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Austin is student of the month at Sterling High School
STERLING — Madison Austin, a senior, is Sterling High School’s student of the month for March. She is the daughter of Jason and Karina Austin and has three siblings, Reiley, Lucas and Kate. What class do you find really engaging and why: I find my AP psychology class very engaging. There are many parts to […]
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STERLING — Madison Austin, a senior, is Sterling High School’s student of the month for March.
She is the daughter of Jason and Karina Austin and has three siblings, Reiley, Lucas and Kate.
What class do you find really engaging and why: I find my AP psychology class very engaging. There are many parts to the class I find interesting and the format of the class creates opportunities for group work. I enjoy learning about the reasons behind why people act certain ways based on their experiences and environment.
What are your career and post-graduation plans? What school(s) or other instruction, travel or endeavors do you have planned?: I am attending Illinois State University next year to play basketball and study recreation and sports management.
What are your two favorite extracurricular, volunteer or community activities you participate in?: I love to be a part of sports, I swam and played basketball throughout my entire high school career. I also am involved in National Honor Society and Fellowship of Christian Athletes. Through these sports and organizations I have volunteered at basketball camps and church.
Please share a moment, group event or activity at school that was meaningful or memorable: The most memorable school event for me was this past basketball season. My team and I became the winningest team in school history, conference champs, regional champs, and sectional champs. We did all this while having a ton of fun. Everywhere I went in February and March people asked me about basketball and said how much they enjoyed coming to our games.
What is your hope for the future?: I hope to succeed in the classroom and on the court at ISU. After school I plan to work in sports.
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Chattanooga Mocs Extend Championship Coach
Story Links CHATTANOOGA—The Chattanooga Mocs and Dan Earl agree in a lot of ways. The biggest is the desire for him to be a long-term solution for the historically proud program. The Mocs announce the 6-year extension of Earl’s contract after a regular season Southern Conference title and run to the team’s first NIT Championship. […]
CHATTANOOGA—The Chattanooga Mocs and Dan Earl agree in a lot of ways. The biggest is the desire for him to be a long-term solution for the historically proud program. The Mocs announce the 6-year extension of Earl’s contract after a regular season Southern Conference title and run to the team’s first NIT Championship.
“Dan is a proven commodity,” Vice Chancellor for Athletics Mark Wharton began. “We had great faith in who he was as a leader around this time three years ago when we hired him. That faith has been rewarded well beyond wins and championships. We are excited to get this new agreement completed to reward him and his staff for jobs well done.”
Earl’s 2024-25 edition tied the school record in wins with 29 matching another SoCon Championship team from 2015-16. They marched through their NIT bracket winning at Middle Tennessee, at home over Dayton and on the road again at Bradley. That led to Indianapolis where Loyola Chicago and UC Irvine were dispatched in just the second national tournament title in school history (1977 NCAA DII).
He is 68-38 (.642) over his three seasons with a 34-20 (.630) mark in SoCon play.
“Very appreciative of (interim) Chancellor (Robert) Dooley and Mark Wharton,” Earl added. “Chattanooga has quickly become home. My family loves it here, and the city has truly embraced us in a very special way.
“This extension is as much about the players and staff as it is me. From the guys who came with us from VMI to all the additions, be it from high school, junior college or out of the portal, they’ve embraced our culture, developed as people and players, and gone on to great success here and are prepared for bright futures.
‘I am also thankful to have such a good working relationship with Mark (Wharton) and for his friendship. His support and leadership have been instrumental in our program’s success, and I deeply value our partnership.”
At a fluid time in college athletics, Earl and his staff excelled in roster construction. Between returning starters in guards Trey Bonham and Honor Huff to go with reserves and redshirts in Sean Cusano, Noah Melson, Ryan Lopez and Collin Mulholland, the program added 4-year transfers Bash Wieland (Bellarmine), Frank Champion (DII-North Georgia), Jack Kostel (DII-Alabama-Huntsville), Makai Richards (Pacific) and game-winning shot maker Garrison Keeslar (DII-Walsh) along with freshmen Latif Diouf, Parker Robison, Liam Vitters, Houston Holland and Isaiah Otyaluk.
That group not only won 29 games, but they did it when it mattered most. Twenty-one of the triumphs came after the calendar flipped to 2025 including a 12-game win streak that fell just two shy of tying another school record. Huff (578), Bonham (554) and Wieland (502) became the first trio in school history to tally 500 points in the same season.
