High School Sports
Lancers compete in Minnesota High School Flag State Tournament
Photo Courtesy of Noah Bjerke-Weiser LA CRESCENT, Minn. (WXOW) – The Girls Flag Football State Championship Tournament is taking place Monday at the Viking Headquarters in Eagan. There are 12 teams fighting for the top prize, including the No. 2 seed La Crescent-Hokah. The Lancers took to the field at 4:00 p.m. Monday in the quarterfinals […]

Photo Courtesy of Noah Bjerke-Weiser
LA CRESCENT, Minn. (WXOW) – The Girls Flag Football State Championship Tournament is taking place Monday at the Viking Headquarters in Eagan.
There are 12 teams fighting for the top prize, including the No. 2 seed La Crescent-Hokah.
The Lancers took to the field at 4:00 p.m. Monday in the quarterfinals against No. 10 seed Two Rivers, where they won and moved onto the semifinals.
After winning the 6:00 p.m. semifinal, La Crescent-Hokah eventually lost to Mahtomedi in a matchup of undefeated teams for the state championship.
Photo Courtesy of Noah Bjerke-Weiser
This year’s tournament highlights the growth of the sport in the state, which now has 51 schools now playing.
SIMILAR: La Crescent-Hokah hosts first girls flag football games in Minnesota history
This story has been updated following the conclusion of the tournament.
High School Sports
Carson Boyd's 2025 Quarterback Highlights
Carson Boyd is quickly making a name for himself as a standout quarterback. What sets him apart? It’s not just his talent; rather, it’s his calm under pressure and smart playmaking. From leading his high school team to college stardom, Boyd has consistently stepped up when it counts. He’s the kind of player teammates trust […]

Carson Boyd is quickly making a name for himself as a standout quarterback.
What sets him apart? It’s not just his talent; rather, it’s his calm under pressure and smart playmaking.
From leading his high school team to college stardom, Boyd has consistently stepped up when it counts.
He’s the kind of player teammates trust and opponents fear.
In this post, we will take a quick look at his journey, growth, and what makes him a rising star in the football world.
Early Life and Background of Carson Boyd
Carson Boyd grew up in a family where sports were a big part of life. From a young age, he was drawn to football, often playing with friends and family.
His natural athletic talent became clear as he joined local teams.
As he got older, Boyd’s skills as a quarterback started to shine. His quick reads and confident play helped him stand out early.
Football soon became his primary focus, laying the foundation for his future in the sport.
High School to College
- Carson Boyd made his mark in high school by leading his team to a regional championship. With a strong arm, fast reads, and natural leadership, he quickly became one of the top-ranked quarterbacks in the state between 2021 and 2024.
- His transition to college football was seamless. Earning the starting quarterback position early on, he has delivered multiple 300+ yard passing games and consistently impressed with his control, accuracy, and game awareness.
- Week after week, Boyd has built a track record of reliable performance, proving himself as a trusted leader on the field and a rising star to watch in the college football world.
Athletic Skills and Playing Style of Carson Boyd
Carson Boyd is known for his strong arm and ability to think on his feet, delivering precise passes under pressure.
He reads defenses with precision and picks smart routes that benefit the team.
And, his calm demeanor during critical moments enables him to execute intelligent plays when they matter most.
By commanding the offense with poise, he helps maintain team focus and drive.
Involvement in Sports Teams Beyond Football
Aside from football, Carson Boyd has been involved in other athletic ventures, showcasing his versatility as an athlete. He played basketball in high school, using his speed and agility to contribute to his team’s success on the court.
Boyd’s athleticism isn’t limited to just these sports; he’s also participated in track events, excelling in sprints.
His success across multiple sports highlights his all-around athletic ability and competitive nature.
Current Status and Future Prospects
Current Status | Future Prospects |
---|---|
Continuing training and development | Potential NFL or professional football opportunities |
Focused on leveling up his performance | Possibility of coaching or mentoring roles |
Preparing for next-level football | Further involvement in football leagues |
Conclusion
Carson Boyd’s journey from a promising young athlete to a trusted quarterback has been shaped by hard work, talent, and discipline.
His achievements in high school and college reflect steady growth, and he continues to raise the bar for himself and those around him.
Whether his path leads to the NFL or into coaching, his dedication and skill make his future in sports bright.
One thing is clear, Carson Boyd is just getting started.
High School Sports
2025 Phillies' MLB Draft class
The Phillies made their first three selections of the 2025 MLB Draft Sunday evening, highlighted by Arkansas righty Gage Wood in the first round. Beginning at 11:30 ET Monday, the remainder of the MLB Draft will take place with Rounds 4-20. Throughout the day, this story will be updated with stats, highlights and analysis regarding […]


The Phillies made their first three selections of the 2025 MLB Draft Sunday evening, highlighted by Arkansas righty Gage Wood in the first round.
Beginning at 11:30 ET Monday, the remainder of the MLB Draft will take place with Rounds 4-20.
Throughout the day, this story will be updated with stats, highlights and analysis regarding each selection that the Phillies make.
