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Rickwood Field to host past MLB stars for annual East

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Rickwood Field to host past MLB stars for annual East

Last year’s MLB game at Rickwood Field was sold out. (Caleb Turrentine / Bham Now)

On what would’ve been Willie Mays’ 94th birthday, Major League Baseball has announced another event at the ballpark that helped shape the Alabama native’s career.

MLB will host the second annual East-West game at Rickwood Field in Birmingham, bringing several past stars to the historic ballpark for a five-inning exhibition game on June 19.

Here’s what you need to know:

  • What: East vs. West Classic
  • When: 12PM | Thursday, June 19
  • Where: Rickwood Field | 1137 2nd Ave W, Birmingham, AL 35204
  • More info | Tickets

Last year, MLB hosted a celebrity softball game to celebrate Juneteenth at Rickwood Field.

East vs. West Classic

MLB released the full rosters for both teams, which includes several players who were involved with the league’s game at Rickwood last season.

The roster includes Alabama native Jake Peavy, who graduated from St. Paul’s in Mobile before being drafted in 1999.

Former players C.C. Sabathia and Chris Young were named the team captains before the rosters were selected. Last year when Sabathia was in town, he was a part of an MLB trip to the A.G. Gaston Boys & Girls Club.

Other notable names set to make an appearance include:

  • Mike Cameron
  • Prince Fielder
  • Dexter Fowler
  • Curtis Granderson
  • Ryan Howard
  • Adam Jones
  • Andruw Jones
  • Gary Sheffield
  • BJ Upton
  • Justin Upton

Make sure to keep up with any last-minute roster changes by keeping an eye on the MLB website.

MiLB at Rickwood

For fans of past renditions of the Rickwood Classic, the bigger draw may be minor league baseball’s trip to the oldest ballpark in America.

This year, two in-state teams will feature in the Birmingham Barons’ annual return to Rickwood Field. Here’s what you need to know:

  • Who: Rocket City Trash Pandas at Birmingham Barons
  • When: 12:30PM | Wednesday, June 4
  • Where: Rickwood Field | 1137 2nd Ave W, Birmingham, AL 35204
  • Tickets

Will you be going to check out Rickwood this summer? Let us know about your experience by tagging The Bama Buzz on InstagramXFacebook + LinkedIn.

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Milford, Massachusetts high school student detained by ICE was “targeted,” girlfriend says

Marcelo Gomes, a Massachusetts high school student who was suddenly detained on his way to volleyball practice over the weekend, was still being held by the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Monday. Gomes, an 18-year-old junior at Milford High School, was one of four volleyball players on their way to practice Saturday morning […]

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Marcelo Gomes, a Massachusetts high school student who was suddenly detained on his way to volleyball practice over the weekend, was still being held by the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Monday.

Gomes, an 18-year-old junior at Milford High School, was one of four volleyball players on their way to practice Saturday morning when three unmarked vehicles pulled up behind them. One of the students in the car told WBZ-TV that’s when an ICE agent knocked on the window.

marcelo-gomes.jpg

Marcelo Gomes

Gomes family photo


“They asked him what his documentation was,” said the student, who did not want to be identified because he is also undocumented. The agent questioned everyone in the car and Gomes was taken into custody, separating him from his friends and family. The student who spoke to WBZ said he was not detained because he is underage.

“He’s been here 13 years”

“He’s been here for 13 years. This is all he knows. Milford and Massachusetts is all he knows,” said Gomes’s cousin Ana Julia Araujo.

“It’s kind of heart-breaking. Marcelo is such a kind person and he’s the last person that this should be happening to, I guess. His siblings are so young and they’re asking questions like, whether they’re ever going to see him again,” Araujo said.

She said he was supposed to play the drums at Milford High School’s graduation Sunday. Instead, the community held a rally for him at town hall. That brought Araujo hope.

“It makes me really happy, because I don’t think the community would come together like this for any other person. It shows how special he is,” she said.

