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Baltimore Orioles
WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Generally, when Gunnar Henderson realizes he is about to pinch-hit late in a game, he will prepare by heading down the tunnel and into the batting cages. He’ll take hacks for a full inning, even if he’s not guaranteed to appear, and he’ll run on the turf that covers the weight […]

WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Generally, when Gunnar Henderson realizes he is about to pinch-hit late in a game, he will prepare by heading down the tunnel and into the batting cages. He’ll take hacks for a full inning, even if he’s not guaranteed to appear, and he’ll run on the turf that covers the weight room and cages to loosen his legs.
To come in cold off the bench would be to put himself at a massive disadvantage against any pitcher. But that’s what Henderson did Friday at Sutter Health Park when he entered in the eighth inning against right-hander Tyler Ferguson.
“There’s really nowhere to do it here, is the only downside,” Henderson said of the minor league park at which the Athletics are playing in the interim ahead of a planned move to Las Vegas. The dugouts don’t attach to a tunnel like they do in most, if not all, major league parks. There are no cages easily accessible during a game or room to run.
Henderson still worked a walk. But it was a unique experience, one he hadn’t dealt with since high school or the minor leagues.
“All the guys on the bench got to go to the cage [beyond the outfield fence] in the fifth inning, and then came back at the start of the sixth, and that was about it,” Henderson said. “Didn’t see a pitch for an hour, an hour and a half. Just had to go out there and hang with it.”
That is one of the many quirks with playing Major League Baseball at the minor league home of the Triple-A Sacramento River Cats. All of these players have played in minor league parks before, and they aren’t ones to make excuses for losses by blaming the conditions.
At the same time, the situation as a whole is unfortunate. The Athletics are here because owner John Fisher moved them from the historic (albeit rustic) Oakland Coliseum. He plans to take the team to Las Vegas. But for three years the Athletics will play in Sacramento until a stadium is finished — and that timeline remains a bit uncertain.
Orioles players chose their words carefully when asked about the temporary move of the Athletics from Oakland to Sacramento. Ramón Laureano, who played in Oakland for six seasons, said the “Coliseum meant a lot to me,” but “we’re here in Sacramento, and at the end of the day, I love playing anywhere, at any place.”
Right-hander Zach Eflin, who pitched only once at the Coliseum, said he thinks the amenities at Sutter Health Park are passable.
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“At the end of the day, I love playing anywhere, at any place.”
Ramón Laureano, Orioles outfielder
“They did as good as they can with the clubhouse, the weight room and the training room,” Eflin said. “It’s hard to say anything more than that. It’s not Oakland. It’s not like a big league stadium or anything. But it’s a place to play baseball, I guess.”
Eflin is preparing mentally for a trip to George M. Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, Florida, this month rather than Tropicana Field. He played for the Tampa Bay Rays and grew a liking for the domed stadium. But Hurricane Milton dealt severe damage to the ballpark and forced the Rays to use the New York Yankees’ spring training home this season.
Between outdoor baseball in Tampa and the midday heat of Sacramento, it’s a test for players who, admittedly, are already used to hot weather. Henderson said the dry heat of Sacramento is easier to handle than the Alabama summer he grew up with. But, after a month of cool weather in Baltimore and elsewhere, the Sacramento 90-and-over temperatures during warmups were a stark difference.
Interim manager Tony Mansolino said the Orioles opted against taking batting practice on the field to limit time in the heat, instead taking it in the indoor batting cages. Eflin said he was “sweating bullets” after being outside for about 30 minutes before Saturday’s game.
“I wasn’t even running hard or anything,” Eflin said. “It’s something we’ll get used to during the summer and everything. We kind of go through it every summer in Atlanta, D.C., Baltimore; it’s hot as crap. Tampa is going to be miserable this year. I guess, if anything, it’ll get us ready for that.”
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Right-hander Tomoyuki Sugano, who dealt with a cramp in Toronto during his first start of the season, will pitch an afternoon game in Sunday’s series finale. The daytime high is expected to be 89 degrees. Mansolino said the “medical staff is on it, and our pitching staff is on it.”

“We are very conscious of the heat and how that affects our players, and we’ll adjust accordingly,” he added.
Another oddity of Sutter Health Park is the size of the warning track. Usually, warning tracks at MLB parks are about 15 feet wide. The near uniformity helps outfielders realize how much room they have before they hit the wall when tracking a fly ball.
