Originally published on DICK’S Sporting Goods Sideline Report

June 11 marked a historic first for DICK’S Sporting Goods and The DICK’S Sporting Goods Foundation. Twenty DICK’S House of Sport locations nationwide came alive with energy, excitement and sport for the inaugural “Sports Matter Day of Play”. As part of the festivities The DICK’S Foundation invited youth organizations from communities across the country to participate in a day dedicated to celebrating play, access and opportunity in sports at their local DICK’S House of Sport location.

This first-of-its-kind event was designed to give young athletes the chance to explore and experience new sports. From soccer drills in Boston to softball swings in Miami, each House of Sport became a vibrant, hands-on arena where kids could discover the joy of play. Designed to be inclusive and engaging, the activities encouraged curiosity and confidence in a variety of sports. For many, it was their very first time holding a lacrosse stick, swinging a golf club or rock climbing with encouragement from local coaches and mentors.

“There is nothing better than seeing kids light up when they get to play a sport for the first time,” said Rick Jordan, VP of The DICK’S Sporting Goods Foundation. “Thats what the day was all about, getting to create those moments and showing young athletes that they belong on the field, the court or wherever their passion leads them.”

In addition to a fun day of play at House of Sport, participating organizations also received a Sports Matter grant from The DICK’S Sporting Goods Foundation, to help ensure that their vital work in the community can continue to thrive. The grants underscore The Foundation’s ongoing mission to provide access and equity in youth sports, one athlete at a time. Since 2014, DICK’S Sporting Goods and The DICK’S Foundation has helped over 3 million kids and committed over $100 million to support young athletes with equipment, registration fees, league costs and playing fields through its Sports Matter Program.

“To have our organization recognized and supported today means a lot to us,” said Jamaal Wornum, CEO and Founder of One Love Sports Academy in Boston. “The kids had a blast trying new sports and events like these are a game-changer for our program that will keep more kids doing what they love.”

The Full List of Participating Organizations and DICK’S House of Sport Locations includes:

• Flyght Academy (Dayton, OH)
• Boys & Girls Club of SEVA (Chesapeake, VA)
• We ALL-EN Foundation and Pitreboyz Foundation (Katy, TX)
• Tulsa Dream Center (Tulsa, OK)
• Boston SCORES and One Love Sports Academy (Boston, MA)
• Bolder Options and Girl’s On The Run (Minnetonka, MN)
• Emerald Youth Foundation (Knoxville, TN)
• Houston reVision (Baybrook, TX)
• Rochester City Soccer (Victor, NY)
• Play Ball Foundation (Salem, MA)
• Girl Scouts of Western Oklahoma and Oklahoma Adaptive Sports Association (Oklahoma City, OK)
• Boys & Girls Club Capital Region (Latham, NY)
• Friendly House (Davenport, IA)
• Sulfur Springs YMCA (Tampa, FL)
• Champaign Parks District (Champaign, IL)
• Pembroke Pines YMCA (Miami, FL)
• Rodney Street Tennis (Brandywine, PA)
• Boys & Girls Club of Binghamton and Police Athletic League of Binghamton (Johnson City, NY)
• Girls on the Run (Scranton, PA)
• Primetime Elite Bulldogs and Two-Six Elite (Fayetteville, NC)

Written by Peyton Moriarity

HARRISBURG – Rep. Jamie Flick (R-Lycoming/Union) announced that Aug. 17–23, 2025, will be recognized as Little League World Series Week in Pennsylvania. The designation follows the successful passage of a resolution he sponsored, which was approved by an overwhelming majority in the House of Representatives.

Each year tens of thousands of visitors from around the world travel to South Williamsport for the Little League Baseball World Series.

“Teams from Canada to Cuba, Texas to Taiwan, and Pennsylvania to Puerto Rico compete to become world champions,” Flick said. “Little League was founded in 1939 in Williamsport and has since become the largest youth organization in the world. I’m honored to help spotlight this incredible tradition and the positive impact it continues to have on young athletes, families and our community.”

Flick, who has not missed a Little League World Series for more than 50 years, was joined by Patrick Wilson, president of Little League; Marlin Angelo, mayor of South Williamsport; Derek Slaughter, mayor of Williamsport; Patrick Marty, chief Government and International Relations officer at Pennsylvania College of Technology at the state Capitol when the resolution was passed.