Held at ICE detention center in Burlington

Araujo said Gomes was able to call his parents and that he’s currently being held at an ICE detention center in Burlington.

There has been no comment from ICE about the Gomes case. U.S. Attorney Leah Foley will have a news conference with the agency Monday at 11:30 a.m. in Boston to discuss the immigration enforcement surge in Massachusetts.

Milford Police Chief Robert Dusino said his department didn’t learn about Gomes’s detention until after it happened.

“We want an open dialogue with the federal government about who’s getting detained, why they’re getting detained. We don’t want people just coming into town and being detained or arrested solely because they’re here illegally,” he told reporters.

“He was targeted”

“Marcelo was a good kid. He was excited for his future. He did absolutely nothing wrong. He was innocently going to a practice and he was targeted,” said Gomes’s girlfriend, Julianys Rentas, who graduated from Milford High School on Sunday.

She said many students are living in fear of ICE.

“There’s no patterns, so no one knows who’s next,” Rentas said.

Cherie Peterson, who taught English to Gomes, said students “deserve to feel safe.”

“I can’t image how scared he is. He doesn’t know how to navigate this system. I wouldn’t know how to navigate this system,” she said.

Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey said she wants ICE to provide “immediate information about why he was arrested, where he is and how his due process is being protected.” 



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Northwest Jersey Athletic Conference boys volleyball postseason awards

First team Kevin Tinio, Randolph senior; Ben Barninger, Randolph junior; Cole Cantada, Randolph junior; Dorian Kaminski, Jefferson junior; Jack Schild, Jefferson senior; Victor Silva, Vernon junior; Rex McDowell, Morristown senior; Diandre Carr, Sparta senior More: ‘Playing for something bigger than ourselves,’ Jefferson claims NJAC boys volleyball title Second team Alex Fairbairn, Chatham senior; Jan Rostek, […]

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First team

Kevin Tinio, Randolph senior; Ben Barninger, Randolph junior; Cole Cantada, Randolph junior; Dorian Kaminski, Jefferson junior; Jack Schild, Jefferson senior; Victor Silva, Vernon junior; Rex McDowell, Morristown senior; Diandre Carr, Sparta senior

Second team

Alex Fairbairn, Chatham senior; Jan Rostek, Randolph sophomore; Aiden Perez, Randolph junior; Andrew Molenhoff, Jefferson senior; Josh Jean, Vernon senior; Caden Krzyzak, Vernon senior; Aiden Sorsby, Morristown senior; Josh Tolentino, Sparta junior

Honorable mention

Nathaniel West, Chatham senior; Gabriel Sherwood, Randolph junior; Allan Czerwinski, Jefferson junior; Cyrus Cruz, Vernon senior; Alex Kalfoglou, Morristown senior; George Tsamadias, Sparta junior; Estuardo Calderon, Dover junior; Kevin Minchala, Dover senior

Division champion: Randolph

Sportsmanship award: Sparta



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Words of Wisdom from the Class of 2025

As senior year comes to a close, members of the Class of 2025 are reflecting on what they’ve learned—both inside and outside the classroom. From time management tips to lessons in friendship and confidence, their advice offers a glimpse into the highs and lows that defined their high school experiences. Linda Gabele: Be Open and […]

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As senior year comes to a close, members of the Class of 2025 are reflecting on what they’ve learned—both inside and outside the classroom. From time management tips to lessons in friendship and confidence, their advice offers a glimpse into the highs and lows that defined their high school experiences.

Linda Gabele: Be Open and Reach Out

Taylor Bentley / M-A Chronicle

“Be open to meeting new people and try to connect with them as well,” Gabele said.

Gabele also encourages students to step outside their comfort zones. “Stay locked in and make friends with people you normally wouldn’t be with,” she said. “It’s easy to stick with familiar faces, but some of the most meaningful friendships come from unexpected places.”

Casey Watkins: Try, Connect, and Slow Down

Taylor Bentley / M-A Chronicle

For Watkins, high school has been centered around connection, effort, and reflection. One of his most meaningful experiences has come from being on a team. “Being part of a sports community like water polo is a sense of brotherhood, and it’s so awesome,” he said.