Sutter Health Park’s warning track is about 23 feet wide, according to SF Gate. It’s unclear whether that played a role in the misplay by left fielder Dylan Carlson in the first inning Saturday. He couldn’t corral a deep, high fly ball that Statcast considered to have a 99% catch probability.
Regardless, the Orioles are rolling with the unusual nature of this. There’s no other option.
“We know how to play here; we know how to play in Tampa,” Eflin said. “We spend a month and a half doing it in spring and we’ve done it all through the minor leagues, so we’re prepared and ready for it. It does stink we can’t play at the Trop. It does stink we can’t play in Oakland. You know, it’s hard to give you anything more than that. We’re going to show up and play baseball as if it is Oakland or as if it is the Trop.”
Sports
Kali Moore Earns Preseason All-CAA Honors, Seawolves Ranked Fifth
Story Links RICHMOND, Va. – For the second time in her career, Stony Brook outside hitter Kali Moore has been named Preseason All-CAA as she begins her fourth season with the program. CAA coaches also ranked the Seawolves fifth overall in the conference ahead of the 2025 season. One of the top […]

RICHMOND, Va. – For the second time in her career, Stony Brook outside hitter Kali Moore has been named Preseason All-CAA as she begins her fourth season with the program. CAA coaches also ranked the Seawolves fifth overall in the conference ahead of the 2025 season.
One of the top offensive players in the league, Moore is coming off a 2024 All-CAA First Team selection after she led the conference with a career-high 469 kills which placed 12th in the nation as of November 21. She also finished top three in the CAA and set new personal bests with 3.94 kills per set, 530.5 points, and 4.46 points per set. Defensively, Moore set new career highs with 288 digs and 45 total blocks. On October 19 vs. Elon she became the 13th player in program history to reach 1,000 career kills.
Moore was previously named to the 2023 Preseason All-CAA Team following her historic 2022 Rookie of the Year season.
This marks the second consecutive season Stony Brook has been voted fifth in the preseason poll. The Seawolves earned 62 points in the poll, trailing only North Carolina A&T (68 points, one first place vote), Towson (88 points, one first place vote), Hofstra (90 points, four first place votes), and Charleston (92 points, five first place votes).
Stony Brook went 16-13 overall and 9-9 in the CAA last year in what was head coach Kristin Belzung‘s eighth season.
The Seawolves begin their 2025 campaign on Friday, August 29 at 6 p.m. when they open the Stony Brook Invite vs. CCSU.
Full preseason awards results below.
CAA Preseason Player of the Year
Tyne Ross, North Carolina A&T
Preseason All-CAA Team
Player | Team | Pos. | Class | Hometown |
Clara Bal | Hofstra | RS | Sr. | Riom, France |
Erin Brothers | Towson | MB | Sr. | Grove City, Ohio |
Olivia Esposito | William & Mary | MB | Sr. | Carversville, Pa. |
Cameron Lanier | Elon | MB/RS | Jr. | Chapel Hill, N.C. |
Kali Moore | Stony Brook | OH | Sr. | Brooklyn, N.Y. |
Tyne Ross | North Carolina A&T | OH | So. | Cameron, N.C. |
Nicole Smith | William & Mary | OH | Sr. | Peachtree City, Ga. |
Izadora Stedile | Hofstra | OH | Sr. | Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil |
Sydney Stewart | Towson | DS/L | Sr. | Elizabethtown, Pa. |
Gwen Wolkow | Campbell | OH | Sr. | Downers Grove, Ill. |
Honorable Mentions: Caroline Berlekamp, MB, Elon; Deanna Dollar, OH, Charleston; Maddie Lambers, MB, Campbell; Valentina Meirelles, OH, Northeastern; Leonor Polezzi, S, North Carolina A&T; Catherine Rucker, MB, Elon
2025 CAA VOLLEYBALL PRESEASON POLL
Team (1st Place Votes) | Points |
Charleston (5) | 92 |
Hofstra (4) | 90 |
Towson (1) | 88 |
North Carolina A&T (1) | 68 |
Stony Brook | 62 |
William & Mary | 55 |
Northeastern | 47 |
Elon | 34 |
UNCW | 30 |
Campbell | 29 |
Hampton | 10 |
For an inside look at the Seawolves volleyball program, be sure to follow them on Facebook, X, and Instagram.
