WELCOME to today’s episode of Cub Tracks news and notes™, a greatest-hits collection of Chicago-style beat writers and bloggers, ground from #Cubs, #MiLB, and #MLB baseball, overheated, steeped in writers’ tears, and then cold-brewed overnight for maximum flavor. No artificial intelligences were deployed, employed, entranced, or embalmed in the commission of this missive (apparently I […]
WELCOME to today’s episode of Cub Tracks news and notes™, a greatest-hits collection of Chicago-style beat writers and bloggers, ground from #Cubs, #MiLB, and #MLB baseball, overheated, steeped in writers’ tears, and then cold-brewed overnight for maximum flavor. No artificial intelligences were deployed, employed, entranced, or embalmed in the commission of this missive (apparently I might be training some though). Cub Tracks eagerly awaits the advent of robotic umpires and has already amended the three laws. The going is weird. Cub Tracks turned pro a long time ago.
That was a tough loss. But today’s a new day. We have hopes.
The Chicago Cubs as constructed currently are deficient in several key areas, but nonetheless, they are successful at present. Some of these areas should be addressed in order for the team to continue its rumored March To October.
But the Cubs are 17-12 and in the home stretch, so to speak, of their season-opening gauntlet. A couple of clubs have laid a glove on them but they’re giving better than they get. Right now’s a good time to be a Cubs fan. Enjoy. Cubs hope to scuttle the Bucs tonight.
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As the calendar approaches May, Taillon continues to be cautious about the idea that the Cubs can relax at all, even as the schedule theoretically gets easier.
“I still don’t want to overcook it,” Taillon said after the Cubs’ 3-1, 10-inning loss to the Phillies on Sunday night. “In the big leagues, you just never know. You can run into a team with a bad record that’s playing well that can do damage and school you. — Jordan Bastian.
Food for thought:
Please be reminded that Cub Tracks and Bleed Cubbie Blue do not necessarily endorse the content of articles, podcasts, or videos that are linked to in this series. We are 100% in favor of human sportswriting and will not wittingly publish A. I. driven articles or content. Thanks for reading!
The draw for the Last 32 of the 2025-26 National Cup has thrown up two big ties to whet the appetite for the new season. Defending champions Malory Eagles – who also won the Women the MAAREE Women’s Super League title in April – will host fellow Final 4 qualifiers last season, London Vinarius, in […]
The draw for the Last 32 of the 2025-26 National Cup has thrown up two big ties to whet the appetite for the new season.
Defending champions Malory Eagles – who also won the Women the MAAREE Women’s Super League title in April – will host fellow Final 4 qualifiers last season, London Vinarius, in a mouth-watering all-London tie.
In the men’s draw, National Cup winners in 2024, Durham Palatinates, will host DYNAMIK Men’s Super League winners in 2025, London Giants.
Both the women’s and the men’s National Cups this coming season will feature England U20 teams, who will play their opening matches away from home.
The women’s team who will be coached by Darren Lewis, will face last season’s National Shield semi-finalists, Northampton.
The men, meanwhile, who will be led into action by Sam Shenton, will make the trip to the capital to take on Division 1 side London Aces.
Other ties of note in the women’s competition see Super League Durham Platinates host Loughborough Students and Division 1 newcomers Manchester Marvels travel to another top-flight side in Darkstar Derbyshire, who reached the semi-final last season.
Super League sides Essex Rebels and Team SideOut Polonia were among those given byes.
In the men’s section, Richmond Docklands, who preserved their Super League status for this coming season via the end-of-season play-offs visit Tamworth Spartans, while Leeds Gorse, newly-promoted back to Super League for 2025-26, go to Loughborough Students.
Reigning champions Essex Rebels will begin their title defence by hosting Division 1 newcomers Manchester Marvels.
Byes were handed to the likes of Malory Eagles, who have made the quarter-finals for each of the last 20 years, 2025 National Shield winners Wessex and 2016 and 2017 winners IBB Polonia London.
The Last 64 and Last 32 ties of the National Shield were also drawn among a record 163 teams entering the four competitions.
You can watch the full draws for all of those matches on the Volleyball England YouTube Channel here.
Following three preliminary ties played on 6th and 7th September, Last 64 National Shield ties will be played on 27th and 28th September, while Last 32 matches in both competitions will take place on 1st and 2nd November.
Miah McDonald Earns MAAC's Nomination for NCAA Woman of the Year
Story Links POUGHKEEPSIE, New York – Graduate shortstop Miah McDonald of the Marist University softball team has been named one of two Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference nominees for NCAA Woman of the Year. McDonald’s remarkable collegiate career was capped by a historic 2025 season, during which she earned the following honors: College Sports Communicators First Team […]
POUGHKEEPSIE, New York – Graduate shortstop Miah McDonald of the Marist University softball team has been named one of two Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference nominees for NCAA Woman of the Year.
McDonald’s remarkable collegiate career was capped by a historic 2025 season, during which she earned the following honors:
College Sports Communicators First Team Academic All-American (first female student-athlete in school history to be named First Team Academic All-American)
Top 100 nationally by Softball America (#45) and D1Softball (#55), Top 100 in D1Softball Mid-Major rankings (#6), and ranked in D1Softball’s top shortstops nationally (#4)
MAAC Player of the Year (second straight year)
ECAC Player of the Year
First Team NFCA All-Region
First Team All-MAAC
MAAC All-Academic Team
Team captain (third straight year)
McDonald made a lasting impact in the program’s and conference’s record books this season and throughout her career:
Set the single-season program record for home runs (28) for the second straight year, which was also a MAAC single-season record.
Set career program records for home runs, runs, runs batted in, hits, and triples.