He also encourages others to take initiative socially. “You should never be shy. You can’t go out and make friends without trying,” Watkins added. “Definitely try to make the best out of every difficult situation, and don’t forget to slow down and enjoy the time.”

Kasra Motamedi: It’s Okay, Just Keep Going

Taylor Bentley / M-A Chronicle

Senior Kasra Motamedi has learned a lot—sometimes the hard way. “Talk to your teachers when something is wrong. Teachers want you to succeed and they don’t want you to fail,” he said.

Motamedi also regrets waiting too long to finish assignments. “I wish I didn’t procrastinate as much,” he said. “I wouldn’t have had so much stress and I’d be able to have more fun.”

For Motamedi, keeping perspective is key. “It will be alright in the end—what college you go to, your friends, and everything else,” he said.

Don’t care too much about what people think. I used to think too much about what others thought, and it would ruin my mood. I’d even change how I act in front of others,” Motamedi shared.

Juliana Gamez-Diaz: Don’t Hold Back, and Study Hard

Taylor Bentley / M-A Chronicle

To Gamez-Diaz, social advice is just as important as academic tips. “Don’t be scared to talk to new people and  to do things that are embarrassing,” she said. “If you’re too scared to be embarrassed, you can hold back on a lot of things.”

When it comes to academics—especially in a big school—her biggest takeaway is the value of focused studying. “Focusing a lot on doing deep studying is better because multi-tasking is just a waste of time,” she explained.  “If you’re so distracted, it takes like hours to do things, but like, if you’re in deep focus, you can get it done in, like a small amount of time. Short forms of content and, like, TikTok, it’s like, it’s like your attention span decreases.”

Lainey Egnal: Stay Organized

Taylor Bentley / M-A Chronicle

If there’s anyone who figured out how to manage senior year wisely, its Lainey Egnal. As a Dance Team captain juggling college applications and a social life, Egnal found that planning ahead made all the difference. “Do as much as you can as a junior and the summer before senior year,” she said.

“You have UCPIQS (personal insight questions) and the Common App questions summer before senior year. If you get those done, by the time you get to first semester senior year, all you have left is supplementals,” she explained. “It will make your life ten times easier.”

“Don’t stress too much about doing something all the time, usually you are doing exactly what you need to be doing,” Egnal concluded.

Phoebe Matin: Live while you can

Taylor Bentley / M-A Chronicle

Matin encourages underclassman not to waste their time worrying about the wrong things. “Don’t care what other people think,” she said. “Do what you can to have a good time and live—these years go by so quickly.”

Her favorite memories were not made in the classroom, but rather outside with friends. “Go out on the Green and play spikeball with your friends,” she said. “The small, joyful moments stick the most.”

Alessandro Delfin Novoa: Work Hard and Enjoy

Taylor Bentley / M-A Chronicle

Alessandro Delfin Novoa has one big tip for balancing academics and fun: plan ahead. “Take all of your hard classes your junior year,” he said. “Taking hard classes junior year means you can enjoy your senior year.”

For Novoa, authenticity remains crucial in high school. “Just stay true to yourself. High school goes by a lot faster than you think, and I feel like every moment you have to make the most of it,” he said.

His biggest piece of advice? Embrace failure. “Don’t be afraid to fail. I feel like part of my high school journey was definitely shaped by my downs,” he said.



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LA28 Olympics adds Honda to top sponsorship tier in push towards US$2.5bn sales target

Deal also covers Team USA and includes media buy with NBC LA28 has now secured as many sponsors in 2025 as it did during whole of last year Automotive category made available to local organising committee after Toyota chose not to renew IOC TOP deal Japanese carmaker Honda has been named a founding partner of […]

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LA28 Olympics adds Honda to top sponsorship tier in push towards US$2.5bn sales target

  • Deal also covers Team USA and includes media buy with NBC
  • LA28 has now secured as many sponsors in 2025 as it did during whole of last year
  • Automotive category made available to local organising committee after Toyota chose not to renew IOC TOP deal

Japanese carmaker Honda has been named a founding partner of the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games, making it the first brand to join the event’s top sponsorship tier in nearly four years.