Sports
Rally Stoppers: An Overview of the UC Davis Blockers
Story Links DAVIS, Calif. – Volleyball season is just two weeks away for UC Davis, and the team is building momentum as they prepare for the Sacramento State Invitational. As the focal point of the defense, middle blockers play primarily near the net and are responsible for bringing down offensive attacks from […]

DAVIS, Calif. – Volleyball season is just two weeks away for UC Davis, and the team is building momentum as they prepare for the Sacramento State Invitational.
As the focal point of the defense, middle blockers play primarily near the net and are responsible for bringing down offensive attacks from the opposing teams. With a solid mix of experienced upperclassmen and a promising freshman in the mix, the Aggie middle blockers are set to play a big role for their team.
Senior – Kendall Rogers
A fourth-year player out of Danville, Rogers has worked her way up the depth chart, looking to make her collegiate debut for the Aggies in 2025.
A Sustainable Environmental Design major, Rogers has made great personal strides throughout her time at UC Davis, spending last summer interning for the Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD). Her experience at SMUD has powered her into a future career in environment conversation following graduation.
Junior – Ally Chandler
A former All-Big West Freshman and All-Big West Second Team nominee, Chandler enters year three looking to elevate her game to an even higher level.
In 2024, she finished third on the team with 226 kills and 1.90 kills per set, also finishing the year number one in the conference in hitting percentage, hitting the ball at a 37.3% clip. She also posted 81 total blocks on the season, finishing second on the team.
Junior – Allie Caldwell
A junior from Sequoia High School, Caldwell had a breakout year for the Aggies in 2024, starting in all 28 matches for the team while posting a team-best 98 blocks and a career-high eight blocks in an Ags win over UC Santa Barbara.
In addition to her defensive prowess, Caldwell also played well on the offensive side of the net last year, posting 115 kills with just over one kill per set.
Sophomore – Demi Cole
Playing in seven matches with one start as a freshman, Cole comes into her sophomore year looking to build on the momentum of 2024.
In a matchup against UC Riverside last season, Cole posted a number of season-highs, including five kills, six points, two digs, and two total blocks in an Aggie four-set victory.
Freshman – Faith Rabb-Patterson
A freshman from Christian Brothers HS in Sacramento, Rabb-Patterson brings her talent to the collegiate level for the first time in 2025.
In 2023, during her junior season with Christian Brothers, Faith had a strong all-around year for her team, putting up 111 kills and blocking 36 shots to help lead the Falcons to a 34-8 record that included going undefeated at home and in the California Sac-Joaquin Section Capital Athletic League.
Sports
Volleyball Announces 2025 Captains – Florida Atlantic University Athletics
BOCA RATON, Fla. – Florida Atlantic volleyball Head Coach Fernanda Nelson announced Victoria Hensley and Isabelle Northam as the team’s captains for the 2025 season on Monday. “We’re thrilled to announce our captains for the 2025 season,” said Nelson. “These incredible individuals have been instrumental to our volleyball team over the years, consistently strengthening our […]

“We’re thrilled to announce our captains for the 2025 season,” said Nelson. “These incredible individuals have been instrumental to our volleyball team over the years, consistently strengthening our culture and leading by example. Their remarkable dedication and selfless commitment on and off the court have set the standard for us all. I am so excited to watch them lead our strong FAU volleyball team to a special year.”
Hensley and Northam were instrumental to the Owls’ success throughout the 2024 season, helping guide the program to its first conference tournament championship appearance since 2005.
The Owls’ strong offensive presence is powered by and runs through Hensley. She had a career-best season in 2024 and continues to shine as one of the most prolific setters in Florida Atlantic history. Entering the 2025 season, Hensley ranks sixth in program history in career assists with 2,365. Last season, she led the Owls and the American with an incredible 1,258 assists, ranking third all-time in a single season in program history and 15th nationally. Hensley is also one of the Owls’ back row defensive leaders, ranking third on the team in digs (237) and digs per set (2.24). She also ranks second on the Owls in double-doubles this season, tallying 10 double-doubles with assists and digs. Hensley set numerous career highs in 2024. She dished out a career-best 59 assists during the Owls’ four-set win over Northern Arizona on Sept. 7. She also tied a career-high four blocks, including a career-best four block assists, during the Owls’ three-set sweep over Rice on Oct. 18.
