Sports

Edouard Julien and the Very Hard Game

Twins Video Nothing about Edouard Julien’s background screams “big-leaguer.” He grew up in Quebec, far from the traditional pipelines of American baseball. He arrived at Auburn University as a teenager who barely spoke English. He wasn’t a showcase star or a bonus baby. When the Twins drafted him in the 18th round in 2019, he […]

Published

1 month ago

May 7, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Twins Video

Nothing about Edouard Julien’s background screams “big-leaguer.” He grew up in Quebec, far from the traditional pipelines of American baseball. He arrived at Auburn University as a teenager who barely spoke English. He wasn’t a showcase star or a bonus baby. When the Twins drafted him in the 18th round in 2019, he was a curiosity at best — a flier on a guy with an odd profile and a disciplined eye.

But that’s what made Julien different. He didn’t beat opponents with speed, power, or dazzling defense. He beat them with his brain — one of the most discerning approaches at the plate in professional baseball. He outwaited pitchers. He turned chaos into clarity. And it worked. He raked at every level of the minors. He became a surprise standout on Canada’s WBC squad. And in 2023, he debuted with the Twins and immediately made an impact, slashing .263/.381/.459 with the lowest chase rate of anyone in baseball.

Julien didn’t look like a star, but for a while, he was one. That’s the kind of magic baseball allows, at least for a time. But this game inevitably seems to catch up.

By the start of 2024, pitchers had a plan. They stopped challenging him in the zone. They exploited his passivity, knowing he’d rather walk than swing at a borderline pitch. They pounded him inside and spammed offspeed pitches. And it worked. His numbers cratered. The book was out.

Meanwhile, the margins started to show. Julien’s instincts — so crucial in a game built on split-second decisions — have too often betrayed him. On the bases. In the field. In moments where anticipation and awareness matter more than mechanics. His defense at second base became an unacceptable liability. His mistakes multiplied. What had once been overlooked became impossible to ignore.

On Monday, the Twins made the call: Julien was optioned back to Triple-A. It was not shocking, but it was still jarring. Because Edouard Julien is not a failure. He is a reminder. Of how impossible this game can feel. Of how much intelligence, perseverance, and resilience it takes to make it to the highest level — and how even that might not be enough to stay.

Julien climbed a mountain most of us can’t even see. And the higher you go in this sport, the more ruthless the air becomes. We shouldn’t forget what he accomplished. Few reach the majors at all. Fewer still thrive, however briefly. Julien defied the odds, and maybe he will again. But right now, at age 26, it feels like the game has caught up.

Baseball always does.

Sports

Ross, Soboleski Named Chick-fil-A Student-Athletes of the Week

Story Links ERIE, Pa. – Acrobatics & tumbling student-athlete Ally Ross (Gladstone, N.J./Gill St. Bernard’s School) and football player Braeden Soboleski (Erie, Pa./McDowell) have been selected as the Gannon University Student-Athletes of the Week for the week of June 8. The Gannon Student-Athlete of the Week Award is sponsored by Chick-fil-A of Erie. The award […]

Published

5 minutes ago

June 10, 2025

Your Sports Nation

ERIE, Pa. – Acrobatics & tumbling student-athlete Ally Ross (Gladstone, N.J./Gill St. Bernard’s School) and football player Braeden Soboleski (Erie, Pa./McDowell) have been selected as the Gannon University Student-Athletes of the Week for the week of June 8. The Gannon Student-Athlete of the Week Award is sponsored by Chick-fil-A of Erie. The award will continue throughout the summer months and will be presented to deserving student-athletes.

A rising junior from Gladstone, N.J., Ross is spending a portion of her summer working at the International Gymnastics Camp in East Stroudsburg, Pa. From May 24 to July 16 she is not only serving as a gymnastics instructor but also serving as a counselor in a cabin. The camp attracts gymnasts from all over the world.

Soboleski wrapped up his career as a wide receiver on the football team this past fall. A native of Erie he recently was the recipient of a Founder’s Day Award as part of Gannon University’s Commencement. Soboleski was the recipient of the Excellence in Political Science Award.

On the gridiron Soboleski finished second on the team in receptions with 26 for 387 yards and a touchdown.