Financial terms of the deal, which also sees Honda become the official automotive sponsor of Team USA for the next two Olympics, have not been disclosed. However, it has secured the highest designation available for local sponsors of LA28, with Delta Airlines reportedly paying US$400 million to become the inaugural founding partner of the Games in 2020.

Comcast is currently the only other founding partner of LA28 after Salesforce opted to end its sponsorship less than three years into the deal.

As part of the agreement, Honda will supply a suite of vehicles to help transport athletes, officials and other stakeholders during the Games, offering an opportunity to showcase the company’s electric range, such as its upcoming Honda 0 Series and Acura RSX.

Honda, which first established a presence in the US in Los Angeles in 1969, will also benefit from a multi-platform media collaboration with NBCUniversal, which will spotlight the brand during its coverage of both Milano Cortina 2026 and LA28. 

Local organisers have a stated aim of securing US$2.5 billion in sponsorship revenue for LA28 and are planning to have US$2 billion of that total secured by the end of 2025.

John Slusher, who is the chief executive of US Olympic and Paralympic Properties, the joint venture selling combined partnerships on behalf of LA28 and the US Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC), told Sports Business Journal (SBJ) that the deal with Honda means more than US$1.5 billion have now been generated from sponsorship sales.

Meanwhile, speaking to the Los Angeles Times, LA28 chairman Casey Wasserman said the backing of Honda was both financially and strategically significant.

“As a privately funded games, our mandate is to generate the revenue we need to produce these Games,” Wasserman said. “The biggest line item of that is sponsorship revenue. To be able to announce another big partner with a really spectacular brand who has been invested in Southern California for a long time is both [financially] important but also, in many ways, strategically important.

“It’s another brand that sees the power of our Olympic platform to tell their story in a community that’s very important to that industry that they’ve been invested in for a long time.”

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Women's Swimming announces 2025

By: SU Sports Information Story Links SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. – Shippensburg University head swimming coach Tim Verge has confirmed the recruitment of seven student-athletes who have each agreed to attend the university and will suit up for the Raider women’s swim program in the fall. The recruiting class includes five swimmers from Pennsylvania and one from New […]

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Women's Swimming announces 2025

SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. – Shippensburg University head swimming coach Tim Verge has confirmed the recruitment of seven student-athletes who have each agreed to attend the university and will suit up for the Raider women’s swim program in the fall.
 
The recruiting class includes five swimmers from Pennsylvania and one from New Jersey and Virginia.
 
“We have a wonderful dynamic on our team and these new additions will really help to strengthen and continue that,” Verge stated. “They are certainly very talented swimmers who will make our team better but more than that, they are tremendous people and students. There is a lot of versatility and range in the group in terms of their swimming abilities. It will be exciting to see how they develop in our program.”
 
Verge added, “I am honored that they and their families have entrusted SHIP with their futures. I am looking forward to welcoming them in late August and helping them kick off their Raider careers.”
 
The recruits are as follows (in alphabetical order):
 
Alyssa Brown
Senior
Shippensburg, Pa./Shippensburg Area (East Stroudsburg)
 
East Stroudsburg University: Placed 10th in the 1650 at the 2025 PSAC Championships, swimming a time of 19:05.58.
 
Shippensburg Area Senior High School: Totaled four varsity letters for the Greyhounds under head coach Johnathan Hoffman…district qualifier…Mid-Penn qualifier…she also competed in field hockey for two seasons.
 
About Brown: Full name is Alyssa Brown…is the daughter of Jeff and Jennifer Brown…has a sister; Addison, and a brother; Lucas.