Earl’s extension is not the only news for the program’s staff. Ander Galfsky and Scott Greenman are elevated to associate head coach with Logan Dahms moving from special assistant to assistant coach alongside Ricardo Rush, Jr. Director of basketball operations Alan Treakle is adding assistant coach duties as well.
“Ander, Scott, Logan and Alan have been with me from the start,” Earl shared about his staff. “I am super appreciative of their efforts as well as Ricardo who was a great addition in year two. We don’t get a regular season conference championship or win the NIT without their tremendous work as the team behind our team.”
NOTABLE
- Earl’s 68 wins are the most by any Mocs coach in their first three seasons with the program ahead of Mack McCarthy (62), Murray Arnold (61) and Ron Shumate (59).
- The squad is currently tied with national runner-up Houston for the longest current road win streak in the country at 10.
- The 2024-25 squad won 17 of its final 18 contests.
- Earl’s five postseason wins ranks second in school history behind Shumate (11).
- Another amazing streak, Earl’s Mocs have won 10 straight games when trailing at the half.
ACTION ITEMS
- To check out the 2025-26 roster construction, go here.
- For $25 deposits on 2025-26 season tickets, go here.
- To give to the Mocs Club, go here. To contribute to the Flock NIL collective, go here.
- To get involved in sponsorships with Mocs Sports Properties, go here.
GoMocs.com is the official website of the Chattanooga Mocs. Buy officially licensed gear in our online store. The Mocs can also be followed on their official Facebook page or Twitter. Find out how to join the UTC Mocs Club and support more than 300 student-athletes by clicking here. Check out the Mocs on the Mic podcast here.
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Transfer portal or 'speed dating'? How Alabama baseball flipped 2025 roster with 13 additions
Some of Alabama baseball‘s biggest contributors during the 2025 season were plucked straight from the transfer portal. “The scary part of the transfer portal is you can crush your culture really quick if you start bringing the wrong people in,” Crimson Tide coach Rob Vaughn told the Tuscaloosa News. Vaughn admits his recruiting process is […]
Some of Alabama baseball‘s biggest contributors during the 2025 season were plucked straight from the transfer portal.
“The scary part of the transfer portal is you can crush your culture really quick if you start bringing the wrong people in,” Crimson Tide coach Rob Vaughn told the Tuscaloosa News.
Vaughn admits his recruiting process is “probably a little bit slower than most,” but it’s a decision made on good advice. Former St. John’s manager Ed Blankmeyer once told Vaughn and his assistants:
“It’s never the guy you don’t get, it’s the guy you get that you shouldn’t have got.”
Who’s the best competitor? Which guys are tough, and know the difference between toughness and grit? Vaughn wants those guys.
“The truest competitors for me are the ones that say, ‘Hey, whatever I’ve got today is good enough to beat you. I don’t have to have my A stuff. I’m good enough to beat you with my C stuff,’ ” Vaughn said.
Without that mentality, Vaughn says there’s “no chance” to survive in the SEC.
Why Alabama baseball coach Rob Vaughn thinks the transfer portal is like ‘speed dating’
Recruiting high schools is easier for Vaughn, who likes having the extra time to do the homework compared to shopping for transfers.
“The portal is like speed dating,” Vaughn said. “There’s times kids get in the portal. We talk to him. Two hours later, they’ve already got five offers and six visits lined up. We have to operate in it. If you don’t, you’re gonna get passed.”
Alabama was a hot date to swipe right on last portal season, as thirteen players on the current roster chose to leave programs around the country, whether little-known community colleges or iconic Ivy Leagues, and join the Crimson Tide.
![Alabama's outfielder Richie Bonomolo Jr. (5) celebrates his two run homer in the top of the first inning against Florida. Florida came back from being down 5-0 to beat Alabama 7-6, Friday, May 15, 2025, at Condron Family Ballpark in Gainesville, Florida. [Cyndi Chambers/ Gainesville Sun] 2025](/gcdn/authoring/authoring-images/2025/05/17/STID/83700884007-usatsi-26210251.jpg?width=660&height=521&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
Which Alabama baseball transfers will make their first trips to the SEC Tournament?
Richie Bonomolo Jr., CF, junior
Previous school: Wabash Valley College
Before Alabama, Bonomolo helped Wabash Valley advance to its fourth consecutive JUCO World Series in 2023 and earned second-team All-American honors after a standout freshman season.