2024-25 Gannon University Chick-fil-A Athlete of the Week Recipients

Week 1 (9/10/2024)

Jessie Watkins (Women’s Soccer)

Luke Malena (Men’s Cross Country)

Week 2 (9/17/2024)

Alexis Abbett (Women’s Cross Country)

Alexandros Kotskar (Men’s Water Polo)

Week 3 (9/24/2024)

Bengisu Arslan (Women’s Volleyball)

Petar Markovic (Men’s Water Polo)

Week 4 (10/1/2024)

Grace Emanuel (Women’s Soccer)

Shota Toyama (Men’s Soccer)

Week 5 (10/8/2024)

Emma Hall (Women’s Volleyball)

Charles Calhoun (Euclid, Ohio/St. Edward) (Football)

Week 6 (10/15/2024)

Alexandria LeCureux (Women’s Golf)

Rasmus Seppanen (Men’s Golf)

Week 7 (10/22/2024)

Hailey Koch (Women’s Volleyball)

Mattia Parrini (Men’s Golf)

Week 8 (10/29/2024)

Ditte Petersen (Women’s Golf)

Jayden Whitaker (Brownsburg, Ind./Brownsburg) (Football)

Week 9 (11/5/2024)

Carissa Dunham (Women’s Basketball)

Dorian Crosby Men’s Wrestling)

Week 10 (11/12/2024)

Bella Philips (Women’s Wrestling)

Tasman Goodrick (Men’s Basketball)

Week 11 (11/19/2024)

Trinitee Harris (Women’s Basketball)

Donell “Tank” Mason (Football)

Week 12 (11/26/2024)

Paige Taylor (Women’s Soccer)

Eli Reese (Men’s Wrestling)

Week 13 (1/6/2025)

Tori Mayes (Women’s Basketball)

Jerry Echevarria (Men’s Wrestling)

Week 14 (1/13/2025)

Nila Burgess (Women’s Wrestling)

Ernest Shelton (Men’s Basketball)

Week 15 (1/20/2025)

Kat Pendergrass (Women’s Wrestling)

Logan Sallot (Men’s Wrestling)

Week 16 (1/27/2025)

Maddy Wheatley (Women’s Basketball)

Kuba Loboda (Men’s Swimming)

Week 17 (2/2/2025)

Kate Ratliff (Women’s Basketball)

Ethan Richner (Men’s Wrestling)

Week 18 (2/9/2025)

Andrea Maibach (Women’s Basketball)

Pace Prosser (Men’s Basketball)

Week 19 (2/16/2025)

Peyton Oliver (Vallejo, Calif./Jesse M. Bethel) (Acrobatics & Tumbling)

Kenny Kiser (Men’s Wrestling)

Week 20 (2/23/2025)

Lili Ujfalvi (Women’s Wrestling)

Will Retsch (Men’s Swimming)

Week 21 (3/3/2025)

Brigid Carmody (Women’s Water Polo)

Patrick Jackson (Men’s Wrestling)

Week 22 (3/10/2025)

Avrey Kirisits (Women’s Lacrosse)

Wes Parker (Baseball)

Week 23 (3/17/2025)

Ella Todd (Women’s Lacrosse)

Giovanni Delorenzi (Men’s Golf)

Week 24 (3/24/2025)

Emma Smerick (Softball)

Justin DeBuck (Men’s Basketball)

Week 25 (3/31/2025)

Natalia Mallozzi (Softball)

Jacob Skolnik (Competitive Cheer & Dance)

Week 26 (4/7/2025)

Katie Armstrong (Softball)

Ian Soto (Baseball)

Week 27 (4/14/2025)

Cloe Mateo (Women’s Golf)

Jake Boynar (Baseball)

Week 28 (4/21/2025)

Abbey Girman (Softball)

Alex Bemis (Baseball)

Week 29 (4/28/2025)

Caroline Stevens (Women’s Lacrosse)

Chris Mullins (Baseball)

Week 30 (5/5/2025)

Sadie Carroll (Softball)

Dom Costello (Baseball)

Week 31 (6/2/2025)

Carissa Dunham (Women’s Basketball)