Round 1, Pick 26 Overall: Gage Wood — RHP, Arkansas
2025 Stats: 4-1, 3.82 ERA, 69 strikeouts, seven walks, 0.903 WHIP over 37 2/3 innings pitched
The Phillies used their first-round pick on a collegiate righty that has 70-grade fastball on the 20-80 scale, per MLB Pipeline.
Brian Barber — the Phillies’ assistant general manager, amateur scouting — seemed very pleased with the selection.
“It’s quality stuff. It’s a quality pitcher. It’s a guy that can just dominate hitters in the lineup with two pitches,” Barber said. “And we also think the slider that he has and the little split change that he can throw … [he] ends up with a four-pitch mix and a really quality starter.”
It should be pointed out that Wood dealt with a shoulder injury during what proved to be his final collegiate season, the exact nature of which Barber wouldn’t reveal. But he did say “we knew about the shoulder and we have all the information on it and it wasn’t anything that we were concerned about for the long term.”
Wood seemed perfectly healthy when he fired a 119-pitch no-hitter against Murray State in the College World Series after returning from the injury, for what it’s worth:
You can read On Pattison‘s full profile on Wood here. — Tim Kelly
Round 2, Pick 63 Overall: Cade Obermueller — LHP, Iowa
2025 Stats: 5-3, 3.02 ERA, 117 strikeouts, 32 walks, 1.128 WHIP over 83 1/3 innings pitched
With their second pick, the Phillies landed Obermueller, a lefty that Baseball America believes could ultimately wind up pitching out of the bullpen in the majors.
“A small and skinny lefthander with a 5-foot-11, 160-pound frame and sidearm slot, Obermueller primarily works off a two-pitch fastball/slider combo. He sits in the low 90s and gets up to 95 with a fastball that has sinking shape and has traditionally been a heavy groundball offering for him—though his groundball rate fell significantly from 2023 to 2024—and pairs the fastball with a 78-82 mph sweeping slider.
“Obermueller’s below-average control might ultimately push him back to the bullpen in pro ball.”
Obermueller is listed at 6-foot, 170 pounds. He was originally a 19th-round pick by the Texas Rangers a year ago, but instead of signing elected to return for another collegiate season. — Tim Kelly
Round 3, Pick 100 Overall: Cody Bowker — RHP, Vanderbilt
2025 Stats: 3-5, 4.38 ERA, 99 strikeouts, 28 walks, 1.236 WHIP over 72 innings pitched
Bowker spent his first two collegiate seasons at Georgetown before transferring to Vanderbilt — one of the most prestigious baseball programs in the country — this past season. His numbers don’t stand out, but that’s not uncommon for pitchers drafted today.
MLB Pipeline‘s scouting report paints a picture of someone whose bread and butter is his deceptive fastball:
“A two-way player as a Georgetown freshman in 2023, Bowker became a full-time pitcher last spring and earned Cape Cod League all-star honors during the summer. After transferring to Vanderbilt, he has become a solid No. 2 starter for the Commodores thanks to one of the more unhittable fastballs in the Draft. It’s his lone better than average offering but could propel him into the top four or five rounds.”
Perhaps the Phillies feel better about Bowker’s slider, cutter and changeup than others, but he would seem to be a reliever candidate. — Tim Kelly
Round 4, Pick 131 Overall: Sean Youngerman – RHP, Oklahoma State
2025 Stats: 3-1, 2.08 ERA, 59 strikeouts, eight walks, 0.865 WHIP over 52 innings pitched
The Phillies drafted their fourth college pitcher in Sean Youngerman. Youngerman began his collegiate career at Westmont (Calif.) and became a major contributor at the Oklahoma State bullpen this year, even despite bouncing back and forth between the rotation and the bullpen.
MLB Pipeline’s scouting report says that Youngerman sits at 92-94 mph with a rising fastball that touches 96 as a starter, and as a reliever, he gains a few ticks of velocity:
“While Youngerman’s pitches have just ordinary shapes, they work because he commands them well. He has a strong 6-foot-3 frame and scouts have no concerns about his ability to start at the next level. His ability to enhance his secondary pitches will determine his long-term success.
Youngerman, MLB.com’s 116th-ranked draft prospect, fell three innings short of qualifying, but he would have ranked in the NCAA Division I top five in ERA (2.08), K/BB ratio (7.4), and WHIP (0.87). His command and his walk control are excellent, and he has the potential to start going forward. – Grace Del Pizzo
Round 5, Pick 161 Overall: Gabe Craig – RHP, Baylor
2025 Stats: 3-0, 0.56 ERA, 51 strikeouts, three walks, 0.50 WHIP in 32 innings pitched
Gabe Craig’s numbers certainly jump off the page. 2025 was his sixth year in college baseball; the 24-year-old began his college career at Tyler (Texas) JC in 2020, redshirted at Texas A&M in 2021, returned to Tyler in 2022, and then played at Baylor for the last three years.
Craig, who didn’t allow an extra-base hit all season, dominates with his slider. MLB Pipeline graded his slider 70 on of the 20-80 scale; it sits in the mid-80s and can reach up to 88 mph, with huge sweep and a good amount of depth. Opponents went 8-for-72 (.111) with 43 strikeouts against Craig’s slider.