Bryce Fowler, RF, redshirt junior
Previous school: Pearl River C.C. (2024), Southern Miss (2022-23)
In Poplarville, Miss. at Pearl River, Fowler got comfortable as a leadoff hitter and worked himself among the all-time leaders with 88 hits, the second most in a season in program history.
JT Blackwood, RHP, junior
Previous school: Wallace State
When Blackwood wasn’t getting called out of the bullpen, he was often the midweek starter for the Crimson Tide, which went undefeated in the midweek during the 2025 regular season. In two seasons at Wallace State, he had the most innings pitched.
Carson Ozmer, RHP, graduate
Previous school: Penn
Ozmer leads all Division I closers with 16 saves, picking up two in one day in the series finale double-header against Georgia. All four years he was at Penn, Ozmer was a two-way starter and earned honorable mention All-Ivy League honors twice.
Aeden Finateri, RHP, senior
Previous school: Georgia Tech
Finateri came to Tuscaloosa after three seasons at Georgia Tech, where he appeared in 58 games and made 23 starts, finishing his career with an 8-9 record with three saves and 172 strikeouts
Brennen Norton, INF, senior
Previous school: Jacksonville State
Norton left Jacksonville State on a high note. As a junior, he achieved a career-best .327 average with 13 home runs and 44 RBIs, seeing him add First Team All-Conference USA honors to his resume.
Garrett Staton, DH/2B, redshirt senior
Previous school: Samford
Staton missed 21 games after suffering a broken finger on Feb. 18 when he was hit by a pitch, putting a delay on Crimson Tide fans seeing all the reasons why he earned preseason All-American honors. Since returning to the lineup on March 25, Staton has lived up to the hype, recording at least one RBI in 13 of his 25 starts.
Jason Torres, 3B, junior
Previous school: Miami
Named to the Golden Spikes Award Midseason Watch List, Torres impressed during his stint in South Florida. At Alabama, he’s started all but one game on the hot corner and is one of the Crimson Tide’s top home run contributors.
More first-timers that joined Alabama’s 2025 roster from the portal
- Beau Bryans, LHP, junior: previously Jones College
- Packy Bradley-Cooney, RHP, senior: previously Campbell (2024), CCBC Essex (2022-23)
- Danny Heintz, RHP, redshirt senior: previously Penn
- Zach Kittrell, RHP, junior: previously Pensacola State College
Which new SEC transfer returns to Hoover, but with the Tide instead?
Brady Neal, C, junior
Previous school: LSU
Sidelined by a back injury, Neal’s career as LSU’s starting catcher hit a roadbump in 2023. Now, he splits time behind the plate with fellow SEC transfer Will Plattner. The nine-hole hitter, Neal leads Alabama with an 18.4% walk rate.
Emilee Smarr covers Alabama basketball and Crimson Tide athletics for the Tuscaloosa News. She can be reached via email at esmarr@gannett.com.
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Husker softball has a Bahl in Baton Rouge, winning region in commanding fashion
Onward to Knoxville. And when you have Jordy Bahl on the trip, you’ll take your chances. Find a good seat on that plane for Ava Kuszak too. And Samantha Bland. OK, it was a dominating weekend by all involved. Nebraska punched its ticket to the best-of-3 Super Regionals next week against Tennessee by taking out Southeastern […]
Onward to Knoxville.
And when you have Jordy Bahl on the trip, you’ll take your chances. Find a good seat on that plane for Ava Kuszak too. And Samantha Bland. OK, it was a dominating weekend by all involved.
Nebraska punched its ticket to the best-of-3 Super Regionals next week against Tennessee by taking out Southeastern Louisiana 8-0 in six innings on Sunday. It marked three ‘run rule’ victories over three days. Not a bad little weekend in Baton Rouge.
Rhonda Revelle’s program will be making their first appearance in the Super Regionals in 11 years.
“You can get your adrenaline pumping in all the things that competitors do when it’s time to play, but there’s a real peace in knowing that every day this team has invested in themselves,” Revelle said.
Bahl allowed just one hit in her six innings pitched while also going 2-for-2 at the plate, including a leadoff home run in the first inning. At that point she had hit four home runs in her four official at-bats at this regional.
She added a lowly single to her stat line later. Sarcasm implied. Although it was a surprise when the ball didn’t go over the fence off her bat for once.