Caleb Butterfield (Men’s Wrestling)

Week 32 (6/9/2025)

Ally Ross (Gladstone, N.J./Gill St. Bernard’s School) (Acrobatics & Tumbling)

Braeden Soboleski (Erie, Pa./McDowell) (Football)

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Sports

Blugold Volleyball announces 2025 schedule

Story Links EAU CLAIRE, Wis. – The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire volleyball team has announced its 2025 regular season schedule that includes 26 matches across five states, 13 opponents who competed in the 2024 NCAA Tournament, and the inception of a second home tournament, the Blugold Alumni Weekend Invitational. […]

Published

12 minutes ago

June 10, 2025

Your Sports Nation

EAU CLAIRE, Wis. – The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire volleyball team has announced its 2025 regular season schedule that includes 26 matches across five states, 13 opponents who competed in the 2024 NCAA Tournament, and the inception of a second home tournament, the Blugold Alumni Weekend Invitational.

The Blugolds begin their season on Labor Day weekend as they travel to Colorado Springs for the Pikes Peak Challenge, where they’ll face off against four diverse opponents in a two-day stretch — including East Texas Baptist, Edgewood College, Milwaukee School of Engineering and host Colorado College.

A week later, the team heads to Chicago for the Rosalie Resch Invitational, matching up with non-conference opponents Lawrence University, Illinois Tech and perennial powerhouse University of Chicago. Then it’s a midweek trip to Minnesota to challenge Bethel University.

The following weekend will showcase the 12th annual Sandy Schumacher Memorial Tournament. Hosted at home from September 12-13, the tournament will feature three matches, including familiar matchups with St. Catherine and Lakeland, and a Saturday night clash against Carleton College.

After a Wednesday road match with the College of Saint Benedict, the WIAC season premiers with a home showdown against UW–Whitewater on September 19. This will also serve as Chippewa Valley Night, a chance to pack the stands and rally the community. The WIAC homestand continues the following Wednesday with UW-La Crosse in town.

As October begins, the Blugolds are battle-tested and shifting into midseason form. A tough conference road swing takes them to UW-Stout and later to UW-River Falls, with a return to tournament play at the Pointers Invitational on October 4, where they’ll face Carthage and Washington University in St. Louis — a pair of national-caliber programs.

October also brings one of the most anticipated weekends of the season: Alumni Weekend, October 17–18. The Blugolds will welcome back generations of volleyball alums while hosting a mini-invitational featuring Illinois Wesleyan, Cornell College, and Augsburg.

Down the stretch, the Blugolds will look to finish strong, with key WIAC home matches against UW–Stevens Point and UW–Platteville before hitting the road for the final week of the regular season. The team heads to St. Olaf for a final non-conference showdown before the WIAC finale at UW–Oshkosh on November 7.

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Sports

Pairings and game times set for 78th Men’s College World Series

Share OMAHA — The pairings and game times for the first two days of the 2025 NCAA Men’s College World Series (MCWS) have been announced. The 78th MCWS will take place at Charles Schwab Field Omaha in Omaha, Nebraska, June 13-22/23. MORE BASEBALL The first game on Friday, June 13 is scheduled to begin […]

Published

26 minutes ago

June 10, 2025

Your Sports Nation

OMAHA — The pairings and game times for the first two days of the 2025 NCAA Men’s College World Series (MCWS) have been announced. The 78th MCWS will take place at Charles Schwab Field Omaha in Omaha, Nebraska, June 13-22/23.

The 2025 Men's College World Series bracket

MORE BASEBALL

The first game on Friday, June 13 is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. CT, and showcases No. 13 national seed Coastal Carolina (53-11) against Arizona (44-19) on ESPN. Friday’s second game features No. 8 national seed Oregon State (47-14-1) against Louisville (40-22) and is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. CT on ESPN.

The Saturday, June 14 action includes No. 15 national seed UCLA (47-16) against either Duke (41-20 through June 8) or Murray State (43-15 through June 8) at 1 p.m. CT on ESPN. The other Saturday game features No. 3 national seed Arkansas (48-13) squaring off against No. 6 national seed LSU (48-15) at 6 p.m. CT on ESPN.

