Sports

Cristian Hernandez, Jaxon Wiggins, Continue Hot Starts as Affiliates Sputter

Cubs Video Cubs Affiliate Overview (April 24–25) Triple-A Iowa CubsSeries vs. Louisville Bats (Cincinnati Reds): Bats lead 2–0Season Record: 11–9 Double-A Tennessee SmokiesSeries vs. Pensacola Blue Wahoos (Miami Marlins): Blue Wahoos lead 3–1Season Record: 9–9 High-A South Bend CubsSeries vs. Beloit Sky Carp (Miami Marlins): Tied 2–2Season Record: 6–13 Single-A Myrtle Beach PelicansSeries vs. Kannapolis […]

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2 months ago

April 26, 2025

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Cristian Hernandez, Jaxon Wiggins, Continue Hot Starts as Affiliates Sputter

Cubs Video

Cubs Affiliate Overview (April 24–25)

Triple-A Iowa Cubs
Series vs. Louisville Bats (Cincinnati Reds): Bats lead 2–0
Season Record: 11–9

Double-A Tennessee Smokies
Series vs. Pensacola Blue Wahoos (Miami Marlins): Blue Wahoos lead 3–1
Season Record: 9–9

High-A South Bend Cubs
Series vs. Beloit Sky Carp (Miami Marlins): Tied 2–2
Season Record: 6–13

Single-A Myrtle Beach Pelicans
Series vs. Kannapolis Cannon Ballers (Chicago White Sox): Cannon Ballers lead 3–1
Season Record: 7–12

Triple-A: Iowa Cubs

April 24: Postponed

April 25: Doubleheader postponed.

Double-A: Knoxville Smokies
April 24: The Knoxville Smokies were blanked by the Pensacola Blue Wahoos 3-0, the first time all season that the Smokies have been shut out in a ballgame. BJ Murray Jr. was the lone standout offensively, going 2-for-3 with a walk and a stolen base. Despite taking the loss, right-hander Chris Kachmar turned in a solid effort on the mound, allowing two runs on six hits over 5 2/3 innings of work, striking out three.

April 25: Knoxville dropped its third-straight game, falling to Pensacola 4-2. Jordan Nwogu paced the Smokies at the plate, going 2-for-3 with a run scored. After being limited to three hits on Thursday, Knoxville tallied seven hits but has now gone two straight games without recording an extra-base hit. Right-hander Nolan Clenney spun a solid relief effort, keeping the Blue Wahoos scoreless over the final three innings of the ballgame, yielding just one hit to go along with one punchout.

High-A: South Bend Cubs
April 24: The Beloit Sky Carp shut out the South Bend Cubs, 3-0, snapping a brief two-game winning streak. Cristian Hernandez picked up the Cubs’ only hit in the ballgame, going 1-for-3 with a walk. Right-hander Jaxon Wiggins continued his strong start to the season, allowing one unearned run on three hits over four innings, striking out seven for the second-straight start.

April 25: South Bend suffered a second-straight defeat, falling 5-2 to the Beloit Sky Carp. After falling behind 3-0, the Cubs made it 3-2 after the seventh but could not complete the comeback. South Bend was held to just two hits, with Cristian Hernandez and Drew Bowser picking up the knocks. Hernandez extends his hitting streak to six games and has hit in 16 of 18 overall this season. In relief, Yovanny Cabrera spun two scoreless innings and did not allow a hit.

Single-A: Myrtle Beach Pelicans
April 24: The Myrtle Beach Pelicans split a doubleheader with the Kannapolis Cannon Ballers, falling in the opener, 6-1, before earning a 10-2 win in the nightcap. In the opener, the Pelicans were limited to just three hits, with two coming off the bat of Cole Mathis (2-for-3, 2B). In the second game, the Myrtle Beach offense exploded for 10 runs in the fifth, tallying five hits and six runs in the inning, sending 15 batters to the plate. It was enough run support for starter Nazier Mulé, who fanned seven over 5 1/3 innings, allowing two runs on two hits. Mulé has yet to allow more than two earned runs this season, which has been over three starts.

