BOWIE, MD — Bowie State University head softball coach Ed Powell has been selected to participate in the MLB Breakthrough Series, held at the Kansas City Urban Youth Academy from Saturday, June 21 through Thursday, June 26 in Kansas City, Mo. This marks the second consecutive year Powell has received this prestigious invitation.

“I’m truly honored to be part of the MLB Breakthrough Series once again,” said Powell. “This program is so much more than a showcase, it’s an opportunity to empower and uplift some of the most talented and dedicated young softball players in the country. Helping these athletes grow not just on the field, but as leaders and individuals, is what makes this experience so meaningful. It’s a privilege to contribute to a platform that opens doors and leaves a lasting impact on their lives.”

Powell will be one of two head coaches from the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) selected to participate in the Breakthrough Series, joining Bluefield State head coach Chelsea Holliday.

About Softball Elite Development Invitational
The Elite Development Invitational is a multi-day, 18 and under training camp that features intense on-field softball development and game play along with various off-field development sessions covering topics such as college recruiting, mental health and women in sports.

The event is coached by current and former USA Softball Women’s National Team athletes, professional softball players and college coaches. Participants represent some of the top athletes from the MLB Youth Academy and Nike RBI network.

For more information about the MLB Breakthrough Series, please click HERE.

For the most up-to-date information on Bowie State Athletics and its 13 varsity sport teams, visit bsubulldogs.com. 

Trans kids just want the same opportunities as their peers. They want to be on sports teams to have fun, get exercise, and hang out with their friends. Just like any other kid. When we deny them that right, we are actively causing harm that could easily be avoided. And, in the end, this discriminatory behavior hurts us all. 

Tristan Thompson has been keeping himself busy, as he continues to make waves in the Web3 space.

Months after launching TracyAI, the Cleveland Cavaliers center was announced as the Chief Advisory Officer for AxonDAO, a decentralized science (DeSci) platform that aims to revolutionize healthcare through AI and blockchain technology.

AxonDAO’s operating company, AXDT Inc., announced Thompson’s appointment in a press release on Thursday (June 19), stating that Thompson was drawn to the company’s mission to “return control of health data to individuals; reward ethical research participation through blockchain-powered incentives; and accelerate innovation in wellness domains such as nutrition, recovery, cannabis and psychedelics, and music-based therapy.”

“Health is wealth. I believe in giving people ownership over their wellness journey, and AxonDAO is building the future of health, data and science in a way that includes everyone,” Thompson said in a statement.

As the Chief Advisory Officer, Thompson will help AxonDAO expand into athlete-specific health markets, helping craft campaigns and marketing strategies that focus on recovery, sleep, nutrition and mental health. He will also lead outreach to other high-profile figures, including his fellow professional athletes.

“Athletes understand the importance of recovery, focus, and self-awareness,” he said. “What we’re building with AxonDAO doesn’t just benefit professionals – it helps people live better, longer, and stronger lives.”

Russo reflects on the mental toll of online abuse as she prepares for Euros campaign

Alessia Russo has revealed she no longer uses social media during major tournaments after admitting she was previously “sucked into” reading abusive comments that affected her focus and wellbeing.

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The Arsenal and England striker, who is preparing for next month’s UEFA Women’s European Championship in Switzerland, spoke candidly about the psychological cost of exposure to online criticism, calling it “really damaging” and urging fellow athletes to protect themselves from it.

“I think every player might have a different story about that side of the game, but it’s definitely one that can be really damaging,” Russo said. “I have faced it in the past and I think most players here have. When I was younger I probably got sucked into it more. I read it more than I should have and listened to it more than I should have. The only opinions that matter are my team-mates, my coaches and my family.”

Russo continued: “I think you have to remember that they are the people you need to lean on in tough times. As I’ve got older, I understand more what works for me. In my first Euros I was on social media and I would have a look, have a scroll, and I got caught in a trap sometimes.