Click or tap to see the full NCAA baseball tournament schedule

The losing teams of Friday’s two games will play at 1 p.m. CT Sunday, June 15 on ESPN, while Friday’s winners face off at 6 p.m. CT Sunday, June 15 on ESPN2. The losers of Saturday’s games will play each other at 1 p.m. CT Monday, June 16 on ESPN. Saturday’s winners will meet Monday, June 16 at 6 p.m. CT on ESPN.

The winners of the two brackets will play a best-of-three Men’s College World Series Finals, with the first game set for 6 p.m. CT Saturday, June 21 on ESPN. The second game is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. CT Sunday, June 22 on ABC with game three (if necessary) scheduled for 6:30 p.m. CT Monday, June 23 on ESPN.

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Sports

What to watch for in WPIAL sports on June 10, 2025: North Allegheny, Shaler set for boys volleyball state semifinals

By: Don Rebel Monday, June 9, 2025 | 8:46 PM North Allegheny’s Elijah Braun hits against Palmyra’s Johnny Moran during a PIAA Class 6A first-round match June 3. From 2011-2022, the North Allegheny boys volleyball program reached the PIAA championship match in every season but three. The Tigers did not qualify for the 2012, 2015 […]

Published

27 minutes ago

June 10, 2025

Your Sports Nation

By: Don Rebel

Monday, June 9, 2025 | 8:46 PM

8580780_web1_ptr-NAPal03-060425 — North Allegheny’s Elijah Braun hits against Palmyra’s Johnny Moran during a PIAA Class 6A first-round match June 3.

From 2011-2022, the North Allegheny boys volleyball program reached the PIAA championship match in every season but three.

The Tigers did not qualify for the 2012, 2015 and 2016 Class 3A state finals.

The Tigers also missed out the last two years but are one victory away from returning to the PIAA title match.

On Tuesday, North Allegheny (17-1) will battle District 3 runner-up Central York (17-2) at 5 p.m. at Bald Eagle with audio on Trib HSSN.

The Tigers’ only loss this season was a section setback to District 7 runner-up Seneca Valley.

The Panthers lost to Northeastern York in the regular season and fell to Cumberland Valley in the District 3 finals.

In the PIAA postseason, North Allegheny has ousted Palmyra and Penn-Trafford while Central York has knocked off Seneca Valley and Spring-Ford.

In the other 3A boys volleyball semifinal Tuesday, Governor Mifflin (19-1) from District 3 takes on D-3 champion Cumberland Valley (20-0) at 7 p.m. at Penn Manor.

Looking for a third return

The reason North Allegheny has missed out on the PIAA 3A championship match the last two years is because Shaler has become a district power.

The Titans won the WPIAL 3A title in 2023 and 2024 and played for state gold both years, losing to Parkland in 2023 and upending the Trojans in a 2024 rematch.

This season, Shaler continued its dominance on the spring hardcourt, but the damage was caused in Class 2A after moving down in classification in the offseason.

The Titans won a third straight district crown last month and are now a win away from returning to the PIAA finals at Penn State.

WPIAL champ Shaler (18-1) will challenge undefeated District 10 winner Meadville (17-0) at 6 p.m. at Sharon.

The Titans knocked off Saegertown and Brandywine Heights in the state playoffs this season while the Bulldogs have been winners over South Fayette and Ambridge.

In the other 2A state semifinal, District 11 champion Manheim Central (21-0) will face District 3 runner-up in a D-3 title rematch at 5 p.m. at Penn Manor.

And then there was one

The WPIAL had four boys and three girls lacrosse teams win in the opening round of the PIAA playoffs; however, the lucky seven from District 7 were not as fortunate in the state quarterfinals.

Six district teams saw their seasons come to an end, leaving only one.

WPIAL Class 3A boys lacrosse runner-up Shady Side Academy (14-9) goes up against District 1 runner-up Radnor (19-4) at 4 p.m. Tuesday at Soldiers and Sailors Park in Mechanicsburg.

The Bulldogs have stunned a pair of district champions to reach the PIAA final four.

Shady Side Academy first won at District 6 champ State College, 11-9, then upended District 3 winner Manheim Township in the quarterfinals, 11-8.