“Every year, the world turns its attention to Williamsport and the Little League World Series,” Wilson said. “As the trusted leader in youth sports, we’re proud to call Pennsylvania our home and thank Rep. Flick for his support in this recognition. We are looking forward to welcoming communities, players, and fans from across the globe this summer for another memorable event.”

“On behalf of Williamsport, I want to thank Rep. Flick for his support in passing the resolution officially recognizing Little League World Series Week,” Slaughter said. “The Little League World Series not only honors the spirit of youth sports and America’s pastime in its purest form but also brings a significant economic boost to our region each year. We are proud to share this tradition with the world.”

“Pennsylvania College of Technology has long advocated for Little League Baseball, and we were proud to witness passage of legislation launching Little League World Series Week in Pennsylvania,” Marty said. “Penn College’s partnership with the world’s premier youth sports program continues as strong as ever, an affiliation that includes: the college hosting an annual picnic on campus for players, coaches and umpires; sponsoring a Grand Slam Parade float; providing nearly 20,000 meals for players through the efforts of hospitality students and faculty; offering health care services during the Little League World Series, provided by students and faculty in health sciences programs; and employees serving as umpires for games and exhibitions.”

Now, let’s get ready to PLAY BALL!

Representative Jamie Flick


83rd District


Pennsylvania House of Representatives


Media Contact: Andrew Forgotch


717.772.9905


aforgotch@pahousegop.com


RepFlick.com

FARMVILLE, Va. – Longwood men’s soccer will host two different camps this summer. The team will host a youth camp from July 14-17 after hosting a college ID camp on July 12. Both events will be held at the Longwood Athletic Complex on Johnston Drive, the home field of the Lancers.
 
The youth camp will run Monday to Thursday, July 14-17 in the morning from 9 a.m. to noon. The camp is open to kids from the ages of four to 14, and it costs $125.
 
Check-in begins at 9 a.m., and campers will work on the fundamentals with the Longwood men’s soccer coaching staff. Following a break, campers will play games as well to provide an opportunity to put skills into practice.
 
The college ID camp will take place in the afternoon on Saturday, July 12, running from 1-5 p.m. The cost is $85, and it is designed for high school players who aspire to play at the college level.
 
The camp will feature a chance to train with the Longwood coaching staff and experience the pace of the collegiate game, with campers able to showcase their talent in a competitive environment.
 
All Longwood University camps and clinics are open to any and all entrants, and are only limited by the number, age, grade level or gender described.
 
#GoWood #HorsePower
 

INDIANAPOLIS — The last time the Oklahoma City Thunder had any level of control in Game 3 of an NBA Finals that was suddenly trending against them, they were up 95-91 with 8:45 left and had just forced a missed layup that probably should’ve ended in a defensive rebound.

But Chet Holmgren couldn’t grab it in a crowd, Lu Dort accidentally helped tap it over to Andrew Nembhard and Nembhard immediately hit a 16-footer.

But that wasn’t the most deflating part of the sequence. Alex Caruso grabbed the ball as it went through the net. He took one wandering step out of bounds and flung a rushed inbound in Jalen Williams’ direction. It made it about four feet before TJ McConnell, standing directly in front of Caruso, leaped up to steal it and then dropped in a layup.

A defensive rebound would have meant a four-point lead and possession. But within five seconds, Wednesday’s game was instead tied, beginning a fourth quarter snowball that would end in a 116-107 Pacers win and a 2-1 series hole for the Thunder.

Had that McConnell leaping steal been an outlier, it wouldn’t have been such a postgame talking point. That egregious of an inbound error happens occasionally — maybe a handful of times per season to any given team.

But the Thunder were victimized three separate times in Game 3 by the same player on the same type of sneaky steal most often seen in youth basketball.

“Sucked,” Williams said. “Bad, unforced turnovers.”

This game flipped to open the second quarter. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander took his first rest of the night with the Thunder leading 32-24 after 12 minutes. He’d return three minutes later with the Thunder down 37-36.