April 25: Myrtle Beach fell 6-3 to Kannapolis on Friday. Cameron Cisneros and Owen Ayers each went 2-for-4 at the dish, with Ayers tallying his first home run of the year. Dominic Hambley worked 1 2/3 scoreless innings in relief, whiffing four of the eight batters he faced.

Interested in learning more about the Chicago Cubs’ top prospects? Check out our comprehensive top prospects list that includes up-to-date stats, articles and videos about every prospect, scouting reports, and more!

View Cubs Top Prospects

Sports

Quentin Nauman wins second national track and field title

The past few months have been incredible for Western Dubuque High School sensation Quentin Nauman. Along with capturing four state championships earlier this year, Nauman won the HOKA Festival of Miles in St. Louis. But over the weekend, Nauman won perhaps his biggest race of the year. Running on his future track at Hayward Field […]

Published

3 minutes ago

June 24, 2025

Your Sports Nation

The past few months have been incredible for Western Dubuque High School sensation Quentin Nauman.

Along with capturing four state championships earlier this year, Nauman won the HOKA Festival of Miles in St. Louis. But over the weekend, Nauman won perhaps his biggest race of the year.

Running on his future track at Hayward Field at the University of Oregon in Eugene, Oregon, Nauman won the mile at the Nike Outdoor Nationals/USA Track and Field U20 Championships.

The senior-to-be clocked a time of 4:00.52 to win by just .01 second over Evan Noonan running for the Nike Elite Club. Nauman, a 17-year-old, was also ninth in the 800 at the meet, which features the best athletes in the country.

Nauman won gold at the Iowa high school state track and field championships in the 800, 1,600 and 3,200, along with running on the winning distance medley relay. He swept the four races as a sophomore and is also a multi-time Drake Relays champion.

Nauman has already committed to run at Oregon when he exhausts his high school eligibility.

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Parkway Central freshman takes fifth at state tennis tournament | Sports

Parkway Central Colts freshman Arhan Meka finished fifth in his first state boys tennis tournament. Parkway Central Colts freshman Arhan Meka with Colts coach Lee Hays. (Photo provided) Provided Coach Lee Hayes was happy to have Meka join his program. “I had heard of him through the kids on the team and some teaching pros,” […]

Published

1 hour ago

June 24, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Parkway Central Colts freshman Arhan Meka finished fifth in his first state boys tennis tournament.

ParkwayCentraltennisfreshman — Parkway Central Colts freshman Arhan Meka with Colts coach Lee Hays. (Photo provided)

Provided

Parkway Central Colts freshman Arhan Meka with Colts coach Lee Hays. (Photo provided)

Provided

Coach Lee Hayes was happy to have Meka join his program.

“I had heard of him through the kids on the team and some teaching pros,” Hays said. “He was young and impressive as a player.”

Meka went 17-2 in the regular season and in districts. His only two losses were to Eureka senior and Class 3 state singles runner-up and Webster Groves’ Paul Castleman, the Class 2 singles runner-up.

In the Class quarterfinals, Meka lost 6-2, 6-2 to Castleman.

“Castleman really wanted the match,” Hays said. “He raised his level and played exceptionally well against Arhan.”

Meka then rebounded with three wins to finish fifth. Meka defeated Noah Blum, of Warrensburg, 6-1, 7-5 to finish in fifth place.

His strong effort at state impressed Hays.

“He is not a quitter,” Hays said. “Though disappointed, he finished strong. To be 14 and be this solid of a player, he will be fun to watch. If he stays with it and is healthy, he will be a player we will all enjoy watching.”

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Sports

Meet the High Divers of the World Aquatics Championships – Singapore 2025

Up next in the Women’s competition is Maya Kelly. Maya achieved a 6th place finish at the World Aquatics High Diving World Cup 2024 in Bahrain, Manama and is excited to compete in Singapore 2025. We put Maya into the question-and-answer hot seat. Here’s what we got from her: Image Source: Maya Kelly competes at […]

Published

2 hours ago

June 24, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Up next in the Women’s competition is Maya Kelly. Maya achieved a 6th place finish at the World Aquatics High Diving World Cup 2024 in Bahrain, Manama and is excited to compete in Singapore 2025.