Set the MAAC’s all-time records in runs and runs batted in.
Siena’s Grace Dobrzynski was also nominated by the MAAC for NCAA Woman of the Year. Marist also nominated softball’s Kiley Myers for the honor.
Established in 1991, the NCAA Woman of the Year Award honors female student-athletes who have excelled in their community, athletics, and academics throughout their college careers. The Woman of the Year selection committee will next choose 10 women from each division to announce its Top 30. The top three honorees in each division will then be announced, and the Woman of the Year will be celebrated at the January 2026 NCAA Convention.
Who will be the Athens-area 2025 preseason volleyball player of the year?
It’s time for readers to pick their fall 2025 preseason player of the year for volleyball. Below are the nominees, which have been directly taken from the preseason all-area team list that went out Tuesday, July 29. All players were hand-picked by the coaches. Preseason hot shots: Here are 74 Athens-area high school volleyball players […]
It’s time for readers to pick their fall 2025 preseason player of the year for volleyball.
Below are the nominees, which have been directly taken from the preseason all-area team list that went out Tuesday, July 29. All players were hand-picked by the coaches.
Preseason hot shots: Here are 74 Athens-area high school volleyball players to watch ahead of 2025 season
The poll will remain open until Tuesday, Aug. 12, at 5 p.m.
Athens-area preseason volleyball player of the year reader poll
Surrey, Delta water polo players with Team Canada at Women’s U20 Worlds
14-player team in Brazil for 2025 World Aquatics Women’s U20 Water Polo Championship Surrey’s Madeleine Scarth (with Surrey Water Polo Club) and Isabella Mady of Delta (Fraser Valley) are among 14 young athletes competing for Canada at the 2025 World Aquatics Women’s U20 Water Polo Championship, Aug. 10-15 in Salvador, Brazil. Ahead of the tournament, Water Polo Canada’s Women’s Junior […]
14-player team in Brazil for 2025 World Aquatics Women’s U20 Water Polo Championship
Surrey’s Madeleine Scarth (with Surrey Water Polo Club) and Isabella Mady of Delta (Fraser Valley) are among 14 young athletes competing for Canada at the 2025 World Aquatics Women’s U20 Water Polo Championship, Aug. 10-15 in Salvador, Brazil.
Ahead of the tournament, Water Polo Canada’s Women’s Junior National Team left July 30 to take part in a preparatory invitational tournament in Recife, Brazil, against teams representing Australia, Brazil, Israel, New Zealand and the U.S.
In addition to Scarth and Mady, other B.C.-based players on Team Canada are Natalia Blazevic (Vancouver), Riley Milne (Burnaby), Melania Segulja (Burnaby) and Alexandra Stoddard (Abbotsford), along with alternate Mackenzie Clark (Fraser Valley).
In Salvador, Team Canada starts Aug. 10 against China, also in Group D with South Africa and Australia.
The Canadian team qualified for the 2025 World Aquatics Women’s U20 Water Polo Championship following its fourth-place finish at the 2024 PanAm Aquatics U19 Women’s Championships, in El Salvador.
“This group has been working really hard, especially over the last couple of weeks training with our senior national team talent pool,” head coach Samuel Donoghue said in a news release from Water Polo Canada.
“It’s been a great environment, and the team’s grown a lot. We’re excited to get to Brazil — first to Recife for some final prep, then on to the World Championships. The energy is high, the team’s focused, and we’re proud to represent Canada.”
At the last World Aquatics Women’s U20 Water Polo Championship, held in 2023 in Portugal, Canada finished in 12th place.
Coyote volleyball announces August 22 “First Serve” event
Story Links
VERMILLION, S.D. — South Dakota volleyball is excited to invite all of Coyote Nation to celebrate the start of a new season with the “First Serve” event taking place the evening of Friday, August 22 in the Sanford Coyote Sports Center practice gym and Dome Club. The evening includes an open […]
VERMILLION, S.D. — South Dakota volleyball is excited to invite all of Coyote Nation to celebrate the start of a new season with the “First Serve” event taking place the evening of Friday, August 22 in the Sanford Coyote Sports Center practice gym and Dome Club. The evening includes an open practice, student-athlete and staff interaction, a Q & A dinner and more. Highlights include dinner with staff and student-athletes, season outlook from student-athletes and coaches and kids floor time with the team.
“First Serve” event details are below Where: Sanford Coyote Sports Center Practice Gym and Dome Club When: Friday, August 22 at 5:30-7:30 p.m. Cost: $40 for Adults and $10 for Youth RSVP: forms.gle/tufpcQ7QBY4xq5oh6 Schedule:
5:30-6:15 p.m. Open Practice (Practice Gym)
6:15-6:45 p.m. Kids Court Time/Staff and Student-Athlete Social (Practice Gym)
6:45-7:30 p.m. Dinner with Coaches and Student-Athletes/Q & A Session/Coach Williamson Season Preview (Dome Club)
This event will be your first chance to see this year’s team in action ahead of the 2 p.m. Saturday, August 23 full match exhibition against Minnesota State in the Sanford Coyote Sports Center.
The Coyotes kick off the season in Bozeman, Montana on August 29 against Oregon at the 2025 EVEN Hotel Bobcat Invite hosted by Montana State. South Dakota opens the home slate with the Coyote Invitational beginning on Thursday, September 11 at 7:00 p.m. against Green Bay in the Sanford Coyotes Sports Center. Season and single game tickets are available at GoYotes.com/Tickets.
Stay up to date with all things Coyotes by following South Dakota Athletics on Facebook /SDCoyotes, X (Twitter) @SDCoyotes, and Instagram @sdcoyotes! #GoYotes x #WeAreSouthDakota
