Eugeneans who want to show some love and support youth sports: Riley Rink, a 12-year-old catcher from Eugene, has been selected as a finalist in the nationwide Youth Athlete of the Year competition. The winner will take home a cash award of $25,000, but more importantly, Rink’s mother Amy Rink says it is a national honor recognizing heart, drive and leadership in young athletes. The competition is supported by V Foundation, Sports Illustrated, 3Brand and Why Not You Foundation.  

“He is so quiet and a calm guy,” his mother says. She says that the catcher is under a lot of pressure during games, and she was surprised at first that Riley seems to handle the high pressure calmly and well. 

Rink played football for several years before starting his baseball career not too long ago; he is in his third season as a catcher for Churchill Babe Ruth 12U. It is not always easy to start a new sport, but Rink has shown dedication, his mom says.

 “He worked his butt off. He goes to school, comes home and then nothing but baseball,” Amy Rink says. She adds that youth sports are about so much more than playing a game and that it is the community that loves and lifts youth athletes up as they strive to be better.

Voting for Youth Athlete of the Year opened on July 28 and goes until August 7. Rink needs enough support to remain in the top 20 in the division to move on to the next rounds. To help Riley Rink win National Youth Athlete of the Year,  supporters can cast a vote at VoteRiley.com once per day (meaning you can vote every day).

“He knows his part of the game,” Amy Rink says of her son’s skills.
 Vote for Riley Rink at VoteRiley.com. If Rink is selected as the Youth Athlete of the Year, he will receive a $25,000 award from the program supported by V Foundation, Sports Illustrated, 3 Brand and Why Not You Foundation.

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(MARYVILLE, MO) – “Just being around the kids and coaches and the new guys, honestly, just coming back to Maryville, it feels like I’m coming back to my second home.”

Trevor Hudgins, a three-time NCAA DII Basketball National Champion guard at Northwest Missouri State and former member of the Houston Rockets in the NBA, helped give back to the younger generation by helping out at a Northwest youth camp on Tuesday. The Bearcats’ all-time leading scorer got nostalgic returning to his old stomping grounds.

“I got goosebumps when I arrived in town, especially here (in Bearcat Arena). I mean, all the banners and all those numbers up there and the years and everything is just crazy. It just brings back a lot of memories,” said Hudgins.”

“When you say local celebrity, that’s the real deal, and that’s a tribute not only to his career here but just the type of person he is,” said Bearcats head coach Matt Keeley. “He’s so well-loved and has endeared himself to Maryville and Bearcat Nation, and so certainly very thankful and grateful that he comes back and gives us his time.”

Bearcats second-year coach Matt Keeley actually recruited Hudgins out of high school in Kansas, so the two are familiar with one another. Hudgens likes what he sees from Keeley and the new era he’s looking to create with Northwest.

“What (Keeley is) doing with the team is really nice. I feel like he’s in a good direction. He likes to play fast. He likes to get up and down,” said Hudgins. “Then just getting to know some of these new guys is really fun. I’m very excited for the future for him.”

“Getting to recruit him out of Manhattan High School, I was a high school teacher,” said Keeley. “That was my first job, at Manhattan High School and a Western Kansas guy. So we knew about him a little bit, but never even thought that he would go on to have as great a career as he’s had.”

Hudgins won three national championships under Coach Ben McCollum, the new head coach of the Iowa Hawkeyes in the Big Ten. To see McCollum smoothly transition his successful ways of coaching from the DII level to now a Power 5 DI school hasn’t surprised Hudgins in the least. 

“He just wins at every level because he surrounds himself with winners and people that want to win and want to improve themselves every single day,” said Hudgins. “This next step is huge. Iowa City is a really nice city. I was up there for a couple weeks and I think he’s definitely going to keep on doing his thing. He’s definitely going to be Coach Mac up there for sure.”

Hudgins’ former Bearcat teammate Mitch Mascari just completed playing in the NBA Summer League for the Phoenix Suns. Hudgins is no stranger of playing in the Summer League himself with his time with the Rockets, and gave Mascari some friendly advice.

“I just told him to enjoy it. It’s just a different experience. You get all these draft picks in front of you. You get celebrities on the baseline and coaches. Everyone that you see on TV kind of shows out and shows up,” said Hudgins. “It was just really exciting to see him out there. I hope he enjoyed it. I think Summer League is a really good time. I think it’s fun.”

As for Hudgins’ professional career, in early July, the 26-year-old signed a one-year extension to continue playing basketball overseas in France with Le Mans Sarthe. He thrived last season, averaging 15.6 points a game, one of the best scorers in the French League. After some growing pains of learning a new way of living, Hudgens is now learning how to speak French, and he’s going back to a team and a culture he likes and fits his play style.

“I’m just very blessed and thankful for the team to offer me another opportunity, another contract,” said Hudgins. “It’s been really fun. I’m just ready to keep it rolling. I’m enjoying life over there for sure.” 

Fans of the Florida Atlantic 2023 Final Four team will get to see one of the star players back in town on Saturday.

Nick Boyd, who played for the Owls for four years from 2020-2024 will host a free youth basketball camp at nearby Boca Raton High School from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. He expects to see several of his former teammates there as well.

“I wanted to do a camp in Boca because of the impact the city had on me. I know a bunch of my teammates will be in town and I had a bunch of different relationships over the four years there. It’s the best place to make it happen and I’m just excited to get back. Plus, you can’t beat a trip back to Boca Raton,” Boyd said.

Boyd was a key member of the 2023 team that made it to the school’s first ever Final Four in Houston. After his stint with FAU, Boyd played last season at San Diego State and will finish his college eligibility this year at the University of Wisconsin.

Boyd says his time in Boca Raton were some of the most impactful years of his life.