“I’ve said this all along when we people asked me questions about Jordy … I just am not surprised. I never would say, ‘Oh, I think she’s going to do this, this and this.’ But when she does do this, this and this it never surprises me. Because what is so cool about her, a lot of athletes could learn so much from her. She immerses herself in the moment. She’s not focused on numbers, accolades. She’s focused on one mission and it’s … doing whatever she can to help the team win. And she’s just talented enough that she can do a lot of things to help the team win.”
Kuszak did her own damage to the Lions, including a game-winning single in the sixth inning with the bases loaded to stop the game from going the full seven innings. Bland also had four RBI with three hits, including a double in the second inning to add two runs to the two NU had in the first. Her single in the fourth inning also brought in one of three runs that frame as NU moved to a comfortable 7-0 lead before putting the game to bed in the sixth.
Nebraska had beaten Southeastern Louisiana 14-1 in five innings on Saturday and took down UConn 10-2 in six on Friday.
Because of those stress-free games, Bahl was needed for only six innings of pitching the first two days. So she was fresh on Sunday and looked it. Bahl retired the first 13 batters before the Lions picked up a single for their only base runner of the day. NU’s star two-way player finished with 10 strikeouts.
Now the Huskers take on No. 7 Tennessee, which dispatched of the Big Ten’s Ohio State 5-0 on Sunday.
It was a long time ago but Nebraska did play the Volunteers in the first game of the season, with the Huskers winning 7-1.
The stakes are much higher this time. It’s a best-of-3 to go to the Women’s College World Series.
“I would say the postseason, it’s a grind. At the very beginning of the regional it seems like you’re so far away from the World Series and then three days later there’s only 16 teams left,” said Bahl, who was on two national championship teams at Oklahoma. “On our journey we have one goal. It’s not to make it to regionals or make it to Supers or make it to the World Series, it’s to win the World Series.
“So it’s a blessing to be able to win a regional with this team, but we know the work isn’t done and we’re just blessed to have the opportunity to go to Knoxville.”
Postgame notes courtesy of Paige Trutna of Nebraska Communications:
The Huskers’ 2025 regional title is the ninth in program history.
NU now has 100 doubles on the season, along with its 106 home runs. The 2025 Huskers are the 11th team in history with 100+ doubles and 100+ homers in the same season.
With her solo homer in the first inning, Jordyn Bahl put her season home run total at 23, which is a new program record. The previous record of 22 was set by Ali Viola in 1998.
Bahl also stands at 69 runs this season, which is a school record. Bahl’s mark beat the previous record of 66 set by Kiki Stokes in 2015.
Bahl hit four home runs in three games during the regional round. The last time a Husker hit 4+ homers in a regional was Hailey Decker in 2014.
Bahl notched 10 strikeouts on the day for her 10th double-digit strikeout game of the season.
In the Baton Rouge Regional, Bahl went 5-for-5 with four home runs, seven walks, eight runs and seven RBIs at the plate, while going 2-0 in the circle, allowing just one run and two hits in 12.0 innings with 16 strikeouts.
Nebraska has had 17 innings this season with multiple home runs after hitting two homers in the first inning.
NU had six run-rule victories in its NCAA tournament history entering this weekend. The Big Red run-ruled its opponent in all three games this weekend.
Ava Kuszak extended her hit streak to 14 games with her first-inning home run.
Nebraska has 26 run-rule wins on the season, which is the most in school history.
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Liberty falls to #1 Texas A&M, 14-11, in extras, forcing winner take all game 7
What an emotional roller-coaster for Liberty softball in the first of two games in the Regional Final in College Station against the No. 1 overall seed Texas A&M. The Flames lost, 14-11, in eight innings, forcing a winner-take-all game seven of this regional later Sunday night with first pitch scheduled for 8:10 p.m. ET. The […]
What an emotional roller-coaster for Liberty softball in the first of two games in the Regional Final in College Station against the No. 1 overall seed Texas A&M. The Flames lost, 14-11, in eight innings, forcing a winner-take-all game seven of this regional later Sunday night with first pitch scheduled for 8:10 p.m. ET.
The Lady Flames struck first as Savannah Woodard led off the bottom of the first with a home run. After Rachel Roupe helped eliminate a Texas A&M threat in the second as she gunned out a runner at home from trying to score from third on a fly ball to right field. Liberty would add to its lead with five runs in the second, taking a massive 6-0 lead. The inning was highlighted by Roupe’s 21st home run of the season, a grand slam.