MLB Pipeline describes him as one of the best sixth-year college prospects in the 2025 draft:
“Craig works exclusively out of the stretch with a high release point and pounds the zone with both of his offerings. He’s a two-pitch reliever who turns 24 ten days before the Draft, but he also could move quickly to the Majors.”
Clearly the Phillies are prioritizing college pitchers this draft, and Craig is an intriguing arm with a lot of upside. Take a look at that lethal slider below. – Grace Del Pizzo
One more time for the Sliderman
#SicEm
| #Together pic.twitter.com/k6bpis8MWu
— Baylor Baseball (@BaylorBaseball) July 13, 2025
Round 6, Pick 191 Overall: James Tallon – LHP, Duke
2025 Stats: 1-2, 3.96 ERA, 50 strikeouts, 19 walks, 1.266 WHIP over 36 1/3 innings pitched
Again, clearly there’s a theme of selecting college pitchers in this draft. James Tallon appeared in 21 games this year for the Blue Devils, making three starts and posting a .208 batting average against. He ranks second all-time at Duke with 14 saves; 12 of those came in 2023, and two came this year. His strikeout rate in 2025 was 31.3%, his fastball sits at 90-93 mph and has touched 95 mph, and his off-speed slider is notable as well. Given that he’s 6’5″, Tallon pitches from a low slot.
Tallon wasn’t ranked in MLB Pipeline’s Top 250 draft prospects, but Just Baseball ranked him the 305th overall prospect in the 2025 MLB draft. – Grace Del Pizzo
#12 Duke gets a much-needed win as it takes down #9 Miami 5-3. Alex Mooney and Andrew Fischer each hit solo HRs, while Giovanni DiGiacomo delivered the game-winning RBI single in the 8th. Fran Oschell (1.1 IP) and James Tallon (1.2 IP) combined for 3 shutout IP to seal the win. pic.twitter.com/noQv2WwhvS
— Peter Flaherty III (@PeterGFlaherty) May 19, 2023
Round 7, Pick 221 Overall: Matthew Fisher – RHP, Evansville Memorial HS (Indiana)
2025 Stats: 6-0, 0.76 ERA, 61 strikeouts, 11 walks over 36 2/3 innings pitched
The Phillies may have gotten a steal by drafting Matthew Fisher, MLB Pipeline’s No. 46-ranked draft prospect, at pick no. 221. Fisher, also a star quarterback at Evansville Memorial, was named Indiana’s Gatorade High School Baseball Player of the Year this year. He sits at 92-93 mph, and his high-spin fastball can touch 95 mph.
MLB Pipeline describes him as one of the more athletic and projectable pitchers in the 2025 class:
“Fisher’s athleticism helps him move down the mound well and repeat his solid delivery, producing extension and consistent strikes. With added strength, the Indiana recruit could become a mid-rotation starter with a plus fastball and slider.”
Fisher is only 19 years old and is still filling out his 6-foot-3 frame. He’s currently committed to play at Indiana University, so it remains to be seen if he’ll sign with the Phillies, but there’s a lot of potential. – Grace Del Pizzo
Round 8, Pick 251 Overall: Brian Walters – RHP, Miami (Fla.)
2025 Stats: 2-3, 4.94 ERA, 56 strikeouts, 19 walks, 1.51 WHIP over 51 innings pitched
Brian Walters is the eighth pitcher selected by the Phillies in the 2025 MLB Draft. He is the younger brother of Andrew Walters, who was selected by the Cleveland Guardians in the 2023 MLB Draft and made his MLB debut in September 2024. Andrew actually deferred the MLB draft for a year so he and Brian could play at Miami together.
Brian had Tommy John surgery after tearing his UCL in 2023. In 2024, he was drafted by the Seattle Mariners in the 19th round, but didn’t sign with them. His best pitch is his slider, and his sinking fastball reaches up to 97 mph. – Grace Del Pizzo
Welcome back, @BrianWalters_10
BMoney strikes out the side in his first inning back from Tommy John surgery!
: https://t.co/TKOrKW5Bez pic.twitter.com/SxCqPN6uRU
— Miami Hurricanes Baseball (@CanesBaseball) March 7, 2024
Round 9, Pick 281 Overall: Matthew Ferrara – SS, Toms River HS East (NJ)
2025 Stats: 34-for-84 (.405), 13 doubles, three home runs, 23 RBIs, 26 stolen bases, .667 SLG
Matthew Ferrara is the first position player selected by the Phillies this year. The No. 1 high school shortstop in New Jersey is currently committed to Pittsburgh. Ferrara stands at 6’0″ and 180 pounds at just 18 years old.
Ferrara – from Toms River in Ocean County – is a relatively local kid. He led Toms River East to wins in the Ocean County Tournament and the NJSIAA South Jersey Group III Championship. He has a lot of raw power to tap into, and according to his coaches, he shows up in the big spots.
“Whenever there is a big moment, Matty comes through,” Toms River East coach Keith Smicklo told Shore Sports Insider about Ferrara. “It seems like when the lights come on, Matty plays. That’s kind of been his M.O.”