To sign up for the camp: https://gseworldwide.leagueapps.com/camps/4678930-nick-boyd-youth-basketball-camp?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAaepnaJpKAE7yNojMMk8b5DeCa6AqeTPSXMJ5yvzwKa0JO4DHhWFGQGwLKZJbw_aem_H7GuCceY15XoxARjo1Ndnw

In this issue, journalist Kyle J. Andrews leads us on a trip through the history of Black baseball in Baltimore. James Mosher Baseball has been in operation since 1960 and is the oldest operating African American youth baseball team in the United States​​ — and it’s only the tip of the iceberg if you want to talk about how Black Baltimoreans have left their mark on this country’s favorite pastime.

As with all crafts, the magic and skill of baseball is passed from generation to generation. It doesn’t exist without careful teaching from elders and enthusiastic vigor from new generations.

“One of the quotes I kept going to this year is ‘keep the spirit of baseball alive,’” Derwin Whitehead, who is responsible for youth sports and operations of the Hubert V. Simmons Museum of Negro Leagues Baseball Inc. in Owings Mills told Andrews. “If I had 50 kids playing and I have five kids to become baseball players at any level, it would be beneficial to us. If I had two of those kids to become a board member to help sustain the information that we put forth to other individuals, it would be a good thing.”

Also in this issue, Baltimore Beat Arts and Culture Editor Teri Henderson asks the question, “Who gets to make music?” She writes about the work Baltimore creatives Kade Young and Barae Hirsch are doing to make a career in music more accessible for trans, queer, and femme artists.

“Behind the turntables and software, many barriers still prevent marginalized creatives from fully participating in the craft of music production,” she writes. “In response, Young has joined community organizer Barae Hirsch to launch the Trans, Queer & Femme Intro to Music Production Workshop Series, an innovative and urgently-needed program that addresses those gaps by providing access, mentorship, and community to aspiring producers.”

Elsewhere in this issue, film critic Dominic Griffin writes about documentarian Mahdi Fleifel’s first narrative feature, “To a Land Unknown,”  and Iya Osundara is back with your August tarotscopes.  

Finally, you’ll find photos from our third annual Summer Jam fundraiser. It’s a really tough time to be a journalist and events like our Summer Jam not only help ensure we have the funds we need to keep making the news free and accessible for all of Baltimore, but it also feeds the spirits of those on our team. We love it when we get to see so many of our readers and supporters in real life. If I didn’t know the value of community before, I certainly know it after all the twists and turns 2025 has taken so far.  

Thank you for reading.

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WESTFIELD — As the pads slap and the crowd roars, the Colts football season comes alive at Grand Park in Westfield, where young athletes are eager to learn the ropes.

On a scorching summer day, tips for success in the heat resonate: “Be great at things that take no talent.” For these youngsters, staying active and healthy is a priority, especially in high temperatures.

“It’s hot out there,” noted parent Brandon Wills as he watched his son participate in drills. He emphasized the importance of sportsmanship while ensuring the kids remain active. “You have to hydrate,” he added, a sentiment echoed by all involved.

As youth sports ramp up with the return to school, it is vital to prioritize health and safety measures, ensuring young athletes can enjoy their games – no matter the heat.

WRTV

Dr. Tyler Stepsis with Eskenazi Health warned that high heat indices can pose significant safety risks.

“With high temps and high humidity, it’s real dangerous for people who aren’t acclimated to outdoor activities,” Dr. Stepsis said.

Dr. Stepsis stresses that hydration is crucial, not only at the clinic but for all youth sports as school reopens.

Dr. Stepsis highlights that heat-related illnesses can occur even when temperatures aren’t excessively high.

Two warning signs of heat stroke include a child who feels nauseous or stops sweating. “Those are indicators for a trip to the emergency room,” he added.

As Maxwell and his peers strive for greatness on the field, Dr. Stepsis, advice rings clear: stay hydrated today to prepare for tomorrow.

West Covina, CA, July 29, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) —

Rebecca Hernandez – Coach of the West Covina High School Girls Flag Football Team

Coach Hernandez with the NFL Shadow Coaching Team

West Covina High School Girls Flag Football Coach Rebecca Hernandez has been selected to participate in the exclusive Los Angeles Chargers and Los Angeles Rams Shadow Coaching Programs this summer. This professional development opportunity places her alongside NFL coaches during training camps to observe elite-level strategies, player development techniques, and game planning.

Coach Hernandez, one of only a few selected from over 300 applicants, attended the Chargers camp on Friday, July 25, and the Rams camp on Saturday, July 26. She shared her sentiments about this unique opportunity in a recent KTLA News feature, where she expressed excitement about bringing the experience back to West Covina High School.

“This is truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and I’m incredibly grateful and excited,” said Hernandez. “What makes it even more meaningful is the chance to bring what I learn back to West Covina High School, especially to help grow and strengthen our girls flag football program.”

The WCHS Girls Flag Football team is entering its second official season, continuing to gain momentum with strong student participation, coaching leadership, and community support.

Superintendent Dr. Emy Flores praised the milestone, saying:

“We are proud of Coach Hernandez and inspired by her commitment to expanding access and excellence in athletics for young women. Her achievement aligns perfectly with our mission to uplift student voice, leadership, and opportunity.”

Dr. Charles Park, Principal of West Covina High School, added:

“Coach Hernandez is a true leader and role model for our students. Her drive to continually learn, grow, and invest in her athletes makes her an exceptional educator and coach. This opportunity will elevate not only her, but our entire program.”

Coach Hernandez’s involvement in the Chargers and Rams programs represents the district’s broader commitment to equity, innovation, and empowering future-ready learners—on and off the field.

Name: Johanna Villareal Email: jvillareal@wcusd.org Job Title: Public Information Officer

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