McConnell was the spark plug of that minus-nine stretch. It included two of his three inbound steals. The first came to open the quarter. McConnell set up Pascal Siakam for a layup, baited Cason Wallace into an interception and then pinged an offensive rebound over to Bennedict Mathurin for a layup — again creating four points in a flash.

“I call them pick-sixes,” Caruso said. “It’s a live-ball turnover in your third of the court and they score. It can add up to eight, 10, 12 points, which might be the difference in the game.”

The second of McConnell’s inbound steals came a couple of minutes later while Gilgeous-Alexander was still on his brief but detrimental rest. He found Aaron Nesmith for a layup and again jumped the passing lane and ripped an unaware Williams before he could gain control of Wallace’s pass, throwing it off Wallace out of bounds to generate an extra possession that charged up the arena.

“Those plays hurt,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “Because they’re very controllable. You can take your time. You make mistakes in basketball, no matter the stage. We definitely had opportunities to cover those things up. But you also don’t let plays like that happen. It just goes back to being tighter, being more focused, being more forceful all night. Things like that really hurt.”

 

The Thunder only averaged 11.7 turnovers this season, the fewest of all 30 NBA teams. They’re only averaging 12.0 in the playoffs, third-fewest among the 16 qualifying teams. They terrorize your offense, but also succeed because of their ball security, beginning with Gilgeous-Alexander, who only averaged 2.4 turnovers this season, fewest among the NBA’s top-14 scorers.

But that was a major problem in Game 3. Their offense was careless and scattered. Those three McConnell inbound steals counted for three of the Thunder’s 19 turnovers. In their previous 18 playoff games, they never committed more than 16.

Gilgeous-Alexander had six of those 19 turnovers, more than he’d committed in a game since December. That included the detrimental “pick-six” type, as Caruso mentioned, a live-ball giveaway that gifts the other team two points and revs up the crowd. Here is the worst of the night from Gilgeous-Alexander.

Thunder coach Mark Daigneault was asked postgame whether those live-ball turnovers, particularly the McConnell inbound steals, were inexcusable.

“In terms of inexcusable, everybody is out there competing and trying,” Daigneault said. “I’m not going to place blame on those plays. I just thought their overall tone was better than ours for the majority of the game. I thought we had some really good stretches, but we just made one too many mistakes and had one too many possessions on both ends of the floor where they were more tied to their identity than we were. Obviously, those (turnovers) are costly plays.”

The Thunder gave up 40 second-quarter points and didn’t force a turnover in the 12 minutes. Their bench was outscored 49-18. After a strong third quarter, they were outscored 32-18 in a fateful fourth when their offense came to a halt and their defense had too many lapses, including from Gilgeous-Alexander late, sagging too far off Nesmith and closing out too slow, leading to a dagger 3.

This all combined to deliver the Thunder their second danger point in these playoffs. Like the Nuggets series — which began with a home collapse in Game 1 and a tight Game 3 loss in Denver — they are down 2-1, staring down the barrel of a crucial Game 4 road test Friday night against a confident team and a frothing crowd.

“You’re probably just slightly more frustrated with (this 2-1 deficit),” Caruso said. “You just put in so much effort and so much into the game to not come away with a win when you have a chance, especially on the road, it definitely stings a little. That’s part of the playoffs. That’s part of the finals.”

(Photo of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander: Maddie Meyer / Getty Images)

WATERLOO, Iowa — The Waterloo Bucks, in collaboration with the Northwoods League Foundation, has awarded the City of Sumner’s Parks and Rec this year’s Share the Glove Equipment Grant.

 

This initiative is part of a broader effort to support youth baseball and softball across Northwoods League communities.

 

Lara Albert, Sumner Parks and Rec Director, expressed excitement about the grant. “We are so honored to be chosen as one of the recipients for the Share the Glove grant,” Albert said. “Our small town has 90-100 kids in grades K-5 participating in our summer baseball/softball program.”

 

The grant includes a set of catcher’s gear, nine fielding gloves, six batting helmets, three bats, and a bucket of practice balls. This is one of 24 grants distributed by the Foundation, supporting youth sports in the area.

 

 

The Parks and Rec for the City of Sumner says it aims to teach children teamwork, respect for coaches, and new skills through its programs. and plans to introduce a fall league for younger children.