Not even two hours after he was drafted, Ferrara has already updated his Instagram bio to include the Phillies. It’s not certain that he’ll sign, but that sure is a pretty strong indicator. – Grace Del Pizzo
SS Matthew Ferrara (Toms River East HS, NJ)
6-0 | 180 lbs
Pitt recruit#Super60 || #MLBDraft pic.twitter.com/mHnouvPO5r
— Shooter Hunt (@ShooterHunt) February 2, 2025
Round 10, Pick 311 Overall: Cole Gilley – RHP, Indiana
2025 Stats: 10-3, 3.54 ERA, 75 strikeouts, 20 walks, 1.09 WHIP over 68 2/3 innings pitched
Cole Gilley marks the seventh right-handed pitcher taken by the Phillies. A native of Columbus, Indiana, Gilley played three seasons at Indiana State in 2021 and 2023-24 before transferring to Indiana in 2025; he didn’t pitch in 2022 due to Tommy John surgery.
Gilley, a fifth-year senior, earned a Second Team All-Big Ten selection this year. He started a team-best 12 games and made 18 appearances overall, working his way to a .211 batting average against. The 23-year-old’s cutter sits in the upper 80s, and his slider sits in the lower 80s. – Grace Del Pizzo
10 strikeouts in five innings for Cole Gilley.
Gilley’s second 10+ strikeout outing of the season. #iubase pic.twitter.com/nY1IeHyNhB
— Dylan Traeger (@dylan_traeger) March 28, 2025
Round 11, Pick 341 Overall: Will Vierling – C, Murray State
2025 Stats: 73-for-234 (.312), 17 doubles, two triples, 10 home runs, 51 RBIs, .945 OPS
Will Vierling is the second position player drafted by the Phillies this year. Vierling played his first two seasons at Louisville from 2023-24 before transferring to Murray State. He started at catcher for the Racers in their surprise College World Series run this summer. Funnily enough, he played in the game where Arkansas pitcher (and Phillies’ first-round pick) Gage Wood threw a no-hitter against Murray State; Wood struck Vierling out twice in that game.
By the way, yes, this name should sound familiar to you – Will is the cousin of Detroit Tigers outfielder Matt Vierling, who played with the Phillies from 2021-22 and was a member of the Phillies’ 2022 World Series roster. – Grace Del Pizzo
Will Vierling caps a 5-run 4th with his 16th double of the season#GoRacers
pic.twitter.com/YJpizWMXFC
— Murray State Baseball (@RacersBaseball) June 8, 2025
Round 12, Pick 371 Overall: Tyler Bowen – RHP, Lander
2025 Stats: 3-2, 3.90 ERA, 51 strikeouts, 20 walks, 1.392 WHIP over 32 1/3 innings pitched
Tyler Bowen, the eighth right-handed pitcher taken by the Phillies, played at Lander University in South Carolina. In 22 appearances and one start in 2025, Bowen racked up four saves. He played for the Frederick Keys of the MLB Draft League this summer and posted a 1.59 ERA in 5 2/3 innings across four games. Bowen is a native of Dagsboro, Delaware, and he is the 12th MLB Draft pick in Lander’s history. – Grace Del Pizzo
.@Lander_BSB RHP Tyler Bowen was selected in the 12th round by the @Phillies!
Bowen struck out 51 over 32.1 innings this past season, featuring an upper 90s Fastball. Congrats Tyler!#D2Baseball #MLBDraft pic.twitter.com/g43d60Yydb
— D2 Baseball (@divIIbaseball) July 14, 2025
Round 13, Pick 401 Overall: Jack Barker – OF, College of Southern Idaho
2025 Stats: 93-for-204 (.456), 22 doubles, seven triples, eight home runs, 65 RBIs, 19 stolen bases
The first outfielder of the Phillies’ 2025 draft class is Jack Barker. Barker spent two seasons at the College of Southern Idaho, a junior college. In 2025, he set school records in single season batting average (.456), hits (93) and total bases (153), as well as tying school records for doubles (22) and triples (7). – Grace Del Pizzo
I am very fortunate for my time spent at CSI. While leading our group of guys I was able to slash the following .456 AVG, .543 OBP, .750 SLG. Doing so I set 3 records. (Single season AVG, Hits (93), total bases (153). As well as tying doubles, triples. 65 RBI & 19SB. pic.twitter.com/NVp5QMZ9Cd
— Jack Barker (@JackBarker1014) May 3, 2025
Round 14, Pick 431 Overall: Jonathan Gonzalez – LHP, Stetson
2025 Stats: 10-2, 2.11 ERA, 105 strikeouts, 21 walks, 0.972 WHIP over 93 2/3 innings pitched
The reigning ASUN Pitcher of the Year, Jonathan Gonzalez dominated as a starter at Stetson University. He started 15 games in his return to the mound after injury prevented him from playing in 2024. He only allowed one home run, held batters to a .201 average and struck out 10+ batters in four games, including in three consecutive starts. Gonzalez went 3-1 in starts against Power 5 schools, earning wins over Penn State, Indiana and NC State. – Grace Del Pizzo
I need more people to know about this dude!