“Going into the World Cup, I completely came off everything and I had people to run my Instagram. I just focused on the tournament. Staying away from it and staying focused as a team is what works for me.”

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Her comments came a day after Katie Boulter, Britain’s top-ranked female tennis player, revealed she and her family had received death threats following tournament defeats. Russo said she could “empathise completely” with that experience, stressing the need for athletes to prioritise their mental health.

The 26-year-old heads into the summer in arguably the best form of her career, having played a decisive role in Arsenal’s UEFA Women’s Champions League triumph. She scored seven goals in 11 matches in the competition, alongside 12 goals in the Women’s Super League.

IRVINE, Calif. – Add one more awesome honor to the resume of recent Concordia University Irvine alum Dylan Fox.

The three-time All-American and three-time PacWest Champion in the long jump was named the PacWest Men’s Track & Field Scholar-Athlete of the Year for the second time in his incredible Concordia career.

The Irvine, Calif. native sported a 3.91 GPA in business administration. He was also voted the Men’s Track & Field Scholar-Athlete of the Year by the PacWest sports communicators in 2023.

A graduate of nearby Irvine High School, Fox finished 11th, 10th, and then 8th in the long jump on the national stage at the NCAA DII Championships the past three years. He is Concordia’s first three-time All-American on the men’s track and field side in the NCAA DII era, capturing Second Team honors the past two seasons before capping it off with First Team All-American honors in May.

Fox was also honored last month as Concordia’s Male Athlete of the Year during the 2025 Senior Legacy Award Banquet.

Discussions about the benefits of sports participation are often rooted in how much young people can gain from playing a team sport. Older adults have much to gain from playing sports as well, and that’s something retirees can keep in mind as they look for activities to fill their time.

A study published in the journal Biochemistry Research International found that physical activity can be a protective factor for noncommunicable diseases, including heart disease and diabetes, and can even help to delay the onset of dementia. The study also linked physical activity to improved quality of life and mental health. Sports require players to be physically active, so seniors who decide to dust off their athletic gear and play the following sports can reap all the rewards that getting up and moving has to offer.

Golf: Golf provides a range of health benefits that committed players are well aware of. Seniors who play golf, particularly those who walk the course instead of using a cart to get around, can reap the rewards of walking, including improved cardiovascular health, and even the benefits of strength-training, as carrying a golf bag around nine or 18 holes can build strength that protects bones and reduces the risk of fractures. Traversing a course also helps to burn calories, which can help seniors maintain a healthy weight.

Pickleball: The popularity of pickleball has skyrocketed in recent years, with the Sports & Fitness Industry Association estimating there are now roughly nine million pickleball players in the United States. The organization Pickleball Canada reports that nearly 1.4 million Canadians played pickleball at least once per month in 2023, proving that this popular sport transcends borders and offers a great way to socialize with fellow seniors.

Walking: Accessibility is one of the major benefits of walking. Even seniors with limited mobility can look to walking as a less demanding physical activity that compels them to get out of the house. And the benefits of walking may be more profound than people realize. Preliminary research presented at an American Heart Association gathering in 2023 estimated that walking an additional 500 steps per day, which is equivalent to roughly a quarter of a mile, was associated with a 14 percent lower risk for heart disease, stroke or heart failure.

Softball: Baseball was the first love of many a sports fan over the years, and senior softball provides a way to maintain or even reignite that passion, all the while reaping the health benefits of sports play. Softball can help seniors maintain their hand-eye coordination and improve their flexibility. But perhaps the most notable benefit of playing senior softball involves socialization. Senior softball requires being on a team, and the benefits of socialization for seniors are numerous, particularly when they play in leagues featuring players from outside their immediate social circle. A study published in The Journals of Gerontology found that older adults who socialize with people outside their typical social circle were more likely to have higher levels of physical activity and a more positive mood. Such individuals also had fewer negative feelings.