We put Maya into the question-and-answer hot seat. Here’s what we got from her:

Maya finds beauty in architecture, and one landmark stands out to her is Copenhagen Opera House “I do find the Opera House really cool in Copenhagen, so I think I would like that,” she shared. A dive with the iconic building as a backdrop would be a spectacular sight!

Though her competition experience is just beginning, Maya has a favorite. “Probably Bahrain,” she said, referring to her current World Cup event in Bahrain. Her only other major competition was in Montreal during her junior years, but “that was indoors,” so this outdoor adventure takes the top spot.

Maya finds her competitive focus with the help of music—and she’s a proud Swiftie! “Probably anything by Taylor Swift,” she revealed about her go-to playlist. “I have a specific meet playlist I listen to before every competition.” Swift’s empowering lyrics and catchy tunes help set the mood.

Among her repertoire, one dive stands out as her favorite. “Probably my backflip pike,” Maya said. While she didn’t compete with it at Bahrain 2024 World Cup, it remains her personal signature move, showcasing her grace and precision in the air.

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Attend water polo tournament on the waters of Oswego Lake this weekend

Attend water polo tournament on the waters of Oswego Lake this weekend Published 4:20 pm Monday, June 23, 2025 The tournament was held for the first time in 2024. (Courtesy photo: Lake Oswego Open Water Polo Invitational) Those strolling near Millennium Plaza Park and Lakewood Bay this weekend may notice splashing and excitement emanating from […]

Published

3 hours ago

June 24, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Attend water polo tournament on the waters of Oswego Lake this weekend

Published 4:20 pm Monday, June 23, 2025

: The tournament was held for the first time in 2024.
(Courtesy photo: Lake Oswego Open Water Polo Invitational)

Those strolling near Millennium Plaza Park and Lakewood Bay this weekend may notice splashing and excitement emanating from the Oswego Lake waters near the Lakeshore Inn.

The Lake Corporation and the Lake Oswego Water Polo Organization are organizing the second annual Lake Oswego Open Water Polo Invitational from Friday, June 27 to Sunday, June 29 at a sectioned-off course on Lakewood Bay near the Lakeshore Inn.

The event will feature teams from the local water polo club (which includes athletes from Lake Oswego High School and Lakeridge High School) as well as squads from areas such as San Diego, Seattle, Portland and Beaverton.

Organizer Katy Brown said the idea was hatched due in part to the success of the local water polo teams and wanting to provide a community event while highlighting a sport that is often overlooked in the Pacific Northwest. The area of play had never been used as a water polo course before, but Brown said it worked well.

“It far exceeded our expectations,” Brown said of last year’s event. “We got great feedback from the water polo club and the community.”

The Lake Oswego Water Polo Organization consists of more than 100 kids ranging in age from 8 through 18. It includes competitive teams with a range of ages that compete year-round, club director Daniel Ramirez said. A number of teams recently qualified for the Junior Olympics.

“We have the best depth (in the Pacific Northwest) and it’s a real testament to the kids, the coaching staff and the community we have built,” Ramirez said. “Our kids like being a part of our club. They are proud to be local athletes. They like our coaching staff, enjoy competing for us and the community we bring.”

Competitive water polo players have to be very strong swimmers who are able to stay in the water for minutes on end while being grabbed by opponents, and Ramirez said the sport promotes swimming skills and confidence.

“The intense exercise allowed me to perform much better academically. It taught me discipline, and the twelve years of practice taught me time management to also keep up with my school work,” Lakeridge High school graduate Adrienne Medak said in a press release.

Ramirez said an event like this gives exposure to the sport while providing an opportunity for the kids to get more recognition.

For more information on the event, visit https://lowpoopenwaterinvitational2025-n53399.mystrikingly.com/#home.