Jonathan Gonzalez (going into today’s game)
1.95 ERA | 87.2 IP | 101 K | 18 BB
rSR LHP who is in the low 90s, with nasty stuff and solid command.YOU NEED TO WATCH THIS DUDE AND STETSON THIS TOURNAMENT!pic.twitter.com/zioCCBq6UT
— Up West Sports Podcast (@UpWestSports) May 30, 2025
Round 15, Pick 461 Overall: Jacob Pruitt – RHP, Mississippi State
2025 Stats: 1-0, 7.23 ERA, 23 strikeouts, 15 walks, 1.821 WHIP over 18 2/3 innings pitched
Jacob Pruitt committed to Missouri for the 2026 season last week, so it will be interesting to see if he signs with the Phillies or completes the transfer to Mizzou. Pruitt impressed at Indiana State in 2023-24, but never quite settled in at Mississippi State. He has a three-pitch mix and could be an intriguing project if he signs. – Grace Del Pizzo
RHP Jacob Pruitt (@HailStateBB) living 92-94 w/ the FB & showing a qual 3 pitch mix. Sells CH (clip) w/ depth, SL in mid-80s.
Jr./‘25 elig. pic.twitter.com/VbIMROeG0z
— PG College Baseball (@PGCollegeBall) June 1, 2025
Round 16, Pick 491 Overall: Logan Dawson – SS, Eastern Regional HS (NJ)
2025 Stats: .318 AVG, two home runs, 13 RBIs, 14 stolen bases
Logan Dawson is from Audubon, NJ, and is currently committed to Boston College. Dawson is the No. 3 ranked shortstop in New Jersey; the Phillies already selected the No. 1 ranked NJ shortstop in Matthew Ferrera. Dawson played for the Trenton Thunder of the MLB Draft League this summer, where he went 3-for-31 (.097) with two RBIs and 18 strikeouts. If Dawson signs, he will be a long-term project. It remains to be seen if he’ll sign, but according to the Courier Post, Dawson has told teams that he is “open-minded.” – Grace Del Pizzo
#BostonCollege commit Logan Dawson (‘25, NJ) drives a deep triple off the wall in straightaway center for @easternbasebal1, also collecting a double in this game. Big + athletic LH swinger w/ present strength and projection. Clean + quick barrel through the zone w/ all fields… pic.twitter.com/DcFJr8dB9m
— PG Mid Atlantic (NY, NJ, PA, MD,DE,DC) (@PGMidAtlantic) May 2, 2025
Round 17, Pick 521 Overall: Richie Cortese – RHP, Lander
2025 Stats: 0-1, 5.17 ERA, 28 strikeouts, 14 walks. 1.66 WHIP over 15 2/3 innings pitched
Richie Cortese is the second right-handed pitcher from Lander University drafted by the Phillies today, following 12th-round pick Tyler Bowen. Cortese spent 2022-23 at Dickinson State before pitching the last two seasons at Lander. At 22 years old, Cortese stands at 6-foot-6, 240 pounds. He is from Laurel, Montana, and he becomes the 13th draft pick in Lander’s history, hours after Bowen became the 12th. – Grace Del Pizzo
Round 18, Pick 551 Overall: Matthew Potok – RHP, Coastal Carolina
2025 Stats: 4-1, 2.52 ERA, 33 strikeouts, eight walks, 1.15 WHIP over 35 2/3 innings pitched
Matthew Potok appeared in 21 games with one start for Coastal Carolina, the eventual College World Series runners-up. He served as a long middle-inning reliever for the Chanticleers. Potok is from Jackson, NJ, adding yet another New Jersey player to the 2025 draft class. – Grace Del Pizzo
Round 19, Pick 581 Overall: Robert Phelps – SS, Reinhardt
2025 Stats: 75-for-214 (.350), 17 doubles, two triples, 11 home runs, 21 stolen bases, 1.063 OPS
Robert Phelps is the third shortstop in the Phillies’ 2025 draft class. The Pittsburgh native began his college career at Riverside City College and Harford Community College before transferring to Reinhardt University for the 2025 season. – Grace Del Pizzo
Game 2 of the NAIA Ball Big Series of the week sponsored by @ShoMeLeague starts off with a BANG
RU SS Robert Phelps gives the Eagles a 1-0 lead on the second pitch of the game with the opposite field solo shot!
: @twbulldogs #NAIABall pic.twitter.com/f1CmoREtJm
— NAIA Ball (@NAIABall) March 1, 2025
Round 20, Pick 611 Overall: Landon Schaefer – SS, Fayetteville Senior HS
Landon Schaefer, MLB Pipeline’s 125th-ranked draft prospect, fell to the Phillies at pick no. 611. The top-ranked player in the state of Arkansas, Schaefer has a “loose & athletic swing,” according to Perfect Game. He’s an agile defender on the left side with a strong arm. Earlier today, Schaefer actually pulled out of the draft and confirmed that he will attend the University of Arkansas, but we’ll see if being drafted changes his mind. – Grace Del Pizzo
‘25 OF Landon Schaefer (AR)
6’3” 180 @RazorbackBSB recruit.