Hadley Gleim

 

My name is Hadley Gleim. I am the daughter of Heather and Harry Gleim, and I live in Bellows Falls.

During my time at Bellows Falls Union High School (BFUHS), I coached youth field hockey for four years, which I really enjoyed. Teaching the kids a sport I love is a great thing. I also volunteer to help with events at the middle school track meets. I am a 12-season BFUHS athlete, and participate in field hockey, winter track, and spring track. I have earned three state titles for track, which I’m very proud of. I was inducted into the National Honor Society last year. This will be my fourth year working as a server at Dari Joy. It’s nice to interact with so many people from our community!

In the fall I will be attending the University of Vermont, and will be earning my bachelor’s degree as a radiation therapist, which is a very specific field. UVM only allows nine students per year into this program, and I was excited to learn that I was accepted early decision. My primary job will be to administer radiation to cancer patients. I will be the only member of their oncology team that will have one-on-one personal time with the patient each time they get their treatment, which is very important to me.

 

 

Gracie McGinnis

 

My name is Gracie McGinnis. I am the daughter of Lori McGinnis and Shaun McGinnis, and I live in Bellows Falls.

During my time at Bellows Falls Union High School, I have served as class vice president for all four years, and was elected vice president of the Student Council during my senior year. I was inducted into the Jessie A. Judd/Marilee B. Huntoon chapter of the National Honor Society in my junior year, recognizing my academic achievement and leadership.

I’ve been dedicated to athletics as a member of the field hockey team, and I’ve extended that passion by coaching younger athletes through the Terrier Pups Youth Program each season. Outside of school, I’ve worked at the Meeting Waters YMCA Day Camp during the summer, and year-round, I’m employed at the Bellows Falls Opera House.

Additionally, I’ve been involved in numerous theatrical productions with the Wild Goose Players, including roles in “Matilda,” “Fiddler on the Roof,” and “Urinetown.” At BFUHS, I’ve also performed in “Annie” as Grace Farrell, “SpongeBob the Musical,” and “Mamma Mia.”

In the community, I volunteer regularly with the Bellows Falls Fire Department alongside my father, participating in various service initiatives throughout the year.

In the fall, I will be attending Pace University in New York City, majoring in business economics, with a minor in arts and entertainment management. Through the fire department, I was able to spend time on the set of a local film, “The Obelisk,” where I completely fell in love with filmmaking. While at school, I plan to spend time learning about the industry and finding performance opportunities.

I have spent my entire life around the Bellows Falls High School Alumni Association, and am honored to have been chosen by my classmates to be a part of the Alumni Queen’s court this year. I’m incredibly grateful to live in such an amazing community, and I am looking forward to future alumni celebrations.

 

 

Maya Rentas

My name is Maya Rentas. I am the daughter of Shelley Rentas and Mickey Rentas, and I live in Westminster.

I am truly dedicated to both my school and community, not only through academics, but also through active participation in a wide range of cocurricular activities. I have been a member of the concert band throughout all four years of high school, in addition to performing in jazz, modern, pep, and pit bands. This past fall, I earned second chair in the Connecticut Valley District 6 Concert Band. I was also selected to perform with the All-State Concert Band, which took place this May, in Essex. Beyond music, I’ve participated in several school theater productions, including “SpongeBob the Musical.” I have been involved in Student Council for three years, serving as historian during my junior year and currently as president. I am also the founder of Students of Color United, a club that provides a safe space for students who identify as people of color. In athletics, I am a member of the varsity softball team, and am currently serving as team captain. I have also been a writer for our student newspaper, The Howler, for the past four years. I am a proud member of both the National Honor Society and the National Music Honor Society, where I serve as secretary and treasurer. Additionally, I have served as class treasurer for the past three years. Outside of academics, I work as a technology intern for the school district, and spend my summers working at The Scoop, a small ice cream shop in Grafton, Vt.

After high school, I will be attending the University of Vermont, majoring in biochemistry, with a minor in molecular genetics, following a premedical track. My long-term goal is to attend medical school, and eventually open and operate my own fertility clinic, specializing in IVF treatments, as I want to help families who are unable to conceive on their own.

I want to thank my classmates for nominating me for this incredible opportunity. I also want to extend thanks to my family for their constant support and encouragement to dream big. I am deeply honored to be part of such an amazing community, and to be a nominee for the 2025 Alumni Queen.