Northam anchors the Owls’ stout defense. She led the Owls’ back row last season, recording a team-best 322 digs, averaging 2.95 digs per set. She also finished second on the team in assists, dishing out 67 and averaging 0.61 assists per set, in addition to finishing the year second on the team at the service line, tallying 29 service aces, notching 0.27 aces per set. Northam recorded 16 double-figure dig performances last season, including a season-best 24 digs during the season-opener against Bryant.
The 2025 season will officially begin on August 29 as the Owls host their season-opening Florida Atlantic Invitational.
FOLLOW THE OWLS
For updates, follow @FAUVolleyball on X and Instagram, or like FAU Volleyball on Facebook.
Sports
The Citadel Volleyball 2025 Season Preview
Story Links CHARLESTON, S.C. – The Citadel volleyball team is scheduled to begin the 2025 season on Aug. 29. The Bulldogs start the regular season with the Buccaneer Invitational on Aug. 29. Southern Conference play begins on Sept. 25 against Wofford at McAlister Field House. The Bulldogs have nine returning players […]

CHARLESTON, S.C. – The Citadel volleyball team is scheduled to begin the 2025 season on Aug. 29.
The Bulldogs start the regular season with the Buccaneer Invitational on Aug. 29. Southern Conference play begins on Sept. 25 against Wofford at McAlister Field House.
The Bulldogs have nine returning players from last season and are adding eight new members for the 2025 season, which includes four freshmen and four transfers.
Head coach Dave Zelenock on the 2025 season:
This year’s team is a fun group. They are young, athletic, and hungry. The gym has a great energy that we haven’t seen in a while. Over the last few years, we’ve gained a lot of experience, which was helpful, but it also led to a lot of load management. This year, we can make more of a push.
The extended preseason has allowed our group to spend significantly more time together, free from the distractions of the corps and academics. It has really helped the team bond and prepare for the challenges the year will bring.
The preseason will be our chance to experiment with lineups and even positions, as we have many players capable of playing multiple positions. When we get to SoCon, the main challenge will be the team learning and preparing for opponents that most of them have never faced before, but have only observed. With transfers and players taking on new roles, we will have a completely different group on the floor. As a result, we anticipate significant growth as the season progresses.
The goal is always the SoCon tournament, so if we continue to make progress until the end, this group can cause some trouble in the tournament.
In the 2024 season, the Bulldogs ended with a 15-14 overall record and an 8-8 conference record. They earned the No. 5 seed in the 2024 Southern Conference Tournament, notably winning a thrilling five-set match against Samford in the first round. The Citadel was knocked out in the semifinals by Mercer.
The Citadel finished the season as the NCAA Statistical Champion for digs per set with 19.44.
Recently promoted associate head coach Erin Kretzschmar begins her fourth season with the Bulldogs.
Following the season opener at the Buccaneer Invitational, the Bulldogs will travel for two away matches against Georgia Southern and the College of Charleston. The Bulldogs will finish the non-conference schedule with the Queens Fall Classic and the Wofford Invitational.
The Citadel’s first home match is the conference opener against Wofford on Sept. 25. Senior Day is slated for UNCG on Nov. 8. The last match of the season is against Samford, and the 2025 Southern Conference Championships start on Nov. 20 in Asheville, North Carolina.
Sports
Princeton Approves $81,200 Contract Extension For Grover Park Flood Mitigation
PRINCETON, NJ — Princeton Council has authorized an $81,200 contract extension for engineering services related to the Grover Avenue Culvert Replacement Project, bringing the total agreement value to $211,137. The municipality originally awarded a professional services contract to Greenman-Pedersen, Inc. (GPI) in November 2023 for $129,937 over 12 months. The additional funding will support preliminary […]

PRINCETON, NJ — Princeton Council has authorized an $81,200 contract extension for engineering services related to the Grover Avenue Culvert Replacement Project, bringing the total agreement value to $211,137.
The municipality originally awarded a professional services contract to Greenman-Pedersen, Inc. (GPI) in November 2023 for $129,937 over 12 months. The additional funding will support preliminary hydraulic and park improvement design work in Grover Park.
The contract extension targets chronic stormwater management problems in Grover Park, where flooding during severe weather events affects both the recreational area and downstream properties along Harrys Brook.
“This contract has to do with planning for better stormwater management in Grover Park, which is desperately needed,” said Councilman David Cohen. “The park floods regularly in extreme storm events and downstream neighbors as well suffer along that branch of Harrys Brook. So I’m really excited to see this first step towards the upgrades to Grover Park, which we’ve been anticipating for a couple of years.”