Loose & athletic swing. Creates sep. and catches the ball out in front. #MLBdraft || @PrepBaseballAR pic.twitter.com/lHpSVGLkDx
— Shooter Hunt (@ShooterHunt) July 17, 2024
Read More Phillies Content At On Pattison
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High School Sports
Looking Back
WEST MICHIGAN – The 2024-2025 high school sports season has come to a close. We would like to look back on some of the best moments, athletes, and teams we saw on display this season, starting with the WMC Lakes football season. Final Standings Whitehall 6-0 Ludington 5-1 Manistee 3-3 Oakridge 3-3 Montague 3-3 Fremont […]
High School Sports
From Olney to the Nationals
With the Washington Nationals trailing the Colorado Rockies 3-2 in the bottom of the 11th inning on June 19, outfielder James Wood stood at home plate, awaiting another pitch. He got a gift — a 90 mph splitter that hung over the inside half of home plate. Wood swung, using his 6-foot 7-inch frame to […]

With the Washington Nationals trailing the Colorado Rockies 3-2 in the bottom of the 11th inning on June 19, outfielder James Wood stood at home plate, awaiting another pitch. He got a gift — a 90 mph splitter that hung over the inside half of home plate.
Wood swung, using his 6-foot 7-inch frame to launch the ball 430 feet over the center field wall at Nationals Park for his first walk-off home run of his career.
Reliever Seth Halverson headed for the dugout as soon as Wood made contact. He didn’t have to turn and watch the ball to know his pitch had cost his team the game against the struggling Nationals.
As Wood rounded third base, he tossed his helmet onto the side of the field and broke into a big smile before he jumped onto home plate, a rare show of emotion for the stoic young left fielder.
That game highlighted just one of this season’s many moments of stellar play for the Olney native – who marked another milestone by earning a spot in Monday’s Major League Baseball (MLB) home run derby and Tuesday’s All-Star Game in Atlanta for his outstanding start to the 2025 season.
A year after donning a Nationals uniform, Wood is considered not just the team’s best player, but one of MLB’s best outfielders. At the all-star break, he is ranked eighth in the major leagues in on-base plus slugging, a statistic used to measure hitters’ effectiveness at hitting for power and avoiding outs. In his first full season in the league, Wood trails only a select few star players such as the Yankees’ Aaron Judge and the Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani in this category.
Wood, who is 22 and under 200 games into his career, said he often has to reflect on where he is as he plays in his first full season with the Nationals.
“Every road trip going to a new stadium, whether I do it before the game or after the game driving home, I just look back … it’s kind of crazy to think about: This is the life we live,” Wood told Bethesda Today during a June phone interview.
Growing up in MoCo
Born in Adventist Healthcare Shady Grove Medical Center in Rockville, Wood grew up in Olney — an important distinction that his dad, Kenny Wood, says game announcers and Google fail to make, upsetting his son’s local fans.
“When they announce where he’s from, it says Rockville, right? That’s really the hospital, [and] people in Olney get upset,” says Kenny Wood, who remains there with his wife, Paula Wood.
James Wood is the youngest of the couple’s three children and has two older sisters, Kayla, 26, and Sydney, 25. Playing sports was a big part of growing up in the Wood family; Kenny Wood was a standout Division 1 basketball player at the University of Richmond, and is a member of the Virginia school’s athletics hall of fame.
Following in their dad’s footsteps, all three kids played basketball. Sydney Wood remembers competing with her brother from a young age on the basketball court and then marveling as his baseball skills developed.
“Whenever he was first playing, we’d watch his games and be like, ‘Hit a home run! Hit a home run!’ … I guess we thought he could just do whatever he wanted,” said Sydney Wood, who went on to play Division 1 college basketball at Northwestern University in Illinois. “I feel like we always saw pretty early on that he was different and he was special.”
While playing on a recreational basketball team coached by his dad during elementary school, James Wood also played for a travel baseball team, the Olney Pirates, which no longer exists. The Pirates were coached by a father of Wood’s teammates, who emphasized having fun and having his players try different positions, according to Kenny Wood.
“That was a big thing for him to start off from a baseball standpoint,” Kenny Wood said of his son. “I think that kind of gave him a good way to start, [a] good grounding in baseball, to realize what’s important at that age.”
James Wood said many of his best memories of growing up in Olney revolve around playing with the Pirates.
“I feel like I was really fortunate, that my travel ball team was the same group of guys more or less for five or six years,” Wood said. “We won a lot and winning is fun. We scored a lot of runs — that’s fun, too. A lot of [my favorite memories] come with that group of guys.”
Wood left Montgomery County Public Schools in middle school to attend Landon School, a private boys school in Bethesda, before transferring to St. John’s College High School (SJC) in Northwest D.C. and playing for the Cadets, a local athletics powerhouse coached by brothers Mark and Kevin Gibbs. The Cadets’ baseball team has won the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference nine out of the last 10 years, according to the Washington Post.
Kevin Gibbs told Bethesda today in an email that his son had played basketball with James Wood on the team’s coached by his dad while growing up. That’s when Gibbs had witnessed Wood’s physical prowess and raw talent.
“As he got into eighth grade we made a big push to have him attend St. John’s,” Gibbs wrote. “I told Mark [Gibbs] that he would be the best player to ever come out of SJC.”
Upon arrival at St. John’s, Wood quickly found his way on to the varsity baseball and basketball teams, where he made a big impression.