 
Bria Burkholder
Freshman
Ephrata, Pa./Ephrata
 
Ephrata High School: Totaled four varsity letters for the Mountaineers under head coach Mickey Molchany…competed at the club level for Reading YMCA under coach Kim Evans…15-time Lancaster-Lebanon League medalist…5-time district medalist…2-time state qualifier…ranked 13 in her class with a 4.449 GPA.
 
About Burkholder: Full name is Bria Burkholder…is the daughter of Dane and Jamie Burkholder…has a sister, Cali.

 
Izzy Ketterer
Freshman
Collegeville. Pa./Methacton
 
Methacton High School: Totaled four varsity letters for the Warriors under head coach Tori Rosa…competed at the club level for Methacton Aquatic Club under Tori Rosa…achieved prep personal bests of 1:07.82 in the 100 breast and 59.68 in the 100 fly.
 
About Ketterer: Full name is Isabella Marie Ketter…is the daughter of Denise and Michael Ketterer…has a brother, Ethan.

 
Zoë Midura
Freshman
Freehold, N.J./Colts Neck
 
Colts Neck High School: Totaled three varsity letters for the Cougars…competed at the club level at YMCA Greater Monmouth County under head coach Jack Caucino…placed first in the 200 free at the New Jersey YMCA Sliver Championships as a junior…four-time NJYMCA Silver Championships qualifier…three-time NJYMCA state qualifier…Honor Roll student…maintained a 4.6 GPA.
 
About Midura: Full name is Zoë Angelina Midura…daughter of Nicole and Joseph Midura…has two brothers, Wiley and Brody.

 
Ella Nick
Freshman
Alexandria, Va./Bishop Ireton
 
Bishop Ireton High School: Totaled four varsity letters for the Cardinals under head coach Kaitlyn Gerke…competed at the club level for Trident Triathlon Swim Team under coach Scott McLallen…a two-time Washington Catholic Athletic Conference selection (2024-25), including First Team All-WCAC as a junior…two-time Virginia Independent Schools Athletic Association (VISAA) Honorable Mention (2024-25)…team MVP and top 50 in state rankings as a senior…team MVP and top 25 in state rankings as a junior…Alexandria Sports Club Athlete of the Month (March 2025)…First Honors each semester…Distinguished Scholars Program…National Honor Society…Ro Kappa National Social Studies Honor Society…also completed in cross country.
 
About Nick: Full name is Ella Nick…relatives Stefani (Moose) Nick (2002), Whitney (Moose) Hiscock (2009) and Brad Hiscock (2008) all graduated from Shippensburg.

 
Ann Secord
Freshman
Dillsburg, Pa./Northern York
 
Northern High School: Totaled four varsity letters for the Polar Bears under head coaches Kaitlyn Neuman and Bill Resser…Academic All-American honoree…team captain senior year…also lettered in cross country and track & field
 
About Secord: Full name is Ann Secord…is the daughter of Nancy and Robert Secord…has two sisters, Mary and Jane.

 
Nya Solvino
Freshman
Reading, Pa./Schuylkill Haven
 
Schuylkill Valley High School: Swam for the Panthers under coaches Kyle Campbell, Justin Eisenhofer, Megan Fox, and Abbey Maulick…competed for the Reading YMCA Swim Team under coach Kim Evans…placed second in the 100 fly and fourth in the 100 free at 2025 PIAA District 3 Championships… placed first in the medley relay and second in the 200 free relay at the 2023 PIAA District 3 Championships…placed eighth in the medley relay at the 2023 PIAA 2A State Championships …scored over 1,900 points for the Panthers…State Farm Sunshine Player of the Week…Honor Roll and Merit Roll student…also competed in tennis.
 
About Solvino: Full name is Nyanna Solvino…is the daughter of Jennifer Solvino…has a brother, Nico.

 
 

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UH women’s water polo adds 2 Europeans

Select an option below to continue reading this premium story. Already a Honolulu Star-Advertiser subscriber? Log in now to continue reading. The University of Hawaii women’s water polo program, coming off back to back appearances in the national semifinals, announced two signings Monday. Coach James Robinson, entering his second season at the helm, said Asimina […]

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