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Sports

Will Taylor's minor league baseball journey brought him back to Greenville for the weekend

Former Dutch Fork and Clemson standout Will Taylor is now a member of the Greenville Grasshoppers, part of the Pirates organization. GREENVILLE, S.C. — Will Taylor was back in familiar territory this past weekend. The Dutch Fork graduate is in his first full season of professional baseball. A fifth round draft pick by the Pirates […]

Published

4 hours ago

June 24, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Will Taylor's minor league baseball journey brought him back to Greenville for the weekend

Former Dutch Fork and Clemson standout Will Taylor is now a member of the Greenville Grasshoppers, part of the Pirates organization.

GREENVILLE, S.C. — Will Taylor was back in familiar territory this past weekend.

The Dutch Fork graduate is in his first full season of professional baseball. A fifth round draft pick by the Pirates in the 2024 MLB Draft, Taylor started his career at the Single A affiliate in Bradenton, Florida before being called him to Greensboro, the High A affiliate of the Pirates.

That promotion brought him to the Upstate as Greensboro faced the Greenville Drive at Fluor Field where Taylor has played before during his days at Clemson.

In his first two seasons at Clemson, Taylor played football and baseball. Taylor came to the Tiger program as a quarterback with the plant for him to move to wide receiver. As a freshman in 2021, he was the team’s primary punt returner before suffering a season ending knee injury which set him back at bit in the spring for baseball.

In 2024, Taylor had made the decision to concentrate on baseball and last April, he injured his wrist while diving for a foul ball and that broken bone in his wrist kept him out of the lineup for the rest of the season.

But in spite of those setbacks, Taylor looks back on his time at Clemson with great fondness as he was one of the occassional athletes who played two sports in college at a high level.

Sports

Women's sports surges, presenting an opportunity for advertisers

The news: Women’s sports had a strong presence at Cannes Lions 2025 as advertiser interest grows. One Axios event featured X CEO Linda Yaccarino, Disney global ad chief Rita Ferro, and Olympian Ilona Maher, who all spoke on the value of women’s sports for brands. Ferro emphasized “triple digit” viewer growth in the last year, […]

Published

4 hours ago

June 24, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Women's sports surges, presenting an opportunity for advertisers

The news: Women’s sports had a strong presence at Cannes Lions 2025 as advertiser interest grows. One Axios event featured X CEO Linda Yaccarino, Disney global ad chief Rita Ferro, and Olympian Ilona Maher, who all spoke on the value of women’s sports for brands. Ferro emphasized “triple digit” viewer growth in the last year, while Yaccarino said sports is a way to access highly engaged consumers and fandoms. Maher attributed viewership gains in part to prominent athletes like Caitlin Clark.

By the numbers: Women’s sports has surged in recent months, reaching new milestones in 2024, per research from the charity Women’s Sport Trust.

Leagues like the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) grew significantly across social media in the 2024 season, reaching a single-season record of nearly 2 billion video views across WNBA social media platforms—more than quadruple the previous season. Monthly active users grew 252% YoY on the WNBA app, while TikTok views grew 250% to reach 361 million.
The report cited SportsPro findings that female athletes accounted for 61% of all TikTok views among the 50 most-marketable athletes.
Women led in content volume across platforms, representing 51% of total content posted by athletes on Instagram and 80% on TikTok. Engagement was different—male athletes represented 90% of engagement/views on Instagram, though women maintained a lead on TikTok, accounting for 61% of engagement/views.
Women’s sports content is particularly effective at reaching female audiences. Across the board, the female proportion of YouTube audiences for women’s sports channels was higher than male equivalents, regardless of sport.

Zooming out: Women’s sports has consistently maintained momentum and proven to be a key opportunity for advertisers.

Ads during women’s sports events have a 40% greater impact on consumer engagement than the average primetime TV ad airing, marking a 56% YoY jump, per an EDO report. The report also found that investment in women’s sports rose 139% YoY in 2024, reaching $244 million.