“I can remember a game against [Baltimore private school] Gilman early in his sophomore year when he pinch-hit late and blasted a home run over the batting cages in centerfield, dead into the wind. Everyone’s jaw just dropped,” Gibbs wrote.
Despite his son’s growing prestige on the baseball field, Kenny Wood believed James should continue to play multiple sports. The elder Wood recalled hearing that advice from ESPN MLB analyst and Bethesda native Tim Kurkjian when his son was 11.
“[Kurkjian] just said ‘have him play basketball for as long as he can, even though he loves baseball’,” Kenny Wood said. “You want him to stay active and want him to stay athletic, using different muscles and body parts, and you don’t [want him to] get burnt out.”
Gibbs wrote that he would always send college coaches clips of James Wood dunking on the basketball court as well as baseball highlights to demonstrate his explosiveness.
At the conclusion of Wood’s sophomore year at St. John’s, he transferred to IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida, a training factory for elite high school athletes.
Gibbs was sad to lose Wood, whom he described as a great player and person. “James was also a terrific kid,” Gibbs wrote. “He was humble, considerate and nice to everyone. He worked hard and never complained when things didn’t go his way.”
Wood returned home to Olney when the COVID-19 pandemic caused the academy to shut down during the spring of his junior year. With his dad and sister’s help, Wood followed a training program provided by the academy’s coaches and trainers, he put on about 25 pounds of muscle, filling in his previously lanky frame.
Later that summer, James went to Atlanta to try out for Under Armour’s All-American game and work out with some of the other top recruits in the high school class of 2021. That’s where Kenny Wood began to realize just how far his son could go.
“We go into the [batting] cages and I’m watching them hit, [then] I’m watching James. I’m watching them run, [then] I’m watching James,” Wood said. “I kind of had a thought like, all right, if these guys are top five or 10 in the class, where the heck is he?”
James Wood parlayed that experience into a strong senior year showing at IMG. He then decided to forego his previous college commitment to Mississippi State University and to enter the 2021 MLB draft, where he was selected by the San Diego Padres in the second round.

Returning home
After just more than a year playing for the minor league teams in the Padres organization, James Wood and his family received some shocking news.
Wood had been traded to the Nationals as part of a blockbuster deal that sent the Nationals’ then 23-year-old mega-star Juan Soto to San Diego. Wood said his reaction wasn’t what many assumed.
“Definitely a lot of uncertainty, I mean I think a lot of people expected me to be super thrilled and happy …. I was, but it took some time,” Wood said.
Kenny Wood said he thought his son needed time to get over the idea that the Padres were willing to let him go.
“Even though it’s coming home, you almost don’t think about that at first,” Kenny Wood said. “You think about, ‘Oh, shoot. This team doesn’t want me.’ ”
James Wood’s uncertainty didn’t show on the baseball diamond. In 2023, his first full year with the Nationals’ minor league affiliates, he hit 26 home runs and stole 18 bases, moving from the High-A team in Wilmington, Delaware, to the Double-A team in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, about a quarter through the season.
He started 2024 with the Nationals’ Triple-A team in Rochester, New York. Fans soon began to realize the player who seemed like one small element of the Soto trade could end up being the next face of the franchise. In 52 games, Wood posted a batting average of .353 with an on-base percentage of .463, earning him a call-up to the big leagues on July 1, 2024, according to Baseball Reference.
Wood began to gain traction not just among Nationals fans, but across the league for his power, towering height, and athleticism. In the second half of the 2024 season, he showed flashes of how good he could be, while adjusting to the highest level of baseball.
Wood said the opportunity to resume working with a hitting coach he bonded with while in high school, Gerardo “Coach G” Caceres, a former professional baseball player in Venezuela where he was born and raised, helped him adjust.
He credits Caceres for creating a training environment in which he felt comfortable to be himself and could grow, making it an easy choice to continue training with Caceres when he returned to the D.C. area.
“I just feel like we grow together and we have fun together,” Wood said. “It’s a good environment — he might be the only one that likes to work harder than me.”
No matter how successful Wood is, Caceres said he’s not afraid to tell him the truth.
“A lot of people, they’re afraid to talk to him … I’m not,” Caceres said. “Everybody’s talking about the great things he’s doing. I’m like, ‘God, your strike percentage is really high. You need to bring it down.’”
Caceres said while fans and analysts credit Wood’s physical attributes, like size and speed for his success, he is one of the smartest players that Caceres has ever coached. When Wood was getting frustrated because he kept rolling grounders to the first and second basemen, Caceres told him to start trying to rip balls to left field.
“At some point he applied that in the minor leagues, and that’s when he became a .300 hitter,” Caceres said.
Wood now has one of the most powerful opposite-field swings in baseball. His work with Caceres has caught the attention of his teammates, and the coach said he now trains other players in the Nationals’ organization such as infielders Trey Lipscomb and Nasim Nuñez.
Low-key attitude
In contrast to his attention-demanding power, Wood remains soft-spoken maintaining a similar facial expression whether he strikes out or slams a home run to center field.
“I think people think he doesn’t have a personality because he’s quiet, but he’s really funny,” Sydney Wood said. “I think it’s easy for people to make that assumption, just because of how he carries himself.”
Wood laughed at his sister’s assessment, but said he’s not concerned about what others think about his personality.