Harrys Brook Tributary 2 flows through Grover Park between the Princeton Shopping Center and Grover Avenue. The existing culvert system consists of multiple drainage pipes that cannot handle projected future storm flows.
During the design phase, GPI discovered that even upgraded infrastructure cannot prevent all flooding. According to Assistant Municipal Engineer Jim Purcell, future 100-year storm flows based on New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection rainfall projections would still cause flooding without unacceptably impacting a downstream residential property.
“It was determined that flooding of Grover Park will occur in the future, as it does today, during such a storm event,” Purcell explained in a memo to Council.
Rather than attempting to eliminate flooding entirely, the proposed design works with natural water patterns. Plans include:
- Elevated walkways on boardwalks positioned above flood levels
- A raised picnic area to remain accessible during high water
- Rehabilitation of the existing basketball court
- Playground upgrades designed to withstand flooding
- Replacement of the footbridge crossing the stream
The comprehensive approach acknowledges that some flooding is inevitable while ensuring park amenities remain functional and safe for residents.
Sports
Women’s Tennis Announces 2025 Fall Schedule – Texas A&M Athletics
BRYAN-COLLEGE STATION – Texas A&M women’s tennis head coach Mark Weaver announced the 2025 fall schedule for the Aggies, featuring nine tournaments and the NCAA Singles & Doubles Championships. Finishing the season as the No. 2 ranked team, the Aggies start their fall schedule at the ITA All-American Championship in Cary, North Carolina Sept. 20-28. Texas […]

Finishing the season as the No. 2 ranked team, the Aggies start their fall schedule at the ITA All-American Championship in Cary, North Carolina Sept. 20-28. Texas A&M head to two ITF tournaments in California, including the WTT Berkeley Tennis Club in Berkeley Sept. 22-28 and the WTT Bank of Marin W35 in San Rafael Sept. 29-Oct. 5
The Maroon & White competes in the ITA Regional Championship in Fort Worth, Oct. 9-14. Looking to close out the fall season strong, Texas A&M participates in the ITA Central Sectional and Conference Masters Championships Nov. 6-9.
ITA All-American Championship
The ITA All-American Championship features 10 singles players and four doubles teams who will qualify for the NCAA Singles & Doubles Championship.
ITA Texas Regional Championship
The ITA Texas Regional Championship features two singles finalists from each region who will compete in the NCAA Singles Championship while the doubles champion will go straight into the NCAA Doubles Championship.
ITA Conference Masters
Four singles players will qualify for the NCAA Singles Championship while three doubles teams will compete in the NCAA Doubles Championship.
ITA Central Sectional
Six singles players and three doubles teams from each section will qualify for the NCAA Singles & Doubles Championships.
The Aggies will take part in three fall invitationals. Texas A&M heads to the Rice Invitational, Sept 19-21, followed by the TCU Invitational Oct. 23-26, and
The fall wraps up with the NCAA Singles & Doubles Championships in Orlando, Nov. 18-23.
Sept. 19-21 | Rice Invitational | Brown Tennis Center | Houston, Texas |
Sept. 20-28 | ITA All-American Championship | Cary Tennis Park | Cary, N.C. |
Sept. 22-28 | ITF WTT Berkeley Tennis Club W35 | Berkeley Tennis Club | Berkeley, Calif. |
Sept. 29-Oct. 5 | ITF WTT Bank of Marin W35 | Marin Tennis Club | San Rafael, Calif. |
Oct. 9-14 | ITA Texas Regional Championship | Friedman Tennis Center | Fort Worth, Texas |
Oct. 23-26 | TCU Invitational | Friedman Tennis Center | Fort Worth, Texas |
Nov. 6-9 | H-E-B Invitational | Hurd Tennis Center | Waco, Texas |
Nov. 6-9 | ITA Central Sectional Championship | Mitchell Tennis Center | College Station, Texas |
Nov. 6-9 | ITA Conference Masters Championship | Barnes Tennis Center | San Diego, Calif. |
Nov. 18-23 | NCAA Singles & Doubles Championship | USTA National Campus | Orlando, Fla. |
FOLLOW THE AGGIES
Visit 12thman.com for more information on Texas A&M women’s tennis. Fans can keep up to date with the A&M women’s tennis team on Facebook, Instagram, and on X by following @AggieWTEN.
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