 

Nola Sciacca

 

My name is Nola Sciacca. I am the daughter of Amy Sciacca and John Sciacca, and I live in Westminster.

One of my favorite activities in high school was playing sports. I have been a three-sport varsity athlete for my entire high school career, and sports play a big role in my life. I play field hockey, basketball, and track throughout the school year. Additionally, while doing all of those, I ride my horses on the side, showing them competitively during the summer. Aside from homework, school-related activities, and studying, sports come in at a close second for how I like to spend my time. Further, throughout my high school career, I’ve been involved in many community activities.

As far as community service goes, the largest chunk of my hours, and my personal favorite, is youth field hockey. This is a program where members of the high school field hockey team get to coach young girls from our community. We teach them the many rules and tricks of the game, while also sharing our love for the sport. Young girls ages K-6th grade are welcome to join the program, and will participate in two practices a week with games on the weekends. This program is a great way to build up athletics in our community, because we’re so small, and it’s an enjoyable experience for anyone involved. I was a youth girl once, also known as a Terrier Pup, and the way that I idolized my coaches was unmatched. It instilled in me a passion for field hockey that I couldn’t have gotten anywhere else. I’m so thankful to have been a part of such an impactful program in our community, and I feel so fulfilled knowing that I have helped play a role in the continuation of Bellows Falls field hockey.

Apart from youth field hockey, another large chunk of my community service hours is running middle school track meets. The high school track team often helps the middle school run home track meets for their young team. It is fun and rewarding to watch and teach these upcoming athletes, all while helping run an efficient and smooth meet.

My post-high school plans are to attend college. Currently, I am enrolled at the University of Vermont, where I plan to begin my college career in the fall. In addition to my enrollment there, I am waitlisted at Boston College and Cornell. Should either of those accept me and give me a good financial aid package, I will consider going there, however, my current plan is to attend UVM. For all of my schools, I applied undecided because I didn’t know exactly what I wanted to do with my career, so I left my options open. Today, I have decided that I would like to focus on psychology, specifically criminology. This would include examining behavioral psychology, potentially obtaining my juris doctorate, a law degree, and working in the criminal justice field. That being said, I’m extremely excited to take my first year or two of college exploring different pathways and options, making sure that the field I choose to pursue is right for me. I value practical applications and want to get a degree in a field that I know I can find a job in, and further, one that I will be satisfied with for the rest of my life.

Thank you to my parents, friends, class, and community for all the love and support you have given me. Also, a huge thank-you to the Bellows Falls Alumni Association for their great efforts to ensure the continuation of a wonderful community.

 

 

Isabella Stoodley

 

My name is Isabella Stoodley. I am the daughter of Karen and Ryan Stoodley, and I live in North Westminster.

During my time at BFUHS, I have been involved in many sports and activities. I have participated in softball and field hockey, earning many awards in both sports and succeeding in the playoffs. In softball, we made it to states for the first time in 50 years last season. I am a part of Student Council serving as historian, class president, yearbook committee, student athlete advisory committee, and have completed 634 hours of community service, including coaching youth sports, volunteer teaching, Terrier Hall of Fame, dog adoption events, and so much more. I am a part of the Jesse A. Judd/Marilee Huntoon National Honor Society Chapter at BFUHS, and received Elks Student of the Month my sophomore year, and Daughters of the American Revolution Award my senior year, to name a few awards I have received. I am currently employed at the Rockingham Recreation Center as a lifeguard and swim instructor.

I am very excited that I will be attending Fitchburg State University in Fitchburg, Mass., and will be majoring in elementary education. I will also continue my athletic career by playing Division III softball.

I am extremely honored to be chosen as a nominee by my class for the 2025 Alumni Court. I want to thank everyone for this incredible privilege and opportunity to stand in my town. I am very grateful to have this memory to look on for the rest of my life. As this will not be my first time in the parade, I have walked numerous times with both of my parents, I am honored for it to finally be my turn and show some Terrier pride in the Alumni Parade! Thank you, Mom, Dad, Delaney, McKenna, Memere and Pepere, Brooke, and so many more people for everything you have done for me.