. Additionally, 17 new endowments were created across all 30 sports programs – these investments not only solidify the department’s foundation, they also signal a powerful belief in the bright future of Cal Athletics.

Several transformative seven-figure gifts helped propel Cal Athletics to its historic fundraising milestone. The Haas Jr. Fund contributed $4.2 million – a generous investment that will enhance Haas Pavilion by preserving its most iconic features while improving the experience for both student-athletes and fans. Two anonymous donors each contributed $1 million to Cal football, and The Lisa and Douglas Goldman Fund generously provided $1 million in support of both Cal men’s basketball and football. Additionally, Stacey Baba ’77 made a $1 million bequest to benefit the Cal softball and women’s golf programs, and following the Cal softball and beach volleyball facility groundbreakings, we were pleased to announce an anonymous $1 million gift to create the first Cal Beach Volleyball programmatic endowment. Cal Athletics is profoundly grateful for the extraordinary generosity and steadfast commitment of these dedicated supporters.

Spring 2025 also brought seismic change to college athletics with the passing of the NCAA House Settlement, providing the opportunity for revenue sharing with student-athletes. Cal Athletics responded swiftly with the launch of the Fight For California campaign, designed to ensure head coaches have the resources to recruit and retain the best and brightest student-athletes, while also strengthening overall program operations.

The campaign’s momentum was immediate. In April, the Fight For California Football Challenge shattered records, securing over $2 million in just eight days – the most ever given during a UC Berkeley crowdfunding campaign. In June, the Fight For California Women’s Basketball Challenge secured nearly $200,000 in just two weeks. These efforts represent only the beginning of what is expected to be a game-changing initiative for the department.

Over the past two years, the California Legends Collective has played a vital role in supporting Cal’s student-athletes during a time of significant change in intercollegiate athletics. The Collective’s board and its contributors’ commitment have been instrumental as Cal Athletics adapted to a new and dynamic landscape, and the department is incredibly grateful for its efforts.

As the new academic year commences at the University of California, Berkeley, there is much to look forward to. With the unwavering support and enduring passion of the Cal family, even more remarkable athletics and academic achievements lie ahead.

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