“People close to me know what type of person I am,” Wood said. “That’s the most important thing to me.”
Despite his stoic nature, Wood is now a role model for local kids who love baseball. He is considered the Nationals’ most electric player, generating raucous applause every time he comes up to bat when team plays at home. His No. 29 jersey is becoming an increasingly common piece of apparel in the metro area.
Wood and his family are still adjusting to that reality.
“It’s pride, it’s honor,” Kenny Wood said. “Seeing our last name out there, people buying it and investing their hard-earned money into getting a jersey to kind of represent him.”
James Wood said he is looking to expand his influence off the baseball diamond. He mentors a group of young Black baseball players in the area, meeting with them to check in on their development on and off the field. He wants to figure out more ways to give back to the community that turned him into a star.
“As I’m getting older, I’d like to find ways other than just on the field to make an impact,” Wood said. “If I can do that, that will be great.”
High School Sports
MLB Draft 2025 Scouting Report For JoJo Parker to Blue Jays at Pick No. 8
With the No. 8 overall pick in the 2025 draft, the Toronto Blue Jays selected shortstop JoJo Parker out of Purvis High School in Purvis, Mississippi. Ahead is a closer look at what he brings to the table as he starts his pro career, along with a highlight reel and a pro comparison to provide […]


With the No. 8 overall pick in the 2025 draft, the Toronto Blue Jays selected shortstop JoJo Parker out of Purvis High School in Purvis, Mississippi.
Ahead is a closer look at what he brings to the table as he starts his pro career, along with a highlight reel and a pro comparison to provide further context for what his future might hold.
Born: 8/8/2006 (18 years old)
Height: 6’2″
Weight: 200 lbs
Stats: 37 G, 158 PA, .465/.665/1.010, 26 XBH (13 HR), 35 RBI, 30 SB
One of the best all-around offensive players in the 2025 prep class, Parker offers a 60-hit, 55-power profile and is coming off a huge spring that earned him Mississippi Gatorade Player of the Year honors.
He does a great job consistently finding the barrel and uses plus bat speed to generate all-fields power. His batted-ball data has ticked up as he has continued to add strength to his frame, and there is still room for him to add more in the coming years.
However, unlike fellow top-tier high school shortstops Eli Willits and Billy Carlson, Parker is not a sure thing to stick at the position.
He should get a chance to prove himself at the position to begin his pro career, and a strong arm and good internal clock help him maximize his otherwise average tools, but the focus will be on getting his bat to the big leagues.
A move to second base, third base or even a corner outfield spot could be in his future, but he has the offensive upside to be a clean fit wherever he moves on the diamond, and it’s his offensive game that will be his ticket to top prospect status and a future in the big leagues.
His twin brother, Jacob Parker, is a power-hitting outfielder who ranked No. 116 on Baseball America’s predraft prospect rankings.
Pro Comparison: Ketel Marte
Originally developed as a shortstop, Ketel Marte also spent some time in center field before settling in as the D-backs’ primary second baseman, but the focal point of his game has always been his offensive production.
It also took Marte some time to fully realize his power potential, as he was a plus hitter who grew into his pop, and that could be the same offensive trajectory that Parker takes early in his pro career.
College Sports
Prestige Wrestling 7/13/2025 Combat Clash '25 Results
On Sunday, July 13th, Prestige Wrestling returned to Portland, OR for it’s big event, “Combat Clash ’25.” The event streamed live on the Prestige Wrestling YouTube Channel. The main event of the show saw Alan Angels put the Prestige World Championship on the line against Judas Icarus inside a Steel Cage. We also saw the […]


On Sunday, July 13th, Prestige Wrestling returned to Portland, OR for it’s big event, “Combat Clash ’25.” The event streamed live on the Prestige Wrestling YouTube Channel.
The main event of the show saw Alan Angels put the Prestige World Championship on the line against Judas Icarus inside a Steel Cage.
We also saw the Midnight Heat put their Prestige Wrestling Tag Team Championships on the line against the Dark Order, Drexl go to war with Su Yung, Cody Chhun meet Jordan Oliver, Man Like DeReiss, and Mustafa Ali in a four-way battle, The IInspiration in tag team action against Brooke Havok and Elayna Black, Matt Brannigan go one-on-one with Matt Cardona, and so much more. Check out the full results down below.
- Combat Clash Invitational Battle Royal: Elliot Tyler wins the battle royal, last eliminating JAIDEN
- Winner is The Special Guest Referee for Main Event: Travis Williams def. Jordan Cruz
- Matt Brannigan def. Matt Cardona
- The IInspiration (Cassie Lee & Jessica McKay) def. Brooke Havok & Elayna Black
- Cody Chhun def. Jordan Oliver, Man Like DeReiss, & Mustafa Ali
- Drexl def. Su Yung
- Prestige Wrestling Tag Team Championships: Midnight Heat (Eddie Pearl & Ricky Gibson) (c) def. Dark Order (Evil Uno & John Silver) to retain the Prestige Wrestling Tag Team Championships
- Prestige Wrestling World Championship Steel Cage Match: Judas Icarus def. Alan Angels (c) to win the Prestige Wrestling World Championship
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