Radnor is coming off an 11-2 quarterfinal victory over WPIAL 3A boys champion Mt. Lebanon.

In the other boys 3A semifinal, District 1 champion Springfield-Delco (22-1) goes up against District 12 champ LaSalle College (18-5) at 6 p.m. at West Chester Henderson.

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Sports

Women in sports

As the school year comes to a close around the East Bay, it’s a gloomy time for me as a sports editor. All the high school sports games and programs that I’ve kept up with year-round have been dwindling down the past few weeks and are now officially over. But with sports on my mind […]

Published

46 minutes ago

June 10, 2025

Your Sports Nation

But with sports on my mind I have noticed a change in sports on a national level. Over the past few years the rise in popularity of women’s sports is undeniable.

To start, Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese changed the game of women’s college basketball viewership during the 2024 NCAA tournament, receiving just over 18 million views, making it the most watched women’s basketball game in history at the time, according to SportsPro.com. Another female sport that’s garnered a lot of attention recently is women’s rugby. During the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics, the women’s rugby team won their first medal with a second place title.

The increased interest in women’s sports has also brought a change in sports bar culture. Portland’s Sports Bra opened in 2022 and is dedicated to only show women’s sports games on their screens. The bar has done so well that they’re expanding with four locations across the country.

This trend has also begun to sprout in the Bay Area. The Golden State Valkyries, the Bay’s first WNBA team, played their first game at the Chase Stadium in May of this year.

Even on a high school level, girls are also breaking barriers in sports. In February 2023, the California Interscholastic Federation—which governs the state’s high school athletics—approved the addition of girls’ flag football as a state-sanctioned sport. In the 2023-2024 school year, high schools in the greater Tri-City area including San Leandro, Castro Valley, Tennyson and Mt. Eden held their first season of girls’ flag football. The Tri-City area teams competed with schools as far as Berkeley in tournaments.

Another example of local women excelling in sports is Chabot College’s athletics. Just a few weeks ago at the Track and Field State Championships, the women’s track team earned gold in the 4X100 meter relay with a time of 46.98, representing the Hayward community college.

As attention on women and girls’ sports grows, it will create an even larger and more welcoming opportunity for women and girls to be a part of the world of sports. Whether in their own community or if they pursue sports at a higher level, female athletes can be assured that there are supporters and an audience for women in sports.

Sports

Pellicoro and Strangio Represent Portland at 2025 NCAA Outdoor Championships

Story Links EUGENE, Ore. – Laura Pellicoro and Matt Strangio will represent the Pilots at the 2025 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships, held June 11–14 at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon. Pellicoro will compete in the women’s 800-meter semifinal on Thursday, June 12, at 5:58 p.m. (PT). She […]

Published

55 minutes ago

June 10, 2025

Your Sports Nation

EUGENE, Ore. – Laura Pellicoro and Matt Strangio will represent the Pilots at the 2025 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships, held June 11–14 at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon.

Pellicoro will compete in the women’s 800-meter semifinal on Thursday, June 12, at 5:58 p.m. (PT). She enters the race with her school record time of 2:01.19. The semifinal features three heats, with the top two finishers in each heat and the next three fastest times advancing to the final. If she qualifies, Pellicoro will race in the final on Saturday, June 14, at 7:14 p.m. (PT).

On the men’s side, Strangio will compete in the 5,000-meter final on Friday, June 13, at 6:55 p.m. (PT). He enters the championship meet with a personal-best and school-record time of 13:24.14, run earlier this season. Strangio also holds the Portland program record in the 1,500 meters, with a time of 3:36.95.

The complete list of participants is available on the championship central page, while the schedule for Portland’s competitors is listed below. Live results and watch links will be posted online at PortlandPilots.com.

2025 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships

Eugene, Ore. (Hayward Field)

June 11-14, 2025

Thursday, June 12

Women’s 800m Semifinal, 5:58 PM (PT)

Laura Pellicoro, 2:01.19

Friday, June 13

Men’s 5000m Final, 6:55 PM (PT)

Matt Strangio, 13:24.14

Saturday, June 14

Women’s 800m Final, 7:14 PM (PT)

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