As expected the Aggies would start chipping away at the Liberty lead, adding one in the third with an RBI single. The host team would explode for six runs in the fourth to take their first lead of the game at 7-6. Liberty had two errors in the inning, a sign of things to come throughout the game, while A&M blasted two home runs and scored four of their runs with two outs.
The Aggies would continue to pile on, looking like they would win going away, adding three more runs in the fifth, pushing their advantage to 10-6. Roupe’s defensive heroics would again come up big for the Flames, helping to limit the damage as she doubled the runner off first after securing a fly out to end the threat.
Brynn McManus missed a three-run home run by just inches as her ball in the bottom of the sixth hit off the wall, it did score one run as Liberty cut the deficit to three. The Aggies made it 11-7 scoring one in the top of the seventh, in part due to another Liberty error.
Entering the bottom of the seventh, the Lady Flames trailed by four and looked destined to be headed to another game against Texas A&M. But the two-time defending CUSA champions would not go down quietly. The first two hitters in the inning singled before Alexia Carrasquillo would pinch-hit and have an RBI single off the outfield wall, scoring one run. Savannah Whatley followed with an RBI single, cutting the deficit to two at 11-9. Woodard then grounded out moving the runners to second and third as Rachel Roupe stepped to the plate.
Roupe singled back up the middle, scoring a run to make it 11-10. McManus would walk to load the bases before Alyssa Henault was hit by a pitch to tie the contest. KK Madrey, with the bases loaded, battled to a full count before flying out to left field, ending the Liberty threat and sending the game to extra innings.
In the top of the eighth, the Aggies took advantage of a sixth Liberty error on what should have been the second out of the inning. Texas A&M would plate three runs in the inning before retiring Liberty in order to end the game and force a winner-take-all game seven.
Elena Escobar pitched 3.2 innings, allowing seven runs on 11 hits. Paige Bachman drew the loss, allowing seven runs, three of them earned, on seven hits in 4.1 innings of relief.
After Liberty chased the first two Texas A&M pitchers in the second, Kate Munnerlyn was strong in relief. She ended up allowing five runs on eight hits in five innings, with most of that damage coming in the sixth and seventh innings.
*photo courtesy Liberty Athletics
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Penn State baseball infielder Alec Warden, pitcher Zach Mizrahi enter transfer portal
Two more Nittany Lions are heading to the portal. Alec Warden and Zach Mizrahi will enter the transfer portal, they announced on their X accounts Sunday. *Transfer Portal* 4 years of eligibility (previously at Penn State) SS/INF/UTL 6’2 | 190 60- 6.65Infield velo – 90Exit velo – 107# 412-414-3110awarden1818@gmail.comSummer team – Norwich Sea Unicorns (Futures […]
Two more Nittany Lions are heading to the portal.
Alec Warden and Zach Mizrahi will enter the transfer portal, they announced on their X accounts Sunday.
*Transfer Portal* 4 years of eligibility (previously at Penn State) SS/INF/UTL 6’2 | 190 60- 6.65Infield velo – 90Exit velo – 107# 412-414-3110awarden1818@gmail.comSummer team – Norwich Sea Unicorns (Futures League)Open to all opportunities!@FlatgroundBats pic.twitter.com/1kAWoxNRaF
— Alec Warden (@warden_alec) May 18, 2025
Warden joined the Nittany Lions as the No. 22 ranked shortstop in Pennsylvania in the 2025 class, according to Perfect Game. He didn’t appear in any game this season, leaving him four years of eligibility.
Zach Mizrahi Graduate Transfer Portal LHP Penn StateFb 88-92Sl 78-82Ch/sink 85-88Career stats 92.1 IP 122K10-2 record1 year elg@EliteRecruits_ @VBL_Cannons @BUncommitted @FlatgroundApp @VBLBaseball pic.twitter.com/QJgd0PazYR
— Zach Mizrahi (@Zach_Mizrahi) May 18, 2025
Mizrahi has been with the Nittany Lions since the 2024 season, and he has not appeared in any game. Prior to his time in the blue and white, Mizrahi was with Tallahassee Community College in 2023 and Daytona State College in 2022.
Warden and Mizrahi are the third and fourth Nittany Lions to announce plans to enter the portal, joining pitcher Charles Mau and infielder Jake Haarde.
MORE BASEBALL COVERAGE
Penn State’s first two games in the Big Ten Tournament have been announced.
